Colic

Elaine has colic. Everyone, but mainly Shawn has been dealing with it for over a week now. Usually it hits the hardest at night, typically after midnight. It is getting to the point where Shawn and I are taking shifts to help comfort the little baby girl. Watching what she is going through just rips you apart as a parent. She will be in your arms, she doesn't like to be put down, and all of the sudden her little legs will kick up into her chest then the wailing begins for about four minutes, inconsolable balling and writhing. It is terrible to watch and to try to help. Nothing seems to do anything to eliminate the symptoms. I can not understand why the medical monkeys have made absolutely no progress on treating colic. They have cured penile dysfunction for the limp, yet nothing for infants with colic. They don't know what causes it, they DON'T EVEN KNOW if it is mental or physical for the love of Pete. Pediatrics are pretty impotent when it comes to babies in extreme pain the first 6 weeks of their lives. I will stop here before I really get on a rant. But if your child has had colic I feel for you brothers and sisters, it is a god damned nightmare.

Last week at work I felt like I had just gotten back from 3 nights in Vegas without the fun nor the debt just burnt out. We had had constant night ops for a week prior to my returning to work on Wednesday. For instance, my first day back after 2 weeks out started around 4 am just as some heavy colic cycles were ending. I decided to go in around 4:30 so that I could get back early that afternoon and relieve Shawn of at least one of the two little ones. My lasting memory of that morning will be the smell as I was leaving the house to go to the Urban Assault Rig. I think the air was as clean as it can get in this city, as they say "spring was in the air" and it smelled awesome, it reminded me of growing up in the country. Give that smell one hour of commuter traffic and it is history.

The following day I arrived at work at 11am, but I had got up at 5am to take over with Elaine and let Shawn go to sleep. She had been up since 11:30 pm. I took Elaine outside in her Moses basket, my left hand held the reins and walked the yard. Elaine finally settled around 5:50am and I did some gardening chores until Ben rose at his usual 7:15am. To offload Shawn and let the two girls rest, noise free, I fed Ben then we went to the Ballard Locks.

It was one of those mornings that you read about. Crystal clear, sunny, perfect. If you haven't been to the locks I suggest you go soon. The entrance is very park -like, I suppose it is a park and very well kept. Super lush this time of year, the American Chestnut trees were in massive bloom, these had red clusters of flowers rather than the standard street faire of white. We walked around for about an hour or 90 minutes. Ben seemed to be having a good time. He found some bird shit that had just fallen from the sky and promptly began to finger paint with its warm lumpy translucence. Being a good half-assed father I knew it was prudent to find a head and wash up. This came to mind after I had wiped his hands off with a dollar bill. Washingtons are not very effective and it occurred to me US currency is probably more foul than the bird poop. So I made it to work at 11am that day. It was a pretty great morning given the circumstances.

When was the last time you were tired from lack of sleep? Was it from a night or two of travel or partying? Something that didn't last long and you could catch up fairly quickly by staying in watching some sitcoms and going to bed early. Did it go on and on every night for several weeks? A chain of 3 hour nights for 10 days? Was it completely frustrating, crushing, and exhausting? Like it was in Vietnam? Did you go to bed every night and not know if you would be up in 5 hours or 4 minutes? Was it 4:45am and there was no sleep in your future for 18 hours with the working day about to start - most of all did you have an infant in your arms that sounds like she has been helplessly dying all night? That is the meat hook in the heels. You are not up for just a 1 hour feeding and it is back to the sack. You are up because a 10 pound angel just woke up everyone and thing in the house and the neighbor's houses. There is no poor poor me running through your head if you are strong and responding by rolling out and going to the poor poor baby. If adults had colic god help you, we wouldn't make it a day without levels of narcotics that would make you babble and drool.

So yeah weeks straight like this is tiring but not as bad as having colic. Last night I went to bed around 12:30 and didn't get up until 6 and then I had a 3 hour nap while Ben was down later in the day. Today was like heaven, and it was gray and wet the perfect combo for day sleeping. There is an end in site to the suffering. It is easy to lose that perspective when your in the thick of it.

Trying to impress the management to get a summer postion on the patiobussing like his Dad

Trying to impress the management to get a summer postion on the patio bussing like his Dad
Originally uploaded by Spappy_joneS.

Ben and I met Nate-dog (The Godfathah) down the street at Ivar's Salmon house. The patio was open and it got really sunny just as we were leaving. But as we were leaving the house, Ben was sweeping up Our patio with his favorite green broom. Shawn was right there and I asked her to "Watch this" I grabbed the broom from Ben with one hand with the other I caught him just as he was intentionally buckling his legs due to the redline meltdown that went from 0 degrees to critical mass in less than a second. So I scooped him up as he was on his way down to the concrete to have a good wail.

