Kaspar

 This past Friday night, just twenty minutes before midnight, “the Nugget” was finally born – on his due date.  I say finally not because the labor was long, because it really wasn’t and I wasn’t even there.  It’s just that both of my own babies came before their due dates so I never really had to wait for a baby to come.  So, to me, the last week of waiting seemed endless. After several days of sitting on the edge of my chair, waiting for “the” call, it finally came at 10:00 PM, our bedtime.   They were off to the hospital.

Knowing how short Maggie’s labor and delivery were the first time, I expected we would hear something within hours.  I decided to stay up for a while to wait for the big announcement.  Just before midnight I decided I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer and went off to bed.  With my cell phone handily on my nightstand, I nodded off.

Not long afterwards, my phone rang.  It was Teresa, Jan’s mom, calling to say the Nugget had arrived and everyone was doing well. Within an hour or so through the miracle of modern technology, we received our first photos of the little fellow and for a brief moment text messages flew back and forth among our family.  But soon, sleep overtook me and I slept more peacefully than I had in weeks.

The next morning I was able to finally speak with my baby and was overjoyed to hear the happiness in her voice.  I also learned the long held secret name of our nugget.  He is to be called Kaspar Arwed Uecker; Kaspar after the first Farner (Caspar Pfarner) who emigrated from Germany to the US in the the 1840’s and Arwed for Jan’s father, who passed away last year.  It is a little different, for sure, but at the same time it is the perfect name for our little one, reflecting his roots in the two countries where most of his ancestors hail from.

I wish I could be more eloquent with my story writing but today, after five days of Nana duty, the lack of sleep is affecting my clarity.  I find myself heading off on a mission, becoming distracted and then not  knowing why I am in the living room, or kitchen, etc.  Thank God I know the reason for this confusion or I’d be scared!  Thank God also for the gift of new life in our little Kaspar.  Even though we are very tired, we are also very happy and basking in the glow of our blessings.