The Best April Fool's Day Ever

 

Although we were eagerly expecting it, we were not sure when we would get that phone call--you know, the one when Bryan would be out of breath, trying to say that he and Camille were headed to the hospital because the baby was coming.  Just like on Christmas Eve, Mary Lee and I had set out our clothes carefully so that we could quickly grab them and take off.  (I was even hoping secretly for something in my stocking.)  But this was more exciting than Christmas.  Unlike toys that tarnish and presents that perish, this new little baby was a long term deal--no trade-ins, no change of size, no worry about batteries.  This was the deal of a lifetime, actually even longer.  A little after 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning the cell phone rang.  As first I thought it was the alarm, but when Mary Lee said, "Hello," listened for a moment and said, "We're coming.  We will be there in just a few minutes."  I knew that the long awaited time had come.  What a great way to start April Fool’s Day.  The adventure was beginning!

Like lightning we dressed and headed for the door (nothing in my stocking but my foot).  We left Cathy and Darrel’s house, hopped into the car and buzzed south on Bangerter Highway toward Camille’s and Bryan’s house on Duncan Meadows Way.  When we arrived, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed:  Bryan and Camille were very calm and under control.  They were already dressed and their clothes were on right side out.  

“I’ll give you a call when things start happening,” Bryan said calmly as he closed the door to the garage. There was no crazy frantic running around, no “we’ll have to get that later,” no “the contractions are only 3 minutes apart,” just happy pleasant, experienced parents headed to the hospital as if this were part of their regular routine.  (Camille and Bryan need to work on their frazzled, frantic, flabbergasted, funny skills.)  Tytan was sleeping soundly.  The night was quiet.  The house was neatly organized.  There was nothing to do but catch a wink until Tytan awoke or “the call” came. 

A couple of hours later, at about a quarter after seven, the phone rang and Bryan made the announcement, “She was born at 7:05 this morning.  Both Camille and baby are doing fine.  She is 20.5 inches long,  (I guess since babies are always lying down they are “long” rather than “tall.”) and weighs 7 pounds 7 ounces. It only took about two contra,tions and was the fastest birth ever.”

“That’s great.” I said. “Have you chosen a name?”

“We are still working on it, but I think we’re close,” he replied with hesitation in his voice.
(I think he was fearful that I would be pushing a name like Brucetta.)

We were so excited.  Tytan was still sleeping, but we were ready to hop into the car and race to the hospital right away.  Wouldn’t you know, Camille and Bryan foresaw that Tytan might need a little something because the baby would be the center of attention, so they had wisely hidden away a special gift to him from his new little sister.  So, when Tytan woke up, we hastily helped him get dressed, grabbed a bite for breakfast and piled into the car heading for the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray.  We had hidden away the package for Tytan as we had been asked to do and we were ready to see his new little sister.

In the hospital room Bryan was all smiles and Camille, although tired, flashed a big smile and a contented nod.  The baby was swaddled in a soft blanket and slept in a small clear plastic baby bed.  She looked tiny and comfortable with the hint of a smile.  (I am sure that she was thrilled to be in this family at this time with such loving parents and big brother.)  Michelle, Josh and Ben were on the way and Nathan, Allison and Avery would be there after conference.  It was a regular celebration.

After one quick glance and a hug from Mom and Dad, Tytan was ready to do something other than sit around admiring the baby.  She didn’t seem to know how to do anything except sleep.  Bryan and Camille then surprised him with a gift from his new little sister--a Thomas Train set.

“Wow, this little sister of mine isn’t so bad after all,” he thought. “She really knows how to choose cool presents.”  And for the next hour Tytan and his Dad set up the track in a number of configurations and played with the railroad cars pushing them around the track, while the TV displayed General Conference in the background.  We did not hear many of the messages that morning, but we were nonetheless grateful for the new addition to the family and that she arrived safely.

“So, have you decided on a name?”  I asked.

“Aubrie Claire Cook,” came the resolute reply. 

As so it is, that Aubrie Claire Cook came into the world on April 1, 2012, proof positive of the miracle of birth.

Who Knows?

