So much to write, so little time...
The snaars wife: I don't often write about her, but snaars fans should know that she is central and indispensable to the phenomenon.
Seriously, Michelle has borne the brunt of the family's troubles of the last two years or so. We are healing from the disaster that ensued after our move north, and Michelle has had to do the most. In an unfamiliar house, far from anyplace we had ever called home, we found she was pregnant with our third child. Rejected by the family she had so long wanted to be reunited with, we faced another move and the premature burden of being on our own before I had stable employment.
Regular visits with my parents kept us sane. We made the 2.5 hour trip at least once a month (usually twice) for a long time. My parents also loaned us a LOT of money. I think they felt partially responsible, because before the move their encouragement allayed any doubts we had felt.
Michelle had it worse than I did in a lot of ways, coming to grips with the reality of the dynamics of her family (past and present), and doing the bulk of the parenting work: getting the kids into school, enduring a third pregnancy and a difficult home labor and birth, then taking care of an infant on top of everything else - all in a place where we had very little money, or support from anyone.
During the first months in the apartment and throughout the pregnancy I suffered from panic attacks. I went to work every day knowing I wasn't making enough money. I came home wanting to do something else to make money and feeling helpless. Michelle and I both felt tired, but we couldn't sleep.
Despite all this, Michelle continued to volunteer many hours per week to the Childbirth and Postpartum Professionals Association, as their public relations coordinator and director of state representatives. I think she had clung to the position as something over which she could have some control during a time when everything else seemed out of control.
Meanwhile, because of our obligations as parents to our first two lovely daughters, we couldn't slow down or focus on our own needs as much as we should have done.
I have had five jobs in the past two years, with bouts of unemployment in-between. This last job has been going very well. I have had steady employment for five months now, and although our expenses still outweigh our income, the discrepancy is minimal; we've been making stead progress and I expect the trend to continue. Soon, we will be restoring our savings. I expect we'll be buying a house within six months or a year.
I have been working with some wonderful people. They have been impressed with me and my work. I did not get this job through the staffing agency, but through an aquaintance I made while working for the agency. Within a week of getting the job, I was offered another job at a different company. Not only was I able to negotiate better benefits from my employer because of it - I actually managed to go back to the company that had given me the second offer, and I set up a complementary schedule with them, so that I was able to work both jobs.
The second job has since evaporated, but it was good for the several months it lasted. I am on good terms with the owner of the business.
After working with my current employer for three months, they gave me a considerable raise. And today - just this morning - they brought me into a meeting to discuss sending me back to school to take accounting and/or IT courses. They advised me that the combination of accounting and IT has considerable earning potential. They are willing to reimburse me 100% for tuition and expenses.
The only requirement is that I make at least a B in whatever courses I want to take. (I didn't feel it necessary to bring to their attention that I aced almost all my courses at UL - I think they know I'm capable.)
Sometimes it's good to be the snaars!
Simcha turns six this week! She wants a Care Bear more than anything. (I'm just glad she's over the Bratz doll obsession of the last few months!)
I'll write more about the kids soon - I know that's what all the real snaars fans ache for - but for now, it's past my bedtime.
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Friday, October 19, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
Snaars Times
Here's a brief update for my online friends. Sorry I haven't been in touch the last few months. I've been working two jobs. When I am home I spend a lot of time with the snaars spouse and snaars kids.
It's hard to believe Saadia turned one year old last month - but it's true. Simcha is in kindergarten and Havilah is in the second grade. They are, each of them, fantastic kids. Every day there's something I want to write about. They provide me with enough material that I could write a full-length post every day, if I had the time and energy.
Yesterday Havilah told me she loves science, but she doesn't like math, and she wants to be a figure skater when she grows up. Lately, her favorite game to play as a family has been "20 questions."
Today I watched from our apartment balcony as Simcha nervously crossed the street all by herself on her way to the neighborhood playground. While Simcha participates in "20 questions," she much prefers "I spy with my little eye," which is basically the same, only easier.
Saadia has a glowing personality, and is working hard at breaking in tooth number eight and tooth number nine. While I was comfortably seated on the balcony watching Havilah and Simcha in the playground across the street, Saadia discovered the unique and satisfying sound an orange makes when it is dropped from the third story to the concrete below.
