Sunday, August 30, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
a baby story, season two
I know that for some of you, the basic baby stats just don't cut it. You want the details, in all their gory -- I mean, glory. And so, because I like you, here they are.
When the painful contractions that kicked up during the tail end of church wouldn't go away, I started timing them on the car ride home that my friend, Melanie, bless her heart, offered to give Garrett and I. Sure enough, they were coming every five minutes. Afraid that this might be another false alarm, I decided to lie down on the couch as soon as we got home. But instead of going away, the contractions intensified, and I started to get worried that Blake wouldn't be wrapped up with his clerk duties at the church before I needed to get to the hospital. I didn't need to worry long, thankfully, because he walked in the door just in time to pop that thought bubble. I called my friend, Emily, who long ago agreed to give us a ride to the hospital when it was time, to give her a heads up, then called my doctor. He told me to get to labor and delivery stat. And so we did.
We got checked in at the hospital at about 3:30. When the initial pelvic exam revealed that I was now dilated to 7 cm, and the monitors showed that contractions were coming every three to four minutes, I got bumped ahead of at least one person to move from triage to a delivery room. As soon as I got on the bed there, my water broke and suddenly I was in transition. It was horrible. I told everyone within hearing of my [urgent] desire for an epidural, but apparently it was too late. The baby had descended so low and things were happening so fast that there was no time. I cried. And screamed. And pushed. And then, a half an hour later (and only an hour and a half after we arrived at the hospital), Caleb was here. It was over. But boy, did it hurt. I don't care how trendy it is to give birth without drugs -- I never want to do that again.
I'm also not sure if I ever want to have another baby in Brooklyn again. Everything turned out fine, but it was a complicated process making sure that it did -- one that we certainly couldn't have accomplished without all of the truly self-less help from so many friends (thank you, thank you, thank you, everyone!!). It was, however, in many ways a very unique experience.
For one, it was incredibly cultural. Examples: my doctor is Egyptian; the labor/delivery nurse was from Guyana; another nurse who poked her head in during the delivery was Norwegian (and assumed, because of my last name and my blonde hair, that I was, too, and consequently started speaking to me in her native language until she realized that I didn't understand a word she was saying); I had a shared recovery room and my roommate was Nigerian (and, unfortunately, the best time to call family in Nigeria is at 4:30 in the morning); the lactation consultant was Irish (or maybe English...it was sometimes hard to tell); one of the shift nurses was Russian, while the rest were from different parts of the Caribbean; and our pediatrician is about as Brooklyn as they come, which, once you've met a true Brooklynite, you'll agree that there's a foreign aspect to that particular heritage.
To complete the Brooklyn birth experience, upon discharge, we took a cab home from the hospital, stopping on the way to pick Garrett up from the babysitter's. It honestly doesn't get much more New York than that.
Since we've been home, we've been busy in a slow and relaxed sort of way. It's been a relief to have Blake home from work while I continue my recovery process. He deserves a major award for all the running around he's had to do this week. Garrett, despite the fact that his energy these last few days has been through the roof, is transitioning well to his new position of older brother. He is very tender with Caleb and, for the most part, gentle, too. I think we can take as a good sign the fact that shortly after we returned home from the hospital, Garrett scurried off to his room to find his favorite silky blue blanket, which he rushed out to the living room to offer to his baby brother.
And Caleb. Sweet Baby Caleb. He really is too precious for words, but I'm going to try anyway. He has Blake's nose, which will take some time to grow into, and his Grandma Joyce's mouth and chin. Like his father and big brother, he has a little cleft in that chin that I just can't get enough of. From the nose up, he reminds me a lot of my brother, Tyler, so that must be the contribution from my genetics. He has lots of light brown hair, and his long fingers are surely destined for the basketball court. He's a tiny bit meatier than Garrett was, but it's hard to tell simply by looking at his skinny arms and legs. So far, his personality is a calm one. Like most newborns, he spends the majority of each day sleeping, and he prefers to rest his cheeks on his hands while he does so. He only cries when he's hungry or needs a new diaper. That doesn't stop him, however, from making some pretty hilarious faces. He honestly looks deeply concerned or troubled most of the time (which might be why he looks so much to me like Tyler). Where Garrett spent the first six months of his life keeping it all in, Caleb poops like a champion. And his tiny voice is adorably squeaky. I seriously could eat this sweet boy up, so I think we'll hang onto him.
When the painful contractions that kicked up during the tail end of church wouldn't go away, I started timing them on the car ride home that my friend, Melanie, bless her heart, offered to give Garrett and I. Sure enough, they were coming every five minutes. Afraid that this might be another false alarm, I decided to lie down on the couch as soon as we got home. But instead of going away, the contractions intensified, and I started to get worried that Blake wouldn't be wrapped up with his clerk duties at the church before I needed to get to the hospital. I didn't need to worry long, thankfully, because he walked in the door just in time to pop that thought bubble. I called my friend, Emily, who long ago agreed to give us a ride to the hospital when it was time, to give her a heads up, then called my doctor. He told me to get to labor and delivery stat. And so we did.
We got checked in at the hospital at about 3:30. When the initial pelvic exam revealed that I was now dilated to 7 cm, and the monitors showed that contractions were coming every three to four minutes, I got bumped ahead of at least one person to move from triage to a delivery room. As soon as I got on the bed there, my water broke and suddenly I was in transition. It was horrible. I told everyone within hearing of my [urgent] desire for an epidural, but apparently it was too late. The baby had descended so low and things were happening so fast that there was no time. I cried. And screamed. And pushed. And then, a half an hour later (and only an hour and a half after we arrived at the hospital), Caleb was here. It was over. But boy, did it hurt. I don't care how trendy it is to give birth without drugs -- I never want to do that again.
