Nerves

OK. I'm not the one birthing a baby in 8 hours. I acknowledge that. I am aware of and sensitive to my wife's condition and what lies in store for her over the next couple of days months. I know that her body is preparing to encounter an unbelievable degree of stress and transition. HOWEVER……I know that I am more nervous than her. I don’t say that based on empirical observation (although she does appear to be cool, calm, and collected). I don’t say that based on anything she has told me. I say that because there is no way anyone, anywhere is more nervous than me right now.

“David, chill out.” “This isn’t about you.” “You already have one child.” “Millions of women do this every day.”

Shut up.

Am I nervous about the labor and delivery process? Sure. Am I nervous about Jude being ok and not having a third arm or anything crazy like that? Sure. Am I nervous about Nicole walking away unscathed? Naturally.

So what is it that has my stomach rolling and my fingers shaking with anxiety?

My little guy (Jude the dude) is going to go through the most painful imaginable procedure that any man could imagine sometime in the next 72 hours: circumcision. Typing that word sent shivers up my….spine. I feel his pain. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to stand by and watch as some stranger brings the torturous scalpel to bear on my boy’s body. I will, however, endure. I will distract myself with rubbing Nicole’s feet and teaching Annabel the bridge to “Hey Jude” by The Beatles so she can sing him the whole song when he gets home (she has 70% of it memorized).

But boy, oh boy; what a world of hurt.

If you read this tonight, pray for Nicole. Pray for Jude. Me? Ah, I’ll be fine. Annabel and I will just sit in a corner and marvel at the glorious miracle that is about to take place in the life of our family.