Sydney's Corner

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Sunday, April 27 - Prelude To a Kiss: It started off with a nice walk down to Skyline Chilli for a gut-buster / baby-inducer 3-way and cheese coney. Figuring that the last school final was already taken and the zygote was now allowed to enter this world - the trek to the gastral-churning establishment could now be made. Perhaps a mention could be made about what a gorgeous spring day it was with tulips blooming and birds a' chirping, but this was far more of a dramatic way to start an adventure!

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Monday, April 28 - Big Bang Theory: Early morning (3:50am early!) there was a big bang (0f the water sorts). Miles of smiles (under our baggy eyes) made way to a slow collection of our senses, clothes, and trace a conscious path to what to do next. "Uhmm - do we call somebody?" But first, Sjen needed to stop by her office to tidy up and scan/email her stats final to her professor...now THAT's dedication ;)


Sunny side up!

Sydney decided she didn't want to be upside down but the wrong side up - already displaying her individuality! Needless to say, she made for a 2 hour grueling pushing adventure that was assisted with techno from the running-mix on the mp3 player. The doc was surprised and very pleased of Sjen's ability to deliver this way - "very few women could deliver their first naturally in this predicament" YOU GO SJEN! Looks like the Marathon training kicked in...

So, 2 hours of pushing made for a bumpy world-entry for poor little Sydney. She not only had a cone head but got mugged along the way by the pelvic bone and had a head abrasion! Not great for photo opps unless you're in an 80's Saturday Night Live skit.

Kudos to our birthing team! We were aided by an amazing doula (professional birth coach), Eileen Ryan, who met us at our house, helped with pain relief until the pain demanded an epidural (6cm), assisted with positioning to help labor progress, kept the scalpel away when the nurse thought we might end up needing a C-section, photographed the early moments after birth, and aided with nursing. Dr. Clark of For Women was wonderful: she was with us for 75% of the 2-hr pushing phase and kept faith that Sjen could deliver the good old-fashioned way. The nurses at Good Sam were excellent. Sjen's dad and stepmom were there for the last couple hours of labor and Jackie even cut the cord! Zoli was an awesome coach, offering tons of love, encouragement, and support.

Tuesday, April 29 - Sleepless in Cincinnati: A sleepless night not because the zygote kept us awake - but because we were awake listening to the sweet murmurs of our new baby. Music to our hearts. Friends and family kept on coming and re-visiting to see and take in the new sights and sounds of all things Sydney. No "official" name yet at this point. Short list Sydney was always on top but up for options if one arose. Sjen's stepmom Jackie suggested, "I think you should name her Grace, because she's amazing." We couldn't argue with that, so that became her middle name! And we knew the time was approaching when the hospital name-nazi would require us to scribble down a name on the official baby-form.

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Wednesday, April 30 - Welcome to the Hotel California: We were hoping to go home this day but a very nice Italian doctor gave us news that Sydney's Bili-count was in the 15s - in other words, she had jaundice. Jaundice was relatively common in newborns and even more common when there was a wound to contend with.

So here she was, in a tanning bed they reeled into our room so we could be with her while she got some "sun" which reduces the Bili count. We were jealous - of course - but not suprised how her first few hours are started off with a vanity-infused salon treatment! We're in trouble! She was a trooper. Not a peep so long as we held her hand and made it known we're in the room with her. Even one of the nurses commented the next day that her not needing a pacifier is unprecidented. Of course you can't have a pacifier - that would leave a weird "tan" circle around the lips - amateurs!

Oh, one more thing about today - it's officially Sjen's discharge day! WHAT? But, what about poor Sydney? Sorry - she has to stay but in case there's no requirement for the room, you could stay. 9pm rolls around and sure enough - "Sorry, you'll have to vacate as there's a Birth'a'Palooza in Cincinnati and we need the room" They relocated us in the middle of the hospital floor in a Breast Feeding Room (5x8 closet with a combination lock door). So, with the room's 2 chairs (one fold-out), a small table, the tanning-bed, the rolling bassinet, and all our garbage, left for literally a 1 foot x 8 foot floor space for walking. We were in the hospital manger.
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Thursday, May 1 - There's No Place Like Home!: Good news - Bili count down to 10 - safe to go home! First things first - meet the rest of the family - the kittens! They didn't mind the mess in the office-to-nursery conversion; they just figured we have a weird taste in furniture and want to be in touch with our inner child. But once we brought Sydney home - they made the connection. "HEY! WHO IS THIS NEW PERSON AND WHY IS SHE AS BIG AS WE ARE? - meow"

Sirius - the passive aggressive high maintenance divo (male version of diva) who we thought would bless our furniture with his urine to receive lost attention came up to Sydney and instantly fell in love. Little Nola, who is a dog trapped in a cat's body and has a weird but cute naked-foot-fetish, was very apprehensive. Her demeanor was "I see it and I don't like it - not one bit! show me the feets and maybe I'll change my mind..."

SO, here we are - slowly adjusting to our feeding-schedule-mandated sleep-disorder of a life. Adventures await! I will post a link with a plethora of pictures soon (once they've been selected, sorted, compiled, & photo-"re-touched")