Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
The Bris
Yesterday was day 8 of our son's life. In accordance with Jewish Law, we had arranged for our son to have a Brit Mila. The anticipation of this potentially traumatic, utterly elective, surgery on our son's most sensitive and cherished of body parts (apparently that's the idea) was particularly hard on Karin. I tried to console her but that's difficult to do while feeling similar angst and reticence.
Notwithstanding those obstacles, we found a Mohel, pediatrician Dr. Gilboa, and accepted Dad & Ann's hospitality in offering to host the event. An hour prior to the scheduled moment of truth, Karin applied a topical numbing cream. When the Mohel arrived, he injected a Lidocaine block - just to be sure.
It was a fine event. I gave a short speech welcoming people and describing our baby's name (speech text available by request only) and then the Mohel took over. There was a circumcision. There were blessings. There were Mazal Tovs. And then there was a nice lunch (a solid example of the adagial Jewish basis for celebration: They tried to kill us. We survived. Let's eat.).
There are photos and video floating around. They should eventually make their way into a post.
Notwithstanding those obstacles, we found a Mohel, pediatrician Dr. Gilboa, and accepted Dad & Ann's hospitality in offering to host the event. An hour prior to the scheduled moment of truth, Karin applied a topical numbing cream. When the Mohel arrived, he injected a Lidocaine block - just to be sure.
It was a fine event. I gave a short speech welcoming people and describing our baby's name (speech text available by request only) and then the Mohel took over. There was a circumcision. There were blessings. There were Mazal Tovs. And then there was a nice lunch (a solid example of the adagial Jewish basis for celebration: They tried to kill us. We survived. Let's eat.).
There are photos and video floating around. They should eventually make their way into a post.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Pictures Of Karin's Labor And More
Some of these pics may be a little intense for the little ones. Please view privately prior to playing the slideshow for your children. See how sensitive I am to parenting now?
While the pics do include captions, there is much more to the story. I will be posting a narrative when I have the chance.
I suggest clicking "pause" on the first pic and then using the arrows to move through the slideshow.
The Slideshow
While the pics do include captions, there is much more to the story. I will be posting a narrative when I have the chance.
I suggest clicking "pause" on the first pic and then using the arrows to move through the slideshow.
The Slideshow
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Sleep
This is the first chance I have had to sit at a computer. Our first night at home with the baby was rather sleepless. Karin has barely slept since Tuesday. Karin is, at the moment, in bed... hopefully sleeping.
I do intend to get back to Karin's birth story but it's going to have to wait a bit.
I do intend to get back to Karin's birth story but it's going to have to wait a bit.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
One Day Old
I am totally frustrated by not having internet access here (other than by phone). I have so much to post and only this tiny, infuriating keyboard.
Last night Karin slept 3 or so hours... nurses were coming in regularly to do tests. And Karin was feeding... Hey, what is his name?
Doctor is here. Must go.
Last night Karin slept 3 or so hours... nurses were coming in regularly to do tests. And Karin was feeding... Hey, what is his name?
Doctor is here. Must go.
More Time Necessary
Apparently the nurse that called "full dilation" this morning missed a "lip" so Karin has been pushing for hours for no reason. We hopefully now have correct info and can proceed accordingly.
I will have much more to say about this situation and ramifications but for now I must attend to Karin.
I will have much more to say about this situation and ramifications but for now I must attend to Karin.
Karin Savoring Her Labor
Karin has now been in labor for over 36 hours. She has been awake for over 50 hours. It has been intense. She is unbelievable. She is running a marathon... multiple marathons. Some good stories to tell... but they will have to wait for a baby and a computer (posting by phone right now).
7 PM last night: Given hospital room.
7:30 PM: 4 cm.
Midnight: Water broke.
12:30 AM: 5 cm. -2. 100%.
2:30 AM: 0 station.
3:45 AM: 8 cm, +1, 100%.
7:00 AM: 9 cm.
