Morning!

Jerry Althoff, 56 Years Young

Happy Birthday, Dad/Poppy!

Grow on, Buddy

Remember those horror stories about Around-the-Clock feedings? And how we were lucky that we didn't have them? Scratch that from the record.

Birth Story, Part Deux (for real this time)

March 24th, 2006

5:30 AM- I was now having consistent contractions about five minutes apart. We checked into the hospital. I was given a gown to change into and a pain chart that displayed crudely drawn faces with varying expressions accompanied by a corresponding number. The higher the number, the more uncomfortable the face appeared. I was instructed to use this guide to communicate my pain level. I think they were concerned that I would find a less desirable way to communicate my discomfort. An IV was administered during which I pointed vigorously to the frowny face and yelled "eight, eight!" (just in case the nurse did not notice my chart pointing). I was partially being dramatic for Greg and partially testing the nurse to see how they would react to this method of pain communication. I thought to myself that if the smile she returned was all that my pointing would elicit, I was going to be in trouble. I was checked and was 3 cm dialated.

7:00 AM- Pain level 4 during contractions (straight line mouth). Potosin was administered. Mom and Greg were chatting about the breakfast tacos they were going to get. This is when I first felt like I needed to rinse my mouth with mouthwash. I familiarized myself with all of the bed controls so I could achieve maximum comfort. We watched the sunrise.

9:00 AM- Contractions were getting stronger. I was so proud of myself for how well I was tolerating them. I had no idea what was to come. Mom and Greg ate breakfast in front of me. Greg helped me with the mouthwash again.

11:15 AM- Dr. Schmitz checked me and I was dialated to 5 cm. She then broke my water. It was this moment that I realized that I would be leaving that room with a baby for real. No turning back now. The Dr. then suggested that I get on the birthing ball and try to rock back and forth to get things progressing. I highly recommend this labor activity.

11:30 AM- The contractions became more intense at this point. They quickly progressed from being managed by deep breathing and hand holding (6-frowny face) to instructing everyone in the room to not talk to or touch me (12-not on the chart). Except for helping with mouthwash. I continually reminded folks in the room that just because I was keeping it together and not screaming out bad words or crying, did not mean I was not in excruciating pain. This sounds crazy, but I liked experiencing this pain.

12:00 ish- Contractions still at 12, but now there was little break for recovery in between. I very politely requested the epidural. Joann (my nurse) said, "Sure, I will get on that" as she was helping me move from the birthing ball back to the bed.

12:01 PM- I not so politely asked if the epidural had been ordered, knowing full well that in the previous 54 seconds Joann had not telepathically summoned the anesthesiologist as she was helping me (sorry, Joann). She then assigned the assisting of my move to Greg and called the Dr. I wanted more mouthwash, but was in too much pain to rinse.

12:25 PM- Dr. Epidural arrived. The procedure was quick and if it hurt, it was completely masked by the pain of the contractions.

12:26 PM- Hallelujah! Pain level zero. Full on smiley face.

12:29 PM- I got in a debate with Joann about whether or not the epidural makes one loopy. In addition to being completely relieved of pain, I was also slightly novacane-headed. She informed me that it does not have such side affects. Oh yeah? Well how else can you explain why I was singing "Purple Haze" (vocals AND guitar) and thanking everyone in the room for the relief? You would think that I had won an award, "I could not have done it without you, Dr. Fisk..."

Joann had no answer.

1:35 PM- Fully dialated. Dr. Schmitz was called. I practice pushed. We were told the baby had hair. HAIR! There really was a baby on the way.

1:59 PM- I began the real pushing. It was amazing. Transcendental, even. I could feel everything but the pain. The realization of what was happening was completely overwhelming.

2:09 PM- After only 10 minutes and 3 contractions of pushing, Henry arrived. His brow was furrowed, his eyes were open and he was pooping. I was instantly in love.

I said it then and I will say it now, I would have him again tomorrow if I could.

They Learn So Young...

(Annabelle Persson,April '06)

Don't worry, cousin Annabelle. It took Henry some practice before he used the right finger, too. Just keep watching your momma. You will get it.

Birth Story, Part Deux

Finally, I have a brief respite from poo fountains/bottle cleaning/baby laundry, to finish the tale of Henry's entrance into our world. I have had fifteen minutes in a row before, but such "free time" is usually reserved for a shower or a quick trip to the grocery store when daddy gets home from his job where he gets to talk to other adults all day.

