| Previous Week | Back Home | Next Week |

Journal Key:

Green = Steve | George = navy | Janet = Purple | Evelyn = Black

 

1/14/10 (Thursday)

For an adventure today, I picked Cara up at four and we went over to visit everyone at Susan's! Cara expressed some concern, the other day, over whether I'd be able to find the way there, but the trip was uneventful. I remember, months ago, when Cara talked about going to visit Susan, she said that Susan would say how big she'd gotten. Today, everyone was outside when we pulled up. Cara went running up the walk to Susan, to give her a hug, and Susan said how big Cara had gotten.

The kids all played together and ran around and were silly in general. Eventually Em arrived to get PJ and Casey, and Susan had to go to the dentist. We all went and got into our cars. "Mommy," said Cara, "I want to come back after Susan gets home from the doctor!"

In addition to Cara's exciting trip to Susan's, it also happened to be playdate night tonight! Cara got to take up from the basement some old boxes of baby-related items for playing with her babies. Cara was very disturbed whenever PJ or Casey decided to turn on the baby swing we have taken out of the basement. But she set up a very nice tea party featuring all of her stuffed cat toys in the middle of the living room floor. She was all ready to watch when PJ and I finally settle down to play Samus. Even though most of the time all that PJ does with Samus is push the shoot button, he is getting surprisingly good at moving Samus around on those small occasions when I let him take over entirely.

When I went to the supermarket last weekend I purposely bought some Tastykake cupcakes with little pink hearts sprinkled on top. I think what I really wanted to do was buy junk for myself, but rather than be straightforward about it I bought junk for Cara. She's been very good about it because she only eats one cupcake a night even though they come in packages of two. I get to eat the other one. This was her idea, honestly. However apparently she made a comment to Mommy today that she's been eating too many cupcakes, so tonight we ended our evening with some chocolate milk. The child may have regretted her decision about the cupcakes, but we were firm!

1/18/10 (Monday) Martin Luther King Day.

Owen Reid Genzano is born.
Time: 10:44 PM.
Weight: 4 lb, 1.4 oz.
Place: Room 333, Capital Health System Mercer Campus
Happy Birthday!!

1/19/10 (Tuesday)

On Friday at around 12:30, Evie's water broke. She got coverage for her class and got a co-worker to drive her to the hospital. She was at the hospital all weekend. If Evie were telling the story (and maybe also if I weren't so tired right now), I'm sure this bit would have more detail. Suffice it to say that on Monday morning regular contractions began and lasted for a good twelve hours (!) until my poor wife was finally given an epidural. It wasn't long after that that the doctor realized the baby was going to be born (after having confidently predicted that he wouldn't be born until the following day), and the hospital staff had to scramble to get the last few things set up in the room. After having hung around with very little change for three days, the last few minutes were reminiscent of Evie's first labor, and Owen came into the world in one push.

The poor little guy is seven weeks premature, but I have no doubt he came out because he needed to, and it was the right time. He is in the NICU right now breathing under his own power. He was a kicker when he was still inside (At one point during Evie's hospital stay, the baby's heart monitor was making some very strange hiccuping, stuttering noises, and it measured his pulse as seven rather than the usual 140. The nurse came in and we eventually concluded that this was caused by Owen's repeatedly punching the thing), and now that he is out he is busy kicking his feet out from under any blankets that get put on top of them. He's had a pacifier in his mouth and is learning to suck on it.

A couple little things. I've been listening to a recorded book in the car and one of the scenes I listened to lately featured many people calling the word "mother!" in different languages. On the road on the way to the hospital, a construction sign was warning of road closures on different days of the week. Instead of the normal abbreviation for "Monday," the sign mistakenly read "MOM". When Evie was moved into a new hospital room, the one in which she was to finally give birth, I opened up the Jumbles book I'd been working in off and on for hours, and took another look at a particular scrambled word that had been giving me trouble. I realized at last that the word I'd been looking at was "MATERNITY."

We spent the last hours of Evie's labor watching a seemingly interminable string of documentaries about McDonald's fast food restaurants. Naturally, after Owen was born and Evie was finally safe to eat solid food again after so many hours, I had to go out and get McDonald's. Fortunately the drive-thru is open late.

