Apparently I also had Jaundice as a baby. My mom called this morning and told Ahmie that I was Jaundiced as a baby and had to use the Phototherpy lamps to clear up the Jaundice.
So I think Liam will be all right after all
Monday, May 31, 2004
It isn't easy being yellow
We went to church this morning and showed Liam to the congregants. Everyone commented on his hair and his good looks and how he has a resemblance to me. We made a few stops before we returned home. At about 5 pm we got a call from our Family doctor Dr. Kugler, telling us the results of Liam's Bilirubin levels. Which I think was 18 (probably 18mg/dL). She recommended that we go to the ER at Reston Hospital right away. Ahmie was in the middle of photographing Liam with her labor pants as a back drop. We did not get to the hospital until about 6:30PM
When we got the call I got numb hearing that we need to go to Reston hospital really shocked me. Really anything that we needed to do we would have done. We just hope that Liam would be healthy and I think that simply any parent would also be concerned if they found out that their child needed to go to the ER right away. I packed the Diaper bag and got things ready, while Ahmie fed Liam. This delayed us a bit.
On the ride over, (Ahmie was driving) Ahmie was tearing and was afraid that something might be terribly wrong with Liam. Her eyes narrowed and tears grew and welled in her eyes. I held her hands and said to her that it was only jaundice and that lots of babies get it and it should not be a problem.
We soon arrived at Reston Hospital to see our relatives already beat us there. Our Uncle Dan, her daughter Kerri with her infant daughter Ella, and her oldest daughter Kristy and her S.O. Tony (Mr. Nice Pants uhh… a story for a later day).
The next section reads like a list so bare with me.
5/30/04 6:54 pm
Admitted to Reston ER
Got a call @ 5ish from Dr. Kugler about Liam's bilirubin levels.
5/30/04 7:07 pm
Er pediatrician Dr. Lozano meets with us check vitals
Normal exam check fine
Told that Liam was at high risk for jaundice because of the following factors, mom O+ blood type, Asian heritage, breast fed.
Dr. Lozano ordered the following blood tests bilirubin level/blood count/ type (coombs test)
5/30/04 7:49 pm
Waiting for the blood draw
Kristy came in to talk w/ us
5/30/04 7:53 pm
The guy was a real wiz at drawing blood. Even though with each drop collected it pained my soul. That little bit one drop at a time. Liam was really good I kissed him and gave him my pinky to suck on to calm him.
5/30/04 8:07 pm
Ordeal over went out and asked Ahmie to come back in. Ahmie came in and fed Liam and we stayed and waited for the results in the ER room.
The tests took over one hour to process we watched some TV in the ER room, Dr. Lozano came in and talked with us and explained to us the test results, normal blood levels, O+ blood type and a Bilirubin level of 17.5 mg/dL. She diagnosed Liam with Jaundice. She said that this is a step in the right direction because the level did not get any higher but since the 1 test was from another lab then she wanted another blood test tomorrow to verify that the levels are dropping and or stable. Dr Lozano talked with us and gave us some level of reassurance that things are fairly OK. We left at about 10:30 after checking out and pre registering for tomorrow's blood test.
It isn't easy being yellow.
When we got the call I got numb hearing that we need to go to Reston hospital really shocked me. Really anything that we needed to do we would have done. We just hope that Liam would be healthy and I think that simply any parent would also be concerned if they found out that their child needed to go to the ER right away. I packed the Diaper bag and got things ready, while Ahmie fed Liam. This delayed us a bit.
On the ride over, (Ahmie was driving) Ahmie was tearing and was afraid that something might be terribly wrong with Liam. Her eyes narrowed and tears grew and welled in her eyes. I held her hands and said to her that it was only jaundice and that lots of babies get it and it should not be a problem.
In my mind I was really concerned, Ahmie had dreams while she was pregnant and in none of the dreams did it involve a boy child. She always dreamt of girl children. I was at some base level concerned that Liam might be really sick and I can't even write the next line in my train of thought.
We soon arrived at Reston Hospital to see our relatives already beat us there. Our Uncle Dan, her daughter Kerri with her infant daughter Ella, and her oldest daughter Kristy and her S.O. Tony (Mr. Nice Pants uhh… a story for a later day).
