Five years and counting...

Five years ago today Stuart James Perry was born at 3:11 A.M.

The day began in a nervous sort of way because Julie was having some problems with the pregnancy. We had made an appointment with the doctor, but were forced to wait until the late afternoon to see anyone. All morning we were quiet and nervous, I rearranged most of the stuff in the kitchen and cleaned until it was time to go. Once at the Doctor's office I paced around and said nothing to anyone. When Julie came out she informed me that her "problem" was that she had gone into labor early, a week or so...

We called a few people and headed to the hospital. With our first son, Patrick, ten years before, I made sure to wait in the waiting room. I started out in the delivery room with all intentions of being there for the entire experience. The room was dim and set for a relaxing mood, with home like decor comprised of lamps, rugs and a small sofa. We waited for something to happen and all was relaxed until it came time for the big event.. then it turned into a scene from cops, people began flying in and out, they dropped the bottom half of the comfy bed and stirrups appeared from nowhere, harsh fluorescent lighting quickly replaced the homey glow of the lamps, and all sorts of medical equipment was rushed in... yes.. I freaked out and hid in the waiting room until it was all over...

So... this go around I was determined to remain calm and stay the course... They were going to induce labor and began giving Julie drugs of all sorts. She became quite irritable so I slipped off from time to time to run to the smoking area at the rear of the hospital. With each return she quizzed me as to where I had been, with ever increasing vitriol... I replied, "getting some water" with my head bowed in humility. The room was dark and nurses were running to and fro checking things and turning dials as they do.Then one of them asked where the doctor was.. I began to listen to them at this point and discovered that no one really knew where the guy was at. She said, "Well this baby is coming right now with him or without him" I steeled myself and stood next to Julie at her side facing her grimacing expressions of pain and impatience, holding her hand and wincing with each vice like squeeze she gave me.

I made sure not to watch the business taking place just behind me, nope... blood of a loved one isn't something I want to see. Julie's mom was there on her other side and made sure to give me a blow by blow of all the goings on. When I first heard James cry out I was amazed... I asked if he was ok and they assured me he was as they took him over to the little table to lay him under the food warmer...

I stared at him for a few minutes and then took him to the nursery for all the tests, alien implants and tracking devices they put them through. It was a long, sweaty, harrowing event for all involved, especially Julie... I will never forget swaying back up the hallway in complete relief and exhaustion. It was all over and calming down just as the Doctor came through the doors, looked at me and said, "Where's the little mother?" I could've smacked him in the head for that remark, but just gave him the best "just don't speak to me" look I could muster as I turned and walked away...

James has proven to be the polar opposite of Patrick. If Patrick had been anymore laid back and quiet he would have oozed into the floor in complacency from his spot on the couch... not James... He is a high strung power whiner and constant ball of motion. Always on the look out for monsters, sharks and any reason to arm up for patrol. A fan of all things military and gun related from the get go, he is never far from his trusted weaponry. He has seen every shark movie and documentary ever made and demands to be read to at every opportunity. He thirsts for knowledge and attention at all times.

I was determined to create a fifty fifty scenario with him from the beginning and think I have done a pretty good job of it. We switched nights when he was a baby and I took all weekend duty. I've rocked, fed, changed, wrestled, read to, gone on patrol with, taken for shots, etc etc....

He's a good kid who is destined for jail time I'm sure... He's already wanted me to call and make sure that there is room for him at basic training on Parris Island...

Happy birthday James... You are a great kid and and have shown me a good time thus far.. just please stop tormenting the dogs....