8:40 AM: Fully dilated.
10:15 AM: Shift change. Complete change of staff. New doctor introduces herself.
7 PM last night: Given hospital room.
7:30 PM: 4 cm.
Midnight: Water broke.
12:30 AM: 5 cm. -2. 100%.
2:30 AM: 0 station.
3:45 AM: 8 cm, +1, 100%.
7:00 AM: 9 cm.
8:40 AM: Fully dilated.
10:15 AM: Shift change. Complete change of staff. New doctor introduces herself.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Status Report
It's 4:00 AM. Karin has been up all night and is having regular and intensifying surges (contractions). I just called the hospital to let them know that we will be coming in.
5:30 AM. The Doula, also known as Andrea, has arrived at our home.
8:20 AM. We are still at home. Regular surges. The next door neighbor began major landscaping at 7:30 AM using heavy machinery. Karin said it wasn't bothering her but I did tell the landscaper what was happening over here and he said he would try to expedite.
I managed to squeeze in a couple of hours sleep between 6 and 8... all due to Andrea the Doula being here. That sleep is going to make a huge difference today.
11:25 AM. We are at home. Karin is surging. The surges are intense and intermittent. Karin was in, and next to, the bed for a few hours. We then moved to the dining room for a little breakfast, went for a walk in the backyard, and are now watching The Office.
1:55 PM. Karin is bathing. Doula is sleeping in the living room. I'm trying to cram some readings in.
3:55 PM. We three are gathered in the bedroom. Karin is standing in the middle of the room, enduring surges. I am on the bed alternating between a book, the computer, the video camera, and Karin. Doula is on the floor, talking Karin through her surges.
5:55 PM. Packing up and heading to the hospital. I don't think we're going to have internet access (but I'll try).
5:30 AM. The Doula, also known as Andrea, has arrived at our home.
8:20 AM. We are still at home. Regular surges. The next door neighbor began major landscaping at 7:30 AM using heavy machinery. Karin said it wasn't bothering her but I did tell the landscaper what was happening over here and he said he would try to expedite.
I managed to squeeze in a couple of hours sleep between 6 and 8... all due to Andrea the Doula being here. That sleep is going to make a huge difference today.
11:25 AM. We are at home. Karin is surging. The surges are intense and intermittent. Karin was in, and next to, the bed for a few hours. We then moved to the dining room for a little breakfast, went for a walk in the backyard, and are now watching The Office.
1:55 PM. Karin is bathing. Doula is sleeping in the living room. I'm trying to cram some readings in.
3:55 PM. We three are gathered in the bedroom. Karin is standing in the middle of the room, enduring surges. I am on the bed alternating between a book, the computer, the video camera, and Karin. Doula is on the floor, talking Karin through her surges.
5:55 PM. Packing up and heading to the hospital. I don't think we're going to have internet access (but I'll try).
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Top Ten Reasons It's Good That Our Baby Is Taking His Sweet Time
10. Current situation gives our URL added meaning.
9. Mommy's trip-to-the-bathroom-every-12-minutes negates my need for a watch.
8. Newborns' diapers have to be changed about ten $%@#* times a day!
7. Properly cooked babies are more likely to become action-superheroes.
6. One less American for the government to bail out (whoops... he doesn't have a mortgage yet so forget that).
5. We're still not quite mature enough. A few days should do it.
4. Perineal massage.
3. The Ides of March will no longer haunt us all.
2. Our boy will not have to endure the current Chinese crackdown in Tibet.
And the number one reason why it's good that rashislate:
1. S L E E P !
9. Mommy's trip-to-the-bathroom-every-12-minutes negates my need for a watch.
8. Newborns' diapers have to be changed about ten $%@#* times a day!
7. Properly cooked babies are more likely to become action-superheroes.
6. One less American for the government to bail out (whoops... he doesn't have a mortgage yet so forget that).
5. We're still not quite mature enough. A few days should do it.
4. Perineal massage.
3. The Ides of March will no longer haunt us all.
2. Our boy will not have to endure the current Chinese crackdown in Tibet.
And the number one reason why it's good that rashislate:
1. S L E E P !
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Forty Weeks
Isn't something important supposed to be happening here today? I'm sure there was something. The only thing in my calendar is "Flight to L08". Oh well... If it is that important, it will come back to me. Right?