The next section reads like a list so bare with me.
5/30/04 6:54 pm
Admitted to Reston ER
Got a call @ 5ish from Dr. Kugler about Liam's bilirubin levels.
5/30/04 7:07 pm
Er pediatrician Dr. Lozano meets with us check vitals
Normal exam check fine
Told that Liam was at high risk for jaundice because of the following factors, mom O+ blood type, Asian heritage, breast fed.
Dr. Lozano ordered the following blood tests bilirubin level/blood count/ type (coombs test)
5/30/04 7:49 pm
Waiting for the blood draw
Kristy came in to talk w/ us
5/30/04 7:53 pm
The guy was a real wiz at drawing blood. Even though with each drop collected it pained my soul. That little bit one drop at a time. Liam was really good I kissed him and gave him my pinky to suck on to calm him.
5/30/04 8:07 pm
Ordeal over went out and asked Ahmie to come back in. Ahmie came in and fed Liam and we stayed and waited for the results in the ER room.
The tests took over one hour to process we watched some TV in the ER room, Dr. Lozano came in and talked with us and explained to us the test results, normal blood levels, O+ blood type and a Bilirubin level of 17.5 mg/dL. She diagnosed Liam with Jaundice. She said that this is a step in the right direction because the level did not get any higher but since the 1 test was from another lab then she wanted another blood test tomorrow to verify that the levels are dropping and or stable. Dr Lozano talked with us and gave us some level of reassurance that things are fairly OK. We left at about 10:30 after checking out and pre registering for tomorrow's blood test.
It isn't easy being yellow.
Saturday Bloody Saturday
Saturday:
We were expecting our friend Melissa also another one of Liam's godmothers, to stop by and visit. I spent most of the morning tidying up since we have not had much of an opportunity to tidy up from all the pre-labor waiting. We caught up on some laundry.
At 3 we had a home health nurse come visit. This was provided for by the HMO because of the early release. Everything was fine Liam had lost a few ounces he weighed in at 7lbs 12oz. All was fine except that she noticed that Liam was very yellow and wanted to collect a blood sample to test for his bilirubin levels.
That was a painful experience to behold it took 2 heel sticks to collect enough blood to do the test. Liam's heels got very bloody, from the massaging of the heel and collection of little drops of blood squeezed from the heel. It pained me to see Liam subjected to such a procedure. I held fast and held him to help the Nurse complete the test quickly. In the end literally both of Liam's heels were covered in a sticky film of drying blood.
Liam calmed down so well after that he must have some saint in him.
We were expecting our friend Melissa also another one of Liam's godmothers, to stop by and visit. I spent most of the morning tidying up since we have not had much of an opportunity to tidy up from all the pre-labor waiting. We caught up on some laundry.
At 3 we had a home health nurse come visit. This was provided for by the HMO because of the early release. Everything was fine Liam had lost a few ounces he weighed in at 7lbs 12oz. All was fine except that she noticed that Liam was very yellow and wanted to collect a blood sample to test for his bilirubin levels.
That was a painful experience to behold it took 2 heel sticks to collect enough blood to do the test. Liam's heels got very bloody, from the massaging of the heel and collection of little drops of blood squeezed from the heel. It pained me to see Liam subjected to such a procedure. I held fast and held him to help the Nurse complete the test quickly. In the end literally both of Liam's heels were covered in a sticky film of drying blood.
Liam calmed down so well after that he must have some saint in him.
First Full Day Home
Friday Ahmie finally started producing breast milk, which really satisfied Liam. This allowed us to go to the follow up appointment with Dr. Kugler of NOVA medical group. Two issues of concern, splotches on Liam's skin and the whites of his eyes being yellow tinged. We did spend a good deal of time in the waiting room of her office. When we did meet with her she seemed cordial and talked with us for a great deal. We found out that the skin splotches were most likely Erythema Toxicum.
After the Doctor's appointment, we went to North Street to fill out the enrolment forms for Liam to enroll in our HMO. We stopped by the Science Supervisor's office to show off little Liam. After this we made a few stops and then returned home.
