sinker

thanks everyone, michelle, wendy, rhino, katiebear, everyone else. i'm so in love w/ our new little girl. she's just awesome! and boy are you all in trouble... I'll have more pics tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!! and yes, time to punish that liver.... -the artist formerly known as sinker

thanks y'all... everything looks good right now, vitals are strong, she's eating well (sucking, actually) and so.... OK, so here are first PICTURES!!!!! First is the whole famn damily, Lori (momma), me, Gabriel (4) and Hannah (6). No, Gabe isn't really upset about all of this. Second is our wonderful little baby, just about an hour after she was born... hope you like em... -the artist formerly known as sinker

agreed! -the artist formerly known as sinker

alright everyone, time for prayers and vibes... probably not a big deal yet, but worth mentioning... A duct outside baby Monica's heart hasn't closed yet. It's the ductus arteriosus, which is sort of a bypass valve b/t two big arteries that is supposed to close around 24-48 hours after birth. We're at 27 hours now, so no biggy yet, but my wife had this prob when she was a baby and had to have closed heart surgery. There's a medication that could do it now, but surgery is still something that is used. Anyway, not to critical just yet, especially since she was such a big baby, 9 pounds... so I'll keep you posted. Heres a link for anyone interested in Patent Abductus Arteriosus... http://www.driscollchildrens.org/DCHWeb/AboutDriscoll/content/patent_ductus_arteriosus.htm edited to add: I just made my first CLICKY! Do I owe beer? -the artist formerly known as sinker

hey gimme a break, my wife just had a baby yesterday, I'm exhausted and a little emotional right now! -the artist formerly known as sinker

well, it certainly tricked me! -the artist formerly known as sinker

didn't I read in a recent post from you that your boss is a financier, broker or someway or another in the investment bus? citations rock, esp. since on the straight wing one (bravo, excel, citationjet I and II, etc) they are certified for one pilot. but what I really want is a Citation X (ten), w/ a top speed just under the sound barrier... -the artist formerly known as sinker

congrats man. geez, this skydiving community is just bursting w/ babies! -the artist formerly known as sinker

I can't believe that!!!! I mean, to each his own and all that, but shit! That's taking it a little far... -the artist formerly known as sinker

that sounds yummy! for me it was just milk and two chocolate poptarts... -the artist formerly known as sinker

I was in a marriott in Trumbull CT the other day in the concierge lounge eating breakfast and they had a whole handful of these ForbesFYI mags lying around. very cool. lots of people looking at them and ooo-ing and awww-ing... -the artist formerly known as sinker

oh you are sooooo sweet... now I need a smoke... -the artist formerly known as sinker

hey... why ain't you huggin me? are you homophobic or sumpin??? come on man, gimme sum lovin... -the artist formerly known as sinker

thanks y'all... like skymama said, guess that means we'll just have to work on another one... in a way I'm glad I missed it... don't get me wrong, but Lori only had to endure 3 hours of labor... If I'd of made it, that would have meant she would have been in labor for 6 additional hours, a punishment I wouldn't wish on anyone... thanks for the good wishes everyone... -the artist formerly known as sinker

Alirght... here's the scoop... Lori, my wife, calls me yesterday morning early and says, come home from your business trip... I think we're having a baby today. Mind you, she was "stuck" at 4 cm dialation for over a week, so we thought it was pretty safe to get this stupid business trip out of the way... so I frantically pack up and get the earliest flight I can home from NY. Well, just as I'm boarding the plane, Lori's back-up labor coach calls and says um... your baby is here... WHAT???? Yup, less than three hours of labor. Holy Cow!! I'm glad for Lori, but bummed that I didn't make it... And holy cow is right... Monica weighed 9 pounds even, 20.5 inches long. Dark hair, dark eyes. Pics coming soon. Mom and baby are doing GREAT!!! I landed in Nashville, picked up my other two kids and went straight to the hospital. What a wonderful moment. Me and my other two seeing this beautiful little girl for the first time. I'm SO HAPPY!!!!! Yes Rhino, I thanked God today!!!!! Thanks for all your vibes and prayers... -the artist formerly known as sinker

*bump* well, naturally, I'm on a business trip in NY and my wife now thinks she's in labor... wouldn't you know it?? She's going to the hospital now. Luckily, we have a good contigency plan in place. Meanwhile, I'll be doing my best to get on a plane and jam home.... I'll keep you all posted... -the artist formerly known as sinker

WOW! That gave me goosebumps.... thx bb -the artist formerly known as sinker

I know, I know... I figures I'd go on a business trip this week so that way she'd decide to pop on our... isn't that the way it goes? -the artist formerly known as sinker

Me thinks thou dost protest too much... -the artist formerly known as sinker

omg, that's awesome! what perfect facial expressions he has! -the artist formerly known as sinker

the new river gorge / canopy one is still winning, but not by much.... -the artist formerly known as sinker

thx wendy... she's really a very patient woman. has to be to put up w/ the likes of me. the good thing for her about being prego is that her rheumatoid arthritis is in partial remission... so, although she'd like this current discomfort to end w/ this pending delivery, she's thankful for other comforts... -the artist formerly known as sinker

yawn... no news. we went to the hospital today b/c the contractions that were fairly regular yesterday have all but stopped. nurse said she remains 70% effaced, 4 cm dialated, no progression at all. yesterday was false labor, probably d/t dehydration... so... the wait continues... could be a WHOLE nuthah week. sigh... -the artist formerly known as sinker

to clarify what I said before, I don't think celibacy will be lifted either... but I think that is much more likely to change that for women to be priests... -the artist formerly known as sinker

danka -the artist formerly known as sinker