Aubrey Anne Finn

Friday, August 26, 2005

Aubrey is here!

Well it caught us all off guard, but Aubrey Anne Finn made a grand entrance into this world on Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 12:52 pm. 6 lbs. 1 oz. 18 inches.

The morning started out just like any other Saturday. Keena was up and about doing some house work and I was sound asleep in bed. Around 7:30 Keena woke me up and said she was feeling something going on... She wasn't sure it was contractions, but she knew something was different. She called her doctor and was told to have a bite to eat and walk around a bit. I dragged myself out of bed and got ready to go into the office for a few hours. Keena, being the planner that she is, asked me to make sure my bag was packed before I headed in. Good thinking!

Around 10:15 am I got a call from Keena saying that she called the doctor back because her pain was starting to increase and the doctor said she could come in for a check up. I went home, grabbed our bags and Keena, and we hit the road for the hour drive to West Boca Medical. On the way to the hospital Keena and I were joking around that we would most likely be sent home, thinking this was just a false alarm. As we approached our exit, I had to stop and get some gas. When I got back in the car, Keena grabbed my arm and pressed her finger nails through my skin and into the bone. I thought maybe I should start timing the contractions...

By the time we pulled into the hospital parking lot (11:30 am) her contractions were 4 minutes apart with some coming at 2.5 minutes. We hit the waiting room and filled out the paperwork between contractions. Around 12 pm they brought us back and we waited for the doctor.

The doctor came in around 12:15pm and took a look. Keena was 9 cm dilated and fully effaced. Basically, we were minutes away from meeting our baby girl face to face. Keena started to get choked up and I almost hit the floor. I made a few phone calls and then we were moved into the delivery room. Unfortunately it was too late for Keena to get any pain medication. Not that they couldn't do it, but it was just pointless since Aubrey would be out by the time the medication took effect.

Keena was a champ! After a little pep talk from the doc, the pushing started. I was lucky enough to be able to assist the doctor and be side-by-side with her as she delivered Aubrey. Keena got her game face on and went to work. I always knew she was the toughest girl I have ever known, but this time she really exceeded my expectations. Keena gave 5 good long pushes and just like that Aubrey was out. She was immediately placed in Keena's arms and we were the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl.

In the hours that followed family members started to trickle in and we all just loved up on Aubrey as much as possible. We had a bit of an extended stay in the hospital due to a few little scares that I'll give more detail on later, what's important now is that Aubrey is home, happy and in good health.

I'm not the best poet in the world and I find myself short of words when it comes to describing the feelings this little girl invokes in my heart, head and soul... So I thought it appropriate to include the following quote from a man whose writing I have grown to admire. I think he sums it up quite well...

I confess
She is young, wild, and incoherent.
She trembles with luminous beauty.
I cannot seem to think of anything but her.
Six days ago she was a stranger to me.
Today I would die for her.
And so would my wife.

- Jeffrey Zeldman

posted by Kevin at 4:31 PM | email this post | 2 comment