After the Doctor's appointment, we went to North Street to fill out the enrolment forms for Liam to enroll in our HMO. We stopped by the Science Supervisor's office to show off little Liam. After this we made a few stops and then returned home.
Saturday, May 29, 2004
Wednesday night and Thursday
After all the birth all of us (Ahmie, Emily, Liam, Sabrina, and I) stayed mostly in the post partum room and talked and looked after the baby. I was the first to take Liam out of the Post partum room, for his sponge bath. I was the first one to make little Liam cry. Washing his hair (Where did all that hair come from? Both Ahmie and I did not have much hair at birth.) and wiping off the vernix. Liam cried mightily when I was wiping him with a warm wet washcloths. I walked dejectedly back to the post partum room saying to Ahmie.
Later that afternoon Kerri (Ahmie's cousin) came over to visit and brought a very cute picture frame with a stork holding a picture frame with it's mouth, and a bag of chocolates. At about 6ish Sabrina and Emily left, I think after about 6 days of being with us they were ready to take a respite from us. Kerri stayed for till about 7:30PM (could not tell because the clock in the room was broken). Liam was sleeping very well. (found out that Ahmie was given Tylenol 3 w/codeine, when she only asked for regular Tylenol, Ahmie was most upset) Apparently the codeine also affected Liam. Which explains why he was so quiet and did not nurse all afternoon.
Wednesday Night was really tough. Liam began to wake and feed frequently. Ahmie was uncomfortable in the Hospital bed. The convertible couch was as hard as a brick to sleep on. Overall we slept terribly Wednesday night.
Thursday
We managed to sleep 2 hours or so Wednesday night. Liam could not be released until he had a PKU test and an Auditory test. Since there were an abundance of babies born there was a long wait for the auditory test, we did not test until about noon, and that took almost an hour and a half to do because Liam was very active and fussy and kept knocking the testing equipment off of him. Although we did have a wonderful conversation with the audio tech Rebecca, who is a Harry Potter(head). After the audio test was over, I took Liam for his Vitamin K shot and PKU screen. Liam liked neither.
Finally we were cleared to leave at about 2:30PM. It took me about half an hour to pack up the car and we left the Birthing Inn at about 3ish. I took longer to pack the car since it rained.
Later that afternoon Keri brought her daughter Ella and her sister Katherine over to visit and it was nice to have guests at home although the apartment was messy. They stayed for about an hour.
Thursday night
Was a repeat of Wednesday night very little sleep. Liam kept waking and wanting to be fed.
Thank goodness Ahmie started expressing milk instead of colostrum.
"I'm a bad daddy. I made Liam cry."
Later that afternoon Kerri (Ahmie's cousin) came over to visit and brought a very cute picture frame with a stork holding a picture frame with it's mouth, and a bag of chocolates. At about 6ish Sabrina and Emily left, I think after about 6 days of being with us they were ready to take a respite from us. Kerri stayed for till about 7:30PM (could not tell because the clock in the room was broken). Liam was sleeping very well. (found out that Ahmie was given Tylenol 3 w/codeine, when she only asked for regular Tylenol, Ahmie was most upset) Apparently the codeine also affected Liam. Which explains why he was so quiet and did not nurse all afternoon.
Wednesday Night was really tough. Liam began to wake and feed frequently. Ahmie was uncomfortable in the Hospital bed. The convertible couch was as hard as a brick to sleep on. Overall we slept terribly Wednesday night.
Thursday
We managed to sleep 2 hours or so Wednesday night. Liam could not be released until he had a PKU test and an Auditory test. Since there were an abundance of babies born there was a long wait for the auditory test, we did not test until about noon, and that took almost an hour and a half to do because Liam was very active and fussy and kept knocking the testing equipment off of him. Although we did have a wonderful conversation with the audio tech Rebecca, who is a Harry Potter(head). After the audio test was over, I took Liam for his Vitamin K shot and PKU screen. Liam liked neither.
Finally we were cleared to leave at about 2:30PM. It took me about half an hour to pack up the car and we left the Birthing Inn at about 3ish. I took longer to pack the car since it rained.
