Jack and Boris hung out with each other for a little while today for the first time! Boris has been very good, maybe a teeny, tiny bit jealous but not much. He has been sleeping at the foot of the baby's bsssinet quite a lot. It's cute, almost as if he is standing guard. It's funny how dogs pick up on emotions in a home, especially pretty smart, good dogs like Boris.
Friday, April 29, 2005
Bug-eyed
Somehow Jack always seems to know when the camera is pointing at him and he'll make a super-cute face, which you'll try to take a picture of, followed by a goofy one like this, which you'll actually succeed in getting a picture of. He does the most remarkable stretch-n-squash tricks with his neck. When he stretches it out full length, with his little jowls he looks like ET. When he squahes it down, he looks like Edward G. Robinson.
Can't overstate what a pleasure it was to not have to take Jack to the doctor today! He is doing great -- like I said, a little on the cranky side but not much. Sleeping quietly right now, in fact.
Early mornin' dreams
This morning Jack was having a little cranky time in his sleep around 6 am. Jack's mommy had very kindly let me sleep through Jack's late-night feeding times so I got up and Jack and I went into the living room to snooze for a couple of hours. He woke up a little and farted a lot. Apart from the farting it was nice dad/son bonding time.
Getting in the swing of things
Last night Jack had his first thrilling ride in his little swing. As you can see he found it exhilirating! Actually it served its purpose perfectly -- gave him something nice to look at and lulled him off to a little nap.
It was a real pleasure to have Jack off the lights for the first full night. Starting to feel like normal parenting around here!
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Great news! The blue lights are done.
Jack's test today at the doctor's was great! His numbers were down 11.6! A HUGE drop from yesterday, and this after several hours of no lights. The doctor says the lights can go, and that any minor residual jaundice is quite common and will dissipate in the next few weeks. There's no reason to continue monitoring -- if his number had kicked up post-lights even a little, there would be cause for concern, but as it is he is doing fabulously!
Even more improvement
Jack had a visit to the doctor today for yet another blood test. This time he is down to 14.6! Hooray! The doctor would like to see him a) down below 14 and b) spending time off the lights with no rise in bilirubins to show he is cleared up, so at 12:00 midnight he went off the lights and tomorrow morning there will be one more (hopefully last) test. We're so glad and we have every confidence of him being all cleared up.
I had to return to school today after our appointment. Got some work done at school and went to two classes, leaving G at home to tend to our new guy. Hard to do. I really missed seeing him and playing with him, although I got a few great minutes of eye-to-eye staring tonight which just moves a dad in incredible ways. Tomorrow I'm in school in the morning -- not editing yet until next weekend -- and evening, with a doctor appointment of my own in the afternoon; G will be taking Jack in on her own to his morning test.
So life is very slowly becoming its new version of what constitutes "normal," at least for the next couple of months. As the time draws near for G to return to work and for us to move (July or so) things will get crazy again! In light of all that, I am going to start updating my personal blog again, and leave this one for exclusively Jack-related tidbits. I have projects and things going on -- hard to focus on with little Jack being so fantastic -- and it's time I started shifting some of my focus in that direction, and diarising is a help.
Meanwhile, the Jack updates and photos will continue of course! Like the one below. Compare his color to a similar picture further down and you will see, I think, the big difference his treatments have brought about.
I had to return to school today after our appointment. Got some work done at school and went to two classes, leaving G at home to tend to our new guy. Hard to do. I really missed seeing him and playing with him, although I got a few great minutes of eye-to-eye staring tonight which just moves a dad in incredible ways. Tomorrow I'm in school in the morning -- not editing yet until next weekend -- and evening, with a doctor appointment of my own in the afternoon; G will be taking Jack in on her own to his morning test.
So life is very slowly becoming its new version of what constitutes "normal," at least for the next couple of months. As the time draws near for G to return to work and for us to move (July or so) things will get crazy again! In light of all that, I am going to start updating my personal blog again, and leave this one for exclusively Jack-related tidbits. I have projects and things going on -- hard to focus on with little Jack being so fantastic -- and it's time I started shifting some of my focus in that direction, and diarising is a help.
Meanwhile, the Jack updates and photos will continue of course! Like the one below. Compare his color to a similar picture further down and you will see, I think, the big difference his treatments have brought about.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Grrr! Um, er, I mean, Zzzzzzzz!
Jack looks very fierce post-bath in his little bear bath-wrap. This kid really knows how to relax.
Steady improvement
Well, today began as it has for the last several days with a trip to the doctor's for a blood test. Our doctors are absolutely great, but that doesn't mean we want to be dragging poor little Jack to see them every day and have little holes poked in his heel with pointy needles.
