Our story (part 1)

OK, I am going to try not to let this get to long but it probably will anyway.

So as you know we got a call at 8:52 on Saturday August 26th from Dierdre (our agency rep). I was on the phone with Robert at the time discussing our upcoming fantasy football draft. When I saw Dierdre's # on my caller id - i pretty much hung up on my good friend of 15 yrs. Dierdre said the BF (birth father) had called and said the BM (birth mom) was in labor. He wanted her to call us so we could make it in time for deliver. Like I said, that call came in at 8:52 pm - i just started screaming and crying and praying all at the same time. Luckily, again, Jay was cool - he took the phone got some details and then basically put himself in charge. He was impressive while I freaked out! I called my mom and my dad immediately and my sister while at the same time trying to handle the little things aroud the house (feed the cat, set the temp, etc). Luckily I had created a board of all the little things that needed to be done that are easily forgotten. We had all the suitcases packed for the last month so that part was pretty easy. By 9:11 we were in the Jeep.

We had heard from our friends and family in Oklahoma that the whole state was experiencing thunderstorms - they were hugging that I-35 corridor just like always. Before we got on the road - we had to drop off Gordie at our friends, The Bowers. They were so generous to volunteer in advance to watch Gordie overnight and take him to the kennel in case Kate was born sometime other that regular business hours.

Once we hit the state line, the rain started, it rained with lightning and thunder the entire route. Jay was so good - he was in total control while I was in full blown panic mode!

The plan was to meet the agency at the hospital lobby at 2:30am. They birth parents plan had been not to see us at all. They wanted us to get a room and the baby to come right to us. Not exactly what happened - I think I am getting ahead of myself. Sorry.

We got to the hospital around 1:45 or so but we could not find an open door. We must have driven around that complex 9 times! Finally, we found the emergency room and went there. It was close to 2am at that time. Dierdre showed up just before 2:30. She left us to go upstairs to check on the progress and talk to the BM and BF. Jay and I were totally "hopped up on Mountain Dew" (literally we each had 2 or 3 bottles on the trip down - trying to stay alert! Well the next thing you know, here comes the BF heading outside for a quick nicotene fix. He ran up to us and said - why are you guys down here - all the action is upstairs - come on up with me. WOW! Jay and I just looked dumfounded at each other. We weren't supposed to see them (we thought that is what they wanted) and we were supposed to wait downstairs - we figure at this point we had better play by his rules so upstairs we went. We insisted on staying in a waiting area just outside the BM's room. Dierdre came out and we all made small talk. We talked about the drive and the weather, that kind of thing. She said she would gho check on BM and be right back. She came back and reported that she was at a "6". When we had left Wichita, she was at a "3." I thought to myself, this is going to be a long night.

So, I am not doing a very good job at keeping this short am I? Well, I have decided to take this in progressive parts - consider this part one. Part 2 to follow.