I'm also not sure if I ever want to have another baby in Brooklyn again. Everything turned out fine, but it was a complicated process making sure that it did -- one that we certainly couldn't have accomplished without all of the truly self-less help from so many friends (thank you, thank you, thank you, everyone!!). It was, however, in many ways a very unique experience.
For one, it was incredibly cultural. Examples: my doctor is Egyptian; the labor/delivery nurse was from Guyana; another nurse who poked her head in during the delivery was Norwegian (and assumed, because of my last name and my blonde hair, that I was, too, and consequently started speaking to me in her native language until she realized that I didn't understand a word she was saying); I had a shared recovery room and my roommate was Nigerian (and, unfortunately, the best time to call family in Nigeria is at 4:30 in the morning); the lactation consultant was Irish (or maybe English...it was sometimes hard to tell); one of the shift nurses was Russian, while the rest were from different parts of the Caribbean; and our pediatrician is about as Brooklyn as they come, which, once you've met a true Brooklynite, you'll agree that there's a foreign aspect to that particular heritage.
To complete the Brooklyn birth experience, upon discharge, we took a cab home from the hospital, stopping on the way to pick Garrett up from the babysitter's. It honestly doesn't get much more New York than that.
Since we've been home, we've been busy in a slow and relaxed sort of way. It's been a relief to have Blake home from work while I continue my recovery process. He deserves a major award for all the running around he's had to do this week. Garrett, despite the fact that his energy these last few days has been through the roof, is transitioning well to his new position of older brother. He is very tender with Caleb and, for the most part, gentle, too. I think we can take as a good sign the fact that shortly after we returned home from the hospital, Garrett scurried off to his room to find his favorite silky blue blanket, which he rushed out to the living room to offer to his baby brother.
And Caleb. Sweet Baby Caleb. He really is too precious for words, but I'm going to try anyway. He has Blake's nose, which will take some time to grow into, and his Grandma Joyce's mouth and chin. Like his father and big brother, he has a little cleft in that chin that I just can't get enough of. From the nose up, he reminds me a lot of my brother, Tyler, so that must be the contribution from my genetics. He has lots of light brown hair, and his long fingers are surely destined for the basketball court. He's a tiny bit meatier than Garrett was, but it's hard to tell simply by looking at his skinny arms and legs. So far, his personality is a calm one. Like most newborns, he spends the majority of each day sleeping, and he prefers to rest his cheeks on his hands while he does so. He only cries when he's hungry or needs a new diaper. That doesn't stop him, however, from making some pretty hilarious faces. He honestly looks deeply concerned or troubled most of the time (which might be why he looks so much to me like Tyler). Where Garrett spent the first six months of his life keeping it all in, Caleb poops like a champion. And his tiny voice is adorably squeaky. I seriously could eat this sweet boy up, so I think we'll hang onto him.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
you knew this was coming
Introducing
Caleb David
bornSunday, August 23, 2009
5:02 p.m.
measuring
7 lbs 3 oz
20 inches
Thursday, August 20, 2009
d-i-y framing
I think I may have mentioned a little while back that Blake and I were embarking on a small handful of do-it-yourself framing projects. And if memory continues to serve me correctly, a few of you wanted to know more about it once we were finished. Well, we're finished (at least with this phase), so here's the scoop on what we did.
Over the last year or so we've been working to get decor up on our walls that we both liked. Neither of us has much of a knack for interior design, but we were getting tired of some of the hand-me-down prints we had hanging (too high up on the wall, I'm afraid to admit), as well as all the drab white space in between. When word got to my parents that getting some items framed was part of our plan, they, whose professions, hobbies, and own household decorating experience has taught them that it was just as easy and much cheaper, encouraged us to go the DIY route. And so with some guiding instruction from them, we did.
For two of the prints we used Uni-Frames, or clip frames. I bought them at Provo Art and Frame when I was home visiting in the spring, but apparently they are also available online. They come in two sizes: 20 (for smaller items) and 40 (for bigger items). To assemble these, you need the Uni-Frame as well as a piece of glass (with the edges sanded down since they will be exposed) and a piece of foam board, both cut to the dimensions of whatever it is you're trying to frame. The assembly instructions are very simple; you can put one together in a matter of minutes.
We wanted something a little nicer for the other two pieces we framed, and so for those we turned to American Frame. This company sells (for remarkably fair prices) the components of an incredibly wide variety of frames which you can purchase in your desired dimensions and, for a lower cost, assemble yourself. (You can also pay a little more to have them assemble it, but after seeing how easy the DIY route is, I don't think it's worth the extra money.) For one piece we purchased their Standard metal frame, for the other a Radius metal frame, both in matte black. It is simple to order; you are walked through everything, step by step, and the only dimension numbers you'll need to know are those of the piece you're framing. They do offer to cut a mat for you as well, but because one item we framed was a poster that we didn't want matted, and the other was a more complex piece (it has 5 windows and we had that part of the project completed at a local framing store), we didn't take that option. You can order plexiglass from them, or, if you want real glass, or find that plexiglass is cheaper locally, you can take that route instead. (For one project we bought their plexiglass; for the other we purchased glass from the local framers. We were pleased with how both turned out.) You will also need to have foam backing; in most cases it's easiest to just order from them because they cut it for you. All the tools needed to assemble your frame are included, except for hanging wire, which you can purchase from them for something like 50 cents for 5 feet. Building the frame and putting your piece inside it is, amazingly enough, a piece of cake. Each one we did took us about half an hour (and that's only because we're perfectionists when it comes to making sure the corners line up right).
This all might sound more complicated than it really is (and it's quite possible I've accidentally left a key point or two out). If you have questions, feel free to ask. Or better yet, ask my mom. If it wasn't for her expertise and detailed guidance, we would have spent a lot more money to have someone else frame these things.
