A Special Double Delivery — Brandon Crawford
When you have your fourth child, as Jalynne and I did last week, you know what to expect, especially if it’s a scheduled C-section.
But this birth was a little different from the previous three.
Jalynne’s identical twin sister, Janelle, was having a baby the same day.
In the same hospital in Arizona.
On the same floor.
They probably would have stayed in the same room if they could. As it was, they were next door to each other.
Jalynne went into the delivery room first and gave birth to Bryson Ryder. Janelle went in right after her. The same doctor delivered her baby, also a boy, named Jace. The doctor said it was a first for him. He’d never delivered the babies of two sisters — much less twins — on the same day, back to back.
One of my sisters, Jenna, said the babies are “twa-sins’’ — twin cousins.
Bryson was 8 pounds 8 ounces and 21 inches, the longest of our four kids and the second heaviest. (Braxton was 9 pounds 1 ounce.)
As I did with all the births, I stayed in the hospital with Jalynne and the baby until they were cleared to go home two days later. (I’m blaming the hospital cot on my 0-for-8 coming back.) I felt a bit bad for the other kids because I hadn’t seen them in two weeks, and then I show up — “Yay, daddy’s home!’’ — only to leave first thing the next morning for the hospital. Then when Jalynne returned home, I left to rejoin the Giants.
We had an off day this past Monday, so I flew down after Sunday’s day game and hung out the whole next day with the kids and Jalynne. We did stuff outside and played a lot of Legos, which is great for me. I don’t know who loves Legos more, them or me. I brought home two new sets that I got at the mall in D.C. I still like putting them together according to the directions. The finished structure lasts about 15 minutes once the kids get their hands on it.
It’s great watching the kids with the new baby. Jaydyn’s the most excited because she’s baby-crazy. She’s always playing with baby dolls, so Bryson is like her real-life baby. She’s really sweet with him, always stroking his head and trying to hold him. When he takes a bottle, she wants to be the one to feed him. Braylyn’s great with him, too, but this is her third sibling so it’s old news. Braxton’s kind of just doing his own thing.
Bryson’s a good sleeper so far, which is a real gift for everybody. Jalynne’s actually had to wake him up a few times for feedings. When she asked the doctors about it, they said it was nothing to worry about.
That’s it for now. Wish they could have been at the ballpark to share Wednesday’s walkoff. They’ll be back here soon. It’s a bit too quiet in the house by myself. Thank you to Jalynne’s parents for taking care of the kids while we were at the hospital and to Jalynne’s brother Johnny and his wife, who also live in Scottsdale and pitched in to help out.