If his screams and wriggling are any indication it's impressively painful. It's just wearing thin on us, on top of the total lack of proper sleep, etc that we are both enjoying -- Genevieve more than me, of course, since she is the baby's food supply -- we're feeling stretched thin. Thank goodness he makes us smile and laugh so much!
Anyway, the good news is that Jack has improved yet again. His bilirubin levels are down from 19.2 on Sunday to 17 or so on Monday to 15.9 today, and he is eating and pooping up a storm, which tells the doctors that he is eliminating in waste the bilirubins not being broken down by the blue lights he's wearing day and night.
So he has spent today attached to the lights again. The safety area is the 14-15 range, the home free area is the 13 range, and the doctor assures me that once these levels start coming down, they don't go back up. So it's just a question of our patience holding out while Jack's system gets stronger and he clears himself of these bothersome substances. As the doctor said today, "This is not a problem. It's only a nuisance." So we're not worried, just a little raw from having to go through this every day. Just a day or so longer!
Tomorrow I go back to school after a week off. How on earth I will focus on schoolwork, I have no idea. Better to get back in the swing sooner rather than later, though. Still have a lot of work to do.
Genevieve fed Jack while listening to the Cubs game in the bedroom. As is his wont, Jack drifted off into a kind of sated coma halfway through his feeding, so it was bath time. I'll make our supper soon and then I have a bunch of stuff to do tonight.
If his screams and wriggling are any indication it's impressively painful. It's just wearing thin on us, on top of the total lack of proper sleep, etc that we are both enjoying -- Genevieve more than me, of course, since she is the baby's food supply -- we're feeling stretched thin. Thank goodness he makes us smile and laugh so much!
Anyway, the good news is that Jack has improved yet again. His bilirubin levels are down from 19.2 on Sunday to 17 or so on Monday to 15.9 today, and he is eating and pooping up a storm, which tells the doctors that he is eliminating in waste the bilirubins not being broken down by the blue lights he's wearing day and night.
So he has spent today attached to the lights again. The safety area is the 14-15 range, the home free area is the 13 range, and the doctor assures me that once these levels start coming down, they don't go back up. So it's just a question of our patience holding out while Jack's system gets stronger and he clears himself of these bothersome substances. As the doctor said today, "This is not a problem. It's only a nuisance." So we're not worried, just a little raw from having to go through this every day. Just a day or so longer!
Tomorrow I go back to school after a week off. How on earth I will focus on schoolwork, I have no idea. Better to get back in the swing sooner rather than later, though. Still have a lot of work to do.
Genevieve fed Jack while listening to the Cubs game in the bedroom. As is his wont, Jack drifted off into a kind of sated coma halfway through his feeding, so it was bath time. I'll make our supper soon and then I have a bunch of stuff to do tonight.
Like Father, Like Son?
No exciting Jack pictures yet today, but G and I dug through the family archives and the only new-new-newborn picture of mine that we could find made us both gasp. I know all babies kind of look alike, but we both felt this could almost be a picture of Jack.
Monday, April 25, 2005
The other J. Robert Sheehan
Jack was named in part because we just liked the name Jack. After seeing the Incredibles I mentioned to Genevieve that Jack was a good name for a little kid. She was like, Oh my God! I always wanted that name! So with a first initial J, it was a cinch that Jack would be named after my Dad, "J. (for Jon) Robert Sheehan." Dad goes by "Bob" and always has, unlike Jack. But Jack would do very well to emulate him in just about every other way. Here's a local news story on my Dad. Be sure to read it all the way to the end to get the true flavor of the man.
(I used to have a link here to the online story at News 9. But as my father-in-law pointed out to me, the lead story on that page is now "Police questioning husband in early-morning murder," so here is the story about my Dad pasted below!)
Living with multiple sclerosis
By: Marcie Fraser
Bob Sheehan said, "You either have a tumor on your brain or you have multiple sclerosis, and here's a 30-year-old kid with a wife and two children, and what the hell is MS?"
Bob Sheehan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 30 years ago.
Dr. Neil Lava said, "Multiple sclerosis is disease of the central nervous system where the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord, damages the covering of nerves, therefore causing neurological symptomatology."
At first, his symptoms are sporadic.
Sheehan said, "Tingling, your hands fall asleep, stumbling, not being able to move my fingers very well at all."
Over time, the disease goes into a secondary progressive stage, where patients stop getting better and start accumulating neurological deficits.
Sheehan said, "Every year or twice a year I'll be continually getting these attacks, and they would always leave me with some kind of damage. My fingers would tighten up. I couldn't move that well anymore. I become very tired slurred speech."
Every hour, someone is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Although it affects women two and half times more frequently, when it affects men, they are affected worse.
