Announcing...

Born 11:12 pm 7/9/98, he weighed in at 8 pounds 3 ounces and was 21 inches long!

Both mother and son are doing well!

Here's a shot of Kim whilst waiting for the arrival of #4. How PATIENT she was! (Patient! Get it? Snicker...)

Wow! Times HAVE changed in just two short years! This monitor puts some of my (not insubstantial) technology to shame! That's a Compaq PII 300MHz humming away under what used to be the sole interface between baby, contractions and the world!
The top line (if you can see it) is the baby's heartrate. The bottom line tracks the contractions.

There's more that's nice in this brave, new world! Oakwood Hospital provides "birthing rooms" rather than the more traditional labor and delivery rooms. These rooms include "homelike" decor, and everything necessary to naturally deliver the baby. PLUS a stereo with CD player and television in an attractive oak cabinet! (Not the austere setting our parents remember! Hell! My dad wasn't even allowed in the delivery room!)

AND NOW....

The absolute first picture of the newly arrived lad! What a healthy cry! Man! I love reliving this moment!

And here, after a little cleaning and the addition of eye-goop (medical term), is the little guy again. APGAR 5=8, 10=9. They say that's good, but I haven't a clue what it means.

And finally! The moment Kim's been waiting for!