A Boy

March 14, 2013, was a very, very good day.  I got a phone call from Jordan around 9:00 a.m., our time, that she was heading to the hospital with contractions 5 minutes apart.  Plane tickets were secured, last minute decisions were made, I headed in to work for a couple of hours and then left for the airport around 1:00 p.m.


Chuck stayed behind because he had a speaking engagement in Brazil.  Yes, Brazil.  What are the odds that our calendar events would collide like that.  He's never been to Brazil and we've never had a grand baby.  Chuck was flying out on Friday to Brazil.  He was torn, but we promised lots of pictures and videos and went forward with our travel plans.  Me to Phoenix, him to Brazil.  I was pooped already!


I got to the gate with an hour and a half to spare.  People magazine in hand, cell phone to stay up to date with Jordan's progress, and facing the window to watch for the plane.  The Boarding Pass says Gate C40....check...I'm sitting in C40. 

An hour goes by.


I think we should be boarding soon.  So anxious.  So excited.



I continue to look at my phone and the magazine....and put lipstick on ....and get a piece of gum out of my purse.  Antsy.  Just plain antsy.  As I know I will be totally out of communication for the 3 hour flight.  Let's get on with this.



Where's the plane?  Why aren't we boarding?  Are you kidding me?  My daughter is in labor and the plane is going to be late?



I look at the gate sign...then my boarding pass....check...both say Gate C40.



I finally look back and see a few people lining up.  I get up, go over to a man in line and ask, "Did they start boarding yet?"  He replies, "Not yet."  I ask, "This is going to Phoenix, right?"  He says, "NO, Denver."



SINKING FEELING.

I rush over to the desk and ask the guy (I may have rudely interrupted him speaking to another passenger) what happened to the plane going to Phoenix....about the same time I saw DENVER on the lit board above the desk.  He says, "That plane's left.  It was moved to Gate C44."


yep.


I call Chuck as I'm walking to Customer Service to get me on the next flight (2 hours later) fighting back the tears.  Chuck doesn't believe it, yet he believes it.  It's me.   It's how I operate.  Ugh.


Apparently, one must check the black boards of all the planes' arrivals and departures for any last minute changes.  Later, I did check my emails and at noon (while I was still at work and NOT checking my home emails) I received a notice that the gate had changed. 

And I will never, ever, ever face the window again.  Nope.  I will face the gate or the walkway where I can see people getting up to board...or in my case, perhaps noticed nobody getting up to leave for Phoenix because the people sitting around me were leaving for Denver. 

And here is where I admit to everyone:   I NEED CHUCK.  There, I said it.  I at least need him to travel with me.  He's the gate checker.  And the one who puts the suitcase in the car for me.  This time I remembered the suitcase but missed the flight.  This time my suitcase got to our destination without me.

But I got there in time.

I got to Phoenix and was picked up by Jordan's good friend and driven to the hospital.

And within minutes I was told the news I have been waiting for, for at least 9 months.  What's a delay of 2 hours when you've waited 9 months? 

It's a boy!

 

Liam Christopher

3.14.13

7:02 p.m.

8 lbs. 1 oz.

20 1/2 inches

Perfect

 

happyhappyhappyhappyhappyhappyhappyhappyhappyhappyhappyhappy

 

 

 Mama Jordan did great!  Labored all day but only pushed an hour.
 Everyone is good and healthy and sleepy.
I am so proud of Jordan and Chris.
  I know they are going to make a great team.
 

 

Please forgive me for bragging with some pictures of Liam.

 

 

 

 

He's blonde.

 

He has long feet and toes.

He has long fingers.

 

He has the sweetest face.

He has great parents.

 

 

 

His Juney loves him

and can't wait for Pop to meet him.

 

Thank you God for this boy.

 

 

 

To my Prayer Warriors,  Thanks for keeping us in your prayers through this journey.  Liam is wonderfully made and I know he belongs to God.  I am so thankful and in awe of how good our God is.  Proof is in this sweet baby's face.  In his new baby smell.  In his soft squeaks when he stretches.  In the tiny fingerprints of his tiny fingers.  This new life is fresh and clean, sent from God.   I will do everything in my power to teach Liam how wonderful he is and how mighty his God is. 

 

 

 

 

Any Day Now

Walking across a parking lot a couple of weeks ago, I saw this.  I stopped in the middle of the parking lot and took this picture because it struck me so.   How in the world does a seed find its way in to a tiny hole in a concrete jungle and take hold and survive?  That just screams HOPE.  If a tiny seed can thrive in these conditions, surely there is hope for us all.  Hope not just to survive, but to really thrive.

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

I am rejoicing in hope (new life is pending any day now), patient in our current tribulation (waiting for the birth of our grandchild)....not that that is a real tribulation, and I am constant in prayer (for a safe delivery, healthy baby and happy mama).

The ninth month of pregnancy is the longest month ever.  Especially for the pregnant woman but now I see it is long for the grandparents-to-be, too.  Because that pregnant woman is my baby and I know she is miserable and anxious.  I know.  And there is nothing I can do for her.

Soon.  I hope it is soon. 



What I've been up to while waiting....



I watched the entire season of The Bachelor.  Somewhere around the 3rd or 4th episode, I read Reality Steve.  He has insider information and always knows who is chosen.  So I knew who Sean would choose and believe it or not, it helps me watch the show.  I find I am way more focused on the faces and conversations of all of the girls because my mind isn't constantly wondering and wandering. 

I noticed, too, that the way it was edited, they downplayed Catherine and led you to believe Sean's choice would be Lindsey.  But knowing he picked Catherine before he picked her allowed me to focus on her and see what he saw in her. 

In case you're wondering, I hate surprises.  Yes, I always opened my wrapped presents under the tree and then rewrapped them.  It took some of the pressure off of the actual opening.  So while I enjoy The Bachelor, I enjoy it more knowing who is chosen at the end way before the end.

It's just a mindless show.  And somehow knowing makes it even more mindless. But sometimes a mindless show is just what I need.

And while waiting, I've also been working, attended the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo where I saw Alan Jackson perform, planted some spring flowers and filled lots of holes in our backyard from the dogs digging for grub worms....grrrrr, packed my bag for a quick exit when I get the call that labor has begun, rode in a limo for a surprise 50th birthday party at Howl at the Moon where I might have danced on stage with the birthday honoree, attended my Book Club where we chose our next read....

When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin....

 

.....and stayed close to the phone. 


Any day now.