And just like that, we are the proud parents of 3 amazing little souls! 

On July 17th, 2024 at 7:45 PM, Indie Summer Ogg entered the world into our loving arms. Her birth was special, which I will touch on shortly, and while I can’t see her, her touch, her sounds, her breathe is such an amazing addition to our family. 

It’s been 8 years since we were told that I was going to lose my vision. It’s been 8 years of it actually happening, slow and steady. It’s been 8 years of learning, adapting, growing and failing. It’s been 8 years since our future changed dramatically. Since our diagnosis and reality alteration, we decided to have our 2nd daughter, knowing full well that our family was destined for “uniqueness.” Adding Lyla to our family was the best decision we could have ever made and while I could still see her face at birth, I am unable to today. Her presence and soul surpasses the work it was to adapt and in conjunction with Peyton, these girls really made us think about adding another. 

On the day of Lyla’s birth, my wife looked at me and asked a question that literally took me back. 

“Have you ever thought about having a 3rd kid?”

“Umm, can we get the second one here first please!” was my response. 

 

Since that day, I think Angie knew that she wanted a 3rd child. With all the changes in life, like moving from California to Arizona, rebuilding a business from the pandemic, and continuing the adventure into blindness, my hesitation for kid another child was real. It was justified to be fearful, understandable to be cautious with the responsibility and unsure of what choice would fit our reality best. I was scared. 

The discussions continued, some heated and others casual. Points were made, on both sides of the column and, as always, days turn to weeks, weeks to months and months to years. It was a Spring day in Arizona that my mind had changed. It was a Saturday morning and I was out front of our home in, what we call “The Corner of 143rd.” I was listening to our girls, ride their scooters, bikes and play with the neighbors kids. As I listened to their laughs, giggles and voices lift with excitement, something in my heart, well, it just changed. 

In June of 2023, we embarked on our first vacation in years, and coincidentally since I had lost most of my vision and had become a full time cane user. The trip was amazing and you can hear about it in this posting. On that trip, my wife and I had decided to “see where life took us.”

June into July, July into August, nothing. In August we were worried that maybe this was not meant for us and felt the “stress” of the “What if” thoughts. We shared frustration but continued on. September to October and we had the discussion of that it just wasn’t part of our adventure. We were already so blessed with Peyton and Lyla that we adjusted our thoughts to focus on the present and to be grateful for what we have. 

That one mind shift changed the tables. Shortly after my 40th birthday, the world shifted just a bit, for the better. We were pregnant! The excitement was exploding out of us like a firework lighting up the night. Not waiting long at all, everyone knew. We just couldn’t help ourselves! 

We had decided to have our next child in a different manner. Call us those “crazy conservatives” but we don’t like hospitals, vaccines or not having control of our choices. We had decided to do a fully natural birth at home. After talking to other parents, who had done the same thing, and researching our options, we found a midwifery that just felt like home. Connie, Erin and the entire team at Canyon Midwifery welcomed us in with open arms and we immediately knew that we were on the right path. 

Weeks began ticking by, the pregnancy was moving along smoothly. Angie, as most women, hated the first trimester but wore it well and powered through with confidence. The half way point approached and we started getting ready for the new addition with some home improvements, furniture and of course, getting our guest room to no longer be a guest room but a nursery! 

As the third trimester approached, we couldn’t wait till the birth to find out just what we were having. At an in home ultrasound, the technician shared that we were blessed with another little girl! I am a proud Girl Dad and screamed with joy when we heard the news. Of course, there was that little “what it would be like” to have a little boy, it was not our journey and with very little effort, were overjoyed with another little girl! 

Here’s the burn, being blind sucks and it is full of challenges and struggle. Even with all of the help you can have, it’s still a constant adaptation. Now, with a pregnant wife, two small children and very low vision, it gets hard… really hard. There were days that felt like they lasted years. Days full of frustration that I was unable to drive my kids out to do something fun. Days of irritation that I am so “trapped” by blindness. Days that felt like we may have made the wrong choice, because I missed my wife, her hand, her guide and her calming demeanor.

Through those days during the pregnancy, there were moments were I was fearful, scared and unsure if we had made the right choice. I need my wife and selfishly, was terrified of how we were going to do all of this in the coming weeks, months and years. The pregnancy had hard days but in those hard days, it prepared me for what was coming. It prepared me to take on hard things, tackle the unknown and find new ways of being a parent, husband and partner in my family. I can not say that I was fully prepared, but the process of the pregnancy most definitely played down the framework for what was about to arrive.

