TREY MATTHEW O'KEEFE!!!! 3/26/09 @ 11:16 am

Well, it wasn't supposed to happen this way but what situations in life really go as planned? Training is going great, work is progressing, house project is right on schedule, why would I think that something would upset the apple cart? Then WHAM! 2am someone I never met before shows up at the door to wake me( Jenn, Tara's co-worker). Nothing at that time in the morning can be positive and panic set in for sure. Is Tara ok? Is the baby ok? The answer no! Tara began having contractions and it looked like the little guy wanted out. They whisked her off in an Ambulance to the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston (what an amazing place!) Beth Israel is famous nationwide for its NICU (NeoNatalIntensiveCareUnit) which made both of us somewhat at ease based on the circumstances.

We arrived at Beth Israel at 2:45 am with a tremendous amount of fear not understanding a premature delivery. The doctors and nurses at Beth Israel reassured us that things will be ok and that there will be no surprises. They were very upfront with all of the possible diagnoses, and we couldn't have felt more secure anywhere else. Their goal was to calm down the contractions and get Tara on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. They were successful in the contraction department, they slowed for an 8 hour period which allowed them to release us to a bed rest floor ( the country club).

Tara and I put our bags down, she got settled in bed, then proceeded to go to the bathroom. The timeline is a whopping 10 minutes in the country club. Then, her water broke! The doctors came in and they whisked her back up to the labor and delivery floor. Needless to say we were in a panic. How did this happen? Is he going to be ok? Is Tara going to be ok? Mind and heart racing, the doctors sat us down and told us that we were in the best place for an early delivery, and that it's out of anyone's hands now. Who takes over? TREY!

The rest is history, Trey arrived roughly an hour or two after that conversation at 11:16 am on 3/26/09. As the NICU doctors whisked him away on his little bed, my son, calm as could be, gave us a little thumbs up and a wink that everything will be alright.

People have told me that the feeling of seeing your child born is unexplainable and how you will never experience another moment like it in your life. Now I know. In 36years I have never felt so overwhelmed with joy, love, compassion, and complete bliss on any other day than when my son Trey Matthew was born.

He is doing great, Tara is a true Champion and is doing great, and we can't wait to introduce him to all of you.

Ciao for now.

Dad!

The MAN in Cyclocross!!

http://www.timjohnson.missingsaddle.com/

This is a must read and good friend. Most of you know my new blogging scheme and I will reassure I'm still behind the times after reading Tim's. Twitter? God now what? I know I'm getting old but I promise I will catch up.

By the way, the pic is of the new Cannondale Team bike, pretty sweet! Thanks Matty J. Real team issue bike graphics are a little different though. See you on the trails.

Cheers and hope you enjoy.

OK, Seriously?!

Finally the Dini curse is gone and I can walk up the stairs without gasping for air. Dini is a nickname for my cousin Brendan who I am convinced set this curse on me to get sick, long story. I did promise never to pick on Tara again, thanks Dini for getting rid of it!

So the curse is gone and the winter just wont go away, SERIOUSLY?! Now don't get me wrong, I love the snow, but when it starts in late November and is still going strong in March, come on! After being sick for two weeks I was able to put some good time together on the bike, 3 hours Saturday and 3 on Sunday. Definitely feels like I went backwards a bunch, but was just awesome to be outside in that weather, regardless of how I felt.

Sea Otter is fast approaching and I must say,with Miguel Martinez of France winning last year, and a lot of talent showing this year, I think it will be an interesting test. Its funny how we listened to our parents drive years of wisdom down our throats, only to get frustrated looks along with a lot of yeah, i know, i know. Without sounding to seasoned, I will comment that this years Sea Otter will definitely take savvy, patient, intelligent racing from this old body. Its the kind of racing in the early spring that I wished I hadn't put such high expectations on in the past. Fitness comes slowly and in my case brains come even slower. Racing with your brain is not something that can be taught, only learned over years of failing. On the upside, I will be in Sunny California probably right before the spring snowfall hits the Northeast!

Thanks for reading and hopefully I will have some epic adventure to blog about soon. For now just snow fall and cold wet rides!

Ciao for now.