I just gathered the men together and announced that I will not be taking a shower this evening and instead will be found at my computer when the next burp cloth crisis arises, or when my boob is next summoned. In my mind, this announcement was going to come across as a dramatic act of defiance. I was sure that the one who mastered the english language would at least raise an eyebrow and ask if I was sure this is what I wanted to do. Between the breastfeeding, the hormones and the vitamins I take, I really need to shower twice a day so as not to offend myself or my family (I know that is probably too much information if you are not a mother, but that is why this moment was supposed to have felt more rebellious in nature). Instead, my sweet husband said, "No problem. You do whatever you need to do. I have everything under control." So in addition to the other post-partum losses of freedom, I have now added," No longer able to rebel".

However, in return for these petty "losses", I have been given the gift of a crazy, pure, complete, selfless love for this boy we made. I would give up anything for him. Anything. Whenever I log anything here that smacks of negativity, please keep this in mind so you don't think I am a bad mom.

Speaking of bad mom, I just realized that I did not get Henry's bed ready or pump this evening. And since there is no way I am really skipping out on that shower,I will have to postpone the birth story yet another day.

Bedtime!

We're very lucky in that Henry usually feeds around 9-10pm, sleeps until 3-4am, then wakes up around 5 or 6am. Sure beats those horror stories of around-the-clock feedings.

Two Hour Nap

Low Light, Cute Baby

God Save the King

Noted without Comment

Attn: Future Parents of Boys

Just when you think you're in the clear, you will get peed on.

Famous Henrys Throughout Time, Part II

Henry David Thoreau
1817-1862


Thoreau, Henry David (1817-1862), American writer, philosopher, and naturalist, whose work demonstrates how the abstract ideals of libertarianism and individualism can be effectively instilled in a person's life. Born in Concord, Massachusetts, Thoreau was educated at Harvard University. In the late 1830s and early 1840s he taught school and tutored in Concord and on Staten Island, New York. From 1841 to 1843 Thoreau lived in the home of American essayist and transcendental philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, where he met other American transcendentalists, such as educator and philosopher Bronson Alcott, social reformer Margaret Fuller, and literary critic George Ripley (see Transcendentalism). In 1845 Thoreau moved to a crude hut on the shores of Walden Pond, a small body of water on the outskirts of Concord. He lived there until 1847, resided again with Emerson from 1847 to 1848, and spent the years from 1849 with his parents and sister in Concord. During his residence at Walden Pond and elsewhere in Concord, Thoreau supported himself by doing odd jobs, such as gardening, carpentry, and land surveying. The major portion of his time was devoted to the study of nature, to meditating on philosophical problems, to reading Greek, Latin, French, and English literature, and to long conversations with his neighbors.

Of the numerous volumes that make up the collected works of Thoreau, only two were published during his lifetime: A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers (1849) and Walden; or, Life in the Woods (1854). The material for most of the other volumes was edited posthumously by the author's friends from his journals, manuscripts, and letters. A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers is the narrative of a boating trip that Thoreau took with his brother in August 1839; it is a combination of nature study and metaphysical speculation and bears the distinctive impress of the author's engaging personality. In Walden, his most enduring and popular work, Thoreau explains his motives for living apart from society and devoting himself to a simple lifestyle and to the observation of nature. His writing style seems at first plain and direct, but witty similes, etymological puns, and allusions and plays on conventional proverbs dislocate conventional meanings and force the reader into a mode of reconsideration and reevaluation.

In 1846 Thoreau chose to go to jail rather than to support the Mexican War (1846-1848) by paying his poll tax. He clarified his position in perhaps his most famous essay, "Civil Disobedience" (1849), now widely referred to by its original title, "Resistance to Civil Government." In this essay Thoreau discussed passive resistance, a method of protest that later was adopted by Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi as a tactic against the British, and by civil rights activists fighting racial segregation in the United States. The edited collections of Thoreau's writings include Excursions (1863), which contains the well-known essay "Walking" The Maine Woods (1864); Cape Cod (1865); and A Yankee in Canada (1866). In 1993 Faith in a Seed appeared, a previously unpublished collection of Thoreau's natural-history writings featuring the essay "The Dispersion of Seeds."

Smile

One of Henry's first smiles.

Hopefully, many more to come.