Lava said, "More commonly, we see visual difficulties, sensory complaints, numbness or tingling weakness of an extremity, sometimes bladder difficulties."
The debilitating disease has no cure, but Sheehan is not letting it get the best of him.
He said, "I walk with double crutches. I climb ladders. I do all kinds of things that MS people aren't suppose to do. I'm a stubborn old man."
He struggles everyday, especially getting dressed. But if anyone has the right attitude, it's this guy.
He said, "Stupidity, dumb Irish. We're all going to die, so you just have to play the hands, the cards. You can't mess around with this, so plenty of Michelob and Guinness everyday -- just a little bit."
(I used to have a link here to the online story at News 9. But as my father-in-law pointed out to me, the lead story on that page is now "Police questioning husband in early-morning murder," so here is the story about my Dad pasted below!)
Living with multiple sclerosis
By: Marcie Fraser
Bob Sheehan said, "You either have a tumor on your brain or you have multiple sclerosis, and here's a 30-year-old kid with a wife and two children, and what the hell is MS?"
Bob Sheehan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 30 years ago.
Dr. Neil Lava said, "Multiple sclerosis is disease of the central nervous system where the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord, damages the covering of nerves, therefore causing neurological symptomatology."
At first, his symptoms are sporadic.
Sheehan said, "Tingling, your hands fall asleep, stumbling, not being able to move my fingers very well at all."
Over time, the disease goes into a secondary progressive stage, where patients stop getting better and start accumulating neurological deficits.
Sheehan said, "Every year or twice a year I'll be continually getting these attacks, and they would always leave me with some kind of damage. My fingers would tighten up. I couldn't move that well anymore. I become very tired slurred speech."
Every hour, someone is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Although it affects women two and half times more frequently, when it affects men, they are affected worse.
Lava said, "More commonly, we see visual difficulties, sensory complaints, numbness or tingling weakness of an extremity, sometimes bladder difficulties."
The debilitating disease has no cure, but Sheehan is not letting it get the best of him.
He said, "I walk with double crutches. I climb ladders. I do all kinds of things that MS people aren't suppose to do. I'm a stubborn old man."
He struggles everyday, especially getting dressed. But if anyone has the right attitude, it's this guy.
He said, "Stupidity, dumb Irish. We're all going to die, so you just have to play the hands, the cards. You can't mess around with this, so plenty of Michelob and Guinness everyday -- just a little bit."
One more thing for today . . .
. . . just a note to new mommies everywhere. When you are changing a diaper and talking to your baby and his little wee-wee is exposed to the cold air, perhaps best to keep your mouth firmly closed until said wee-wee is safely stored away. Words of wisdom, ignore them at your peril.
Grumpy
Jack has been interesting in many ways, and especially in terms of his sleep/feeding cycles. Mostly, he doesn't wake us up; we have to wake him up.
His doctor said today he wouldn't care, if it wasn't for the jaundice; steady, timely feeding is important to eliminate it. So we have been waking Jack up -- which sometimes is a hilarious struggle. Usually we try some gentle cajoling; some mommy-cradling; some stroking with a wet washcloth; and then we proceed to a little parade through the house, to some Grateful Dead music with Dad singing along as we march. Most of the time, this will not even wake him up! Usually he gets kind of annoyed and reacts in a "leave me alone! can't you see I'm sleeping?" sort of way.
As a last resort we turn to a full-body spongebath as seen above. This is always enough to piss Jack off so that he is awake and aware, and usually we can get him feeding then. But he sure does make us work for it.
The jaundice doesn't help with the sleepiness, and the fact that under doctor's orders we are stuffing him full of milk at every feeding helps make him sleepy. It's all about him flushing the bilirubins, and putting on weight; he had lost rather a lot, though not enough to worry about, as of Friday; but as of today he had put a bunch of that weight back on.
So in short, Jack is doing well, only pretty common newborn complications vexing him (or us, more than him, I suppose). You will frequently find G or myself standing around his bassinet smiling and just kind of marvelling. I often take some time to sit by him when he's sleeping and just watch him. He's a miracle and we are both absolutely crazy about him.
Dad and his Dude
Jack and I had a little quiet time before his doctor visit this morning. Every day since Friday we have been getting up and going to the doctor's -- or the outpatient facility of the hospital, like yesterday -- to get blood drawn from Jack's poor little heels. He hates this immensely, and it's easy to see why. The extremely good news is that since the application of the phototherapy -- the blue fiberoptic pads -- the bilirubins (the stuff that can build up and cause jaundice) in his bloodstream have dropped steadily. Helping this has been a huge increase in appetite, which has come as the jaundice has been reduced -- so he's eating and eliminating, which helps flush the bilirubins that aren't detsroyed by the lights out of his system.
