In His Words (the Father that is).

Michael wrote: "OK.. so here is a long Post. We'll Start with Mieken's appointment with her mid-wife on Wednesday, Marggy told Mieken that she was dilated 1cm and 30% effaced, not likely to deliver on time or early basically, and that we might want to start trying to encourage her to get on the ball if we wanted to get her to be on time.. Mieken had some mild cramping that her sister Laina Matthes Campbell said was normal after an exam. so we talked about what we could do to encourage Little Beatrix to get with the program and went out to eat at Long Life veggi house had dinner and went shopping at Harmons on 33rd got a movie and went home, no contractions since before dinner. We got home and milled about for a few minutes and Mieken went to bed and i stayed up and watched Super 8, great movie by the way. after the movie i went to bed about 11pm, no signs of labor. around 2 AM Mieken wakes up from a contraction and writes it off as a Braxton Hicks contraction. she continues to have small contractions in sporadic intervals and intensities and figures its false labor, no way would Bea be on her way after what Marggy said! So around 6:30AM I figure i should start timing these to see what the deal really is.. still rather mild contractions but they were starting to form a pattern of 5-7 minutes apart and 45-60 seconds in duration. Mieken was hungry so i made some oatmeal in between contractions and called my office to let them know that i would be late or might not come in depending on what happened at the hospital. Mean while Mieken had a bad contraction and I decided that we needed to hurry up and get going and she has another contraction. We got in the subaru at started off to salt lake regional hosptial, about 15-25 minute drive, i figured that with first pregnancies women can be in pushing painful labor for hours... Mieken has a BIG contraction on 4500 south, I think to my self HURRY UP you need to get to the hospital.. we got on 7th east and i am driving fast.. we'll leave it at that ;) Mieken's water breaks about 3600 south, 5 minutes from home, and about 3000 south she tell's me that Bea is coming NOW and I need to pull over, I pull strat to pull over, call 911 and park in a stall at the Maverick gas station on 2700 south 700 east. While on the phone i tell the dispatch what is going on and that there is a police officer working a school zone on 7th east and to get him over here and the paramedics on their way P.D.Q. I check Mieken to see what the deal is and can see the crown of Bea's little head.. I went into step by step mode, Step 1 she's crowning, the head is going to be next right? the dispatch tells me to apply light pressure to the head and tells me that she is going to be slippery, I do it,Mieken has another contraction and there she is Beatrix Marie Derrick! screeming into the world in sub 30 degree weather. At this point the police officer has shown up seen what is going on cleans up Bea's nose and mouth while i try to find something to wrap her in which i don't find, one of us puts Bea on Miekens belly, the officer gets a zip-tie from his cruiser for the cord and a towel maybe? that could have come from the paramedics that showed up in the process.. everyone is happy and healthy we talk with the paramedics a bit and Mieken is transferred out of the car and on to a stretcher and into a ambulance baby and all! we headed to St. Marks since it was closest. On the way i call the office and let Janet know that I just delivered my daughter in the parking lot of a gas station, " no joke Janet, in the parking lot", " shut up, No way, Only you mike only you.." so we got to the hospital meet both sets of grandparents, delivered the other bits filled out some papers, gave my keys to my dad and asked that he get the car detailed and cleaned... yes you guys know me and cars... first family second car... any way that is the long and short of it. I delivered my first child and I am so thankful that she is safe and healthy.I am so grateful for out public servants that help us day in and day out, the ever present hand our Lord in our lives and my family and friends! This was the most unreal and awesome expreince of MY LIFE! and i would not change it for anything!"