Later that afternoon Keri brought her daughter Ella and her sister Katherine over to visit and it was nice to have guests at home although the apartment was messy. They stayed for about an hour.
Thursday night
Was a repeat of Wednesday night very little sleep. Liam kept waking and wanting to be fed.
Thank goodness Ahmie started expressing milk instead of colostrum.
After the Birth
Ahmie and Little Liam
Right after birthing, we brought the baby directly to Ahmie's Brest to feed the newborn. This happened so quickly we did not know for about half a minute if we should call the baby Liam or Juliana. The honor of cutting the cord was bestowed to Liam's Godmother Sabrina. For the first 10 to 15 minutes Ahmie held Liam while the nurses were busy cleaning up and organizing the Delivery room.
Liam measured
After about 10 minutes or so the nurses took Liam and measured him.
Sabrina and Liam
After the measurements Liam was swaddled and Sabrina was first to hold the newly born Liam, then me.
Ahmie, Liam, and Garvin
I brought Liam back to Ahmie for some bonding time.
Emily and Liam
After this Liam was passed around to Emily who also labor sat Ahmie along with Sabrina. The nurse were attending to Ahmie when this picture was taken.
After the nurses had finished taking initial care of Ahmie I wheeled her to room 168 which was the post partum room for Ahmie. This was where Ahmie, Liam and I were to spend the next day of our lives.
Sabrina, Emily and Liam
Another cute picture of Liam with Sabrina and Emily.
Birth and all the details
So we called our friends Emily and Sabrina Wednesday Morning at about 6 AM, and told them that Ahmie's water broke. They rushed to our apartment. By that time Ahmie's contractions were distraction and we were keeping time, contractions were 3-5 minutes apart. All of us arrived at the Birthing Inn at about 7:30AM and was admitted into a delivery room. Where we unpacked and Ahmie got into her "labor pants".
By this time Ahmie was in a good deal of discomfort. Not really from the labor contractions but rather her SI joints. The baby's head was pressing against her S1 and S2 spinal disks and causing a good deal of pain level of 6-8 on a scale of 10. We used an exercise ball to help her position herself to a less painful position. All of this we were waiting for our mid wife and waiting for admittance forms, which came in as a trickle. The compounding problem was there were several births this morning, so the delivery area was very busy. Ahmie spent a good deal of time in the tub to help ease some of her back pain. I spent much time pressing against her tailbone to help ease her pain.
We saw our midwife Wendy several times that morning. But she had to catch up with some patients and such so it was not until about 10 did she really get and stayed with us for Ahmie's labor. At that time slowed down and everything got really fuzzy. She measured Ahmie's Cervix and it was 8 cm dilated, after 5 contractions 9 cm dilated. Not soon after she started the urge to push. The mid wife reconfigured the hospital bed to act as a birthing stool to encourage a better birthing posture (sitting up) as opposed to the "traditional" lay down on back position. Within about an hour and a half Liam was born.
Our birth wish list included that I was to catch the baby as it came out of Ahmie. However after the head was pushed out < 30 minutes. The rest of the baby's body POPPED out in the very next push. Ahmie said later that during the pushing stage she felt that Liam was also pushing with his feet to help himself out of Ahmie's womb.
As you remember Liam was born 11:46 AM, The reason for most of Ahmie's discomfort was that the baby was positioned in what is called back labor. Back Labor is when the baby's back is aligned with the Mother's back thus causing more pressure on the spine of the mother. Ahmie said during her pregnancy that if the baby was causing back labor the baby would be born grounded (yes, Liam your mommy is strict) from toys. His saving grace, born before lunch (I have audio of this and will post here in the future).
All in all it was an impressive labor, not too short and not too long everything started right away after the Midwife arrived to be with Ahmie full time. It was a drug free labor and delivery, mostly painless except her injured spinal disks.
More Details next.
By this time Ahmie was in a good deal of discomfort. Not really from the labor contractions but rather her SI joints. The baby's head was pressing against her S1 and S2 spinal disks and causing a good deal of pain level of 6-8 on a scale of 10. We used an exercise ball to help her position herself to a less painful position. All of this we were waiting for our mid wife and waiting for admittance forms, which came in as a trickle. The compounding problem was there were several births this morning, so the delivery area was very busy. Ahmie spent a good deal of time in the tub to help ease some of her back pain. I spent much time pressing against her tailbone to help ease her pain.