Anyway, we had yet another test today and his levels had dropped, not quite enough to be taken off the lights, but getting there. Probably a day, no more than two more of the lights and he will be free of them!
The glow of motherhood
It's kind of eerie to walk into a darkened bedroom to see your wife nursing your baby son... who is glowing a bright, electric blue. Jack's phototherapy continues, and he is responding very well!
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Back from the blood test
Jack-Jack is back from the hospital where they drew some more blood from the poor little guy's much-poked heel. By the time we stopped at the store and got back home, Dr. Cohen was calling to tell uss Jack's bilirubin levels (the stuff that builds up and causes jaundice) were definitely down, not a huge amount, but definitely in the right direction, and he's only been under the lights since late yesterday afternoon. Additionally, the fact that Jack is eating regularly and at normal levels and pooping up a storm (believe me) is all good good news. He's eating right now, in fact, and diaper-change will be forthcoming.
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Glow, Baby, Glow
We had Jack into the doctor's today to check his jaundice levels and they were definitely up on this reading, so the doctor sent a pediatric company over to the house with this groovy lightshow. Basically, this takes the place of a hospital stay with the sleep goggles and mommy and daddy freaking out while baby is stuck under lamps away from home. These two little pads, one on the front and one on the back are covered with soft translucent fabric and filled with bright fiberoptic cables. They slide under Jack's onesie, right against his skin. If anything, he absorbs more of the jaundice-destroying light than in one of those little baby rotisseries, and he gets to stay right here at home.
That said, he does look like some kind of nuclear-powered superbaby.
The best news of the day is that Jack's eating/evacuating schedule finally seems to have stabilized, which will help even more with the jaundice than the light. The more he feeds and goes to the bathroom, the more he is cleaning out his system. This is why jaundice comes often in breastfed babies -- for the key first few days they are consuming so little because there is little to consume, or that they even really need, but ironically, that helps jaundice set in, which decreases appetite, makes baby more sleepy etc.
So there is lots of improvement on all fronts, and Jack's complexion is actually pinkening up just a little after a few hours of lights. Tomorrow, another test at the doctor's.
Today, daddy had to shoot some footage at school for a few hours for a project, and now Dad is home again and doesn't have classes he has to attend until Wednesday afternoon. Genevieve is being an excellent Mommy to Jack and he loves snuggling up to her so much.
Mommy and Daddy had an oh-so-exciting diaper changing session when Dad got home, which again featured festive aerial displays of liquid which would put the water gardens at Versailles to shame.
Now, Daddy, Mommy sleepy.
At the doctor's...
Jack seems so overwhelmed by all the gear necessary to hold him in one spot. But he is wriggly and so very strong.
Our meeting with the doctor went OK. Jack' strength and overall health & vitality are very good. However, as is common with babies who are induced, very large, and breastfed, he has a little jaundice which seems to be affecting his appetite and making him a little sleepier than he normally should be. No cause for undue concern, we are assured, it's quite common; but the Doc gave us strict orders to do get him fed plentifully tonight.
Unfortunately, mostly Jack just wanted to sleep. He eventually woke up a little but didn't eat so much; but his pattern so far has been to really feed very late at night and early in the morning up until lunch time, and then, not so much. (Like, he has resisted feeding tonight until waking up just now pretty rarin' to go).
Anyway, it is back to the doctor tomorrow am to re-test and see how to address his little jaundice and appetite issues. Like I say, no big deal speaking in a strictly medical sense, but I'm sure the parents out there who remember their first have some clue as to the frustration and anxiety new parents might feel with their new guy being a little uncooperative and maybe a little sick.
Backtracking: last night Jack was again a little cranky about sleepy-time and we went through the usual diaper change/feeding/burping/snuggling/etc. routine and none of these had any effect. Finally, lying down in bed next to mommy did the trick and he zonked right out, so it was off to the recliner for Daddy until around 7:30 this morning when Mommy and Jack woke up for another round of feeding and a very sleepy daddy stumbled back into bed for an extremely restful 3 hours or so of sack time.
Truckin'
With Jack all ready, it was dad's duty to wheel his litle car seat down to the Honda for his big journey.
Ready to go!
So another first on this day of firsts for Jack -- we got him ready and set to go to the dotor's office for the first time. He was looking good in a denim jacket (from my Mom) and his Cubbies quilt (from Genevieve's).
Friday, April 22, 2005
This woke Jack up, though . . .
bathtime2
Originally uploaded by laughograms.
Not pleased about his first sponge bath, Jack celebrated this milestone by loudly protesting and vigorously squirming. Then -- as I surmised when I heard the shrill, piercing cry of surprise from Genevieve -- by launching a huge amount of pee all over the bathroom counter.