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Thirty Nine Weeks and Karin's Birthday
Today just happened to be a beautiful day to be thirty nine weeks pregnant and a Birthday Girl in San Diego. Karin had some of her favorite things planned, including Dim Sum, hiking in Torrey Pines, enjoying the blossoming wild-flowers, and hanging out at the beach. And, to top it all off, she got to meet Officer Winterton, with whom I had a brief encounter last year. Happy Birthday, Karin!
Karin took the following three pics. Click on them to see their full glory:
Karin took the following three pics. Click on them to see their full glory:
Monday, March 3, 2008
I'm Doing My Part Too
A very rare glimpse into the ultra-secret induction ritual known only ashypno-ashkephardic-freuyungian-taobertarian-birthiological prostration.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Thirty Eight Weeks Today
I agree that anecdotal advice from family and friends is absolutely invaluable. And Karin has spent years and years absorbing all that wonderful knowledge, tradition, and experience. She embraced childbirth and childing long ago and has spent over a decade developing herself into the penultimate mother that we all know she will be. Add to that her professional training and we clearly have a potent mommy-cocktail here.
I, on the other hand, have ignored and/or avoided childbirth for an even longer time. Luckily, my lack of knowledge does not cancel out Karin's significant knowledge. My specialty, when it comes to newborn children, has been the following:
A. Trying to determine what planet they came from.
B. Cringing at their various bodily functions and what they produce.
C. Staying out of the way as moms do their magic to get them to the next stage (apparently this will now change).
Actually, I do love playing with little people... but I find it much more rewarding when they have the ability to interact in some minimal way. My understanding is that, as of the first smile, I will be smitten.
I am educating myself, and not just with books. For example, last week I solicited advice from my male confidantes who have had children. I asked them about the role they played during the birth and about how much time they took off following the birth. I also asked for any and all advice that they were willing to share. Here is what I learned from my trusted confidantes:
1. Many of them are hilarious and I cannot reprint a lot of what they wrote.
2. None of them "caught" the baby.
3. A few cut the umbilical cord but only one seemed to feel strongly about it.
4. Time off for fathers ranged from none at all, to a few months. A few were into a long initial bonding period for daddy but most thought it was not entirely useful, or even a hindrance, to be around once mommy was doing alright.
My friends who responded run the gamut: lawyers, bankers, writers, pilots, doctors, Americans, Canadians... Here are a few notable quotes from their advice. Since this will inevitably become our official chronicling of this event, I am not editing out potentially offensive language and themes. If you have an issue with that, please DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER.
1. Always have diaper, wipe, and a plastic bag ready! (and change of clothes for the baby too)
2. It's very crowded and you're really just a bother. When the kid begins to de-martian, that's when you want to be around. (regarding how much time to take off work)
3. Have fun with it. The first one is totally special. Don't overparent. Don't dress the kid up too warm (probably not an issue in cali) and don't handle the kid as if he/she will break. They're tougher than you think. That said (and i mean this), don't be afraid to tell every single person who handles the baby to wash their fucking hands before they touch your kid. Also, your parents haven't had kids in 30 years (shorter for Saul). Don't go to them for advice. They generally don't know what they're saying. They're the same people that fed you coca-cola in a bottle when you were 1 -- and even if they did a good job, they don't remember what they did. Find a friend who seems to know what she's doing, and is natural with the child, and rely on that person for advice.
4. If Karin is staying home with baby a lot, she needs to get the hell out of the house on her own every week at least one day----and take her on getaway weekends frequently. NO ONE can handle being around a baby for extended periods of time--- [he or she will] go crazy.
