2006-05-18T16:16:00.000-06:00

Finishing the head-to-toe examination. All checked out as healthy.

2006-05-18T16:15:00.001-06:00

Pondering his future.

2006-05-18T16:15:00.000-06:00

Already found the thumb.

2006-05-18T16:14:00.002-06:00

Katherine (CNM) was excellent.

2006-05-18T16:14:00.001-06:00

Tired after the short but arduous journey.

2006-05-18T16:14:00.000-06:00

Staff put a glaze on the eyes to prevent infection.

2006-05-18T16:13:00.001-06:00

Getting checked after delivery.

2006-05-18T16:13:00.000-06:00

It's a boy!

2006-05-18T16:12:00.001-06:00

Akachan...Japanese for red baby.

2006-05-18T16:12:00.000-06:00

We are overjoyed.

2006-05-18T16:11:00.002-06:00

Welcome baby number four.

2006-05-18T16:11:00.001-06:00

Straight from the belly.

2006-05-18T16:11:00.000-06:00

The ladies looking at me like: uh, why are you taking a picture of this part.

2006-05-18T16:10:00.001-06:00

Tagged. Ready for the operation.

2006-05-18T16:10:00.000-06:00

The gear to monitor heartbeat.

2006-05-18T16:09:00.001-06:00

Feeling much better.

2006-05-18T16:09:00.000-06:00

Jenny after the epideral.

The Meek Family Continues...With Baby 4

2006-05-18T10:24:00.000-06:00

It is 10:26 AM and here I sit, still amazed, with what is before my eyes...a baby boy. Wow. Being so used to referring to everything around the household according to the female use of language: ahhh, your dress is so cute, or, what lovely hair you have...now I must adjust. Seriously though, we are so fortunate and grateful for a healthy son and for Jenny delivering without complication.

4/16/06
1:30 PM
Mt. Timpanogos Women's Health Center
Claudia (CNM) checks Jen. 80 percent efaced and dialated to a 3. Claudia says that she believes that this will be the final checkup and that the baby is due any day now. Jenny hopes that Claudia is right as the contractions now are quite strong.

4/17/06
4 AM - In Bed
Jen spends the night writhing in bed as contractions intensify. Jen turns and squeezes me with each contraction. We are thinking that today is the day.

12:00 Noon - Afternoon Walk
We take a walk to get the contractions going closer. We last for 20 minutes walking in the sun and return home. Jen takes a nap.

4 PM - Mall Walk with Roxanne
After waking up frustrated Jen calls her mother to see if she wants to going walking at the mall, in the air conditioning. They take off and I stay at home with the girls and prepare dinner.

6 PM - Phone Call
I call Jen to see how she feels. She says that the contractions are now close enough and that the pain is still intense. She wants to leave for the hospital after she gets home and has some dinner.

7:30 PM - Off for the Hospital
We have our final meal as a family of five. Jen grips the table every three minutes as the contractions become more intense. We finish eating and the girls get their bags. Ana packs some interesting clothes. I fail to notice that she is wearing mismatching shoes and that both shoes are on the wrong feet. We drop the girls off at grandma's.

7:45 PM - Hospital Checkin
Jenny gets checked in and we are placed in a room for monitoring. Jenny is checked again and has dialated to a five, 90 percent efaced. We watch American Idol as we wait for confirmation from staff. Hospital staff confirm that they are going to keep us. The baby will be delivered.

8:30 PM - Moved to Labor & Delivery Room
The room is prepped and we settle in. The contractions are even more intense. I have never seen Jenny in this kind of pain before with the other three pregnancies. American Idol continues to offer a nice distraction to the labor pains. Good bye Elliott Yamin.

8:45 PM - Unbearable Pain
The pain is unbearable now. Jen says that it is difficult to breathe through the contractions. The wait for the anaestheseologist is over. I am told that it is required for me to stand facing away from the injection of the needle. Last week there was a husband that passed out during the administration of an IV. The epideral kicks in and Jen immediately relaxes.

9:00 PM - Progress
Contractions are two minutes apart. The nurse checks and finds that Jen is now dialated fully. There are four persons total checked in at the same time, all at various stages of labor and delivery. We wait for a natural delivery to complete in order for Jen to begin.

11:50 PM - Delivery Begins
The natural delivery finishes and Katherine (CNM) steps in and we begin the final stage. Jenny pushes, relaxes and pushes. The baby gradually slides down and back with each push. Jenny feels intense pressure now as the baby is in the canal. The pain is back. I worry that she might give up as she shows extreme discomfort and her energy level has dropped significantly. We encourage her on.

May 18, 2006
12:13 AM - Delivered
A baby boy, red, lots of dark hair, a small cry, a meek voice. Tears come for us as we are amazed with what has come. He is healthy. Jen has made it. We are grateful. Calls to family and friends begin.

Meek Home

The Meek Family Continues...With Baby 4