I would like to draw your attention to the new scarlet letter "A" in the sidebar. This is the official symbol of Richard Dawkins's atheist OUT Campaign. Since I came out as an atheist about two years ago, and because this very website was instrumental in that regard, I felt it was appropriate to add the A here.
This blog's address has been added to the OUT Campaign's blogroll, but it took some doing. Initially, the OUT Campaign's site administrator thought that my site had been hacked by Christians! I thought: "Oh my, that administrator didn't take much time to read it, did he?" I supposed that my spiritualized theme had caused confusion! In fact, there was a typo in my submission. The administrator was looking at snaars.blogpot.com. (Blogpot, you see?)
Anyway, it's all fixed now. I plan to peruse some of the other sites on the blogroll, maybe make some more friends.
Perhaps I'll provide some details on my employment situation next time.
It's hard to believe Saadia turned one year old last month - but it's true. Simcha is in kindergarten and Havilah is in the second grade. They are, each of them, fantastic kids. Every day there's something I want to write about. They provide me with enough material that I could write a full-length post every day, if I had the time and energy.
Yesterday Havilah told me she loves science, but she doesn't like math, and she wants to be a figure skater when she grows up. Lately, her favorite game to play as a family has been "20 questions."
Today I watched from our apartment balcony as Simcha nervously crossed the street all by herself on her way to the neighborhood playground. While Simcha participates in "20 questions," she much prefers "I spy with my little eye," which is basically the same, only easier.
Saadia has a glowing personality, and is working hard at breaking in tooth number eight and tooth number nine. While I was comfortably seated on the balcony watching Havilah and Simcha in the playground across the street, Saadia discovered the unique and satisfying sound an orange makes when it is dropped from the third story to the concrete below.
I would like to draw your attention to the new scarlet letter "A" in the sidebar. This is the official symbol of Richard Dawkins's atheist OUT Campaign. Since I came out as an atheist about two years ago, and because this very website was instrumental in that regard, I felt it was appropriate to add the A here.
This blog's address has been added to the OUT Campaign's blogroll, but it took some doing. Initially, the OUT Campaign's site administrator thought that my site had been hacked by Christians! I thought: "Oh my, that administrator didn't take much time to read it, did he?" I supposed that my spiritualized theme had caused confusion! In fact, there was a typo in my submission. The administrator was looking at snaars.blogpot.com. (Blogpot, you see?)
Anyway, it's all fixed now. I plan to peruse some of the other sites on the blogroll, maybe make some more friends.
Perhaps I'll provide some details on my employment situation next time.
Monday, December 11, 2006
(Gulp!)
Raising my third infant, I've earned the title of experienced, professional diaper-changer. I'm inured to the smell. I can tolerate the painful sonic barrage of shrieking that sometimes accompanies baby's efforts. I can operate efficiently around wriggling legs with minimal smearage. But I still encounter the unexpected.
Yesterday I spotted a booger - a tiny dry flake (or so it appeared), right at the edge of her nostril. Ready to dislodge itself with a breath or snort, it would dive into anonymous obscurity on carpet or clothes, to be vacuumed or laundered to eventual oblivion. I spied it when I laid her down, and my eye was drawn repeatedly toward it whilst I wiped, coo'ed, and exchanged smiles with Saadia. Usually, I don't waste my time with these bits of dirt.
Usually I say, yet on this day I took the corner of my burp cloth and attacked the offending particle with zealous relish. I don't know why I did it - a moment of enthusiasm, perhaps infused with a tinge of guilt (having seen Michelle clean the nose of many a baby for less - she has been always the more fastidious in regards to the hygeine of our diminutive charges).
I swiped. I swiped again. The flake remained astonishingly steadfast. Saadia smiled agape at the new game. I gathered myself. I have seen Michelle be quite forceful, so: more gusto ... push up with the corner of the cloth, a bit of wrist action, and then ...
Oh my! I had seen merely the tip of the iceburg. Here was a veritable glob, now on the upper lip! No matter, one more quick dab.
Huh. Where'd it go? It's not on the cloth. Oh ... Saadia is beaming up at her daddy. Adoringly. Open-mouthed.
Please. Don't tell Michelle. She'll kill me.
Look at her, so innocent and trusting.
Updated with photos 12/18/06.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Simcha turns five!
