Midnight. Oh who am I kidding? I can’t sleep! I’m going to have a new baby tomorrow morning, or, this morning!

Tuesday, May 1. 2 am. The neighbor’s dog is barking his head off for no good reason at all! Really!?!

3 am. Time to get up. I’ve got a lot to do before we leave at 5. Talitha is so excited, she’s up too! I really wish the kids could come to hospital to see their new sister. Big bummer!

5 am. Time to go. Can’t believe it’s already here. Where did 9 months go? Our friend comes to our home to watch the kids so that we can leave. Another friend is coming in a couple hours to stay with them for the next few days and homeschool them. Thank God for good friends!

5:15 am. Driving to the hospital. Reality hits hard. The next time we get in this vehicle, we will need 3 seats for the 3 of us instead of 2!!!!!!!!

5:30 am. Checking into the hospital. Here we go!

6:30 am. Summer is prepped for surgery and we are in a waiting room, which is actually the hallway. Summer’s bed has been sectioned off by a few curtains. We joke, laugh, and pray together. I kidd that this hallway room is a result of Obamacare! (Actually, the hospital is under renovation.)

7:45 am. Summer is taken to the OR. I put on my scrubs and get ready. These are cool. Praying. Nervous. My parents call.

8:10 am. They call me back. Summer is smiling and nervous. Shaking from the meds. I set in a chair beside her, we talk, and wait. The atmosphere is surprisingly jovial. The radio is on and it plays “You’re amazing, just the way you are” (how fitting) and one of Haddon’s favorite songs “I said Hey I’ll be gone today.” (Haddon likes it only because we dance crazy when we hear it! Again, how fitting!)

8:15 am. “Daddy, do you have a camera?” Yes. “Get it ready.” What? It’s only been a few minutes! My IPhone is so slow it will take forever to pull up the camera!! Hurry. Hurry.

8:20 am. “Here she is Dad. Take a picture!” My first thought as I clicked the camera button, “Oh my God!” This is the third time I have seen this very thing happen, and it is still such a stunning miracle to me that all I can say is “Oh my God!” Second thought, “Thank you God!”

Thursday, May 24. 1:30 pm. I’ve just recovered enough from having a newborn in our home that I could set down and write this post! Every time I look into her tiny face and see those bright eyes, I can’t help but praise the Lord! There is no other way to experience this process of life without seeing our Lord as the Divine Miracle Worker. And if there is a hero/heroine in this story, it is my dear wife Summer! A great wife and a terrific mom!