Snoozy
sleepydude
Originally uploaded by laughograms.
We've been having a little bit of a problem getting Jack to stay awake. he just loves to sleep. In the ealry hours of the day and the small hours of the morning he doesn't seem to have much of a problem being wide awake and feeding, but during the day and early to mid-evening it is really hard to sustain his interest. He sure looks cute when he's snoozing though.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Groom of the Stool
So today, a very big day for little Jack: going home day! And what better way to celebrate than by crapping all over Dad?
Yes, Jack awoke very early today with a wet diaper. Dad was Johnny-on-the-spot with a freshie, got him all clean and dry, slid the diaper into place when suddenly -- have you seen Finding Nemo? You know when that little baby squid "inks" herself? That's pretty much what happened. There was a merry bubbling tooting kind of sound, and as they say in The Bevery Hillbillies, out came the bubblin' crude. Expressions of alarm and surprise from Dad soon followed. When the flow abated I slid the diaper out to try to get him clean and suddenly the Golden Shower of Love was happening, and me with my hands full.
Now, Jack has the body of a tiny innocent baby but the spirit of an extremely peppy kangaroo. When he is swaddled, he strains mightily against his bonds, resembling Houdini wriggling out of a straitjacket, and is often as successful. When his legs are free he can push himself almost to the top of his bassinet with one mighty thrust. So it is quite enough of a challenge to keep his kicking feet out of his own poo when you're removing a brand new diaper he's soiled, but as you're doing so, if he lets rip with a beastly, enormous flow of meconium (that's Latin for "green-black newborn baby poo"), you're in for it, no mistake.
Which is what happened after the little spritz, so now I had to call in reinforcements (AKA Genevieve), as removal of the changing pad, suspension of Jack over a sea of poo and installation of a new diaper all at the same time was a little more than two hands' worth or work. Finally the situation stabilized to a point where I could do my job, as Groom of the Stool, my new official title. If you don't know what that means, click on it, but be warned: it ain't pleasant, but it is literally noble.
Backtracking a bit, it is no surprise Jack had a mighty poo today because last night, after some OK but lackluster feedings, he really went to town big time. Like, a thing possessed. Genevieve was marvelling, and also saying "Ow!" from time to time, so zesty were his feedings. Then a funny thing happened. After his feeding, burping, and diaper-freshening, he was still really cranky and just wouldn't go to sleep. Humming to him, shushing and rocking him, all worked temporarily until we put him in his little bed. He would be cool for a few seconds and the -- WAAAAH!
After a couple of hours of this we decided to do what we did the first night. We plopped this cranky litle boy on a pillow tucked under the crook of Mommy's arm and he was out like a light instantaneously. And the whole family got a few hours snooze time.
This morning Dr. Katz stopped by for a final check of Genevieve and pronounced her ready to go, and our pediatrician, Dr. Weiner, came by and checked out Jack, declaring him totally healthy; we're to stop by her office tomorrow for a quick checkup & weigh-in.
After some final paperwork, we dressed Jack in the same outfit his mommy wore home from the hospital, as well as all her sisters (above). Yes, it is a trifle girlish but tradition is tradition. (I'm sorry Don and Kathy, I had to draw the line at the little bonnet.) We checked out of the hospital and came on home, driving extra careful of course; Jack seemed to enjoy most of the ride in his new car seat complete with teddy bear viewing mirror.
We introduced Jack to Boris after letting Boris have a frolic and a walk with Genevieve, whom he has missed badly for the last few days. He seemed kind of interested but not at all weird or jealous, much as I expected: he is just a wonderful dog. I know everyone says that about their good doggies, but Boris is a special case, as even the people at the dog hospital said.
Jack rested for a bit in his chair on the dining room table, snuggled in his Cubs quilt, and then it was lunch time. A quick snack for Jack, and then it was into the bassinet, speaking of tradition: the same bassinet I slept in over 40 years ago, and all the Sheehan children have been in over the years!
Now we're all a little bushed. Need a trip to the store later for some baby items we realized we'd need at the hospital (more barf rags and baby t-shirts with snaps), and some groceries, and then it will feel like we've settled in a bit.
Gonna cool it on the updates a bit -- not expecting much newsworthy until tomorrow or so, and we need some time to be cool and settle in. Thanks again everyone who has been in touch. I haven't been able to call each of you personally but you are in our thoughts.
