Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Happy Birthday Owen Gregory Howard






This is becoming a tradition a day late. Well if you know me then you know I am just that kind of guy! So onward with our story about Owen, or OEO, or OZO, or OGO, Ozeboz, or Buddy. You cannot have a better first son then Owen. He really is that kid that wants everyone to be happy. He looks out for his best friend X-man. They are a perfect match.





During the summer he has the whitest hair you have ever seen. It’s always nice to see his hair color change because you know summer is coming. He is a boys boy. He loves to play outside He cannot wait to get up and go outside and it really does not matter who is outside or what they are doing he just loves it. We are working our way to sports he is a little shy when it comes to that stuff but loves anything outside.



So after Amber and I had two girls we wanted a boy naturally right? Well for the first time Amber wanted to wait and not find out the sex. We figured it did not matter to us what he / it was we would love it so we might as well just let it ride and see what pops out. Much to the frustration to everyone. Like I understand peoples frustration but still I hope they understood why we waiting. It makes that phone call to tell them that you had the baby all the more exciting when you tell them that you have a boy (Speaking as a father)



So amber and I just went about the pregnancy not knowing and not caring at first I think it bothered me because you almost want that boy so bad that you just want to know. But in the end it was well worth the wait. Amber did offer to tell me for father’s day what the sex was but at that point what’s the point?



So Amber goes into labor and is having these pains that she says no I don’t need to go because I don’t want to be sent home. I can understand that but what if? So I finally convinced Amber it was time to go in. So we went in to the old cottonwood hospital and that’s a good drive from our house. We sent Zarley and Winter to Tiffany’s and so we track on down the freeway to get there. ( Me speeding, See X-man Post) get there and the nurses are like nah this is not time. So they tell amber that she is basically having fake contractions as she is double over in pain. They gave her some good pain meds and I was told come back when you’re really having your baby. So we track our asses back to our house with out a care in the world for gas prices (bitch nurses) Amber is told here we will give you some morphine and if it’s not stopped in 4 hours to come back. (As if gas was being given away) so we get home no real point in getting the kids so I go back to bed and Amber pretty much just sits on the alarm clock waiting for that 4 hours to expire. Sure as shit it does. No baby and still pain. So we head on back to the ER again another opportunity for me to try and use the old I am having a baby excuse to get out of a ticket. We show up and there is a new set of nurses there and they are pretty much like WTF why where you sent home. We were like WTF were we supposed to do?

Couple hours later we are in the delivery room and amber is throwing up. (She was embarrassed) not sure why I think that’s okay to do that in that situation. So OEO comes out and first thing we see are legs and getting excited to see our baby and he comes out ass cheeks up so I thought girl. They rolled him over and boom boy!

Happy Birthday OEO love you king to my throne! And to the nurse who sent us home you still owe us a few bucks gas money.



Mike Howard

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Happy Birthday Xavier James Howard








Three years ago we had our X-man. Our final child and we could not have ended on a better note. As what has grown to become custom with us we did not find out the sex of X-man. Figured it did not matter. We had our girls and our boys so it really did not matter what he was we knew we would love him. We also knew this would be our last. This would complete our Family circle.



X-man started with a little bit of trouble. I was working graveyards at CR England (Still am) and I was actually outside in our car taking a nap. Amber called me and said I see blood. Talk about scaring the shit out of someone. I ran inside and told my bosses sorry I am leaving I need to go. Amber called to make sure she could wait for me and I drove home as fast as I can. I picked up Amber and we were off to the new IHC hospital. Do you know how bad I wanted to get pulled over. I mean can you beat that excuse with a cop. I am having a baby as he looks over to the passenger seat and sees your wife with that look on her face. I know I would get out of that ticket! This was my last chance and I did all I could to get that damn pull over. Drove fast in the car pool lane. Right where they wait but it did not happen. So we made it to the hospital and I remember thinking god I hope my baby is okay. We have had problems in the past and you never feel totally at ease until they are out and breathing and all is good. Once we got there the nurses hooked amber up to the machines and all that. They did not seem concerned with the blood. So once we were okay from that. I thought (this is the first time I am admitting it so . . . ) Dame she better have this baby or all my co-workers are going to think I am full of it. I had been up all night and now was looking like I would be up all day. But we did deliver well Amber delivered a healthy baby boy.



So yesterday our little man or X-man turned 3 yesterday. I am sorry it’s a day late. But better late than never at all. We had a good weekend to celebrate X-man turning 3. If you have not met him you will have to take my word for how damn cute this kid is. I know that every parent goes on and on about how cute their kids are but this kid is amazing. He is so fun and loves his brother so much and is just a fun kid to have around. Just this week he was telling Owen how he was acting like mom and said, “Owen clean up your toys now!” This little boy is the most grow up 3 year old I know. People say he just follows Owen around but he really does not. He joins in the fun. He is his own boy and does what he wants it just happens to be the same as his older brother and cousins and friends. He is what you picture a boy to be so rough and tumble and gets into trouble. Not bad trouble just the mischievous trouble. This weekend I was playing with the boys on my bed and Owen was doing summersault off the bed. I was holding their hands as they did. Owen landed a couple in a row so he said dad I don’t need your help. Well this time he did it and smacked his head against the bottom of my bed. He was crying and Xavier asked Owen if he wanted him to hurt himself too. With this concerned look. I am sure that every parent dreams of their kids growing up close. I have no doubt that these two boys will grow up to be the best of friends. It must be easy being the youngest. Surrounded by older brothers and sisters


"You have a Friend In Me"