E-mail to Deb Bloor - sent just after Mike's birth,

 

Thank you; we also believe he is most beautiful.  I sent the Mike’s first photos from the hospital and hadn’t had time to size & organize them.  I’m not like “most men”; not giving enough information – usually I give everyone around me “too much” info, more than they might want.  Personally, I ask a lot of questions, and wrongly assume that others are like me – “wanting to know”.  I think more is better, but it is also more time consuming and challenging. 

 

Mikes’ birth weight was 6.5 lbs, & length 19”.  He was all Nino could handle.  If he had been bigger, Nino would have needed a surgical delivery.  She tried to go thru a completely natural birth, but the contractions pain & time involved became too much.  We arrived at the hospital at 9:00 AM on Saturday June 27^th and Mike was born at 10:55 PM.  Nino went thru the first half without any anesthesia.  When she was at about 4 cm, we decided to go with the epidermal and everything got much better after that.  Around 10:00 PM, Nino reached the needed 10 cm.  Then the Mid-Wife came, and pushing out was started.  

 

I have gained a greater respect for women; I went thru the delivery process with Nino, and helped in every way possible.  I held her left leg and put my hand on her back; when she went thru a 10 second push cycle, I pulled on her leg and pushed on her back.  After about an hour, Mike finally made the difficult trip from the warm comfort of his first home into the demands of our everyday world.  He didn’t cry right away at birth, but appeared very alert.  I first heard him cry out while he was getting his first bath; maybe the nurse got some soap in is eye.  I recorded that sound and have it on my pocket recorder.  If you will give me a phone call, I’ll play the short recording for you over the phone.

 

Our stay at the North Side – Forsyth Hospital – Woman’s Center lasted about 60 hours.  Fortunately, we had the time needed when we returned to home from Morgantown, WV to shop around for the best places & services for the delivery of our beloved Mike.

 

We went to the hospital on Saturday morning, arriving around 9:00 AM.  Nino’s contractions had started late Friday night around 3 PM, and she didn’t get sleep that night.  Mike came at 10:55 PM on Saturday night.  After Mike was born, we moved from the very large birthing room into a normal hotel sized hospital room.  I stayed with Nino the whole time, and slept on a coach in her hospital room.  

 

I think I left the hospital only twice while we were there; once to go out to eat, and on Sunday I attended funeral services for a long time friend of mine who died on 6/25/09 from complications associated with throat cancer.  His name was Bob Harvey; he was just 52 years old.  We had worked together for a couple of years back in 1999 & 2000.  Bob was also a Chemical Engineer and a very good Pool player.  Many people attended his service; he will be missed – he left his mark upon our world.

 

We left the hospital and returned home on Monday night, arriving home around 11:00 PM.  Since then, Nino – Mike and I have been getting into a new living routine.  Mike’s arrival has changed our lives for the better; we now wonder how we were able to live without him for over 8 years.

 

Let me get to Mike’s photos:

 

 

 

Mike – just after “Dad” cut the cord!

 

 

Our first “family” photo together!

 

 

Mike loving his “first meal”!

 

 

Mike cleaned up for a “photo op”!

 

 

Mike was just the “right small size”; saving his mother was his first act of love!

 

          

 

"Look out world – here I come!"

 

As soon as I can get “round to it”; I’m going to put Mike up on our web site: http://www.gladiators-usa.com  His photo will be a link to a collection of his best photo-ops.

 

Thank you for being a wonderful loving person.  You help to bring out the best in people who are blessed with your presence in their lives.

 

Let me know when you move on from Fort Martin to other work.  I’m still checking out available employment opportunities; including growing a family business.  Professional Engineer / Manager is how I’m marketing my skills set, but there is much more to me and I enjoy the freedom to more fully express myself which a family business would offer.  I’ve always made my living working as an engineer, while keeping my family business as a hobby.  GLADIATORS-usa.com earns a few thousand dollars per year, when I have learned enough to help enough people; then, this hobby business might become a real source of financial support.  For many years it has been a learning opportunity as I slowly learn to make my way as a citizen of the world.

 

I’ve copied Dave Adams; maybe he can deal with one more “big email” from me?

 

Bless you and your family,

 

Mike, Nino & Ray Higley