He cried and moaned all the way to Ivars (only 3 minutes by car) but was in good spirits by the time we were deploying from our Urban assault vehicle (honda element).

Things went OK at lunch with Nate. The highpoint for me was when Nate handed Ben, who was in my lap, his ice water lid barely affixed and Ben then proceeded to drink it like a sippy cup but it wasn't a sippy cup, well you can guess what happened next. Lots of ice cold water right were men and boys least like cold water. Ben's beans and wienies were shielded of course by his diaper. As long as Nate was happy that is all we could ever want.

As we were finishing up, I put Ben down to walk around and check things out. It wasn't a minute until he was bee lining to a broom across the entire patio in a dark corner behind some garbage cans. When it was time to leave I turned to Nate and said "Watch this" and you know now what happens next.

Here is the latest from our motion picture studio:
Elaine going home (10.4 MB)

Ben with the River Otters

Ben with the River Otters
Originally uploaded by Spappy_joneS.

Ben and I had a busy day. So fun and busy he chose to skip his nap. We first went to Ikea to take care of some business then is was home for lunch - a nap attempt then on to the Woodland Park Zoo.

Shawn and Elaine stayed home and caught up on some rest and i am sure there was some milk involved with their time together. Shawn is starting to see a pattern developing with the feed sleep cycles that is making things easier. There are still the occasional long fussy sessions in the middle of the night but those are getting less and less. Elaine is an eating machine, she loves milk and formula when there is no milk available. She doesn't burp much and really doesn't puke any at all so she is just a little growing young lady.

Back to the zoo visit. Ben first yelled and screamed at the peacock, then the goats that were in the pen with the peacock. Then he thought the Cobra was hilarious as well as a couple of crocks. After a while he decided that pushing around the stroller into fences, bushes and people was much more amusing than looking at captive wildlife, I can concur. The crows that were around the trails would get him to stop and point, he doesn't know the crow word yet so he was naming them ah-maah. He learned the sign for mouse yesterday but we didn't see any around the zoo. The zoo probably holds off on dropping mice in the snake cages until the children leave, this is Seattle you know. When I was young I remember a Boston zoo trip where they fed a tank of piranhas the hind legs of a dairy cow.

Tomorrow is my last day before my return to work. Kind of sad, I have been really having a good time with Ben, we are best buds now by spending every day together for 10 days or at least 7 or so since the GPs left. Kids are a lot of work but what you get in return is so much more.

This was the stat board in the hospital

Elaine's b-day 099
Originally uploaded by Spappy_joneS.

Shawn may be able to provide more accuracy on the numbers but Lainey was only 2oz from her birth weight as of yesterday. That is always good news to hear with a new born. The ubber petite baby doll strapped on 6oz in 3 days. She was 9 pounds on Monday and @ yesterday noon 9.6. That explains the cluster feedings at all hours of the night. Neither of us are used to that sort of voraciousness. The phrase "How can she want more?" is often heard at all hours of the day in our 24 hour breeder facility located here on the North Shore of Lake Union. Yesterday was her first appointment with the Ped. She said Elaine is tiger and to come back in 2 months. So it was a full green light with no concerns. Just have to keep this reactor fed. Thing of the cell division going on over the past 9 months in her little body.

Going to do some early morning gardening. Picked up some plants yesterday for the parking strip and want them in prior to Big Ben's next sounding. He helped me yesterday plant a bunch of herb plants, needed a bath right after the effort but he got it done.

Last eve I grilled up some Yellow-eye Rockfish from AK that I bought up in Ballard on 20th and 80. Very fresh. It was marinaded in Olive oil and lemon, then grilled for about 9-10 minutes. Afterwhich we drizzeled some basil\garlic BUTTER (yeah!) over it. Quite tasty. The copper river was in and looking very hot and sexy but at 29 a pound a little rich for my blood. There was some troll caught king from N.CA for 20 that nearly got me. Instead I went for 2 lbs of Braughts and some Smoked Black Cod. More bang for the buck. Hey braughts for lunch? Could be shaping into a double grill day.

One Day Heat Wave

My best bud Big Ben
Originally uploaded by Spappy_joneS.

Great times today. Last night only went until about 3 am. Lainey slept very well from about 10 - 1 something then wanted some milk. We just missed the Barb and Tom leaving. They got up about 3:30am to make it back to Helena MT to TCB (Take care of business) - they made it with time to spare. I think we were all up by about 6 except Ben, he slept in until 7:15 . Sleep is wasted on the youth.