As July 16th, Indie’s due date, approached. The heat of the Arizona Summer turned up. With 100 degree days and being 8 months pregnant, it was not ideal for my wife. The heat was real and we had to get a bit creative with our outings, errands and sanity. Thankfully to our family, neighbors and friends, we scooted right through. Our backyard pool became our most visited spot, spending many nights walking through the clear, cool waters to enjoy the stars shining bright up above. Angie found her groove, walking hundreds and hundreds of laps around the pool. For any pregnant women reading this, we HIGHLY suggest embracing the benefits of water in our last weeks. The weight it took off of her body was such a relief and the cool water really helped cool her down as she finished cooking our newest addition. 

July 16th, my mother’s 70th birthday, arrived and while we all held high hopes, nothing. No contractions and no progression. Well, ok, we chug along. July 17th arrived and as I laid in bed listening to my wife sleep, something was different. She was not sleeping sound, she was feeling things, things that were waking her up. At 7 AM, she started her first contraction with an hour in between. 

As her birth coach, I had an important job, to follow the 3 C’s, Calm, Cool and Confident. A home birth is very different than one in a hospital. It’s a lot about mental mindset and keeping comfort high. I was driven to do that for my amazing partner. As the contractions sped up, we knew that we were officially in Pre-Labor! 20 minutes between contractions arrived and it was time to get ready. 

Being blind, you become highly organized. Without organization, you are lost and constantly fighting frustrating situations. You have to put your phone down in the same spot, or it’s gone. Water bottles in the same spot, or it’s gone. Everything has to be done with a plan and method. This ability helped me get our master bedroom ready, helped keep everything together so when the time came, we were ready to go. 

At 3 PM, we entered Active Labor with contractions hitting 8 minutes apart. We called our Canyon Midwifery and they were on their way. While we continued along, Angie took a relaxing xhot shower, further easing her body into a calm state and we began preparing for the little lady to arrive. 

Things progressed and from 4 PM – 7 PM, her contractions continued to increase, not only going in frequency but intensity. I was with her every step of the way keeping her head positive and keeping her mind strong for the big event, which was arriving soon! With the help of her mother, father, my mom and the Mid-Wife, support was abundant and the team effort was truly being felt. 

At 7:30 PM, it was time. At full dilation, it was time to meet our little girl! About 2 hours before this moment, Connie, our Mid-Wife asked me a question that I never anticipated as a blind father. She asked “Would you want to deliver your baby girl?” 

I was floored and immediately navigated my way to Angie and asked her what her thoughts were. Her confident responses of “Hell yes!” sealed the deal and it was official. I was going to be the first hands to hold our daughter, the first skin she’ll ever feel, the first embrace she’ll ever know. To say that I was nervous was an understatement but with Connie by my side, I held faith that I could do this, not by sight, but by feel. 

At 7:45 PM, Indie Summer Ogg entered my hands. Her warmth, her love, her life could be felt immediately. Her presence shifted the world and forever altered my life. The strength of my wife was undeniable, the team work of our family visible and now, she was a part of our family of 5. As I type this, I live in this moment, that first touch, that first interaction with no skin between us and it overwhelms me. It truly was a memory of a life time and I will continue to revel in it as much as possible. 

With her first cry, Peyton and Lyla rushed in from their makeshift fort in our master closet during the labor.While I cold not see their faces, I could feel their joy. I could feel their excitement and pride in their mother and the drive she had through the labor. Peyton, who held it together all day in support of her Mom lost it. I mean LOST it! Her tears of joy fell down her beautiful cheeks and like an ocean at sunset, just took a breathe away. Lyla, who was officially promoted to a Big Sister, held it together a bit longer, but not by much. Holding her in my arms, feeling her joy, I knew that Indie had found herself into a family full of love. A family full of vision, even thought one of us has no sight. 

I do not know many men who have delivered a child, yet alone their own. With that, I don’t know any blind men that would even attempt it. It was in this moment that I knew I can handle more than I think I can. I can overcome impossible tasks and succeed when surrounded by failing. With the help of my wife, my three daughters and our friends and family, we can do a great life. 

Welcome to the world Indie Summer Ogg and thank you for everything you’ve already given us. 

Cheers.