Heading home
Dr. Katz and Dr. Weiner (our pediatrician) have blown the all-clear and we are out of here. I just wrote a long post but Blogger ate it, so I will give you the update on our last night's stay when we get home in a couple of hours.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Settling in for the night
Just got back from feeding Boris. He was happy to see me and is operating at about 95% of normal; as the virus he had dies out he will be totally fine. The vet said there is zero reason to worry about the baby getting infected or anything, so there is no cause for concern there.
Jack fed very well tonight, when Genevieve was finally able to convince him to get started. When I left he was still snoozing and got VERY cross at any attempt to wake him up. But he has had a hard day, getting circumcised (yowch!), having at our insistence what turned out a whole bunch of mucousy goo sucked out of his throat -- a large part of his snorting & discomfort was caused by this, score one for overanxious Dad! -- having his first exam etc. etc. So it's not uncommon for him to just be like, screw you, leave me alone, which was more or less his attitude. But with alittle cajoling and prodding he eventually went to town with great gusto and he is off now having a blood test done that screens him for just about everything known to man, getting weighed, and then snoozing for a while until his next feeding around 11 pm. Me? I'm off to Jerry's Famous Deli across the way to pick up our suppers, then maybe we'll watch a movie on the iBook for a while before we try to grab a few Zs where we can.
Thanks again for all the messages of love, care and advice flowing in. I promise we will get back to everyone in the fullness of time. We really appreciate all this support at a distance.
OK for now.
Jack fed very well tonight, when Genevieve was finally able to convince him to get started. When I left he was still snoozing and got VERY cross at any attempt to wake him up. But he has had a hard day, getting circumcised (yowch!), having at our insistence what turned out a whole bunch of mucousy goo sucked out of his throat -- a large part of his snorting & discomfort was caused by this, score one for overanxious Dad! -- having his first exam etc. etc. So it's not uncommon for him to just be like, screw you, leave me alone, which was more or less his attitude. But with alittle cajoling and prodding he eventually went to town with great gusto and he is off now having a blood test done that screens him for just about everything known to man, getting weighed, and then snoozing for a while until his next feeding around 11 pm. Me? I'm off to Jerry's Famous Deli across the way to pick up our suppers, then maybe we'll watch a movie on the iBook for a while before we try to grab a few Zs where we can.
Thanks again for all the messages of love, care and advice flowing in. I promise we will get back to everyone in the fullness of time. We really appreciate all this support at a distance.
OK for now.
A family afternoon
Genevieve and Jack are enjoying the Cubs game on ESPN. Genevieve is narrating for the sleeping Jack -- who just as I type is starting to stir a little bit; it's almost supper time. He has a lot of nasal congestion; not uncommon but he is snorting a lot, so our nurse is gonna irrigate his schnozzola and make it easier for him to breathe. Nothing to be concerned with but the sound of his snorting nose really upsets me, at least, and G less but still, it is unpleasant and you can tell it bothers Jack.
Other than that -- we're just hanging out, fielding the occasional phone call. I'll be going back home in a bit to feed, walk, water and medicate Boris and make sure he is doing well, then I'll pick up some dinner and come on back and spend the night with the fam here in the hospital again. Tomorrow, we should all be going home.
*yawn* that felt good.
Heading back to the hospital now, napped and showered. G reports Jack is doing awesome.
I wanted to share one last impression of Jack's birth yesterday. I stood there at my wife's feet as he emerged, all covered with womb-stuff, kinda blue-looking, with that great big cord dangling behind him. Dr. Katz held Jack right up near my face as he aspirated him and gently nudged him into this life. And it appeared to me to be happening at once in the slowest motion possible, as if frozen in time; and as fast is it possibly could, as if speeded up. Before I knew it it was over, but while it was happening I was frozen there, agog, amazed, wordless, completely out of my depth but feeling I was exactly where I needed to be. I just wanted to share that on the blog before I forgot in all the fuss.
I wanted to share one last impression of Jack's birth yesterday. I stood there at my wife's feet as he emerged, all covered with womb-stuff, kinda blue-looking, with that great big cord dangling behind him. Dr. Katz held Jack right up near my face as he aspirated him and gently nudged him into this life. And it appeared to me to be happening at once in the slowest motion possible, as if frozen in time; and as fast is it possibly could, as if speeded up. Before I knew it it was over, but while it was happening I was frozen there, agog, amazed, wordless, completely out of my depth but feeling I was exactly where I needed to be. I just wanted to share that on the blog before I forgot in all the fuss.
Home again, briefly.
Boris is back home and back to his old self, I have caught up on a few congratulatory emails and now it is time for a nap.
Genevieve called to report that she put Jack to sleep and put on her iPod Shuffle, turned it on random, and the very first song to play was "Happy Jack." The music coincidences surrounding this child astound.
Good night, er, afternoon . . .
