December 21, 2013
Good Morning,
This week was filled with expectation, anticipation and general elation when a new addition to the family arrived albeit nine weeks early. As in the previous pregnancies mommy Kelly Long had endured another pregnancy fraught with just about every condition an expectant mom can go through including a fall down stairs, torn embryonic sack and premature delivery.
Every effort was made to keep the new arrival inside for just a little while longer so he could breath on his own and that every day lessens the risk brought on by a body not yet ready for “Prime Time”. When the time came, it was just four pushes and out popped the little guy, probably because of his small size and the fact that his sister and brother before had left well paved path.
Lucas Aries Long clocked into this life at 9:32PM on 12-19-13 and weighed in at 4lb 3oz. Sporting all fingers, toes, breathing on his own and a bit on the light side, he looks like things will be good to go and grow.
He is fortunate to arrive in this world now instead of 60 years ago when “Preemies” had very little if any chance of survival. The staff in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) is wonderful and I know he is in a good place for the next few weeks.
Lucas Aries Long is the second of his generation to carry on the “Long” surname and with that another generation of “Longs” on the family tree. Lucas was named out of a fondness of his mom for the name. Aries was because it is celestial. Maybe he will be a star traveler.
What the future will bring for Lucas is anyone’s guess, so I will be optimistic and say I hope that his world will be one of enlightenment, freedom, love for and from his soul mate and fellowman.
That is my hope. My fear is that it will not be that way and he will see the country to which he was born, give up it’s republic of freedom for the easy road of self-serving entitlement and greed. Only time will tell and if there is one thing I know, it is that nothing ever “ever” stays the same. Lucas will live in a world much different than the one I grew up in and with many things that did not even exist back then or now for that matter.
Love, Dad