Ty is here!!

Well, the waiting is finally over and Ty is here! He's actually almost 4 weeks old...we've been a little busy. And sleep deprived! I forgot how hard the beginning is when you've had little or no sleep at all. He weighed 9 lbs. and 15 oz. No, my other two were not this big! No one knew that he was going to be this big until it was too late. The delivery was very scary this time. Once I had a contraction that would not go away, and Ty's heart rate dropped so low that alarms were going off and I had to be given a shot to stop my contractions for awhile. It took him a little while to recover, and once we lost the heart beat. Then the cord was wrapped around his neck. After he was finally born, he was having trouble breathing. I remember waiting for the cry and having trouble breathing. His whole head and face were very blue because he was not breathing. Fortunately, everything was fine, and he is home and healthy! It's a miracle that we survive our own births...more evidence of God's sovereignty.
I am enjoying my time at home. I only have 3 weeks left before I have to go back to work. The good thing is that I love what I do, and I sure do miss my students. Of course, in a perfect world I could bring Ty with me to school...just strap him on and off I go to work. That's what they did in the old days right? :) The dynamic around the house has changed, and the boys are adjusting. It's been emotional for me trying to be super mom to all three boys. I remember it gets better. This week I am sick along with my 4 year old. Not fun! But we are making it and waiting for this to pass...it shall :)

Well, the waiting game has begun. I am due in 4 weeks, but like all fat, swollen, hot pregnant women, we really hope the baby decides to come early. However, I have not been this fortunate in the past. Both Riley and Cody were a week late, and I had to be induced. Of course we want our babies to be healthy, but by this time we are ready to carry them in the stroller instead of on our bodies! Sometimes it feels like my belly is going to rip right off and roll away. And it doesn't help when you can't go out in public without complete strangers saying things like "You look like you're about to pop!" or "Oh, honey...you poor thing!" and "You're only how many weeks?? You're huge!!" It's also equally annoying when these strangers feel the need to touch you...on your belly! I feel like saying, "Would you come up and rub my shoulder if I wasn't pregnant or give me a hug?" Of course not! Of course like the nice little pregnant lady, I just smile and keep walking instead of saying what I'm really thinking. I even had one lady stop herself before she spoke, and then she just started to laugh hysterically bent over her shopping cart. I'm really grateful to be an "experienced pregnant person" in these situations.
Despite the awkward social issues and physical discomforts, it's a very exciting time for the Hooper's. The boys are ready to meet Ty Daniel (Tony without the "o" "n" :). My dad's name is Danny. We are excited about beginning to raise another God fearing young man. Maybe he'll be a missionary or preacher or teacher. We pray that he will come to faith early and love God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength.

Make sure you don't get the word "super" and "perfect" confused. That would be a bold statement wouldn't it? I really chose "super" because it rhymed...but I'm sure you'll agree that it fits our family just perfectly. I like to say that I live with 3 of the cutest and bravest super heros ever!
It all started when I fell in love with and married my best friend Tony. We have been married for 12 years, but we have known each other for about...20 years. I have to add it up everytime. We fought like brother and sister when we were kids. We were high school sweethearts and were married after dating for five years (I was 19 and finished college in 4 years no matter what...or maybe in spite of what my grandmother said). I teach music and theater to 6th through 12th graders. We have two beautiful boys with another boy on the way! Since there hasn't been a girl born in the Hooper family in 95 years, we weren't surprised a bit. Tony desperately wants a little "daddy's girl", and he's still recovering from the ultrasound. I am due in 6 weeks!
I have decided that I love having boys and therefore get to remain the queen of my house. Since I was in the middle of two brothers growing up, I'm familiar with all the smells and noises that go along with having a house full of boys. Because I am a girl, I am also familiar with the drama that goes along with raising girls and I am trying to convince Tony that girls aren't always "sugar and spice and everything nice". He doesn't listen to me. He still goes around snatching up all our friends' little girls and showering them with attention. Which I think is adorable :) They love him! Although, I'm not so sure it helps his "sugar and spice" theory.
It's so funny the things people will tell you about how they were able to choose which sex they were having. I have something to say to all of you...Some of these comments are personal people! And furthermore, did you know that at this moment in the world there are only a few more girls than boys? I know, because I asked my doctor. I think God is keeping everything balanced, and it doesn't matter what you "try" to have. God knows what is best. I'm glad He's keeping count :) Plus, think of how cheap life becomes when we claim to manufacture babies like candy, tennis shoes or Barbies where we get to pick the style, color or flavor? It really takes the miracle and mystery out of life. I wonder what God does when we try to take credit for His master piece, or when we say that we preordered ours? I think it is so hard for us to trust, and we invest so much into this life with hopes and dreams for ourselves that we can't even trust God who is perfect. I know I struggle with this daily when I get frustrated with the slightest kink in MY plans, or when I make everyone around me miserable because MY plans changed without MY permission. I hear this gets better with age...Let's hope so!