Today was the first day we flew solo with out external experts in since our big day on the 9th when Lainey got out. Barb and Tom were awesome to have here as always but particularly the past week.

We had a mini heat wave for May today. The thermo hit 87 in the shade out in our yard. After Big Ben's morning nap he and I headed on up to Woodland Park Zoo to the rose garden, that isn't even close to blooming but it has cool fountains and good gravel and grass for Ben to walk his stroller. We were going to go into the zoo but though it could wait until tomorrow afternoon when it is a bit cooler. The infernal heat has already broke. The temp dropped tonight 30 degrees in about 3 hours, quite dynamic for the PacNW. We usually do about 20 degrees over a 24 hour period. Must be some kind of record for a free fall on May 15 - the ides of May.

Don't give your kids milkshakes that are laced with espresso. After the zoo's garden Ben and I went to Tully's to slake our thirst and get a nap in a cup. A vente espresso shake, I was going to get a yerba mate shake but remembered my last expresso shake and thought a ditto was in order. So there I was sitting on a kiddie table in my Tom Sellic aloha shirt and ray ban aviators with 500 calories with 3 shots in my hand. Not thinking about the 3 shots I shared the shake with my best bud Ben. He loves items in my strict diet.

Now if I was smart I would have realized that giving a 20 month year old some of my nap in a cup was not recommended by Dr. Spock or Dr Ruth. Well I paid for it tonight. Ben is my responsibility for the most part minus feeding him, so when I put him down tonight after he laid his head on a broom in the living room I thought he was ready to sleep. Well how wrong could I be. It took 90 minutes and countless trips into his room to settle him down. The heat didn't help matters it was 77 degrees in his room nor did the Alaskan yard party up the street nor did Joe the dumb ass ice cream truck that blares a 30 second loop of bad carnival music at a "the Who" concert level all that on top of the biggest hit of caffeine he has ever had.

I think it is time for me to hit the hay, I think that I am finally getting tired. My nap was cut short by the sun creeping in to our curtain less bedroom this afternoon after the shake. When I woke up I felt like I passed out in a parking lot in Memphis in July. I can hear Shawn upstairs with Elaine so that is really it for the day......

Dreaming about Milk River (five days old)

Dreaming about Milk River (five days old)
Originally uploaded by Spappy_joneS.

Nocturnal babies can't help being awake at night. If you think about it they are rocked all day long as the mother takes care of business. In Shawn's case it was working right up to the week Laine and Ben were born. All day they are getting jostled around in their nice 98 degree hot tub and lulled into their sleep cycles. Then night falls the breeder goes to sleep all the night ebb and flow stops and wah lah they are awake, kicking and punching and wanting some stimulus. It takes a little while for them to get on the cycles us non-fish are accustom to .

My suggestion to expecting mothers if they would like to avoid the dreaded 3rd shift (night shift) is to quit work early like in the 16th week and start cleaning your house, driving around, doing the shopping, cooking for your fat ass husband all night long and then sleep all day. Then when the blessed event comes you are the one having to switch and not the newly arrived land mammal. This would really make it a lot easier on the husbands and we like our night time sleep cycle. I suppose another option is for the husband start working 3rd shift at a bakery or the dump perhaps the port of seattle and then come home and sleep while the little one is sleeping - in the daylight. Although that will only be a temporary fix because soon the little water creature will switch to the life of the upright in a mere month or two.

Lainey had her first Dr appointment on the outside today. When she left the hospital on Friday she weighted 8 lb 13 oz, today she is back to 9.05 lb. That is very good and explains our hungry little girl. That is like me going to Vienna for a week with Fosie and gaining 10 lb on drinking beer all night and sleeping all day but that is another story.

Big brother Ben has been really heart wrenching when Laine is crying . He will get tears welling up in his eyes and look like he is really sad walk over to where Laine is being held and lean his head on the chair. I kills me it is so sweet. Things should be quieting down around here in about a 1/2 hour so I should get ready for bed.

First Night Home and Flowers

DSC_0131
Originally uploaded by Spappy_joneS.

We just want to thank everyone for their kind notes, thoughts and for all the flowers send to the hospital. They can really add some sunshine and color to those sterile environments. The nurses were very impressed by them and were trying to loot them. We brought them all home. Today I re-cut and changed the water to prolong their blooms.

Last night was a night that defines parents. It was a night that determines what kind of mettle you have under constant superior firepower.