Anyway, without further ado, here's a little tour of the four pieces we framed ourselves and which are now hanging happily in our little home:
This, and the one that follows, is a vintage print once used in Sunday School lessons in the 1950s and 1960s. My mom has been collecting them, and she passed a few of her duplicates onto me. Both are framed in Uni-Frames. This one hangs in the kitchen.
The second vintage print. This one hangs in Garrett's room. He loves to point at and say "Wheee!" as if he was going down the pictured slide himself.
This one was our first American Frame project. The poster was our souvenir from our visit to Disneyland this summer. (Can you tell I'm a sucker for vintage prints?) It also hangs in Garrett's room.
This one was our big project, and it's hanging in our living room. The pictures were taken from a picture book called One Monday Morning by Uri Shulevitz. (Yes, we cut apart a book. We still have one intact copy; we bought a second copy, a cheap paperback, expressly for the purpose of hanging some of the pictures on our wall.) We love these illustrations because they perfectly depict our life in Brooklyn: a little boy riding the subway, grocery shopping, at the laundromat, browsing in a toy store window, and playing on the street.
Over the last year or so we've been working to get decor up on our walls that we both liked. Neither of us has much of a knack for interior design, but we were getting tired of some of the hand-me-down prints we had hanging (too high up on the wall, I'm afraid to admit), as well as all the drab white space in between. When word got to my parents that getting some items framed was part of our plan, they, whose professions, hobbies, and own household decorating experience has taught them that it was just as easy and much cheaper, encouraged us to go the DIY route. And so with some guiding instruction from them, we did.
For two of the prints we used Uni-Frames, or clip frames. I bought them at Provo Art and Frame when I was home visiting in the spring, but apparently they are also available online. They come in two sizes: 20 (for smaller items) and 40 (for bigger items). To assemble these, you need the Uni-Frame as well as a piece of glass (with the edges sanded down since they will be exposed) and a piece of foam board, both cut to the dimensions of whatever it is you're trying to frame. The assembly instructions are very simple; you can put one together in a matter of minutes.
We wanted something a little nicer for the other two pieces we framed, and so for those we turned to American Frame. This company sells (for remarkably fair prices) the components of an incredibly wide variety of frames which you can purchase in your desired dimensions and, for a lower cost, assemble yourself. (You can also pay a little more to have them assemble it, but after seeing how easy the DIY route is, I don't think it's worth the extra money.) For one piece we purchased their Standard metal frame, for the other a Radius metal frame, both in matte black. It is simple to order; you are walked through everything, step by step, and the only dimension numbers you'll need to know are those of the piece you're framing. They do offer to cut a mat for you as well, but because one item we framed was a poster that we didn't want matted, and the other was a more complex piece (it has 5 windows and we had that part of the project completed at a local framing store), we didn't take that option. You can order plexiglass from them, or, if you want real glass, or find that plexiglass is cheaper locally, you can take that route instead. (For one project we bought their plexiglass; for the other we purchased glass from the local framers. We were pleased with how both turned out.) You will also need to have foam backing; in most cases it's easiest to just order from them because they cut it for you. All the tools needed to assemble your frame are included, except for hanging wire, which you can purchase from them for something like 50 cents for 5 feet. Building the frame and putting your piece inside it is, amazingly enough, a piece of cake. Each one we did took us about half an hour (and that's only because we're perfectionists when it comes to making sure the corners line up right).
This all might sound more complicated than it really is (and it's quite possible I've accidentally left a key point or two out). If you have questions, feel free to ask. Or better yet, ask my mom. If it wasn't for her expertise and detailed guidance, we would have spent a lot more money to have someone else frame these things.
Anyway, without further ado, here's a little tour of the four pieces we framed ourselves and which are now hanging happily in our little home:
This, and the one that follows, is a vintage print once used in Sunday School lessons in the 1950s and 1960s. My mom has been collecting them, and she passed a few of her duplicates onto me. Both are framed in Uni-Frames. This one hangs in the kitchen.
The second vintage print. This one hangs in Garrett's room. He loves to point at and say "Wheee!" as if he was going down the pictured slide himself.
This one was our first American Frame project. The poster was our souvenir from our visit to Disneyland this summer. (Can you tell I'm a sucker for vintage prints?) It also hangs in Garrett's room.
This one was our big project, and it's hanging in our living room. The pictures were taken from a picture book called One Monday Morning by Uri Shulevitz. (Yes, we cut apart a book. We still have one intact copy; we bought a second copy, a cheap paperback, expressly for the purpose of hanging some of the pictures on our wall.) We love these illustrations because they perfectly depict our life in Brooklyn: a little boy riding the subway, grocery shopping, at the laundromat, browsing in a toy store window, and playing on the street.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
the fifth five
I wasn't kidding when I mentioned that last week was spent doing a lot of reading lately. It's only been 2 weeks since my last book report, and I'm ready again to report on the next five.
21. Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression by Mildred Armstrong Kalish
For a memoir about childhood years during the Great Depression, this one was surprisingly optimistic. Definitely a breath of fresh air, given the category. What I loved about this book was how straightforward Kalish was on practical issues of frugality and resourcefulness. I don't necessarily have access to the same resources she and her family did on their farm, but the principles she shares can nonetheless be applied to my penny-pinching life in the city. In her chapter on cooking she shares some interesting recipes, among them one for homemade head cheese (which I'm not interested in experimenting with) and one for applesauce cake (which I definitely do want to try). I also loved her descriptions of laundry day. It certainly made my weekly three-block walk to the laundromat seem like a piece of cake. Pick this one up if you want to hear about some happy times during the Great Depression.
22. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
I wanted to read this one after being fascinated by Gladwell's first book, The Tipping Point. In some respects, this one was better. As it deals with individual decision making (Gladwell calls it "a journey into the wonders of our unconscious"), the topic is certainly more applicable to a broader range of people. The book focuses mostly on the problem of being surrounded, and consequently overwhelmed, by too much information. It teaches readers how we unconsciously make snap judgments and decisions, then prompts us to act and change things for the better. It was very interesting and well-written. If you like books on popular psychology, this is a great one to read.
23. Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya
My mom passed on this book to me quite a while ago and I've just now gotten to it. While it was well-written, and yeah, probably deserving of its classic status (it was originally published in the '50s), I'm not too sad about having waited so long to read it. Why? Well, because it was sad. Downright depressing at times. All I could think of as I read it was how similar a story this was to Pearl Buck's The Good Earth, only this story takes place in poverty-stricken India rather than China. I kept hoping for the character's life situation to get better (they were, after all, hardworking and definitely deserving people), but it didn't. And then it ended. Read it at your own risk.
24. A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter
People have been telling me for years -- years -- to read this book. I don't know why it took me so long. While we lived in Indiana I had even made several attempts to get a copy from the library because the story was set in a part of that state not too far from where we lived and I'm such a sucker for reading books that take place where I live. Anyway, I read it, and I liked it. Though, I think I would have liked it better if my first attempt at reading it had happened when I was, oh, 13. Some aspects of the plot were a little too romantically over the top for my now more developed tastes. But it's certainly a classic, and I don't regret reading it.
24.5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald
After watching -- and enjoying -- the recent movie adaptation, I found the original in a collection of Fitzgerald's short Jazz Age stories. I'm only counting this as half of a book because it was the only short story in the collection that, quite honestly, I cared to read. It was good (Fitzgerald is always good), but it was, as I'm sure you can imagine, very different from the film version. In some ways I actually liked the movie better; the liberties they took with the story line were for the most part, I thought, improvements.
25. The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White
This is a book that everyone -- everyone -- should be required to read. Especially if you're writing things that other people will be reading (um, blogging, anyone?). It concisely outlines things like basic grammar rules, misused words and phrases, and basic style guidelines that, when applied to your writing, are more than helpful. I especially enjoyed the style guidelines (which I believe was, aside from editing, White's contribution to the book) and the idea expressed throughout the book to choose your words wisely. It's definitely a book that should be read in small doses so as to allow the knowledge to sink in some, but either way, it doesn't take long to get through this slim volume (it's only about 85 pages). One thing I loved about it was how humorously it was written, as if both Strunk and White were giving us permission to laugh at ourselves for our silly grammar mistakes. While the book is short, it is full of more information than one person can easily swallow and digest in a short amount of time. I don't feel that amateur writers (um, bloggers, anyone?) should stress about getting all of it right all of the time. At the same time, however, we should all be aware of the technicalities of our language and, for the sake of our audience, make an effort to get it right at least some of the time.
***
And on a totally unrelated note: To all those of you with late August or early September birthdays: be extra kind to your mothers. The ninth month of pregnancy in the sweltering heat of late summer is seriously the pits.
21. Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression by Mildred Armstrong Kalish
For a memoir about childhood years during the Great Depression, this one was surprisingly optimistic. Definitely a breath of fresh air, given the category. What I loved about this book was how straightforward Kalish was on practical issues of frugality and resourcefulness. I don't necessarily have access to the same resources she and her family did on their farm, but the principles she shares can nonetheless be applied to my penny-pinching life in the city. In her chapter on cooking she shares some interesting recipes, among them one for homemade head cheese (which I'm not interested in experimenting with) and one for applesauce cake (which I definitely do want to try). I also loved her descriptions of laundry day. It certainly made my weekly three-block walk to the laundromat seem like a piece of cake. Pick this one up if you want to hear about some happy times during the Great Depression.
22. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
I wanted to read this one after being fascinated by Gladwell's first book, The Tipping Point. In some respects, this one was better. As it deals with individual decision making (Gladwell calls it "a journey into the wonders of our unconscious"), the topic is certainly more applicable to a broader range of people. The book focuses mostly on the problem of being surrounded, and consequently overwhelmed, by too much information. It teaches readers how we unconsciously make snap judgments and decisions, then prompts us to act and change things for the better. It was very interesting and well-written. If you like books on popular psychology, this is a great one to read.
23. Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya
My mom passed on this book to me quite a while ago and I've just now gotten to it. While it was well-written, and yeah, probably deserving of its classic status (it was originally published in the '50s), I'm not too sad about having waited so long to read it. Why? Well, because it was sad. Downright depressing at times. All I could think of as I read it was how similar a story this was to Pearl Buck's The Good Earth, only this story takes place in poverty-stricken India rather than China. I kept hoping for the character's life situation to get better (they were, after all, hardworking and definitely deserving people), but it didn't. And then it ended. Read it at your own risk.
24. A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter
People have been telling me for years -- years -- to read this book. I don't know why it took me so long. While we lived in Indiana I had even made several attempts to get a copy from the library because the story was set in a part of that state not too far from where we lived and I'm such a sucker for reading books that take place where I live. Anyway, I read it, and I liked it. Though, I think I would have liked it better if my first attempt at reading it had happened when I was, oh, 13. Some aspects of the plot were a little too romantically over the top for my now more developed tastes. But it's certainly a classic, and I don't regret reading it.
24.5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald
After watching -- and enjoying -- the recent movie adaptation, I found the original in a collection of Fitzgerald's short Jazz Age stories. I'm only counting this as half of a book because it was the only short story in the collection that, quite honestly, I cared to read. It was good (Fitzgerald is always good), but it was, as I'm sure you can imagine, very different from the film version. In some ways I actually liked the movie better; the liberties they took with the story line were for the most part, I thought, improvements.
