After all the tumult

Wow.

First of all, I want to thank all the people who wrote in with their congratulations - some of whom I didn't even know read the website.

Secondly, here is what happened: Thursday June 17th was my last day at Barnes & Noble and I didn't get out of work until 12:30 AM. After unwinding for about an hour at home, I fell into bed at 1:30 AM.

At 3:00am, I got a call from the hospital, which I hung up on because I thought I had pushed the speakerphone button and didn't hear anyone. Fortunately, Kathy called back and I hit the right button this time and I heard (and I quote) "get down here!"

Did you know that you can make AMAZING time on the freeway at 3:00 in the morning? I sped down the freeway at about 90 mph and got to the hospital at about 3:50 AM. After bursting into the labor and delivery ward, I was so out of breath and pumping with adrenaline that all I could say was "Chambers!" One of the nurses took me to a small room where they kept their scrubs and gave me a set of SMALL scrubs. I don't know if everyone who reads this website has ever seen me, but I'm what you would call a tad overweight. After struggling out of the small scrubs, I gave them back to the nurses who gave me a set of extra large ones. I then half-ran out the door, guided by the nurse.

Rounding a corner, we ran into the anesthesiologist who stopped me and told me that my wife was all right and so were my daughters.

I had missed their birth by five minutes. A slightly bitter voice in the back of my head wants to blame the nurse that gave me the small scrubs and cost me precious time, but that's petty.

Since then, it feels like a month and half since Emma and Nicole were born, when I know that it's been only ten days. There have been ups and downs, but I am so happy they are here. They're my little peanuts - two to a shell.

Take care,
~Rob