Genevieve called to report that she put Jack to sleep and put on her iPod Shuffle, turned it on random, and the very first song to play was "Happy Jack." The music coincidences surrounding this child astound.
Good night, er, afternoon . . .
Wednesday morning update
It's about 9:40 Wednesday morning and I am in a coffee shop on Sunset Blvd injecting as much caffeine into my system as I can handle. We had a visit from the pediatrician this am, who pronounced Jack the very picture of health, and who poo-pooed my first-time-Dad concerns in such a way as to not make me feel like a total idiot. After that I made sure G had any books etc. she needed, and left for breakfast and errands -- first stop, dropping off the last two boxes of CDs from home at our storage facility, next stop picking up Boris, then it is home for some comfort time with him and a nap for me, then back to the hospital mid-afternoon.
A lot went down when we "signed off" last night. So as Bob Murphy used to say, here's the happy recap.
At around 8:30 the pushing began, with much encouragement from Dr. Katz, Alex and myself. I have to say, Genevieve dug really deep and really defeated any doubts she had about herself. It was really inspiring to watch her reach deep for energy she no longer thought she had. As for me, to actually see your baby's face beginning to emerge is, well, there really are no words for it, just incredible. After a mere hour and 15 minutes it was definitely time, and Jack came bursting on to the scene to the musical accompaniment of "Growing Up" by Peter Gabriel on the stereo system, which was totally unplanned but just as totally appropriate. Beautifully, as they cleaned him up, "Solsbury Hill" came on next, and both Genevieve and I remembered that when we got in the limo right after our wedding ceremony, the driver turned on the radio and that was the song that started right up. Great to have music that's important to us just kind of happen in time with life-changing events. The baby squad got Jack all cleaned up while Dr. Katz attended to Genevieve.
Now, let me just say this. We all speak of how beautiful a woman is right after she has given birth. And they usually do have a certain beauty, especially to their husbands. But largely, they tend to look, understandably, as if they have been placed in a sack with an ill-tempered rhinoceros and left at the bottom of a lake for about 12 hours. I mean, they have just been through the physical equivalent of being hit by a truck after all. Well, all that said and all husbandly bias to the side, Genevieve looked marvelous. Like, if I hadn't been there to see it, I'd be amazed to hear she had just given birth. I mean she was SO together and looked absolutely FINE. I was AMAZED. And you can tell I mean it because I am writing it in ALL CAPS.
After we got our room assigned, I ran off to get Genevieve the cheeseburger she desperately craved and came back to find Jack hungrily breast-feeding away, I mean he took right to it like a duck to water and with greater enthusiasm. After some grumpy times he settled down to sleep. The quick test of his sugar levels showed low, but all the lab tests have come back fine, a little low but well within acceptable levels. I gather that it is the case with these giant babies that sugar levels can be out of whack for a while. Jack wouldn't sleep after his 4 am feeding, and was crabbing away, but Genevieve nestled him in with her and he promptly shut up and gave us each two hours of blissful sleep.
We can't say enough good things about the delivery team Dr. Katz works with at Cedars-Sinai. Totally cool, calm, collected, everything ran absolutely like clockwork. I mean, a model of absolute efficiency I have not seen the likes of outside Charlie Trotter's kitchen, and that's high praise indeed.
The picture above is of our delivery nurse Alex, who was so so so encouraging and positive; she really made it much easier for us. And Dr. Katz himself was awesome. Thank you Alex, Shara, Dr. Sanchez, Dr. Katz, tha "Baby SWAT Team" and whoever the nighttime anaesthesiologist was!!
OK, caffeine injection is done. I am going to post a few more photos while I have an online connection here at the coffeeshop. The wireless connection I was poaching off of at the hospital is not strong enough to extend to our new room, so I will only be online sporadically today and tonight, if at all, unfortunately, so if you don't hear back from me, you will, but maybe not today or tomorrow, via email anyway.
Off to get Boris...
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Family Snapshot
Wow, what a day. Genevieve and baby are fine. She performed like an absolute champion. I will give you all the details tomorrow. Thanks again.
Jack Robert Sheehan, born 4/19/05 9:45 pm
8 lbs, 14 whopping ounces, 21 inches of real baby. Obviously, lots more to follow. Thank you all so much for hanging in there and watching and waiting with us. We'll be in touch.
The push is on in 15 minutes
Dr. Katz will arrive at 8:30 our time and the whole pushing lecture is going on right now as we speak. Sounds painful, if uncomplicated. I will be offline until the baby is born.... the next post you hear from me, I will be a Daddy, and Genevieve will be a Mommy. We'll be in touch, thank you everyone so much for your notes and calls all day. If you want to stay up, I promise some late night photos of new baby Jack.
