Drake Owen Poyer

Well surprise, surprise!  Little Drake Owner Poyer joined us a bit early on 10/11/12 and we are just so excited to have such a great bundle of joy!

A cruel trick of fate that he has a full set of hair - but I have no problem living vicariously through him!

His face looks quite like Roxy's when she was born except that he has more hair.  This is Amber's rationale for having a bit of indigestion during her pregnancy (we love Old Wives).

It was such a tender mercy that Drake came when he did.  I was on a business trip to Memphis getting ready to wrap up travel for the baby.  I figured that a ten day buffer would be just fine.  Amber told me on Tuesday that she was having some mild contractions but not to worry as they were not bad.  Thus, I went about changing the world one mutual fund at a time.  As planned, I got home to Omaha late on Wednesday plopping into bed around 1145 at night.  While in a pretty nice slumber, Amber started slugging me in the side and telling me how much pain she was in.  I thought that it was pretty selfish of her to make me up at 2AM given how stressful it is to have a pregnant spouse.  But I told her to suck it up and went back to bed.  Roxy woke me up at 230AM and I took her into her room and fell asleep on the floor. 

Around 330, I woke up to some large screams coming from our bathroom.  I awoke and ran to find her in the bathtub yelling at me...at me of all people!  "Call your parents," she yelled.  "We are going to the hospital".  After a dozen unanswered calls, I reached out to our brother-in-law, Superman Jeff Glasgow, who answered after one ring and was over to our house in 5 minutes.  I had the car and bags packed up, and off we went.  It was so much fun to zoom through the empty streets at 345 and despite my speeding and running through the red lights, no police cars were serving our community (must be those despicable budget cuts I keep hearing about on TV all of the time these days).  I thought that I heard a couple of sirens going off, but it was just Amber moaning and wailing in the seat next to me.  She looked pretty uncomfortable even though I was the one who did not have a chance to shower, change, or even brush my teeth. I must have looked pretty awful pulling up to the emergency room that is for sure!

I rushed into the emergency room to ask for some help, and the nurses at the desk rushed out and picked Amber up in a nice and comfortable, although manual, wheelchair.  We wheeled right on up to the delivery room and it was all hands on deck with doctors and nurses everywhere.  After a quick check, Amber was a full 10 and ready to go.  It was pretty shocking to all.  Amber was pretty uncomfortable, but I was the one in real pain as I had a sore hamstring from a run the day before and I had to stand there next to the bed while Amber was laying down getting fussed over.  I am happy to say that I was able to have a natural birth despite the pain and discomfort.

After all of the early action, Drake decided to sit tight and one by one the nurses and assistants left the room leaving us alone to just soak in the night.  I called my parents a bunch more times to try and get Uncle Jeff some relief but still no answer. 

A funny aside: I was able to connect with my mom around 715AM.  She was great to rush over and help Uncle Jeff and spend the day with Roxy with no complaints.  But I asked her about the missed phone calls.  She told me that she had a dream that the phone kept ringing and she was not able to answer it.  What a coincidence huh?!?!?!?!

Once Amber got filled with the pain meds and started to get a bit more comfortable, we had some laughs.  Does anyone else think it is odd how neglected us father's are despite being in the hospital and at the birth.  I had a headache, an aforementioned sore hamstring, my neck had a kink in it, but nobody once even asked me how I was doing or offered any drugs at all.  I was lucky to be shown where the water was.

I love The Drake!

After a little bit of work, our second doctor of the night stopped by, and at exactly 8AM, The Drake arrived!  I was tremendous during the whole process and barely made a peep.  I thought that I overheard the doctor say that he had never seen such a clean cut of the umbilical cord but that is because he had not seen my previous work with Roxy.  I survived on like two cups of water and one thing of Oreos.  I left a bunch of Oreos in reserve - I was that composed. 

Amber was pretty good herself.  She had some pretty heavy meds because of some pretty major contractions (my hamstring is okay now) and was completely in control the entire time (I found the ice machine without any directions at all!).  The people at LakeSide Hospital were incredible.  It was like a resort and all of the people were just amazing.  So happy, friendly, and helpful (they had unlimited Code Red in the cafeteria). 

Baby Drake came out in 7 minutes once Amber got started pushing and came out as straight as an arrow and with a full head of hair.  He got a quick scrub down and then immediately went into Amber's arm for some skin-to-skin.  It was such a great and wonderful sight to see.  Amber was glowing and was in such great control.  She had a HUMONGOUS smile and just melted right away with him.  We argued about the name for a full 24 hours (Amber liked Zach and I liked it too, but it just did not write out as well as Drake) but he is a total Drake - the Dragon!  We all cuddled together and are so in love with our little man.  He is so chill and happy.  I have only heard him cry a couple of times as he is just so mellow and content.

Roxy came and visited us in the afternoon and she just loves her baby brother (Love The Drake!).  She wants to hold him, touch him, and she is great about checking in on him and making sure he is okay.  She says "love the Drake" (with some prodding from dad) and is trying to say "brother".  She has helped him with a bath, helps to change his diapers, helps him feed with mommy, points out all of his body parts, collects rocks and flowers for him, draws him pictures, tucks him in, kisses his head and feet, and just wants to be around him.  It is amazing!  She is just the best little girl and we love our kiddos so much!  We had some great visits in the hospital and grandma and grandpa got to come and visit too.  They sure love their grandkids. 

Mommy and baby are doing great.  My hamstring is feeling better.  Roxy is quiet during sleep time and that is about it these days; she has so much to say.  Come and visit us anytime!

Happy, happy, happy.

Roxy loves being a big sister.