Tomorrow is Simcha’s fifth birthday! We celebrated this evening with a special birthday dinner, presents, and ice cream cake. It all started this afternoon. We spent the morning cleaning and vacuuming, then I fired up the internet radio with some kind of techno lounge music with a good beat. Then I called Simcha into the living room and did a silly dance. Then I sang. I improvised. It went something like this: “Go Sim-cha! It’s your birth-day! Go Sim-cha! It’s your birthday! We love you! We adore you! It’s your birth-day! Be hap-py!” She was delighted and we all laughed out loud for a long time while we acted silly.
Among her presents were several rubber bath duckies. It may seem strange, but she has always had a fascination for them. Michelle found some that light up with little dancing disco lights when they are touched or placed in the water. Simcha also received a firefighter duckie that changes color with the water temperature. She also got a Sleeping Beauty doll.
Saadia is already two-and-a-half months old. She is extraordinarily happy. She is alert, loves to ‘talk’, and hardly cries at all.
Whereas Havilah and Simcha both slept in a bassinette when they were her age, Saadia sleeps in our bed because we are short on space in this little apartment. I sleep lightly because I help feed her at night and because her favorite pastime is making cooing noises and kicking me in the back all night long.
Havilah is doing great in the 1st grade. I read to her, and Simcha too, every night, and Havilah is making great strides in her reading.
We are still not making enough money, although we have done everything we can think of to cut expenses, short of trading in our car for something smaller that would have a lower monthly payment. Michelle has an appointment tomorrow to sign up for WIC and food stamps. That should help a lot. We are a couple of months behind now on some of our bills. We are getting closer though, and I still have confidence that eventually we will be all right. My credit rating may get shot to hell, but at least we are not in immediate danger of being out on the street.
Reflecting on the past few years, I am astounded (appalled?) at everything this family has been through. My sense of self-worth has been nearly non-existent these past few months, but I believe I am rebounding. I am steadily becoming more comfortable with being an atheist in a world that is downright hostile toward atheism. I no longer feel a need to announce it, to explain or justify it. I don’t feel a need to denounce religion. I have learned that it’s unsafe to say much about it to anyone.
I don’t discuss my beliefs unless I am asked. Even my father, who is an educated and compassionate man, can not sit still and discuss it with me in a calm manner. Most of our discussions on the topic have been initiated by his attacks on philosophy, as a discipline. These usually take me by surprise and must admit I resent them. I sympathize with my father and I have no desire to challenge him or deprive him – or anyone else – of something that gives them a sense of meaning and comfort.
The last time, he asked me if I knew that I was a philosophical “throwback”. I don’t have any clear idea in what way he meant by it. He made a definite point that logic doesn’t produce any ideas in and of itself, and that it can be most misleading. He seemed to be questioning the usefulness of reasoning at all. I was, quite frankly, dumbfounded and I couldn’t understand his point at all. I just agreed with him that logic is not creative and that the conclusions of logic depend on the quality of the information, evidence, and assumptions that are being worked with. I thought it was just a really strange conversation to have with my dad, since I have always considered him to be smarter than I am. It’s taken me a long time to get over my competitiveness with him, and now every once in a while he wants to get competitive with me.
I haven’t been very good company for a long time now because of our financial difficulties and the depression that has come along with them. I think my dad has misdiagnosed that depression and thinks that it is related to my atheism. I think that theists imagine how they would feel if they didn’t have a belief in God to give their lives meaning, and then they project those feelings on atheists and assume that atheists are just a miserable lot.
Anyway, that’s all for the moment. This posting has been a long time coming and it may be another long wait for the next. I will read and appreciate all comments, but I may not be able to respond in a timely manner (and I may not have internet access – that was actually turned off for a while and it may be turned off again later this month)!
In the meantime, best wishes to all!
Among her presents were several rubber bath duckies. It may seem strange, but she has always had a fascination for them. Michelle found some that light up with little dancing disco lights when they are touched or placed in the water. Simcha also received a firefighter duckie that changes color with the water temperature. She also got a Sleeping Beauty doll.
Saadia is already two-and-a-half months old. She is extraordinarily happy. She is alert, loves to ‘talk’, and hardly cries at all.
