Third Grade Nostradamus

In preparing the baby’s room, I unearthed these treasures.  They were done by a third grader during the first year of my first real job.  She was clearly excited about her teacher’s wedding that year, but also made a stunning prophecy.  However, she wasn’t quite accurate on the name.

I love my job.

Travelocity

So my first day back teaching was a good one.  These days usually are.  Sometimes I wish the students would always feel this much fear and uncertainty.  Unfortunately, I am just too jovial to sustain any guise of intimidation for long.  

But speaking of intimidation, or perhaps just downright jealousy, here are some student responses to the question “What was memorable about your summer?”:  

“My cruise in the Mediterranean Sea.”

“I went to Austria to visit my family.”

“Africa, seeing all the history.”

Let me remind you that these are 6th graders!  So…maybe I don’t want to share my summer vacation stories about going to see Hearst Castle, or my childhood stories of going to tennis camp.  I think I’m more in line with the student who responded with:

“When a baseball hit my face.”

Yeah, that’s how I felt when I realized these kids who are a third of my age have probably surpassed my worldwide experience.  Maybe I’ll avoid asking about travel plans for Thanksgiving this year.  Last year one of my students saw my Southern California and raised me her Canary Islands.

And here’s the real kicker.  One day last year, I made the off-handed and totally facetious comment that it would be great if we could go to Hawaii and study volcanoes.  Then after school today, a parent told me that two parents had heard about this and wanted to start fundraising.  Did I mention these are sixth graders?  I guess when you go to Austria and Africa, Hawaii is just like a trip to Target.

Last Song

So yesterday, on the way to Santa Rosa, I had the thought that our baby girl could come at any moment.  Rather surprisingly, some lyrics popped into my head.  Unfortunately, since I was driving I was in a bit of a pickle for hanging on to these lyrics.  Even a roadside pull over was not an option, since I was without a writing utensil.  One idea was to leave myself a voicemail, since I didn’t want to lose the tune or the lyrics, but didn’t want to get a ticket while driving.  Oh, and I was also in a bit of a crunch for time, needing to meet Sara for her doctor’s appointment.  

As we waited for a baby report, I borrowed a pen from a nurse and started scribbling the lyrics on a napkin.  This made me feel very West Wing, except for the fact that I wasn’t laying out a Presidential career for my wife or baby.

Late last night, as my two lovely ladies slept (well, three counting the cat), I finished the song.  My apologies to anyone sickened by my shameless display of sentimentality the last few months.  I think 95% of my posts have been about Baby K.  Get used to it, though.

This is the last song before your birth

These are the last lines before the first

Song you’ll sing in tiny cries

First chance we’ll have to dry your eyes*

 

This is the last time we’ll feel you kick

This is the last chorus left to pick

Your final dance, your last refrain

Before the day you’ll know your name

 

This is the last chance to never cry

And hear your last cushioned lullaby

After this the world is real

Our love to hear and taste and feel

 

This is the first time we’ll love like this

You’ll be our first step and goodnight kiss

In lasting prints a place to start

Unfinished love beginning art

 

This is the last song…

Before the first song…

These songs of memories go past

For all your firsts that come at last

 

*Apparently, babies don’t make tears during the first few months of life–so I’ll have to claim lyrical license here.  However, babies are slobber factories, so maybe some moisture could get up there.

 

All-4-One

I swear that Sara, Baby K, and I have become the Three Musketeers of the Hospital.  A thirty minute checkup stretched into four-and-a-half hours of swashbuckling fun.  Sara clearly drew the short sword, as she was pilled, shot, examined, and monitored.  Nevertheless she held it together valiantly.  Meanwhile, Baby K did her part by hanging on in spite of contractions.  However, when it comes to eating hospital food that the wife doesn’t want then I’m your man.  Last time I actually smuggled out an enchilada and this time I scarfed down the turkey sandwich.  It’s strange, but I can love “free” hospital food like that.  

One encouraging sign was the fact that Sara’s fetal fibronectin test came back negative.  If this test were to come back positive, it would be a possible indicator of Baby K droppin’ like it’s hot in the next two weeks.  Uncle Pakk-Man, who knows a thing or two about babies, was encouraged by these results.

Although Sara is not on bed rest, she is pretty close.  No lifting, no solo grocery shopping, no extensive cooking, no walks around the ‘hood, and definitely no more ultimate fighting.  This will be a challenge for all of us, but The Musketeers will unite.  Currently, I’m finding great joy in taking care of my two gals who I am so much in love with.  

Please keep the prayers coming and we’ll keep you posted.

Sympathy Weight

Tonight we had haystacks.  I out-ate the mother-in-law and the pregnant lady.  It was 3.0 to 2.25, but who’s keeping track?  Let the belly begin.

Guess Who’s Back?

Sara and Baby K are back at home now.  Amniotic fluid levels are back to normal and all the inside parts are looking shipshape.  Since everything looked so good, the doctor thought the bleeding might have been due to some dehydration or overexertion (though it’s not as if Sara was cross-training or operating heavy machinery). 

On a thrilling note, Baby K scored a 10 out of 10 on her fetal bioprofile.  Baby’s first quiz score!  This makes her teacher parents very proud.

Thanks again for the prayers, wishes, and messages.

Night at the hospital

I’m typing from a hospital room next to my wife, who is hooked up to an IV, and our baby (still well within the womb), whose heart rate is being tracked by a fetal monitor.  

First off, everything seems to be okay.  Without going into graphic inner details, all Sara and baby parts seem to be properly located, sized, shaped, etc.  However, we are staying overnight to replenish some marginally low amniotic fluid levels.  

The last 30 hours have been a scary saga.  Yesterday afternoon, Sara experienced some bleeding.  After a call to her doctor’s, she was scheduled for a Tuesday afternoon appointment.  Despite assurances from a nurse that the situation wasn’t a reason to panic, it was a rather angst-filled night.  I spent the time rather unwisely by scouring the Internet for possible causes–which range from a severed placenta to premature labor.

This morning Sara experienced some more bleeding, and went to see her doctor right away.  Although there were no definitive abnormalities, she was sent to the hospital to get an ultrasound.  We got to see more pictures of our little peanut, who looks as healthy (and fetus-y cute) as ever.

Sara has been very brave and composed throughout the ordeal.  We are also very grateful that Sara’s mom, Debbie, has been here this week to help and comfort both of us.  Auntie Awning has also been rock solid, and we’re receiving plenty good prayers from family and friends.  We would truly appreciate many more.

I guess this is what it means to be a dad and husband.  It’s intensely terrifying, but also brings clarity to life and appreciation of wife.  This experience will just make Baby K’s arrival all the more sweet.