I, on the other hand, have ignored and/or avoided childbirth for an even longer time. Luckily, my lack of knowledge does not cancel out Karin's significant knowledge. My specialty, when it comes to newborn children, has been the following:
A. Trying to determine what planet they came from.
B. Cringing at their various bodily functions and what they produce.
C. Staying out of the way as moms do their magic to get them to the next stage (apparently this will now change).
Actually, I do love playing with little people... but I find it much more rewarding when they have the ability to interact in some minimal way. My understanding is that, as of the first smile, I will be smitten.
I am educating myself, and not just with books. For example, last week I solicited advice from my male confidantes who have had children. I asked them about the role they played during the birth and about how much time they took off following the birth. I also asked for any and all advice that they were willing to share. Here is what I learned from my trusted confidantes:
1. Many of them are hilarious and I cannot reprint a lot of what they wrote.
2. None of them "caught" the baby.
3. A few cut the umbilical cord but only one seemed to feel strongly about it.
4. Time off for fathers ranged from none at all, to a few months. A few were into a long initial bonding period for daddy but most thought it was not entirely useful, or even a hindrance, to be around once mommy was doing alright.
My friends who responded run the gamut: lawyers, bankers, writers, pilots, doctors, Americans, Canadians... Here are a few notable quotes from their advice. Since this will inevitably become our official chronicling of this event, I am not editing out potentially offensive language and themes. If you have an issue with that, please DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER.
1. Always have diaper, wipe, and a plastic bag ready! (and change of clothes for the baby too)
2. It's very crowded and you're really just a bother. When the kid begins to de-martian, that's when you want to be around. (regarding how much time to take off work)
3. Have fun with it. The first one is totally special. Don't overparent. Don't dress the kid up too warm (probably not an issue in cali) and don't handle the kid as if he/she will break. They're tougher than you think. That said (and i mean this), don't be afraid to tell every single person who handles the baby to wash their fucking hands before they touch your kid. Also, your parents haven't had kids in 30 years (shorter for Saul). Don't go to them for advice. They generally don't know what they're saying. They're the same people that fed you coca-cola in a bottle when you were 1 -- and even if they did a good job, they don't remember what they did. Find a friend who seems to know what she's doing, and is natural with the child, and rely on that person for advice.
4. If Karin is staying home with baby a lot, she needs to get the hell out of the house on her own every week at least one day----and take her on getaway weekends frequently. NO ONE can handle being around a baby for extended periods of time--- [he or she will] go crazy.
5. Let baby cry! Remember - Everything that happens is normal! ... even if it seems abnormal. Understand you will be exhausted
6. You're not a kid anymore, responsibilities grow, vacations become less frequent (at the beginning), sleepless nights, puke, shit, piss, sickness ... and guess what, LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT :)
7. --> Unplug the phone.
--> Start taking baby for walks after 2 weeks, and let mom sleep.
8. Post partum you must maintain calm for Karin - in hospital and home - when well-intentioned but unknowing visitors, family and friends, inevitably overstay their welcome and exhausted Karin is not there to entertain them! You will see! Set these unconditional rules up in advance so that no one gets insulted
9. Your life is about to change. Buy some life insurance. Get a new, fast car. Preferably a chick magnet.
6. You're not a kid anymore, responsibilities grow, vacations become less frequent (at the beginning), sleepless nights, puke, shit, piss, sickness ... and guess what, LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT :)
7. --> Unplug the phone.
--> Start taking baby for walks after 2 weeks, and let mom sleep.
8. Post partum you must maintain calm for Karin - in hospital and home - when well-intentioned but unknowing visitors, family and friends, inevitably overstay their welcome and exhausted Karin is not there to entertain them! You will see! Set these unconditional rules up in advance so that no one gets insulted
9. Your life is about to change. Buy some life insurance. Get a new, fast car. Preferably a chick magnet.
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