Zoe Mina Lulu

First off, very heartfelt and grateful thanks to Kristen for guest blogging for us. It was tricky but worth it. (I spent half my time helping Beth and the other half texting. Often simultaneously)

So, she's here.She's beautiful.

And I am home. Why? You ask. Well, in an amazing act of selflessness and fortitude, Beth's mother, Gail, hopped on the earliest flight from Cincinnati and flew out to be here when the baby was born. She missed it by ONE HOUR! But, that's okay, because Zoe wasn't "born" as much as "wrenched from her mother's abdomen". Yes, we had to have a C-Section.
Beth started having contractions about 1:30 in the morning and by 8 it was obvious they weren't false labor. Her doc wanted us to go the hospital.
We did. She got drugs.The room was awesome. All was good. Heart rate. Mother. Everything.

Except Zoe didn't want to come out. She wouldn't move down. And she was facing front instead of back. And, by 4 or so, it was apparent when Beth's water broke, that Zoe was swallowing some Meconium. Best to just take her out.
And that's what we did. Beth, trooper,really, an amazing woman, on her very first hospital stay ever, was sliced open like a halibut and Zoe was pulled out.

After we got to the room, Gail arrived. Perfect timing, truly. But because we were now in recovery, the room was small and cramped and not nearly as nice.It was good while it lasted, though. And they would only allow one other adult in the room on the cot. So, it was either sleep on the floor of the hospital lobby (and I did too much of that when Liz died) or go home. And, good thing I did. The workers got stuff done, but not nearly enough and I have to talk to them in the morning, hire a cleaning crew, clean up myself...there was a box of Omaha steaks on the porch, and the cat needed to eat and go out. So, in retrospect, not a bad dad, after all....

There is so much more to tell but this is a blog about the baby, and it's a blog with video, so here it is.
The very first video of
Zoe Mina Lulu
born 5:46 PM on Monday, April 2nd.
(The first day of Passover)
6 pounds 10 oz.
19 inches.
All cute.

PRESENTING ZOE LULU

ALLEN IS READY FOR ACTION

And the women of the world cheer...

BETH HAS JUST BEEN TOLD SHE'S GETTING DRUGS!

While we are waiting for the drugs to kick in - let's play a game:

Which one of these dogs is about to start flying coach?

Labor Day Came Early This Year!

And we're off!

Hi everyone. This is Kristen. You may know me as the Lulu's slightly surly friend who is always late to their parties but shows up with platters of home made desserts, which I like to think makes up for my bad attitude. I am guest blogging the live reports of little miss zoe's arrival.

So let me just say this. I am sick. I never get sick. I'd like to say it's because I live a healthy lifestyle, but really it has more to do with being a mildly obessive handwasher. You're probably saying to yourself right now, "She's guest blogging for 3 sentences and already the blog is about HER!", but I swear there's a reason I'm telling you this. Mostly it has to do with Nyquil. As in, I took a big swig of it last night before I went to bed.

...and this morning was having the strangest dream. I dreamt that Allen was in my side yard saying KRISTEN! KRISTEN! And he was telling me that I needed to put my garbage cans out soon. I told him it was okay, that there wasn't enough trash in them to warrant putting them out... when suddenly Dr. Doom started barking like crazy, and I realized that ALLEN WAS IN MY SIDE YARD YELLING KRISTEN! KRISTEN!

There they were - the Lulus - parked in my driveway - Beth in labor, and Huck ready to stay at my house (a.k.a. "The Happiest Place on Earth")

These are the first reports:

This is the view from the room - Allen says it's pretty fantastic:



Here's what Beth's room is like - pretty swanky if you ask me:



you were asking me, right? After all, I CONTROL THE LULU BLOG NOW. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA. *coughing fit*

stay tuned as the reports roll in...