We saw our midwife Wendy several times that morning. But she had to catch up with some patients and such so it was not until about 10 did she really get and stayed with us for Ahmie's labor. At that time slowed down and everything got really fuzzy. She measured Ahmie's Cervix and it was 8 cm dilated, after 5 contractions 9 cm dilated. Not soon after she started the urge to push. The mid wife reconfigured the hospital bed to act as a birthing stool to encourage a better birthing posture (sitting up) as opposed to the "traditional" lay down on back position. Within about an hour and a half Liam was born.
Our birth wish list included that I was to catch the baby as it came out of Ahmie. However after the head was pushed out < 30 minutes. The rest of the baby's body POPPED out in the very next push. Ahmie said later that during the pushing stage she felt that Liam was also pushing with his feet to help himself out of Ahmie's womb.
As you remember Liam was born 11:46 AM, The reason for most of Ahmie's discomfort was that the baby was positioned in what is called back labor. Back Labor is when the baby's back is aligned with the Mother's back thus causing more pressure on the spine of the mother. Ahmie said during her pregnancy that if the baby was causing back labor the baby would be born grounded (yes, Liam your mommy is strict) from toys. His saving grace, born before lunch (I have audio of this and will post here in the future).
All in all it was an impressive labor, not too short and not too long everything started right away after the Midwife arrived to be with Ahmie full time. It was a drug free labor and delivery, mostly painless except her injured spinal disks.
More Details next.
Friday, May 28, 2004
A watched baby never boils (that's it I think)...
As noted earlier, Ahmie really started laboring early Wednesday morning. To tell the whole story, we need to wind back the clock.
As you may have read earlier our friends Sabrina and Emily have been labor sitting with Ahmie since Friday afternoon. Because Ahmie felt her first regular contractions since Friday morning. Pretty much nothing happened that weekend. Monday was our regular checkup appointment with the midwife office. That day we walked around the mall and other stuff to help set off heavier labor. Feeling that all the walking on Monday was for naught Ahmie decided that she should stay home and laugh it up to help induce labor. So Tuesday we stayed at home all of us watching comedies. By the end of Tuesday night We decided that the baby may be staying in Ahmie for several more days and that the best thing would be to for Sabrina and Emily to return to their lives and wait for Ahmie's water to break, before rushing back to her side. Since there is really a 24 hour countdown that gets started after the breaking of the water. We said our goodbyes and hugged each other and I walked them down to Sabrina's car.
I returned upstairs and went to bed thinking what we were going to do Wednesday. Cleaning up some since the apartment got alittle messy with Emily and Sabrina staying in the living room. I went to sleep thinking about watching the copy of the Tick that I copied from a friend. I think you know about what happened on Wednesday.
Well all the best laid plans of mice and men...
As you may have read earlier our friends Sabrina and Emily have been labor sitting with Ahmie since Friday afternoon. Because Ahmie felt her first regular contractions since Friday morning. Pretty much nothing happened that weekend. Monday was our regular checkup appointment with the midwife office. That day we walked around the mall and other stuff to help set off heavier labor. Feeling that all the walking on Monday was for naught Ahmie decided that she should stay home and laugh it up to help induce labor. So Tuesday we stayed at home all of us watching comedies. By the end of Tuesday night We decided that the baby may be staying in Ahmie for several more days and that the best thing would be to for Sabrina and Emily to return to their lives and wait for Ahmie's water to break, before rushing back to her side. Since there is really a 24 hour countdown that gets started after the breaking of the water. We said our goodbyes and hugged each other and I walked them down to Sabrina's car.
I returned upstairs and went to bed thinking what we were going to do Wednesday. Cleaning up some since the apartment got alittle messy with Emily and Sabrina staying in the living room. I went to sleep thinking about watching the copy of the Tick that I copied from a friend. I think you know about what happened on Wednesday.
Well all the best laid plans of mice and men...
Thursday, May 27, 2004
The New About Me Photo
Garvin Yeung 05/26/2004
This is a picture of me with Liam about 30 minutes after birth.
