Mom is such a trooper. She had been having contractions the night before and didn’t make me aware of it. I popped out of bed and went to the gym bright and early in the morning. Mom called me at some point during the morning to let me know that she was feeling contractions but she wasn’t sure if they were the real things.
I had a lunch meeting on this day with a perspective customer and I shut my phone off around 12:00. That’s right, I SHUT IT OFF! I don’t know what I was thinking! After about a two-hour meeting,
I returned to the office to find about 10 calls from different people trying to track me down. I called Mom and we determined that these contractions probably warranted attention!I came down to York and met with Mom in the birthing unit. She was definitely contracting but we still weren’t sure if they were going to perform the C-Section or somehow try to stop the contractions. I took you guys out for pizza so mom could relax for a bit. Soon after we sat down for Pizza, my phone rang. Mom said that they were going to deliver the baby in about an hour!! She set up a time for me to drop you guys with Jessie (your pre-school teacher and mom’s friend). We scoffed down our pizza quickly, I dropped you with Jesse, and I sped back to York Hospital. Just as they were wheeling out Mom to surgery, I arrived in the room and was able to go down with her. I almost missed it. What a whirlwind!
Mom is truly a great woman. She didn’t panic for a minute. She went through all the motions so systematically and never lost control. This was extraordinary to me. I don’t know another women who could have handled this day like Mom did. I don’t have the words to describe how I felt about her on this day. It’s been five days and still I can’t get over it.
Anyway, I put my scrubs on while the docs prepped mom and before I knew it, we were together in the surgery room. This birth was just as amazing as the other two, but different. We enjoyed this birth without worry. This is our third child, we actually kind of know what to expect now. With you JD, we just didn’t have a damn clue what we were doing and with Adam, it was scary and an extreme emergency. This was a great, “Last birth” for us. We enjoyed every minute. It was a perfect culmination of the previous nine months.
Mom spent three and a half days in the hospital with Linc and JD and Adam and I got to spend time together in between the hospital and home. Grandie was a great help too. She came down and took you guys on Thursday night and made us meals for the whole weekend. We couldn’t have made it though this time without her. The support we’ve received from family and friends has been more than overwhelming. We’ve received visits from tons of Maine/NH friends (mom had about 20 people in on Friday), calls from all over, and of course our family has been great as always. I was completely taken aback by all of the support, it was humbling.
We’ve always had great friends but it seemed this time calls; texts, and emails came from all over. JD and Ad, you guys have had so much fun with your new brother. You’ve both taken time to hold him and talk to him. Adam, yesterday you were holding him while watching TV and he started to cry. I asked you if you wanted me to take him from you and you said, “No, I just told him I love him and gave him a kiss on his nose.” 
JD, you’ve held him for hours at a time at home and in the hospital. Last night while Mom and Linc were getting some rest and you were in bed, you wrote a note to Linc that said, “Dear Lincoln, I love you very much, Love, JD.” 
Its funny, I was a little worried about the age difference between you all, but at first glance I’m thinking this might be a perfect age span. You both have such a good relationship with each
other, that I’m thinking it will be easier to incorporate a new brother. At least I hope so. It’s only been five days since Linc has been born; I wonder how things will go when the newness wears off??I had so much fun with you guys over the last few days. In fact, I think the last few days were some of the most fun days of my life. I’m pretty conscious of what that means, too. I wouldn’t say that without giving it some thought. We just had a great time. You guys came jogging with me every day, JD rides his bike and I push Ad in the stroller. Adam was reading a book and eating Cheez It’s the other day while riding! We built a jump for your bikes; I tried it with my bike too. We played ENDLESS basketball, baseball, and Frisbee, and we roasted marshmallows by the fire. Luckily we got some beautiful days of sun. It has rained for three weeks straight so the weather was even that much nicer than normal! JD, yesterday you said, “I know you’re supposed to be at work, but I have had so much fun with you at home.” Then you went on to name a bunch of the fun things we did together. Once again it was once of those times where the, “Right things” matter. I didn’t think about work for a minute my time was focused on my family.
We spent about three hours at the beach yesterday. Everyone said that we should all take it easy and stay home for the first few days/weeks but the weather has been so crummy lately, we couldn’t help but take advantage of it at the beach. It was a perfect beach day. Warm but not humid, good waves, and low tide when we arrived. You guys were in the water most of the time, but took some time out to play wiffle ball with me. Linc slept that whole time and Mom dipped her feet in the water for a while.
JD, you’re very good skimmer at this point. Adam you were diving in the water like it was nothing yesterday! You were in quite deep for someone your size and you were jumping into the big waves. You and I held hands and spent some time jumping over waves while you yelled, “Yeah dude,” and “Surf’s up dude.”
You are quite a character, Ad. You come up with phrases and words that completely astound me. Everywhere we go, you get smiles from strangers or people will comment to Mom and I about you. I think it’s initially the long blond hard and big smile, but you are just full of life and love and resonates from you. I don’t know how else to describe it. You’re stubborn as a dam ox but you’re as sensitive as can be. An interesting combo. I admire how unique you are.This is one of my favorite pictures. Ad, you're close with Mom. You are with her everyday, all day and you didn't know what to make of her not being at home for a few days. You came in the hospital room, walked around for a minute, and you were cleary uncomfortable with mom all tubed up and stuff. You are so stubborn that you told mom you didn't want a hug. Then you walked around a little more before jumping up on moms bed and into her arms. This was real emotion, no tears just love. You love your mom so much:
Last night I put you both to bed around 7:00, as you were both exhausted from our week. Mom and Linc went to bed around the same time as they were up quite a bit the night before. I wandered upstairs around 9:00 and everyone was still awake. It was so weird. I lay down with you both and then with Mom for a bit and Mom and I decided it might be a nice treat to get up and have a midnight snack (at 9:30). I went into Ad’s room first and asked him if he would like to come downstairs for cookies and milk. Ad, you popped out of bed pretty quick and said, “Can I go get JD?” Off you went and before we knew it everyone was down stairs watching the Red Sox (lose) and eating chocolate chip cookies and milk!
Late this night Mom and I talked about how special our family is. All of us are so happy to have Linc aboard for the ride. He couldn’t have asked for more caring, supportive, true brothers to guide him throughout his journey. Linc, when you read this know that you were loved from day one by all of us. I can’t wait to get to know you.