Whereas Havilah and Simcha both slept in a bassinette when they were her age, Saadia sleeps in our bed because we are short on space in this little apartment. I sleep lightly because I help feed her at night and because her favorite pastime is making cooing noises and kicking me in the back all night long.Havilah is doing great in the 1st grade. I read to her, and Simcha too, every night, and Havilah is making great strides in her reading.
We are still not making enough money, although we have done everything we can think of to cut expenses, short of trading in our car for something smaller that would have a lower monthly payment. Michelle has an appointment tomorrow to sign up for WIC and food stamps. That should help a lot. We are a couple of months behind now on some of our bills. We are getting closer though, and I still have confidence that eventually we will be all right. My credit rating may get shot to hell, but at least we are not in immediate danger of being out on the street.
Reflecting on the past few years, I am astounded (appalled?) at everything this family has been through. My sense of self-worth has been nearly non-existent these past few months, but I believe I am rebounding. I am steadily becoming more comfortable with being an atheist in a world that is downright hostile toward atheism. I no longer feel a need to announce it, to explain or justify it. I don’t feel a need to denounce religion. I have learned that it’s unsafe to say much about it to anyone.
I don’t discuss my beliefs unless I am asked. Even my father, who is an educated and compassionate man, can not sit still and discuss it with me in a calm manner. Most of our discussions on the topic have been initiated by his attacks on philosophy, as a discipline. These usually take me by surprise and must admit I resent them. I sympathize with my father and I have no desire to challenge him or deprive him – or anyone else – of something that gives them a sense of meaning and comfort.
The last time, he asked me if I knew that I was a philosophical “throwback”. I don’t have any clear idea in what way he meant by it. He made a definite point that logic doesn’t produce any ideas in and of itself, and that it can be most misleading. He seemed to be questioning the usefulness of reasoning at all. I was, quite frankly, dumbfounded and I couldn’t understand his point at all. I just agreed with him that logic is not creative and that the conclusions of logic depend on the quality of the information, evidence, and assumptions that are being worked with. I thought it was just a really strange conversation to have with my dad, since I have always considered him to be smarter than I am. It’s taken me a long time to get over my competitiveness with him, and now every once in a while he wants to get competitive with me.
I haven’t been very good company for a long time now because of our financial difficulties and the depression that has come along with them. I think my dad has misdiagnosed that depression and thinks that it is related to my atheism. I think that theists imagine how they would feel if they didn’t have a belief in God to give their lives meaning, and then they project those feelings on atheists and assume that atheists are just a miserable lot.
Anyway, that’s all for the moment. This posting has been a long time coming and it may be another long wait for the next. I will read and appreciate all comments, but I may not be able to respond in a timely manner (and I may not have internet access – that was actually turned off for a while and it may be turned off again later this month)!
In the meantime, best wishes to all!
Monday, August 14, 2006
Kids of the Week
I noted that all my three girls were born on Tuesday mornings, and Juggling Mother said, "All mine were born on a Sunday ...." It put me in mind of an old nursery rhyme:
Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go;
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for its living;
But the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.
There you go, Juggling Mother! Your kids are the best of the lot!
I must have been born on a Saturday.
Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go;
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for its living;
But the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.
There you go, Juggling Mother! Your kids are the best of the lot!
I must have been born on a Saturday.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Saadia pictures
This is the most beautiful baby I've ever seen!! Not that I'm biased, or anything ...
When presented with a baby photo, it is obligatory to say, "Aaaaw, how cute!" But you can tell the truth this time: she's an angel!
Now for some revised/additional information.
In my last post, I said that Saadia was not overdue after all, but I may have judged hastily. Saadia's weight, the condition of her skin, and the constitution of the amniotic fluid indicate that she was healthy and of average gestational age - approximately 40 weeks; however, the original date calculations and ultrasound estimate put her due-date at July 14th and 16th, respectively.
Calcifications in the placenta indicate that it may have been over-aged. A battledore insertion of the umbilical cord could possibly account for Saadia's birth weight, which would be considered lower than expected if she really gestated for 43 weeks and 3 days. (A battledore insertion is when the cord is attached marginally, at the edge of the placenta, rather than in the middle as is normal. It's usually not serious but it can slow the growth of the fetus.)