William Zhuo Ming Yeung
William Zhuo Ming Yeung
A bouncing baby boy (why do people describe babies as bouncing, when you should never drop one). Born on May 26, 2004 at 11:46 AM at the Birthing In at Loudoun Hospital. William (Liam) at birth weighed at 8lbs 5oz (Yes! My foot was spared stomping. My wife said if the baby weighed more than 9lbs she would stomp on my foot). Liam at birth was 19.5 inches long.
The full details are to follow, because I need sleep.
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
An Interesting Development
Ahmie woke me up at 3:40 telling me that her water has broken. Called midwives and was told that she (and I) should get some sleep and then go to the Birthing Inn.
More to come, I will go back to bed, maybe the last 4 hours of sleep before being a father.
More to come, I will go back to bed, maybe the last 4 hours of sleep before being a father.
Monday, May 24, 2004
The Baby is not here yet.
We just came back from the Midwife's office this morning, Ahmie is 90% effaced and 3.5 centimeters dilated. We (Sabrina, Emily and I) spent much time with Ahmie all weekend, waiting for labor to come. Because it has been so very hot we have stayed indoors for most of the weekend, although on Saturday we did go to the Wal-Mart late in the evening to do some walking so Ahmie can help get the baby to come along some. On Sunday we went to various health food/ vitamin stores to get homeopathic medicines on the suggestion of the midwife to help get the labor going. We spent several hours over at De and Emily's house for a traditional sit down dinner of Arby's roast beef sandwiches. Then Sabrina and Emily both returned to our apartment and stayed overnight again to be with Ahmie.
I have to take a minute to say how much I appreciate everything that Emily and Sabrina have done for both of us this past weekend. Both of them have been very wonderful and helpful to Ahmie and me. Sabrina has been very helpful by driving us around (eventhough gas has been really expensive), Emily has been helpful providing advise from her own experience.
Both has been very helpful and have sacrificed much to be there for us. Both have sacrificed good sleep to be with us, because they are both sleeping in the living room, Emily on the couch and Sabrina has been sleeping on the floor. Emily has spent much of the weekend to be with us while her husband De has been taking care of her daughter Cora. Sabrina has sacrificed much of her valuable time to be with us, she is moving to Morgantown, WV. In a few weeks and although she had most of her stuff moved already, but there are always one thousand and one little details that has to be taken care of.
I know that they are very much loved and hope they know the depths of our appreciation and thanks.
I have to take a minute to say how much I appreciate everything that Emily and Sabrina have done for both of us this past weekend. Both of them have been very wonderful and helpful to Ahmie and me. Sabrina has been very helpful by driving us around (eventhough gas has been really expensive), Emily has been helpful providing advise from her own experience.
Both has been very helpful and have sacrificed much to be there for us. Both have sacrificed good sleep to be with us, because they are both sleeping in the living room, Emily on the couch and Sabrina has been sleeping on the floor. Emily has spent much of the weekend to be with us while her husband De has been taking care of her daughter Cora. Sabrina has sacrificed much of her valuable time to be with us, she is moving to Morgantown, WV. In a few weeks and although she had most of her stuff moved already, but there are always one thousand and one little details that has to be taken care of.
I know that they are very much loved and hope they know the depths of our appreciation and thanks.
Saturday, May 22, 2004
T-minus ??? to baby
Since about 9 this morning Ahmie has been having regular contractions under 10 minutes apart ( 5-7 minutes time in between). The contractions have been lasting long, up to about 1.5 minutes long. Suprisingly she is not experiencing much pain (fingers crossed). Maybe the Monchhichi will be here within 24 hours. Maybe the next post I will be a father.
Heres to a good labor.
Heres to a good labor.
It's open season for Pandas in Washington DC.
Finally the Washington Post has posted an interactive map of the locations of all 150 Panda sculptures that will make up the DC Pandamania. I tried to capture all 200 of the Party Animals during the summer of 2002, but came about 10 short.
This year I will shoot them all..., with my camera of course!
This year I will shoot them all..., with my camera of course!