At one forty-three in the afternoon I was doing just what I was supposed to–pacing back and forth in the hallway on the fifth floor of the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo. Now, that can be a very dangerous thing for an architect to do. He will likely examine every nook and cranny, analyze all the design and construction details, vocalize his observations and as a result make everybody within earshot wish they had not heard the commentary. I was no exception. The ceiling soffit had a very gentle curve which probably cost more than the aesthetic value it provided. Furthermore, the vinyl flooring revealed an irregular pattern that must have been a nightmare for the installer. The door to Room W509, half covered with a stainless steel kickplate, made everything in the vicinity look blurry and showed off every fingerprint.

I couldn’t hold still. As I examined the door, paced, and critiqued the ceiling, I could hear the muffled sounds of activity in the room beyond. My mind wandered. It was as if I were traveling back in time about 34 years to a similar setting. In my mind’s eye, I was amazed that Michelle was just where Barbara had been, with sweat beaded on her forehead, pushing to the doctor’s command. Although the epidural block had diminished the pain, the pressure and urge to push was still powerful. Near the bed where I had been, Josh was coaching Michelle, holding her hand, telling her she was doing great. He looked much more calm and collected than I remember being.

As the baby’s head started to squeeze through the birth canal, like dough through a cookie press, the doctor placed a small electronic probe on the baby’s head to track the heart tones and monitor the stress. All sorts of strange terms were flying around–one hundred percent effaced, fully dilated, IV, and here he comes. (I recognized that last one.) It was as if it were in slow motion. First the top of the head appeared, then a bit more, then a shoulder, then his torso and all of a sudden the whole baby was squirming and wiggling. The doctor held him up as the nurse used a suction bulb to remove fluid and mucus from his nose and mouth. With a plastic clamp the umbilical chord was isolated and then cut and the baby started to cry. It was amazing! Moments earlier he was a big bulge making his mother’s belly as tight as a drum and now he was in the light, on his own, breathing, crying, trying to figure out what had happened. Cleaned off and wrapped in a little receiving blanket, he was placed in his mother’s arms. Neither she nor his dad quite knew what to do.

“Is it okay if I hold him?” Josh queried. (I think that is the universal “Dad question.”)
“Oh, oh, look at him.” Michelle observed. (And that is the universal Mom comment.)

Welcome to the world, Benjamin Reid Cook!

With all the excitement I was imagining on the other side of the door, I continued my pacing. Although Mary Lee had a magazine in her hands I really think she was only pretending to read, because she would eagerly look up every time there was sound. Now people were entering and leaving–nurses and doctor. I caught a glance inside just enough to see the curtain but everything else was blocked.

At last we were invited to enter the delivery room (which was also the recovery room). It was nicely appointed with the medical equipment and monitors to give it the comfortable “right at home” feeling. Michelle and Benjamin were together on the bed and Josh was all smiles beside them. As Michelle and Josh introduced us to Benjamin they observed, “Look at that dark hair on his little cone head.”

I responded, “Yeah, he really is cute and . . .”

“Cone head?” I interrupted myself. What is that all about? Then I remembered that the doctor took Nathan’s head and shaped it in his hands like a snowball. I remembered wondering, “What are you doing with my baby?” His head looked like an earthquake had hit–it had ripples and bumps all over the place.

Little Benjamin had no such bumps and lumps but his little head was definitely elongated--not quite a cone, but close. All that time in the birth canal had extruded his little head out like a cylinder. I didn’t dare say anything, I just looked on in amazement. While I was wondering about what would happen to Ben’s head, Josh mentioned that the doctor has said that the “cone” would go away after a while.

I looked again at Ben. He was so ‘stinkin’ cute (to borrow a phrase from Megan), it was all I could do to wait my turn to hold him. His little hands were curled tightly in a fist and his fingers looked like those of a piano player who could also shoot three pointers–a perfect blend of his Mom and Dad. Although he did not seem to cry much, when he did I thought I heard the mellow tones of a singer mixed up in there somewhere.

Here he is only a few moments old and I am already projecting into his future. “Settle down Bruce,” I said to myself, “There will be plenty of time for that later. Just let him get his feet under himself. Who knows maybe even . . . racketball!”

