Luke David

After a fairly typical Sunday night dinner on December 13, no one expected what happened next. Nola and Nopsi received a call from Uncle Jeff at 3:30am Monday morning, telling them that Aunt E’s water had broken and that they needed to get to the hospital. The newest member of our family had decided to make an appearance earlier than scheduled!

I discovered a text from Jeff when I woke up letting me know where they were. After bringing Riley to school, Rory and I came back home to have breakfast and get some toys and things together before going up to the hospital. At that point Erin’s labor progressed quite quickly, so I found myself rushing to get to there in time.

However, we had to wait about two hours before getting the news from Jeff that all was well. There were lots of people in the waiting room with us, and I kept Rory occupied with trucks (including one from UJ for the new baby) and Nopsi’s iPad. It wasn’t quite the party that we had for Kate’s birth, but I’m so glad I was able to be there. I even ducked back into LDR5 to see how Jeff and Erin were doing. They were tired but they were ready. Jeff even asked me to run down to the cafe to get him breakfast and coffee. However, it turned out he wouldn’t get to eat until after 1pm.

 

Baby boy Luke David was born at 11:15am on Monday, December 14. He weighed 7lbs, 4 ounces and measured 20 inches long. Jeff came out to the waiting room to announce the news to all of us, and it was so easy to see just how excited he was. I’m so happy that my brother has a boy of his own now.

After about an hour and a half of more waiting, we finally got to troop back to their room and meet Luke. He is so damn cute.

Rory was fairly curious about the new tiny person his “Ossy” was holding, but then he just went back to playing with his trucks. He was really good considering he had spent the whole day hanging out in a hospital.

We left so Erin could feed Luke, and Kenny arrived with lunch for everyone around the same time. He ended up taking Rory to pick up Riley from school and then head home, but I stayed at the hospital. I wanted to see the arrival of Big Sister Kate.

Nola and Nopsi picked Kate up from school and brought her straight to the hospital. Jeff came out to take her back (after she finished her veggie sticks snack first, though) to see her mommy and to finally meet her new brother.

They had some private family time and then the remaining of us went back to the room to join them. Kate was so happy and sweet and proud and full of love for Luke. She calls him “my new baby” and is such a great big sister already.

 

I brought the boys by the next day after school so Riley could meet his new cousin and so we could give Luke and Kate their gifts from us. Kate loved her pink heart sweatshirt and big sister book and jellybeans, and I found some adorable sleepers and outfits for Luke.

  

Erin and Jeff brought Luke home last Wednesday and have been busy adjusting to their new life with a toddler and a newborn. Erin says Luke has been easier than Kate was when she was brand new, so I pray that continues. They may not truly catch up on their sleep for months, but I do hope Luke does his best to make things easy on his parents. And look what was a part of their dinner on their first night home: a heart-shaped chicken nugget from Wendy’s. Couldn’t have been more perfect.

Welcome to the world and to the family, Luke David.

It is our privilege and a blessing to have you as a part of our lives.