We had a successful home birth, attended by two registered nurse midwives and a midwife-in-training. Those ladies were terrific! They provided medical care and expertise to Michelle and Saadia through pre-natal visits. They offered advise and suggestions while respecting our informed decisions. They provided medical expertise and assistance during the labor and birth. They set up supplies and equipment, and stood by in case of any problems. They worked hard to make our goals a reality! They cleaned up afterward and monitored Michelle and Saadia for several hours after the birth. They also follow up post-natally, checking the health of both mom and baby. I can not say enough about how pleased and assured I felt, knowing that they were working to provide a safe and pleasant birth experience for us. Don't even contemplate having a home birth unassisted! I am grateful for the job they did.
Havilah and Simcha were with my parents during the labor and birth. They met their baby sister yesterday, and they adore her! Michelle will be in recovery for an indefinite period of time, so I am trying to train them to help out more. I am taking on more chores around the house.
Today I got home from a full day's work, took the girls grocery shopping, returned home and put the groceries away, cooked dinner, washed the dishes, got the girls ready for bed, read them a story, did two loads of laundry, got caught up with my e-mail, and wrote this blog post! Now it's after midnight, and I'll have to do everything again starting tomorrow at 6:30! Well, except for the grocery shopping - but there's still a lot of laundry to do.
I did a lot - but Michelle is dealing with more than I am. She needs rest after all her hard work. Saadia nurses every two hours - around the clock - sometimes for twenty or thirty minutes at a time. Michelle is getting less sleep than I am, and she needs it more than I do.
Did I forget anything? Oh, yeah - I quit the car business last week. More about my new job later.
When presented with a baby photo, it is obligatory to say, "Aaaaw, how cute!" But you can tell the truth this time: she's an angel!
Now for some revised/additional information.
In my last post, I said that Saadia was not overdue after all, but I may have judged hastily. Saadia's weight, the condition of her skin, and the constitution of the amniotic fluid indicate that she was healthy and of average gestational age - approximately 40 weeks; however, the original date calculations and ultrasound estimate put her due-date at July 14th and 16th, respectively.
Calcifications in the placenta indicate that it may have been over-aged. A battledore insertion of the umbilical cord could possibly account for Saadia's birth weight, which would be considered lower than expected if she really gestated for 43 weeks and 3 days. (A battledore insertion is when the cord is attached marginally, at the edge of the placenta, rather than in the middle as is normal. It's usually not serious but it can slow the growth of the fetus.)
We had a successful home birth, attended by two registered nurse midwives and a midwife-in-training. Those ladies were terrific! They provided medical care and expertise to Michelle and Saadia through pre-natal visits. They offered advise and suggestions while respecting our informed decisions. They provided medical expertise and assistance during the labor and birth. They set up supplies and equipment, and stood by in case of any problems. They worked hard to make our goals a reality! They cleaned up afterward and monitored Michelle and Saadia for several hours after the birth. They also follow up post-natally, checking the health of both mom and baby. I can not say enough about how pleased and assured I felt, knowing that they were working to provide a safe and pleasant birth experience for us. Don't even contemplate having a home birth unassisted! I am grateful for the job they did.
Havilah and Simcha were with my parents during the labor and birth. They met their baby sister yesterday, and they adore her! Michelle will be in recovery for an indefinite period of time, so I am trying to train them to help out more. I am taking on more chores around the house.
Today I got home from a full day's work, took the girls grocery shopping, returned home and put the groceries away, cooked dinner, washed the dishes, got the girls ready for bed, read them a story, did two loads of laundry, got caught up with my e-mail, and wrote this blog post! Now it's after midnight, and I'll have to do everything again starting tomorrow at 6:30! Well, except for the grocery shopping - but there's still a lot of laundry to do.
I did a lot - but Michelle is dealing with more than I am. She needs rest after all her hard work. Saadia nurses every two hours - around the clock - sometimes for twenty or thirty minutes at a time. Michelle is getting less sleep than I am, and she needs it more than I do.
Did I forget anything? Oh, yeah - I quit the car business last week. More about my new job later.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
False Alarm
Here’s the short version of the story, nerve-wracking as it is: Michelle’s labor stalled out yesterday afternoon.