Mary Lee: I just want to add a couple of lines to Dad's wonderful post. Here's what I wrote in my phone as we waited to meet our newest grandson:

"Ben was born at 1:43. We arrived, pizza, bread sticks, and Jamba Juice in hand, at exactly 1:48 pm. It's about 2:20, and we're still waiting in the hallway to meet Ben. We can hear that he has a good, strong cry. Dad says he's just upset that we're not there yet. The nurse said Michelle had to push a lot and that she did well. 'She's tough,' she said.

We're excited to meet you, Ben!"

A wonderful weekend with the Provo Cooks

Michelle and Josh arrived in early evening, Friday, May 27th.  We enjoyed a relaxed dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Old Pueblo Grille.

The next morning, Dad and I challenged Josh and Michelle to racquetball.  Dad was the real challenge; I was happy when I could return the ball. 

Family racquetball challenge at Udall Park

Such intense activity required an equally intense cooling off activity, which Dad, Michelle and Josh enjoyed in the pool at Ventana Vista Condominiums, site of our newest rental unit (still un-rented, as of yet), located about a half-mile from our house.  Michelle and Josh were impressed with the facilities, which include a tennis court, workout room, pool table and large screen TV, and a large large meeting hall and kitchen.



Michelle and baby are looking mighty fine--Dad and Josh, too!



Marco . .  Polo.   Marco . . . Polo.   Marco. . . Polo.  (I don't know who came up with that game but when I do I am going to throw him (or her) in.

Startled by the camera.

One of Michelle's closest friends growing up, Christina Heaton, married Kyle Kreig on Saturday evening at the El Conquistador resort.  Michelle was the hit vocalist at the wedding!

Mr.and Mrs. Christiana and Kyle Kreig

Christina and Michelle:  Friends at sunset.

Sunday morning we enjoyed a traditional Call family breakfast on the patio, including homemade blueberry muffins.

On Memorial Day, we went to Kartchner Caverns and since we couldn't take our cameras into the caves, we re-enacted our experience below:

Fun in Nauvoo with the Indiana Calls

We were very grateful that Nathan and Megan braved the six and a half hour drive from Greenwood to Nauvoo to attend the Scott reunion.

Avery and Kaitlyn with Megan, Alison, and Max with Nathan, after our meeting in the Seventies Hall

In the evening we enjoyed a delicious BBQ, followed by some family talent.  Nathan wowed 'em with an improvisation on his guitar.

Ali filming her dad on her new iPod Touch.  Carrie Scott assisting.

More cousins sang, then Carrie and Nathan closed the show with some rousing numbers.  Kaitlyn and Eliza  stole the show!

It's not as warm in Idaho Falls

A few weeks ago, we flew up to Idaho Falls to celebrate Grandpa Call's birthday and Easter, and to help put in their spring garden.  As an added bonus, Camille, Bryan and Tytan, and Michelle and Josh drove up to join in the work and the fun!

As we were flying in we were amazed to see snow all over the place.  However, there was a precise line across one of the farms where the snow stopped and the brown earth began.  It was amazing.  I had never seen such a clean line before, but this one went on for at least a mile.  Mom and Dad picked us up early Friday afternoon and we were worried that we might not be able to do anything because of the snow. It had snowed two inches the night before!  Camille and Bryan arrived a short time later and Michelle and Josh came later that evening. 

Bryan is studying for the GMAT.  He bravely set up his laptop at the hub of the action and somehow managed to divide his attention between GMAT sample problems and what was happening around him.  His multi-tasking and concentration abilities are impressive!



Bryan hits the GMAT books

 By Saturday morning, the snow had mostly melted, but the soil still needed to dry out a bit, so we took advantage of the time to see the fascinating "Bodies" exhibit at the Museum of Idaho (see details about the exhibit at http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com/.  It is hard to see how anyone can suppose that the intricacies of the human body were somehow an accident of nature rather than part of a grand Divine design.

         It is hard to tell if we were coming or going.  But I am sure it was one or the other.  (I think.)

    Josh jumped in and finished the tilling.  His big smile is proof of his superb acting ability.  He even made it look easy.

When you get two architects together you can be sure that everything will line up in every direction.  We did have a bit of frustration with those rapsberries.  They just would not stay pumb and straight.

When we saw how successful Josh was at looking happy, we had to try our best to do the same.  It looks like we were able to pull of a pretty convincing bluff.