25. The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White
This is a book that everyone -- everyone -- should be required to read. Especially if you're writing things that other people will be reading (um, blogging, anyone?). It concisely outlines things like basic grammar rules, misused words and phrases, and basic style guidelines that, when applied to your writing, are more than helpful. I especially enjoyed the style guidelines (which I believe was, aside from editing, White's contribution to the book) and the idea expressed throughout the book to choose your words wisely. It's definitely a book that should be read in small doses so as to allow the knowledge to sink in some, but either way, it doesn't take long to get through this slim volume (it's only about 85 pages). One thing I loved about it was how humorously it was written, as if both Strunk and White were giving us permission to laugh at ourselves for our silly grammar mistakes. While the book is short, it is full of more information than one person can easily swallow and digest in a short amount of time. I don't feel that amateur writers (um, bloggers, anyone?) should stress about getting all of it right all of the time. At the same time, however, we should all be aware of the technicalities of our language and, for the sake of our audience, make an effort to get it right at least some of the time.
***
And on a totally unrelated note: To all those of you with late August or early September birthdays: be extra kind to your mothers. The ninth month of pregnancy in the sweltering heat of late summer is seriously the pits.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
let's just wrap up the baby drama, shall we?
I don't know about you, but I think that all this pregnancy drama is starting to get kind of old. However, for the handful of you who are interested, here is a quick update on the baby situation. I saw my doctor yesterday for my weekly appointment and while there expressed a few of my concerns.
The first was the posterior presentation of the baby. I was curious as to how my doctor typically chose to handle babies in that position (forceps? c-section?) and what it would mean for my delivery. He basically told me that it shouldn't be a problem, except for the pain it causes in my lower back. Because the baby has already descended so low, there's really nothing that can be done to change the situation at this point anyway. What's more, he told me that it wasn't so much the baby that was posterior as it was my cervix. Apparently, when the baby engaged, his head pushed my cervix way far back, which right now makes for nothing more than very uncomfortable pelvic exams. Once I start having big contractions, everything will supposedly line up again how it is supposed to. So there's one worry I'm feeling more relieved about.
The second concern we discussed was my fear that, because I'm so far progressed already, I wouldn't make it to the hospital in time to deliver (let alone with enough time to spare for an epidural, a worry I didn't specifically name, but the sentiment of which was still definitely looming about the room). In combination with the fact that, for a first baby, Garrett came rather quickly, my doctor agreed that these concerns were legitimate. I haven't dilated much further during this last week (because, I'm convinced, I was able to spend so much of last week resting), so this week will just be spent waiting to see what happens. My doctor, however, is not opposed to inducing labor in order to ensure that no babies are born in cars en route to the labor and delivery unit. At my next appointment, he'll check me for further progression and we'll make a plan from there. I know some people have horror stories involving inductions, but I cannot even begin to tell you how much more at ease this option makes me feel.
So for the time being, we're going to keep going as we have been and see what happens. I could still very well go naturally before my doctor would consider inducing me -- especially now that Garrett is back home (I swear, that boy's energy alone is enough to send anyone, pregnant or not, into labor). And, now that I'm full term, that would be fine; we'll just take it as it comes. It helps that I'm feeling -- physically and emotionally -- much better than I was last week. In the meantime, I'm going to focus on handling daily life in the midst of this sweltering heatwave as I look forward to the baby shower my good friends are giving me this Saturday. (Thanks, guys -- you are awesome!) I'll keep you posted if any more baby-related news comes up, but I'm hoping that in the next few days I can post about things of a different nature.
The first was the posterior presentation of the baby. I was curious as to how my doctor typically chose to handle babies in that position (forceps? c-section?) and what it would mean for my delivery. He basically told me that it shouldn't be a problem, except for the pain it causes in my lower back. Because the baby has already descended so low, there's really nothing that can be done to change the situation at this point anyway. What's more, he told me that it wasn't so much the baby that was posterior as it was my cervix. Apparently, when the baby engaged, his head pushed my cervix way far back, which right now makes for nothing more than very uncomfortable pelvic exams. Once I start having big contractions, everything will supposedly line up again how it is supposed to. So there's one worry I'm feeling more relieved about.
The second concern we discussed was my fear that, because I'm so far progressed already, I wouldn't make it to the hospital in time to deliver (let alone with enough time to spare for an epidural, a worry I didn't specifically name, but the sentiment of which was still definitely looming about the room). In combination with the fact that, for a first baby, Garrett came rather quickly, my doctor agreed that these concerns were legitimate. I haven't dilated much further during this last week (because, I'm convinced, I was able to spend so much of last week resting), so this week will just be spent waiting to see what happens. My doctor, however, is not opposed to inducing labor in order to ensure that no babies are born in cars en route to the labor and delivery unit. At my next appointment, he'll check me for further progression and we'll make a plan from there. I know some people have horror stories involving inductions, but I cannot even begin to tell you how much more at ease this option makes me feel.
So for the time being, we're going to keep going as we have been and see what happens. I could still very well go naturally before my doctor would consider inducing me -- especially now that Garrett is back home (I swear, that boy's energy alone is enough to send anyone, pregnant or not, into labor). And, now that I'm full term, that would be fine; we'll just take it as it comes. It helps that I'm feeling -- physically and emotionally -- much better than I was last week. In the meantime, I'm going to focus on handling daily life in the midst of this sweltering heatwave as I look forward to the baby shower my good friends are giving me this Saturday. (Thanks, guys -- you are awesome!) I'll keep you posted if any more baby-related news comes up, but I'm hoping that in the next few days I can post about things of a different nature.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
he's back!
And we are all thrilled that he is.