I was surprised even though I should not have been. We have a history of prodromal labor, long labor, and long terms. Simcha was in the womb for 43 weeks. Although she had complications, none of them were associated with the long pregnancy. She had none of the symptoms that doctors worry about with a long pregnancy.
Saadia is still moving a lot, which means she is not too big and that the placenta is still healthy. Her heart rate is good. She seems perfectly fine.
Michelle is also fine, apart from some edema (swelling) around her ankles - but that’s not dangerous, by itself. It means she has to keep her feet up as much as possible when she is not walking. We have to watch to make sure the swelling does not rise or spread up her legs. If it does, it could be a signal that something is wrong.
After my parents came to get the kids yesterday, I thought it would speed things up, but it didn’t. Ah well, the real thing will happen soon. If it doesn’t happen over the next few days we will review our options, in terms of induction.
Havilah and Simcha will have to stay with my parents for a few days because of everyone’s schedules. Michelle and I will be able to spend some quality time together.
I’ll post again when something happens.
I was surprised even though I should not have been. We have a history of prodromal labor, long labor, and long terms. Simcha was in the womb for 43 weeks. Although she had complications, none of them were associated with the long pregnancy. She had none of the symptoms that doctors worry about with a long pregnancy.
Saadia is still moving a lot, which means she is not too big and that the placenta is still healthy. Her heart rate is good. She seems perfectly fine.
Michelle is also fine, apart from some edema (swelling) around her ankles - but that’s not dangerous, by itself. It means she has to keep her feet up as much as possible when she is not walking. We have to watch to make sure the swelling does not rise or spread up her legs. If it does, it could be a signal that something is wrong.
After my parents came to get the kids yesterday, I thought it would speed things up, but it didn’t. Ah well, the real thing will happen soon. If it doesn’t happen over the next few days we will review our options, in terms of induction.
Havilah and Simcha will have to stay with my parents for a few days because of everyone’s schedules. Michelle and I will be able to spend some quality time together.
I’ll post again when something happens.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Happy birthday and happy birthday, maybe?
Michelle started her labor last night. If this labor is like the previous ones, she may still have a loooong way to go.
I learned a new term: prodromal labor. Sometimes referred to as "false" labor, there is nothing false about the way prodromal labor feels to the mother! It differs from active labor only in the respect that it does not progress continuously and without a break to the birth of the baby.
In all of her pregnancies, Michelle has experienced cramping and other labor symptoms months early, with increasing frequency and duration toward the end of each pregnancy.
Michelle had contractions most of the day yesterday. Last night they were frequent: between 1.5 and 2.5 minutes apart, lasting 30 to 60 seconds, over a period of several hours. Some were intense, requiring all her attention, while most of them were "mild," in the sense that she could get through them fairly easily by pausing and breathing carefully for a few seconds at the high point.
Michelle slept fitfully and woke up tired. I stayed at home today and took care of her and the girls. Havilah and Simcha understand that all this means the baby is coming soon. They got excited when our midwife came to visit.
All the girls' excitement was not good in terms of labor progression. They kept demanding attention from Michelle and from me. Although we don't mind giving them attention, it takes Michelle's focus away, adds tension, and inhibits labor progression. I called my parents, they came and got the girls and will keep them for a couple of days.
I didn't feel at all emotional, until I put them in the car and kissed them goodbye.
Michelle is more rested now, and seems ready, but her labor has slacked off again. I believe Saadia will be born tomorrow morning, but I hope she will be born tonight. That way, she and Michelle will share the same birthday!
I learned a new term: prodromal labor. Sometimes referred to as "false" labor, there is nothing false about the way prodromal labor feels to the mother! It differs from active labor only in the respect that it does not progress continuously and without a break to the birth of the baby.
In all of her pregnancies, Michelle has experienced cramping and other labor symptoms months early, with increasing frequency and duration toward the end of each pregnancy.
Michelle had contractions most of the day yesterday. Last night they were frequent: between 1.5 and 2.5 minutes apart, lasting 30 to 60 seconds, over a period of several hours. Some were intense, requiring all her attention, while most of them were "mild," in the sense that she could get through them fairly easily by pausing and breathing carefully for a few seconds at the high point.
Michelle slept fitfully and woke up tired. I stayed at home today and took care of her and the girls. Havilah and Simcha understand that all this means the baby is coming soon. They got excited when our midwife came to visit.