The help from Bryan and Josh was absolutely tremendous.  We would not have been able to complete everything without them.  Camille and Michelle have certainly got good taste.

It is impossible to do anything in this family without others pitching in.  It was great.

When the tilling was done, Bryan leveled the playing field phylosophically as well as actually.  It was the best looking garden ever.

Michelle and Camille did their job looking stunning as usual. 

Tytan and Bryan on the hunt.

Oooh!  Look what I found. 

Hey, Grandpa, you are not going to get these eggs away from me.  You will never catch me!

I remember cramming in College before a test.  I was able to get a whole year of study into just a few hours.  I used those cramming skills to plant the garden, but was surprised to learn that we couldn't plant in the morning and harvest in the afternoon.  You can see I was all dressed for the occasion.  Hmm.  Maybe a little water will help.

Boy oh boy.  Mom certainly makes good strawberry shortcake.

It was a Happy Birthday and a Happy Easter.  We all had a great time.  We have the best family ever!

A big announcement and fun times with the Cook families

Bruce planting our garden on March 28th

Thanks to my wonderful husband who works so hard to provide for our family (plus doing our taxes, trimming trees, tilling and planting the garden, fixing things around the house, and many, many other helpful tasks), I was able to go to Salt Lake on March 31st for General Conference and the week following.  While it is always a privilege to attend Conference, the best part of the trip was being with family!

On Tuesday morning, Camille, Tytan and I visited my sister-in-law, Marilyn, and met the newest member of the extended Scott family, Calvin Watkins Scott, born March 8, 2011.  Eliza, now his "big" sister, joined us after returning from pre-school.

Calvin Watkins Scott

Camille brought lunch for us:  delicious Thai chicken and peanuts on noodles and granola yogurt parfait with strawberries.  Thank you, Camille!  In fact, I liked the yogurt parfait so much that I served it to the women who came to book group at our house last night.

Tytan at the wheel leaving the Scott's house

Tytan really seems to like the cap we gave him!  No doubt he'll be wearing a lot of baseball caps and other hats and helmets throughout his life.

That evening Josh and Michelle joined us at Camille's and Bryan's house.  They are trying to decide whether to stay in their current apartment or move to a bigger place, closer to Josh's work in American Fork.  Camille and Bryan suggested some online sites for them to check out.

Camille, Michelle and Josh look at housing possibilities while Tytan tries to figure out how to get into the game.

Now you may very well ask, why would Josh and Michelle consider moving closer to Josh's work, when Michelle's elementary school is located in Springville, in the opposite direction?  Well, Michelle doesn't plan to teach next fall.  Why?  Because she's looking forward to being a full-time mom after Oct. 8th!

YES, JOSH AND MICHELLE ARE GOING TO HAVE THEIR FIRST CHILD THIS FALL!!!  We are thrilled for them.  They are going to be fabulous parents...just like the rest of our children.

Speaking of wonderful grandchildren, I got to watch Tytan for most of Thursday while Camille made a rare and much-appreciated (I'm sure) appearance at L3. 

Tytan and I had a great time together.  Here are some photos to prove it--and to show I'm only being objective when I say he is one of the cutest and smartest grandchild around.  In fact, his only competition at present seems to be concentrated in Indianapolis....

Tytan explains what he was trying to portray in his latest masterpiece.  Note how he is holding the pen with no coaching.

A budding architect--taking after Grandpa

Tytan and I went to Story Time at the Herriman Library. While most of the children played or read books with their moms when we arrived, oblivious to everyone else, Tytan sat quietly and intently watched what everyone else was doing. He really enjoyed the stories and songs.

Placing puzzle pieces

Getting hands stamped

Michelle and Josh had brought up cookies for dinner earlier in the week, and as soon as I opened the cupboard to look for a snack, Tytan spotted them and exclaimed urgently, "Tootie!  Tootie!"

Not sure who taught Tytan to dunk, but that seemed what he wanted to do, so I put some milk in a bowl for him.

The fine art of dunking

Oops!  What do I do now?

Looking forward to the next time Tytan and I get to play.  Camille reports that Tytan has been signing "Grandma" and "Grandpa."  Sounds like it's time for another visit soon!