Xpinionated

Mrs. Xpinionated is currently on bed rest.  Momma Xpinionated has driven from Indiana to join her which I’m sure is a comfort to both.  Updates on what the doctors are saying will have to come tomorrow as I am dead tired and type this only waiting for a load of clothes to finish. 

I do want to express my sincere and complete gratitude to all of our family, friends, and co-workers (almost redundant since the aforementioned have become extended family and friends if they weren’t considered as such previously) for their prayers, thoughts, and support.  We are extremely lucky to have people like you in our lives.

Tags: Daddy's Thoughts by Xpinionated
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As I arrived home Tuesday night, I decided to give Mrs. Xpinionated a call because she said I may need to pick her up from work.  To my surprise, a co-worker answers.  My first thought is that Mrs. X had to catch a ride because my cellphone was dead. 

Instead, B (the coworkers Xpinionated alias as of now) tells me that Mrs. X is in the hospital.  She has been bleeding and they need me to get to the hospital as soon as possible. 

Fear, sadness, worry crowded my thinking.  I turn around and start to head out of the neighborhood.  Then I realize I have no idea where the hospital is and my phone is dead.  So I turn back around and go to the house to get instructions.  My mind is racing, my decision making is hindered and I’m about to get on the interstate. 

Amazingly, I was less aggressive than usual.  I kept thinking, I’m no good if I get into an accident, no good in an accident.  I arrive at the hospital and after travelling the Labryinth that is Northside Hospital, I found my wife.. . . . smiling

She was listening to Devin’s heartbeat and that was all she needed to calm down.  I, on the other hand, took a few hours before I could calm down. 

Although we’re not out of the woods, mother and baby are doing well.  Though there is still bleeding, neither appear to be in harm’s way right now.  I’m sleepy but don’t want to go to sleep quite yet.  Her contractions seem to have stopped and I think she is actually sleeping now.  Gonna go . . . .

Tags: Daddy's Thoughts by Xpinionated
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A glorious Saturday morning to ya!  Devin was quite the active fella the past 14 hours.  We went to see ‘The Departed’ last night (more on that in another post).  Loud theater, lots of gunshots.  We are officially at that point where he will respond to loud noises.  I was literally sitting at the theater with my hand on Momma Xpinionated’s stomach and he was kicking me like he was playing Francis Costello (reference to ‘The Departed’, Costello was Jack Nicholson’s part) in the movie. 

Again this morning, entirely too early but I guess I’ll have to get used to that, Devin was awake and active.  The kicks or punches or elbows or whatever my lil man is doing have definitely gotten stronger.  Kinda amazing really. 

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I felt Devin move Wednesday night for the first time. He was quite the excited fellow too. And yes, we have decided to spell it Devin instead of Deven. My theory goes that if we are pronouncing it like Kevin with a ‘D’, then we should spell it as such also!

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Well, I’m 32 years old as of this past Monday.  It was a fairly quiet birthday which is fine.  I didn’t expect too much, didn’t want too much so it worked out.  It was actually kind of weird all day.  I used to get so excited about my birthday coming up but this year I didn’t really put too much into it.  Part of getting older maybe?

The way I see it, at 32 and a black male, I’ve got half the battle won.  I’m not in jail, nor do I have any plans that would result in such an outcome.  I’m alive, working, loving, and being loved….32 ain’t too bad at all.  Not too mention Devin Xavier is doing well in the womb.  I felt him move definitively for the first time last night.  Yet another one of those reaffirming moments when you realize everything you’ve known is about to change.  I should start watching Disney now so it won’t annoy me later

I still worry about how we are going to support this baby.  We make enough money but we have become so accustomed to a lifestyle that revolves around pretty immediate gratification.  We want something…we typically get it pretty quickly.  Now, we have a new life to consider.  We have to put ourselves on the back burner for the sake of lil man.  I think we can do it.  We’ve managed this far and with time I think we’ll do it instinctively to the point where it won’t hurt so bad.  Plus, I’ve tried to get as many of my toys before the baby was born as I could

Tags: Daddy's Thoughts, Just the Random by Xpinionated
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By that I mean, it’s a healthy, healthy boy. Look at the size of the . . . . boy part of this fetus

And then look at his profile

Excited? Me? Nah Hell to the yeah I’m excited!

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In a couple of hours, I will be sitting in the OB/GYN office preparing to learn the gender of my seed.

On one hand I want a boy.  On another, I want a girl.  Just a healthy kid is truly what is desired.

I bought two books Monday entitled A Father/Mother’s Legacy.  I bought it for me and Mrs. Xpinionated but I think I want to get two more for more parents.  It is basically a book with questions on each page with space for your answer.  Once filled out, you give it to your children so they can know you better!  Kinda cool in my xpinion.

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This time tomorrow I will know the sex of the young ‘un.  Initially, I didn’t want to know but now that I have to know I think it’ll be a good thing.

We bought the baby’s furniture yesterday.  I sure would like to get an itemized statement of the costs just to see how much profit is built into this stuff.   My expectant father book said I would be this way though…worrying about finances and stuff.

So I have gotten into the habit of talking to the baby every night.  Usually nonsense…okay always nonsense but just setting the groundwork here

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Last Tuesday, as in not yesterday, we had the AFP4 ( I think that’s what it’s called) screening done which tests for down’s syndrome and other health issues.  The test back yesterday and ’twas negative.  It’s a relief.

People keep asking what gender I want but I truly want a healthy child first which in a way sounds selfish.  The child will be a blessing regardless.  If I had my pick I would have a boy and then have our next child be a girl.

I’ve started talking to my wife’s stomach so the baby can get used to my voice.   I don’t have much to say yet, things like ‘your favorite teams are the Lakers, Hokies, Redskins, and IU basketball.  I sang it one of my blues songs as well…

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Saturday night I spent massaging my wife’s feet and painting her toes.  Oddly enough, I kind of enjoyed it….probably shouldn’t let her know that but it’s true.

I think she’s starting to show a little bit now.  We will be 17 weeks tomorrow.  Some days I don’t think it’s set in to me yet that I’ll be a father.  Other days, it scares the living feces out of me.  I don’t know how we’re going to afford a baby.  I don’t know how to take care of a baby.  Do they come with instructions?  Day care alone will run us $600 a month.  I don’t recall us ever having an extra $600 bucks at the end of the month.  Not to mention diapers, baby food, wetnaps, and whatever else we’ll be needing.  I think we are going to have to make some pretty severe changes to our lifestyle now.  I think we will need to start doing that now.

With all that said, I am excited about the baby though I probably don’t share enough of that excitement with Mrs. Xpinionated.  I don’t know why I don’t express it.  Like I said, I think I’m worrying about all that could go wrong and it’s kind of taking it’s toll on the excitement.

Tags: Daddy's Thoughts by Xpinionated
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