Arrival!

Yesterday evening at 10:36 p.m., Silas Richard Heerema made his public debut! He weighed 8.75 lb. and is 21" long with a little bit of dark, curly hair.

Charity called me about an hour after he was born with the news. She sounded great, and said he's a very sweet boy!

Their hospital does not allow children under age 12 to visit the mom and baby in the room, so Esther and Hendrik will not be able to meet their baby brother until Charity is released - Lord willing tomorrow morning! Grandpa Rick and I had decided it wouldn't be fair for us to get to meet Silas before his own brother and sister.

However, our resolve was 'dissolved' when Charity 'encouraged' us to meet Silas tonight when we took the kids to visit her in the hospital lobby.  He's a very precious little guy and it was a such a blessing to hold him.

We were happy brother and sister didn't seem to mind. They KNOW their momma and were happy just to visit with HER! Esther clung to her for the longest time and told me on the way to dinner how happy and surprised she was for the visit - she really didn't expect to see her until baby comes home. Neither Esther or Henry has cried for their parents or seemed overly-disturbed with the strange circumstances.

They've stayed with us multiple days before when Charity and Richard went on little vacations, just the two of them. We felt it best for Esther and Henry to sleep in their own beds, and Henry still gets a nebulizer treatment before bedtime, so it's just easier for them to sleep at home. Grandpa Rick is the designated sleep-over guardian - bunking on the sofa in the playroom at Esther's request. She told Grandpa she wanted him close - that when she calls for Momma and Poppa in the night they take 'too long' to get to her. I'm sure being wakened out a sound sleep doesn't have anything to do with their delay!

I'll post some pictures soon. I didn't take my camera out with me tonight - didn't think I needed too - not very prepared was I?!