The night really started rolling around 11 I think. Shawn was trying to put little Lainey in the Moses basket (See picture below). She slept or at least stayed quiet and still for 15 - 20 minutes before the hysterical crying began. The only thing that would put her back to rest was the mummahs boob. We tried everything for hours on end. Hard swattles, gripe water, some sort of herbal anti-acid, shaking, more trips to Mom's Country Dairy than we care to mention, burping, changing, bouncing, she did like be held but after a few would burst again. We are not rookies, we were getting concerned, since she was making BMs blockage was ruled out, no fever and not puking. We figured she must be hungry, is only 3 days old and we need to suck it up. I went out to the garage around 2:30am to fire up the baby swing that runs on 4 Ds the neighbors gave us. Nothing worked! Called Ballard Swedish's Baby Center - they are up all night anyway. They said give her formula, fill-er up and get some sleep, little Laine is just hungry because the milk is not running hard enough. But the important think is that it was flowing.

The details are pretty fuzzy right now but I think Shawn fed her Uhgain then I took her out to the living room to give Shawn a rest. I got a nice big burp out of the little dumplin, rocked her a bit and then carefully laid down on the couch and we both went to sleep for about 2 hours when she was hungry again. It was a miracle, 2 hours of sleep is delicious. At that point it was light out, I wanted Shawn to keep sleeping so I leaned over and grabbed the formula at the foot of the couch put it to her mouth and she went after it. Once she drank it up I burped her and within seconds we were both sleeping like babies. That is they way it is supposed to work when you are a veteran of many night-ops.

Today was a breeze, Barb and Tom got up when Ben started up, I think at that point I went to bed and slept heavy to 10 am. Not that bad over all, I haven't slept to 10 for many months. Lainey was an angel today, she would eat then sleep just like a 3 day year old. I am optimistic about tonight, night 4, Laine is 25% older than yesterday. There are not many people can say that more than once in their lives.

Lainey is home

Lainey in our bedroom in the Moses baskey
Originally uploaded by Spappy_joneS.

We were able to leave Ballard Swedish this morning around 10 or 11 am or so, we have completely lost track of time or rather don't care what time it is. We were really happy to hear that we could leave after only 2 nights. The breeder center was filled to capacity and they were motivated to get us moving on our way. Last night they even made us back up out stuff and move to a smaller room with a shared bath and shower. It was like a euro socialized birthing hostel or some crap. The good thing was the bed that Shawn was in was longer and her feet were not hanging off the end of it.

I was on this pull out couch thing that was waif size. My legs were hanging off the end of it when I was laying across it. I felt like an NBA player except I know I am only avg height. Shawn suggested that I pull the rocking chair over to the end of it and let my feet and legs rest on that. It was a great idea then i fell to sleep with the sounds of TVs from other rooms and toilets flushing near my head. All in all it was a great experience and will not deter me from wanting a 3rd little one.

Shawn and baby Laine are now resting quietly in our bedroom probably for the next hour at best. Now comes the dark itchy curtain of weeks of sleep deprivation and not being able to find things or remember why you are standing in Safeways.

Baby girl Swift's Name has been released

Baby girl swift
Originally uploaded by Spappy_joneS.

It is located in the movie below. I forgot what is was but I know I had it in the movie of the day of our life yesterday.

Things went quite well last night. Syssie probably slept a combine total of 5 hours I would say, we got about 4 ish. We are both a little burnt today but seeing this cute little bundle of joy washes it all away.

It was a noisy night in the hospital. It went from nearly full vacancy to needing overflow rooms on another floor with in about 6 hours, about 30 babies were born in Ballard Swedish last night. Lots of hustle and bustle, doors slamming, equipment being moved around and screaming. We slapped in a Seinfeld dvd and let it run all night to drown out the din around us.

Shawn was up and around already. i think she first was on her feet around 7 or 8 and has been walking around ever since but i might add has only changed one diaper to my 12.

We had some visitors today and have more coming in tonight. Always a great unique time to hang with friends in the hospital really the only best time to see people while living in a health facility. I am beat and can't think of anything else to say right now so here is the movie....

Little Sissies big day in Ballard (.wmv 12 MB)

rocking Jello boy

rocking Jello boy
Originally uploaded by Spappy_joneS.

Here is a quick vid of Basement Ben playing with a broom and digger. It was on the camera prior to his sisters arrival and I have to get it up here because i like it and the basement is finished. I will never talk about the basement project again, the next one, the next big one is painting the exterior of the house. That will be starting in earnest in July when I go on paternity leave for the month. Because with 2 kids you can get so much done.

Basement Ben (.wmv 6.25 MB)