Luke was born on August 11th.  A birth to remember.  Our beach baby.  Probably couldn’t have written a better story for his arrival.  I guess I’ll tell the story.

We were on vacation at Bethany Beach.  We’d put all the kids to bed, and the adults were treating ourselves to a movie, The Hangover.  Sometimes I think I’m a wolfpack of one.  But I digress.  Marcia went to bed early.  When she called me to come up during the movie, I knew something was not right.  Her water broke.

I snapped into action.  Threw clothes in the suitcase.  Packed up the toiletry bag.  Got dressed.  Marcia and I were going to drive to our hospital… in Baltimore, 2 1/2 hours away.  I couldn’t find my wallet.  I went downstairs to look for it, told Aunt Mary that Marcia’s water broke.  Still couldn’t find my wallet.  Next thing I knew, EMTs were walking in the door.  Apparently they were called without asking me.  (It sucks when people assume they know what is best for you, and don’t bother asking.)  I guess we weren’t going to Baltimore.  Anyway, we went to Lewes, pronounced Lewis, to Beebe Medical Center.

No NICU, 5 weeks early.  The midwife had armpit hair, and a lot of it.  I was nervous.  They were talking about transferring us to a hospital in northern Delaware, 2 more hours away.  This was not good.  Turned out, they didn’t feel comfortable sending us.

Turned out a godsend.  Beebe ended up being the best place for Luke to be born.  They were great.  They were completely laid back.  They encouraged skin to skin contact.  They let Luke stay in the room with us the whole time.  They had a great lactation consultant.

I think, had we made it to Howard County General, he probably would have been taken to the NICU.  They probably would have insisted on supplementing with formula.

Instead, things were natural.  Luke and Marcia bonded, the way a mother and son should bond.  Reminded us a lot of the way Noah was when he was born.

Marcia said that Luke was an old soul.  When he looked into her eyes, it was like he knew what you were thinking.  And he was awake a lot for a newborn.  He and Marcia worked really hard to keep him healthy.  And they did a great job.  He was able to leave the hospital with us, and in great health.

Luke was a surprise.  We didn’t find out the sex before he was born.  We wanted that to be a surprise.  The only other surprise was Noah.  Two surprises.  Two boys.  Hmm.

A few months ago, when Marcia and I were thinking about a 5th child, we discussed it with the kids.  Noah had just been picked on by his older sisters.  He was sitting at the kitchen table crying.  Not bawling.  Just a sad cry.  “I want a brother.”  I’m glad that worked out for him.  Because, he did need a brother.