A lot else has happened over the past few days--maybe we'll be able to add to this in the near future. Very fortunately for Evie and I, on the day that it all started Cara was scheduled to be picked up by her Grandmama for a date night sleepover. Here are some details from Grandmama about Cara's stay:

On Friday evening we joyfully took Grandpapa out for supper at Panera, where Cara cleaned up a bowl of broccoli-cheddar soup (her favorite!). Her leisurely enjoyment of this delicacy allowed time for me to pick up a package of Oreo's at the Stop&Shop and some nice new slippers at Famous Footwear before she was done. Happiness all around. At home the little girl consumed 3 Oreo's for dessert and enjoyed a proper bath-time tea party with our new Beauty and the Beast plastic tea set and various pellets to color the water in the tea pot.

Saturday morning I had to run some errands, leaving Grandpapa and the little girl on their own. I returned to find that my freshly bathed grandchild had also enjoyed a joyful shower; Grandpapa had both washed and conditioned her hair, and even fashioned a pony tail!!! The three of us paid a visit to the Monmouth Museum, where we renewed our membership and Cara totally rocked the kids exhibit. We also visited the outer space side, where she made several speedy trips down the big slide and we threw foam moon "rocks" at each other gleefully. We also spotted an exhibit of customized chairs that are being auctioned as a fundraiser; Cara bypassed the pink "glamor" chair and made a bee-line for a doll's highchair, which she deeply desired. I know what to get as a gift for her when Owen comes home. At some point we all became quite hungry and repaired to - where else? - Panera again, where the child consumed more broccoli cheddar soup and I once again accomplished some errands.

We broached the topic of visiting Mommy in the hospital, and each time it was raised the child became quiet and thoughtful; she wasn't ready to face this unknown experience. Finally Grandpapa went alone for a visit while the little girl and I made bead necklaces for three princesses and a cat, and got out all the buildings we could find from Grandpapa's boyhood farm. By Sunday morning Grandpapa managed to bring down the piece-de-resistance, the barn, from its storage place above the garage, and by noon Cara had lined up farm fences all across the living room, while a massive herd of plastic horses stampeded across her bedroom floor. Who knew we had so many? To say nothing of pigs, cows, sheep, and poultry - and tiny cats - it was an impressive array of livestock, and I think the dollhouse family must be quite prosperous.

After Sunday lunch we packed up absolutely everything and went to visit Mommy at last. As we pulled into the parking lot we reminded Cara that the last time we had been there was when she was born. The hospital itself may have been strange to a child's eyes, but the sound of her mommy's voice was instantly rewarding. Soon the little girl was snuggled up next to Mommy on the hospital bed, doing an activity book all about being a big sister; Evelyn is a wonderful teacher. We lingered for an hour or two - I have no idea how much time we spent just chatting and listening to the reassuring sound of Owen's heartbeat - and then we brought the child home to her own house and her own Daddy, whom she was very happy to see. On the way up she totally conked out in the back seat of the car; I suspect she had been fearful of the hospital visit and was experiencing great relief - it is better to see things than to wonder about them.

Aunt Claire was there too, and we all spent some time on the mural. Cara contributed a drawing of a frog with wonderful round toes, and helped Claire add fish to the lake. Eventually we all went to dinner together at On the Border, and then these tired, happy grandparents went home, leaving the little girl secure in the arms of her Daddy.

On Monday morning, after a fairly normal evening with me, Cara went to preschool as usual, but got picked up by her other set of grandparents. She was sleeping over their house while Owen was being born. Today all the grandparents and Cara came to visit at the hospital. Unfortunately the only family allowed to see Owen are Evie and myself, due to its being flu season. Tonight, after the rest of us had all gone home, Evie had the opportunity to hold Owen for the first time. He will probably be at the hospital for quite a few more days, until they're sure he's strong enough to breathe and feed on his own. Evie will probably come home tomorrow.

Needless to say this was all pretty unexpected and there are a lot of things we need to do to get ready! This isn't much like last time. If the delivery was any indication, the second child promises to offer a lot of interesting contrasts to the first.

Tonight Cara and I are here at the house and tomorrow she goes to preschool and I return to the hospital. The child got a T-shirt that says "big sister" on it, and some stylish hospital bands that she can wear, in addition to a book about Clifford the big red dog going to the hospital. We had signed her up for a sibling preparation course--on January 23. We may have to make do with her T-shirt and hospital bands and Clifford book.

I really wish Cara could get to see her little brother but it won't be until he comes home. In the meantime she has already chosen a toy for him--a small blue and white stuffed puppy that makes barking noises--and tomorrow I hope to bring in the picture she drew for him weeks ago, featuring a puma or tiger saying "grrrr". I'm sure he'll love it.

| Previous Week | Back Home | Next Week |