Friday, May 21, 2004
The baby is still not here yet
Well the baby is still not here yet, although Ahmie thought she had a real contraction this morning which whipped a flurry of cleaning and our living room and kitchen are for the most part very clean and clutter free. Whereas the living room was cluttered with packing boxes and stuff to be packed.
Our lives are in a sort of holding pattern waiting for the monchhichi to be born. We are waiting patiently, not like we have a option. I think we should have indicators floating over our heads like people in the Sims. That way we can always know the progress on our tasks. So At least I can gauge how long will it be before Ahmie will really starting labor. Then we can plan accordingly.
'Tho I think it would take the surprise of it all, and I really can't think of many things that are really surprises anymore.
Our lives are in a sort of holding pattern waiting for the monchhichi to be born. We are waiting patiently, not like we have a option. I think we should have indicators floating over our heads like people in the Sims. That way we can always know the progress on our tasks. So At least I can gauge how long will it be before Ahmie will really starting labor. Then we can plan accordingly.
'Tho I think it would take the surprise of it all, and I really can't think of many things that are really surprises anymore.
Thursday, May 20, 2004
5 days to due date baby not here yet
I am currently on paternity leave from work because I had actually turned in my resignation 2 weeks ago. Fortunately I have accumulated enough leave so I have enough time to take sick leave as paternity leave without any loss in pay. This gives me an opportunity to spend time with my wife and the baby once it is born.
It is strange waiting for our baby to be born. I mean my wife and I have waited 9 months and it has been a wonder, seeing my wife's belly grow, hearing the baby's heartbeats, feeling the baby's kicks. Now I am standing at the cusp into fatherhood not totally sure how I feel. I am happy to be taking a rest from work and spending time with my wife. I know very soon my time will not be wholly my own anymore. I hear from many of my co-workers that have children say that children are lots of work..., but they are worth it. Every time I hear that I think of Wanda Sykes comic routine about children.
Granted I know what I am getting myself into, I am aware of the responsibility that I have pledged myself to, and as a man of 27 years of age I think I am up to that responsibility. Hey I started teaching straight out of college at 22 at a alternative education high school, I think I can take care of an raise one child. I even can do diapers. But I can imagine the worries that I will feel as a parent. I look forward to finger painted pictures and coloring book pages colored with crayons (eventho I loathe crayons the bastard of all art supplies anyway...), colors all over the place not within the lines. I look forward to the first steps, the first words, the goo face.
Ahmie is sewing "birthing pants" basically pants without the middle seam and overlapping paneling? I think. She thinks that this way the Midwife can have access to her crotch for exams during labor without having to wear a hospital gown, so she can wear something that has a semblance to real clothes. She exclaims every time the thread breaks on the sewing machine and I run in to the room thinking something has happened. So as you can see I am very eager to meet my monchhichi.
Oh now it's 4 days and counting.
It is strange waiting for our baby to be born. I mean my wife and I have waited 9 months and it has been a wonder, seeing my wife's belly grow, hearing the baby's heartbeats, feeling the baby's kicks. Now I am standing at the cusp into fatherhood not totally sure how I feel. I am happy to be taking a rest from work and spending time with my wife. I know very soon my time will not be wholly my own anymore. I hear from many of my co-workers that have children say that children are lots of work..., but they are worth it. Every time I hear that I think of Wanda Sykes comic routine about children.
Granted I know what I am getting myself into, I am aware of the responsibility that I have pledged myself to, and as a man of 27 years of age I think I am up to that responsibility. Hey I started teaching straight out of college at 22 at a alternative education high school, I think I can take care of an raise one child. I even can do diapers. But I can imagine the worries that I will feel as a parent. I look forward to finger painted pictures and coloring book pages colored with crayons (eventho I loathe crayons the bastard of all art supplies anyway...), colors all over the place not within the lines. I look forward to the first steps, the first words, the goo face.
Ahmie is sewing "birthing pants" basically pants without the middle seam and overlapping paneling? I think. She thinks that this way the Midwife can have access to her crotch for exams during labor without having to wear a hospital gown, so she can wear something that has a semblance to real clothes. She exclaims every time the thread breaks on the sewing machine and I run in to the room thinking something has happened. So as you can see I am very eager to meet my monchhichi.