All the girls' excitement was not good in terms of labor progression. They kept demanding attention from Michelle and from me. Although we don't mind giving them attention, it takes Michelle's focus away, adds tension, and inhibits labor progression. I called my parents, they came and got the girls and will keep them for a couple of days.
I didn't feel at all emotional, until I put them in the car and kissed them goodbye.
Michelle is more rested now, and seems ready, but her labor has slacked off again. I believe Saadia will be born tomorrow morning, but I hope she will be born tonight. That way, she and Michelle will share the same birthday!
Saturday, February 26, 2005
beauty shop
me: Okay, what are we going to play?
Havilah: How about you be the customer.
me: Sounds good. What services do you offer?
Hav: Makeover.
me: Anything else?
Hav: Um ... takeover.
me: I'll have the makeover. How much?
Hav: Sixty dollars.
me: SIXTY DOLLARS????
Hav: I mean one dollar. Have a seat. After we're done you can give me one penny.
me: I seem to have forgotten my wallet.
Hav [hand extended with imaginary money]: That's okay. See, I have change. Oh, wait.
[She goes and gets a small pile of coins, some real, some plastic. She gives me the pile.]
Hav: You can pay me after. Now, what would you like?
me: I'd like to have my hair colored.
Hav: That will be another dollar. Anything else?
me: Yes. I want my nails polished. Do you do that?
Hav: Yes. And. That. Will. Be. Another. Dollar. What color do you want your hair first?
me: Blue.
[Some time passes. I get my hair colored blue, yellow, and white. Havilah gets frustrated because I keep giving Simcha "car rides" on my lap while she's doing it. I suggest that Simcha be the "assistant" so that she doesn't feel left out. It gets quite noisy because Simcha and I are laughing our heads off. When it's time to polish my nails Havilah uses a shiny penny. Then the "assistant" runs off with the money and we have a chase. Finally she gives them back.]
Hav: *whew* Okay, it's time to pay.
me: How much was that?
Hav: Three.
me: [I get three coins, a nickel and two pennies.] Here's seven. Keep the change.
Hav: [puzzled] This is three. [Moving on swiftly because daddy obviously doesn't know the difference between three and seven and it's probably not a good idea to dwell on it] Now after the next then you can give me the rest and I'll give the three back so you can pay some more after and then when you pay I can give you change we can keep on going like that do you want some new clothes?
me: I think it's time for bed.
Havilah: How about you be the customer.
me: Sounds good. What services do you offer?
Hav: Makeover.
me: Anything else?
Hav: Um ... takeover.
me: I'll have the makeover. How much?
Hav: Sixty dollars.
me: SIXTY DOLLARS????
Hav: I mean one dollar. Have a seat. After we're done you can give me one penny.
me: I seem to have forgotten my wallet.
Hav [hand extended with imaginary money]: That's okay. See, I have change. Oh, wait.
[She goes and gets a small pile of coins, some real, some plastic. She gives me the pile.]
Hav: You can pay me after. Now, what would you like?
me: I'd like to have my hair colored.
Hav: That will be another dollar. Anything else?
me: Yes. I want my nails polished. Do you do that?
Hav: Yes. And. That. Will. Be. Another. Dollar. What color do you want your hair first?
me: Blue.
[Some time passes. I get my hair colored blue, yellow, and white. Havilah gets frustrated because I keep giving Simcha "car rides" on my lap while she's doing it. I suggest that Simcha be the "assistant" so that she doesn't feel left out. It gets quite noisy because Simcha and I are laughing our heads off. When it's time to polish my nails Havilah uses a shiny penny. Then the "assistant" runs off with the money and we have a chase. Finally she gives them back.]
Hav: *whew* Okay, it's time to pay.
me: How much was that?
Hav: Three.
me: [I get three coins, a nickel and two pennies.] Here's seven. Keep the change.
Hav: [puzzled] This is three. [Moving on swiftly because daddy obviously doesn't know the difference between three and seven and it's probably not a good idea to dwell on it] Now after the next then you can give me the rest and I'll give the three back so you can pay some more after and then when you pay I can give you change we can keep on going like that do you want some new clothes?
me: I think it's time for bed.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Being a parent is the best thing
Once in a while I think about what my life would be like without my family. I think about all the time I would have ... all the things I could get done ... the impact I could have on the world if I set my mind on something great. You know what? The impact I can have on the world pales in comparison to the impact I can have on the people close to me, especially my kids. Being a parent - and a husband - is the best thing. It is also the most satisfying.