Blake met my aunt and uncle in the city this morning to pick Garrett up. I met them on the stoop as they approached our building. Garrett saw me and came running, his arms flapping happily as he did. He seemed so content to see us both that he gave each of us kisses with hardly any prompting to do so.
Judging by the joyous circles he ran around in once were inside the apartment, I'd say he's happy to be back on his home turf.
I think his little vacation did him as much good as it did me: he's come back to us with a stronger inclination to talk than he had before. I guess spending a few days around people who don't understand all of his non-verbal forms of communication has forced him to try a little harder to use actual words. I'm certainly not complaining.
I am forever grateful to my family for taking my son off my hands for most of this last week as getting the rest I needed would have been impossible with him around. And I'm relieved to have learned that he was a good boy while he was away. But I'm so happy to have him home again.
I am forever grateful to my family for taking my son off my hands for most of this last week as getting the rest I needed would have been impossible with him around. And I'm relieved to have learned that he was a good boy while he was away. But I'm so happy to have him home again.
Friday, August 14, 2009
update haikus
Where has Lindsay been?
Mostly reclining in bed,
reading lots of books.
Baby's not here -- yet.
I would like to be full-term
before he arrives.
Garrett will come back
tomorrow. I'm excited
to see him again,
but it's been nice to
have been able to rest to
abate contractions.
Thank you, everyone,
for your support, love, and prayers!
I am in your debt.
Mostly reclining in bed,
reading lots of books.
Baby's not here -- yet.
I would like to be full-term
before he arrives.
Garrett will come back
tomorrow. I'm excited
to see him again,
but it's been nice to
have been able to rest to
abate contractions.
Thank you, everyone,
for your support, love, and prayers!
I am in your debt.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
turbulence
Last night was fun. I started getting intense and regular contractions and so, on the advice of my doctor, we headed to the hospital. While I was hooked up to the monitors, their frequency and intensity continued. However, because I'm not yet full-term, my doctor wanted to see if the contractions could be abated, so they inserted an IV and started a continuous drip of I-don't-know-what, but it worked. A pelvic exam just before I was released to go home indicated that the events of the evening had dilated me one more additional centimeter and left me 60% effaced.
So I'm halfway there, which on the one hand is great, but which on the other has left me in a state of complete anxiety. So many mixed emotions are coursing through me, and I have consequently been a total mess today. For the sake of this baby, I want him to stay where he is as long as possible. For the sake of my emotions, I want this pregnancy, with its turbulent ending, to just be over. I'm worried that because I've progressed so far, I won't be left with enough time to get to the hospital in time to actually deliver there (let alone have an epidural). The baby is also extremely posterior, which unless he flips around, could cause that delivery to be very difficult.
I saw my doctor again today for a follow-up exam and because I had a few concerns. Things have pretty much remained as they were at discharge last night, despite the frequent, though irregular, contractions I continue to have. Perhaps in large part to ease my nerves, I was prescribed a pill that will apparently stop false contractions, leaving it easier to distinguish the real ones. So far, though, it doesn't seem to be making much of a difference.
And so the waiting game continues. In the meantime, Garrett is being cared for by my relatives in New Jersey. My aunt picked up him up this afternoon after her session working at the Manhattan temple and took him home with her. While this is indeed a huge blessing and relief, especially because of Blake's currently very hectic work schedule and my limited ability to manage life, let alone my toddler, it is turning out to be harder than I thought to not have Garrett here with me. It's like a part of me is missing. And, after talking with Blake, I know that he feels the same. He is in good hands, though, and will be getting more positive attention than I could give him now, given my current condition, and having him away will allow me to get some much needed rest.
I'm very aware that things might drag on, which would be great for the baby. But I don't know how much more pregnancy turbulence I can handle, and I really miss my little boy.
So I'm halfway there, which on the one hand is great, but which on the other has left me in a state of complete anxiety. So many mixed emotions are coursing through me, and I have consequently been a total mess today. For the sake of this baby, I want him to stay where he is as long as possible. For the sake of my emotions, I want this pregnancy, with its turbulent ending, to just be over. I'm worried that because I've progressed so far, I won't be left with enough time to get to the hospital in time to actually deliver there (let alone have an epidural). The baby is also extremely posterior, which unless he flips around, could cause that delivery to be very difficult.
I saw my doctor again today for a follow-up exam and because I had a few concerns. Things have pretty much remained as they were at discharge last night, despite the frequent, though irregular, contractions I continue to have. Perhaps in large part to ease my nerves, I was prescribed a pill that will apparently stop false contractions, leaving it easier to distinguish the real ones. So far, though, it doesn't seem to be making much of a difference.
And so the waiting game continues. In the meantime, Garrett is being cared for by my relatives in New Jersey. My aunt picked up him up this afternoon after her session working at the Manhattan temple and took him home with her. While this is indeed a huge blessing and relief, especially because of Blake's currently very hectic work schedule and my limited ability to manage life, let alone my toddler, it is turning out to be harder than I thought to not have Garrett here with me. It's like a part of me is missing. And, after talking with Blake, I know that he feels the same. He is in good hands, though, and will be getting more positive attention than I could give him now, given my current condition, and having him away will allow me to get some much needed rest.
I'm very aware that things might drag on, which would be great for the baby. But I don't know how much more pregnancy turbulence I can handle, and I really miss my little boy.
Monday, August 10, 2009
validation
The baby dropped sometime late last week, landing squarely on some nerves in my pelvis. His subsequent rolling around on them and the painful and frequent, though still irregular, contractions I've been feeling over the weekend have made me more than just a little uncomfortable. Today at my 36 week check-up the doctor validated my misery: the baby's head is indeed incredibly low, and I am already dilated to 4 cm.
This baby is very likely coming early, and when he does, he'll be coming fast.
Yikes!
This baby is very likely coming early, and when he does, he'll be coming fast.
Yikes!
