How it all started

Liam Michael wasn't supposed to arrive until about May 1, 2009. In fact, Liam Michael wasn't Liam Michael until April 7th or so; up until then he was known as baby to us and Buck to some of our siblings.

We knew from the ultrasounds that he was breach whenever we got a peek at him after 20 weeks. When 36 weeks came along and he was still breach we were given the choice of scheduling a cesarean section after 39 weeks or try to turn him around via external cephalic version at 37 weeks. We opted to try to turn the baby on April 9 during an appointment at 11am. After 2 unsuccessful tries we scheduled a c-section for April 28th (by the way, I never want to have to watch any abdomen be manipulated like that again, not to mention have to wait for my baby boy's heart rate to return to normal afterward...).

Meagan felt well enough to go to work that afternoon, albeit a little sore in the belly. I opted to work from home after the appt as we had a crew of sider's wrapping new aluminum on our windows and they needed to tap power off of the garage (I don't like leaving the house or garage open without us present). Since I was home I figured I'd have time to get some dinner prepared for the two of us - Irish pork steak stew was on the menu and all I needed to pick up was parsley and a good Irish Stout. As I was dusting the pork chunks with a floury mix the phone rang. Seeing Meagan's office on the caller ID, I suspected she had gotten off early and was calling to see if we needed anything for dinner, to which I'd cheerfully respond, "No honey, I have every we need and am in the middle of preparing it". My answer was met with a slightly frantic, "I think my water broke, what should I do?". I recalled from the morning discharge papers, as I scurried to find them, that she was to get to the hospital without delay. Her boss was to take her there and I would meet her as that was the fasted method. I went into autopilot for a bit, grabbing the cameras, laptop, phone, putting the raw meat in the fridge, pouring out cat food and water, etc. When I walked out the door I called Meagan back and asked where they were at. She said that the boss was just finishing up an x-ray and then they'd hit the road. Apparently he didn't get the message that he was supposed to be her ride... It was still faster for her to get a ride from her office than for me to pick her up so I just reminded her to grab the hospital bag out of her car.

See, there was a reason that we had the bag packed and in the car, we just didn't know that reason would come this early but we both had a feeling. The clothing I put on in the morning was chosen with post c-section bare skin-to-skin contact in mind should Meagan not be able to do so. Also, that morning, we had a 8am appt at the cop shop to get the car seat installation checked; another thing checked off the list. As we left for the car seat check Meagan reminded me that it was a full moon that night too.

I rushed to the hospital and on the way took advantage of anticipating the arrival of our boy without a laboring wife screaming next to me. I called the local Flemings to arrange a pickup for Meagan's car and called my parents to give them the status update.

At about 8:00pm Meagan met me at the emergency entrance after a drawn out trip sitting on a floor mat and garbage bag - the boss's new Explorer has suede seats. He said that he would have driven faster if she was having stronger contractions. Since her contractions were only minor he opted to avoid a speeding ticket. We hurried up to the maternity ward, floor 2 or the one with the dragonfly, whichever is easier to remember. They were expecting us and had a room all ready.