Most of my energy is spent doing things I must do rather than things I want to do. When I get home, it is hard to remember that these people I share a house with are the reason for which I do all those other things. Over the years I have developed the practice of trying to notice, every day, something that is different about each of my two children. I rarely fail to find something, whether it is physical or mental. It could be that they have grown taller, or that they have developed some skill, or used a word they never used before. Lately I have tried to apply this to my other relationships as well, particularly my marriage. It's more difficult when it comes to adults, but it's not impossible, especially if I dig by having conversation with the person.
Being a husband and a parent is a lot of work. Being a parent means missing out on things i want to do for the sake of things I wouldn't have done if I had a choice but which sometimes (ironically) turn out to be the happiest moments of my life. I never know when they are going to say or do something that makes me smile. It could be while I am changing a diaper, or cleaning up after spilled food, or when I am yelling at them. (That last sounds worse than it is.)
Change and the unexpected. These are the things to be feared before they happen, and embraced after. Hey, that's pretty good - you can quote me on that!
Most of my energy is spent doing things I must do rather than things I want to do. When I get home, it is hard to remember that these people I share a house with are the reason for which I do all those other things. Over the years I have developed the practice of trying to notice, every day, something that is different about each of my two children. I rarely fail to find something, whether it is physical or mental. It could be that they have grown taller, or that they have developed some skill, or used a word they never used before. Lately I have tried to apply this to my other relationships as well, particularly my marriage. It's more difficult when it comes to adults, but it's not impossible, especially if I dig by having conversation with the person.
Being a husband and a parent is a lot of work. Being a parent means missing out on things i want to do for the sake of things I wouldn't have done if I had a choice but which sometimes (ironically) turn out to be the happiest moments of my life. I never know when they are going to say or do something that makes me smile. It could be while I am changing a diaper, or cleaning up after spilled food, or when I am yelling at them. (That last sounds worse than it is.)
Change and the unexpected. These are the things to be feared before they happen, and embraced after. Hey, that's pretty good - you can quote me on that!
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Kids - where do they come up with this stuff?
Good morning. I don't have much time - I need to go off to work in just a few minutes. I want to write about something my adorable children said this morning. I have two daughters. Havilah is the older one. She will be five in March. Simcha turned three in October. They are the sunshine of my life. This morning I got up early. Simcha was awake already and Havilah got up right after me. Michelle usually sleeps the latest and she's still asleep now as I write this. I got cereal and orange juice for Simcha and myself, chocolate milk for Havilah. We sat down at the table together to eat.
Simcha has been quite chatty all morning as usual, singing little songs to herself and playing. Havilah has been more quiet than usual. Suddenly Havilah said to me, "Daddy, I think I like the radio." Where do they come up with this stuff? We hardly ever listen to the radio. A minute later after we were done eating, Havilah says "Dance to the rythm! Dance to the rythm!" Right in time, Simcha raises her arms and says through clenched teeth, "Dance to the beat!" Only she's only three so it sounds more like "dance toa beet". Actually I can't remember if that's exactly what they said, but it was something close to that. Maybe they said "sing" instead of "dance".
Now Simcha's saying, "Simon for president! Simon for president!" Amazing how their young minds work. They love to try out new words and make connections between things. I love them more than anything else in the world.
Simcha has been quite chatty all morning as usual, singing little songs to herself and playing. Havilah has been more quiet than usual. Suddenly Havilah said to me, "Daddy, I think I like the radio." Where do they come up with this stuff? We hardly ever listen to the radio. A minute later after we were done eating, Havilah says "Dance to the rythm! Dance to the rythm!" Right in time, Simcha raises her arms and says through clenched teeth, "Dance to the beat!" Only she's only three so it sounds more like "dance toa beet". Actually I can't remember if that's exactly what they said, but it was something close to that. Maybe they said "sing" instead of "dance".
Now Simcha's saying, "Simon for president! Simon for president!" Amazing how their young minds work. They love to try out new words and make connections between things. I love them more than anything else in the world.
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