Friday, August 07, 2009
sous chef
I have apparently employed a two-year-old sous chef for my kitchen. I don't remember hiring him, but, judging by the chair he's constantly pushing over to the counter and subsequently climbing on, he has been especially helpful lately.
I use the term "helpful" loosely, however. It isn't always helpful when your sous chef tries to put his hand on a hot burner. Or when he reaches for the block of knives. Or when he dumps scoopfuls of flour onto the floor. With his "help," it actually takes me twice as long to cook or bake anything as it did before he came on.
Even so, I think I'll keep him around for at least a little while longer. I'm hopeful that perhaps his kitchen skills will improve with practice -- and age.
Making muffins with the bunch of bananas he peeled open yesterday when he was being especially "helpful."Thursday, August 06, 2009
the fourth five
It's been a challenging week in my world, due mostly to things like trying to keep a toddler and my ever-pregnant self simultaneously as happy and comfortable as possible in thickly oppressive and non-air conditioned heat and humidity. And then there were the contractions I was having a few days ago that were so painful I was scared into getting my hospital bag packed. Consequently, I've been keeping my feet up as much as possible, which has allowed for me to also do a lot of reading. Here, then, is my report to you of my next five books.
16. Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith
This is the second book in the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, and it was just as wonderful as the first. I think my favorite part was when Mma Makutsi, Mma Ramotswe's secretary (who scored an impressive 97% on her secretarial college examinations), was promoted to assistant detective. Oh, and also that part where the diamond was actually cubic zirconia. The popularity of this series is making it rather difficult for me to get my hands on the additional books in the series, but I am excited to continue reading them.
17. Espresso Tales by Alexander McCall Smith
18. Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith
19. The World According to Bertie by Alexander McCall Smith
These are the additional books in the 44 Scotland Street series, and because the plotlines of them have all run together in my head, I'm clumping them together in my review. I was a little wary of this series when I read the first book, but I have since been completely converted. Seriously, you all need to read these. The characters are delightful and the subtle humor with which their stories are told allows for readers to believe the bizarre events that they encounter as they unfold. My favorite storylines are, hands down, Domenica's anthropological excursion to Malaysia to study pirates, as well as anything involving Bertie and his wacky and overbearing mother, Irene.
20. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
This book has been recommended to me over and over by so many people, and for good reason. It's absolutely fascinating. Throw in the fact that Gladwell just might be one of the best non-fiction writers currently publishing, and you've got a winner. The book focuses on the reasons why some social epidemics "tip," become suddenly trendy or successful, while others don't. I really appreciated Gladwell's patient approach as he taught his readers the psychology behind tipping points; it allowed for me to consider examples beyond what he shared that I have encountered personally. He has two other books out right now, Blink and Outliers, both of which I will be reading soon.
The contractions seem to have subsided and, thank heavens, so has the humidity (at least for the time being). I still, though, have a large pile of books from the library waiting for me to tackle, and while I'm not stupid enough to wish back the contractions or the heat, I am hoping for opportunities to plow through the stack on my nightstand. So, 'til next time, everyone!
16. Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith
This is the second book in the Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, and it was just as wonderful as the first. I think my favorite part was when Mma Makutsi, Mma Ramotswe's secretary (who scored an impressive 97% on her secretarial college examinations), was promoted to assistant detective. Oh, and also that part where the diamond was actually cubic zirconia. The popularity of this series is making it rather difficult for me to get my hands on the additional books in the series, but I am excited to continue reading them.
17. Espresso Tales by Alexander McCall Smith
18. Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith
19. The World According to Bertie by Alexander McCall Smith
These are the additional books in the 44 Scotland Street series, and because the plotlines of them have all run together in my head, I'm clumping them together in my review. I was a little wary of this series when I read the first book, but I have since been completely converted. Seriously, you all need to read these. The characters are delightful and the subtle humor with which their stories are told allows for readers to believe the bizarre events that they encounter as they unfold. My favorite storylines are, hands down, Domenica's anthropological excursion to Malaysia to study pirates, as well as anything involving Bertie and his wacky and overbearing mother, Irene.
20. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
This book has been recommended to me over and over by so many people, and for good reason. It's absolutely fascinating. Throw in the fact that Gladwell just might be one of the best non-fiction writers currently publishing, and you've got a winner. The book focuses on the reasons why some social epidemics "tip," become suddenly trendy or successful, while others don't. I really appreciated Gladwell's patient approach as he taught his readers the psychology behind tipping points; it allowed for me to consider examples beyond what he shared that I have encountered personally. He has two other books out right now, Blink and Outliers, both of which I will be reading soon.
The contractions seem to have subsided and, thank heavens, so has the humidity (at least for the time being). I still, though, have a large pile of books from the library waiting for me to tackle, and while I'm not stupid enough to wish back the contractions or the heat, I am hoping for opportunities to plow through the stack on my nightstand. So, 'til next time, everyone!
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
yakety-yak
When it comes to reaching milestones, Garrett has always been somewhat of a late bloomer. He didn't start crawling until two weeks before his first birthday, walking steadily came at around sixteen months, and, because he apparently preferred showing off his abs of steel, rolling over (from his back to tummy) didn't come until shortly after that. And where he has taken longer to develop a new skill, he has always made up for lost time by mastering it more quickly. I assumed, then, that talking would follow a similar pattern.
So far, it has, and because I know Garrett and am familiar with his way of doing things, I haven't let myself worry too much. Since he said his first word almost a year ago, he's learned a sprinkling of additional words -- enough to keep my concern stabilized, but still leaving me curious as to when he'd really take off.
