A Tale of Two Boys

Kelly has always thought she would be the mother of a whole bunch of boys. It's happening so far. She thought she would have another little guy just like Asa because she couldn't imagine having anything else. You don't have to imagine much to think these two are quite similar at birth.

Eli

Asa

Asa loves his brother Eli and loves to talk about him and hold him. Asa is already showing Eli how to use his fun new toys.

It's a Boy

After 24 hours of waiting (and contracting) we finally have two little boys. Asa will be very excited to know that he has a baby brother. Kelly did an awesome job pushing that little guy out in 33 minutes of pushing. Eli Emmaus Quade (that's his name so far) is 7 lbs 8 oz born at 7:18 this morning. We feel very blessed that God has given us another healthy boy. Kelly's VBAC went great and we are so happy that everything went according to His plan.

It's Go Time!

We're in the hospital...waiting for baby.

Froggy Frog World

Asa had a great Halloween. Lots of candy. No baby brother or sister yet. It was good to be able to this as a family - just the three of us. There will be many fun holidays to come but there is something to be said for the attention you can give to your only child. I think we are getting more mentally ready now that we were able to spend that time together and our lives feel normal again (Dad isn't taking massive opioid doses).

I are having a baby

When asked if he will have a sister Asa replied, "I are." The beauty of that incorrect grammar is that he actually understands the words better than if he is just repeating something he's heard. He's getting smart - I thnik it's time to have a baby.
Kelly is contracting a bit - so I'm not sure we have a choice. Halloween baby seems like it could happen.
I think Kelly is holding back the baby until I carve a pumpkin. She hates missing out on any tradition stuff.

Meningitis

I have meningitis. I'm in the hospital right now starting this blog because when you're in the hospital there are only so many episodes of the Office that you can watch in a row.
Viral meningitis is an infection of the meninges which cover the brain. You can get it just like you catch any virus and the CDC estimates about 25- 50,000 hospitalizations yearly in the US for this. If you want to know more read the CDC thing. And yes I am potty trained.
Best thing about having meningitis - you get a lot of dilaudid, and you have time to call and email your friends and family.
Worst thing about having meningitis - you need a lot of dilaudid. Seriously it sucks.
Actually, that's not true. The real worst part is thinking that you might have to be wheeled up to your wife's labor suite and watch her go through her most painful moment and not be able to get out of the wheelchair because you're experiencing your own most painful moment. And probably even worse than that would be to watch her go through her most joyful moment and be too drugged up (see dilaudid) to enter into that joy.
We prayed diligently that the baby wouldn't be born while I was in the hospital and God granted us that prayer. Either that or Kelly gave herself a home cerlage.

the Quades had their family portrait done with Mama belly and all. They did a great job at Magic Box Photography. Usually in pictures I look a bit Tracy McGrady with my eyes all half-closed and my expression all half-baked. Kelly and Asa are made for pictures with their massive pools of green and blue, respectively.