Oh now it's 4 days and counting.
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't I?
To paraphrase the Cranberries. Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?
I have always wanted to start a blog, having a friend who devotes time everyday to write what is on his mind have pushed me over to do one of my own.
I think this will be an outlet for my memories for the Future, Past and Present. I hope to keep here thoughts that I don't want to forget. The fine details of events that becomes obscured as time passes by.
I do this because I think sometimes my brain is made of cheesecloth and not gray matter.
I have always wanted to start a blog, having a friend who devotes time everyday to write what is on his mind have pushed me over to do one of my own.
I think this will be an outlet for my memories for the Future, Past and Present. I hope to keep here thoughts that I don't want to forget. The fine details of events that becomes obscured as time passes by.
I do this because I think sometimes my brain is made of cheesecloth and not gray matter.
So it begins, and in turn something ends. I am standing at the cusp between young manhood and young fatherhood. No longer will I be just responsible for myself and my wife, but soon also a new innocent newborn child. My wife and I are not sure if the child is a boy or a girl. Whatever gender my child is I know that I will love this child.
I don't know if this is psychological or biological. I can imagine that there must be a combination of both, otherwise I don't think we could have come as far as have. If we had no prolonged period of growth and learning, and started our lives running, fending off for ourselves.
I love this child and I don't know why. Certainties not because with each child comes a lifetime of commitment and care. Is it because my wife gave our growing child a cute nick name? The nick name of our child is monchhichi, our child is going to be born in the year of the monkey. I don't think that would be the reason, although I love to say the nickname as I speak into my wife's burgeoning belly, anticipating a response from our child. It sure is not because I know that I have no control over what the child does when he/she gets older, and I have to hope that they know and have the strength to do what is right.
I think it must be something more primal. I think it has to do with being part of the human fabric as it has woven itself over the past 20+ millennia. I know, that with this child, some of my genes will be out there. Also I will have someone who I can show my values and morals to and hope that will be spread to the future. I hope that there will be a future where my child and his/her children and their children can live happily and remember me by pouring down wine in honor of me. I think having children allows us more time on that human fabric then we were allotted. Because future generations will remember their ancestors.
I think as long as you are remembered or thought of you still have a place in the fabric. Your thread in the weave of the human fabric is not cut until the last person who remembers you breathes their last breath.
Enough digression.
This love for our child is so hard to explain. There are so many reasons that conspire to make this bond of love. Emotional or biological, there is no clear cut side where I think could explain, this unconditional love with something that I have yet to see directly with my own two eyes.
I think this is the closest thing to faith that this atheist has ever believed.
I don't know if this is psychological or biological. I can imagine that there must be a combination of both, otherwise I don't think we could have come as far as have. If we had no prolonged period of growth and learning, and started our lives running, fending off for ourselves.
I love this child and I don't know why. Certainties not because with each child comes a lifetime of commitment and care. Is it because my wife gave our growing child a cute nick name? The nick name of our child is monchhichi, our child is going to be born in the year of the monkey. I don't think that would be the reason, although I love to say the nickname as I speak into my wife's burgeoning belly, anticipating a response from our child. It sure is not because I know that I have no control over what the child does when he/she gets older, and I have to hope that they know and have the strength to do what is right.
I think it must be something more primal. I think it has to do with being part of the human fabric as it has woven itself over the past 20+ millennia. I know, that with this child, some of my genes will be out there. Also I will have someone who I can show my values and morals to and hope that will be spread to the future. I hope that there will be a future where my child and his/her children and their children can live happily and remember me by pouring down wine in honor of me. I think having children allows us more time on that human fabric then we were allotted. Because future generations will remember their ancestors.
I think as long as you are remembered or thought of you still have a place in the fabric. Your thread in the weave of the human fabric is not cut until the last person who remembers you breathes their last breath.
Enough digression.
This love for our child is so hard to explain. There are so many reasons that conspire to make this bond of love. Emotional or biological, there is no clear cut side where I think could explain, this unconditional love with something that I have yet to see directly with my own two eyes.
I think this is the closest thing to faith that this atheist has ever believed.
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