The subject of his speech came up at his recent well check-up. When the doctor asked how well he was talking, I told him, honestly, that while he continues to learn and use new words, he seems to have fallen behind his peers in this department. I guess I didn't realize that my concern over this had, in fact, risen, because I was overwhelmingly reassured when he seemed satisfied that, while he might not be talking much, his level of understanding seems to be right where it should be. A perfect example of this can be seen when I ask him where various body parts are. He might not say the words, but he'll show me he understands my questions by pointing -- correctly -- to his eyes, his hair, his belly button, etc.
Garrett might take his time, but he is not stupid. He is incredibly observant and knows exactly what is going on around him. Still, though, for reasons beyond his toddler development (like, say, the fact that I'm getting really tired of listening to him grunt and whine as he hangs on the refrigerator door), I'm really anxious for him to pick up this talking business a bit faster. Things did start to take off a little more after his second birthday, in part, I'm hoping, because of my diligence in working with and encouraging him, and I imagine that this trend will continue. I sometimes wonder if the arrival of his baby brother will be what sends his talking ability right over the edge, if only as a means of swaying our attention away from the baby and back to him -- a survival tactic, if you will.
I made a list the other day of the words Garrett knows and uses on a fairly regular basis. Some words, of course, he'll use more than others, and some seem to have faded to the background of his vocabulary. But if he has said it, unprompted and more than once, whether or not he still does, I included it on the list.
Garrett's Words, age 25 months
FOOD: cookie, drink, all done/all gone, cheese, cheese-cheese (macaroni and cheese), pop (popcorn), water, banana, apple
ANIMALS: dog, woof, baa (sheep), cow, moo, oink, duck, quack, roar, bak-bak (chicken), tweet-tweet (bird)
PEOPLE: dad, mama, Neenee (Lindsay), mimi (mama/Lindsay), Garrett, baby, Henry (his cousin), Elizabeth (his friend. His word for her sounds nothing like Elizabeth, but he's consistent, so I'm counting it.)
EXCLAMATIONS: hello, uh-oh, yes, yeah, no, oh no, please, thank you, go, PU! (he plugs his nose when he says this), stinky, whoa, wow, beep, again
ROUTINES: new di-di (new diaper), done (amen), bathtub, blanket
PLAY: ball, blocks, whee! (slide)
TRANSPORTATION: choo choo! (train), bus, car
There may be a word or two that I've inadvertently left off, but, honestly, this list could be outdated tomorrow anyway.
Because he usually only talks when he wants to, and not when I want him to, it's been hard to capture his words on video. I had some luck, however, late last week, when he asked me -- please -- for a cookie:
So far, it has, and because I know Garrett and am familiar with his way of doing things, I haven't let myself worry too much. Since he said his first word almost a year ago, he's learned a sprinkling of additional words -- enough to keep my concern stabilized, but still leaving me curious as to when he'd really take off.
The subject of his speech came up at his recent well check-up. When the doctor asked how well he was talking, I told him, honestly, that while he continues to learn and use new words, he seems to have fallen behind his peers in this department. I guess I didn't realize that my concern over this had, in fact, risen, because I was overwhelmingly reassured when he seemed satisfied that, while he might not be talking much, his level of understanding seems to be right where it should be. A perfect example of this can be seen when I ask him where various body parts are. He might not say the words, but he'll show me he understands my questions by pointing -- correctly -- to his eyes, his hair, his belly button, etc.
Garrett might take his time, but he is not stupid. He is incredibly observant and knows exactly what is going on around him. Still, though, for reasons beyond his toddler development (like, say, the fact that I'm getting really tired of listening to him grunt and whine as he hangs on the refrigerator door), I'm really anxious for him to pick up this talking business a bit faster. Things did start to take off a little more after his second birthday, in part, I'm hoping, because of my diligence in working with and encouraging him, and I imagine that this trend will continue. I sometimes wonder if the arrival of his baby brother will be what sends his talking ability right over the edge, if only as a means of swaying our attention away from the baby and back to him -- a survival tactic, if you will.
I made a list the other day of the words Garrett knows and uses on a fairly regular basis. Some words, of course, he'll use more than others, and some seem to have faded to the background of his vocabulary. But if he has said it, unprompted and more than once, whether or not he still does, I included it on the list.
Garrett's Words, age 25 months
FOOD: cookie, drink, all done/all gone, cheese, cheese-cheese (macaroni and cheese), pop (popcorn), water, banana, apple
ANIMALS: dog, woof, baa (sheep), cow, moo, oink, duck, quack, roar, bak-bak (chicken), tweet-tweet (bird)
PEOPLE: dad, mama, Neenee (Lindsay), mimi (mama/Lindsay), Garrett, baby, Henry (his cousin), Elizabeth (his friend. His word for her sounds nothing like Elizabeth, but he's consistent, so I'm counting it.)
EXCLAMATIONS: hello, uh-oh, yes, yeah, no, oh no, please, thank you, go, PU! (he plugs his nose when he says this), stinky, whoa, wow, beep, again
ROUTINES: new di-di (new diaper), done (amen), bathtub, blanket
PLAY: ball, blocks, whee! (slide)
TRANSPORTATION: choo choo! (train), bus, car
There may be a word or two that I've inadvertently left off, but, honestly, this list could be outdated tomorrow anyway.
Because he usually only talks when he wants to, and not when I want him to, it's been hard to capture his words on video. I had some luck, however, late last week, when he asked me -- please -- for a cookie:
Really, how could anyone say no to a face like that?
Monday, August 03, 2009
mama was right...
...the park sprinklers ARE fun!
I don't know why it's taken him all summer to be convinced of this fact, but I'm glad he's finally come around. It's certainly a pleasant -- and cool -- way to spend a hot, summer afternoon.
I don't know why it's taken him all summer to be convinced of this fact, but I'm glad he's finally come around. It's certainly a pleasant -- and cool -- way to spend a hot, summer afternoon.
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