I was just struck again by how odd it is. We have this oddly calm scene in the room, completely painless contractions, the odd checkup by the nurse. Soon there will be a flurry of activity and then there will be a whole new human being right here in this same room. So I guess it is still sinking in!
Quick update
Hi everyone, I know a lot of you are out there on the east coast and the midwest waiting for news, and right now it looks like the big push to get Jack into the world will start around 8 pm.
I will make a quick post when we are getting ready to start and then nothing until he is born, probably an audio post at that point and several photos and a longer post when everything calms down.
So hang in there if you have a mind to, and if you don't get a call from us personally, don't take it badly, we will probably check in with the parents tonight and ask them to phone tree the news out to those who aren't tuning in, and catch up with everyone tomorrow. Meanwhile Genevieve is calmly doing crosswords and I am just, well, doing this.
I will make a quick post when we are getting ready to start and then nothing until he is born, probably an audio post at that point and several photos and a longer post when everything calms down.
So hang in there if you have a mind to, and if you don't get a call from us personally, don't take it badly, we will probably check in with the parents tonight and ask them to phone tree the news out to those who aren't tuning in, and catch up with everyone tomorrow. Meanwhile Genevieve is calmly doing crosswords and I am just, well, doing this.
Katz returns
"The key is, if you feel like you have to poop, it's time to call the nurse," says the good doctor to Genevieve.
"What if I feel like I have to poop?" I ask.
"We're evacuating the building!" says Dr. Katz.
Genevieve laughs knowingly. "Been there?" asks Katz.
"Oh, yeah," affirms Genevieve.
"What if I feel like I have to poop?" I ask.
"We're evacuating the building!" says Dr. Katz.
Genevieve laughs knowingly. "Been there?" asks Katz.
"Oh, yeah," affirms Genevieve.
Katz has spoken
Dilation is well complete, and Katz's philosophy is to let the baby "labor down" as much as possible, to spare a bunch of excess and needless pushing by the mother. So he is going to give it an hour or so before she starts really pushing this guy out. He says the baby is super-healthy and everything is going exactly according to plan, so take heart faithful viewers, the end is near!!!
Two words: fully dilated
Waiting for the push-time; Dr. Katz is debating whether to start the pushing or let the labor linger.
My niece and nephews are WAY too tall
The Barrett family checks in with this awesome welcome!!!
How about those Mets tonight? 16-4 in the 6th!!
Cubs looking OK tonight too -- now the Bosox need to scare up a run or two...
Now listening to. . .
"Candyman." Jerry and the boys at the Pyramids, a cracklin good soundboard, not the best Dead show ever but quite fun.
No news yet
Hey all. Nothing new yet, everything is the same as last time, stable heartbeat, steady but not earth-shaking contractions from G, Katz will be here soon to give us the heads up. All is well, just really boring -- thought I would update you.
Ho-hum
OK, now we're both getting kinda bored. "I can't really feel my legs, it's just this weird numbness," said Genevieve. "Kinda like when I sit on the toilet too long," I replied.
The Candyman
I've got a feelin'. . .
". . . a feelin' deep inside, oh yeah." The Beatles say it all, as always.
Here's a pic of G with our lovely nurse Shara, who just wisely dialed up the anaesthesiologist for another crank of epidural.
Biding our time
6 cm and counting
Mother-to-be is quite comfortable but Jack is being a little bit of a brat and not cooperating with our super nice nurse, Shara (pic in a few). He keeps moving around to where she doesn't want him to go, runnign away from the heart monitor.... oh boy are we ever in for it.
Listening
Right now we're cranking Bruce Hornsby, "Cruise Control," from the Starlit Music Theater in Latham -- there's something surreal about this remarkably placid scene, looking out the window on the hills and the BMWs and Mercedes shuttling into Beverly Hills, pretty much chillin and cranking tunes from a concert 10 years ago in Latham NY...and here comes the nurse to check the status of the dilation, mor ein a few...
Looking like 4:00-5:00 pm is zero hour
. . . or so the doctor and nurse are guessing. Place your bets!!
Email all you want...
I've been reading all the emails aloud to Genevieve to help pass the time, so don't be shy about dropping a line! The email address is mikesheehan@adelphia.net if that link isn't workin'.
The epidural has landed
OK, the pain started, it went from a 3-5 as pictured below to maybe a 5-6 so in came the almighty Dr. Sanchez and wham bam boom, in went the epidural. Things proceed apace and the comfort level is much improved.
It's epidural time....
Not a lot of pain, but just some good old-fashioned discomfort.
MMMMMmmmm, gonna order a deli sandwich soon for lunch.
MMMMMmmmm, gonna order a deli sandwich soon for lunch.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)