05 July 2010
Today is a holiday, at least as far as my job is concerned. They’re giving us the day off, which is cool, but I still went to work anyway, just for a few hours. It’s nice to get time-and-a-half on top of holiday pay. Makes me feel like I’m getting paid what I’m worth.
A few years ago, Independence Day fell on a Wednesday. I got that day off work, but that was it. It was a funny week: we all worked for two days, then got one day off, then worked for two more days. The Fourth of July will land on a Wednesday again in 2012, I wonder if they’ll give us just that Wednesday off again. Anyway, the world will be ending just a few months after that, so I probably won’t care one way or another.
Also today – during my drive to work, a DJ announced that Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer will be starting for the All-Star game “for the first time since 1968.” I’m not usually one to dwell on sports here, but I gotta say, that’s amazing! I had no idea Joe and Justin had even been playing in the major leagues for that long. Good for those old guys!
06 July 2010
A couple of months ago, my father-in-law asked how many miles my car had, and, accidentally overestimating, I said: “I think it has about 150,000 miles.” He nodded and said: “Oh, well you probably have a good 50,000 miles left on that car. Those Cavaliers last forever.”
I don’t think 50,000 miles quite counts as forever, but I see what he means. Anyway, finally, today, my Chevy Cavalier logged its 150,000th mile. I wrote the date down in a notebook I keep in the car, and I’ll see how long it takes the car to graduate to each 1,000 mile marker. Then I’ll average out the time and extrapolate how much longer I can expect the car to run. Already, the Cavalier represents the longest I’ve ever owned a vehicle, so I feel like I’m on borrowed time already.
On a completely unrelated topic, today we had our sixth and final installment of the birthing class. My favorite suggestion in class today was when they said to stay in your pajamas when company comes over to see the baby, that way, they don’t stay too long and, like a sick person, they’ll feel the need to help you. Ha! Take that, friendly visitors!
Later, we practiced a pain coping technique featuring vocalization. I’ll skip the boring parts and go straight to this: they had us swearing while exhaling. Not yelling, as if you just hit your head with a hammer, but saying it slowly, as part of the breathing: “ffffuuuuuuck ooofffffff.” Very cathartic.
Also, my biggest contribution to the class today was informing the moms-to-be that, if they feel embarrassed or uncomfortable about nursing in public, Buca is probably the best restaurant you can go to, as there are breasts hanging out everywhere.
07 July 2010
Today, for the first time in years (excepting when I’ve been sick), I took a nap. It was pretty unintentional, and it was only as the result of a string of unusual circumstances, but I find it note-worthy nonetheless (or would that be blog-worthy?).
First, I went to work very early this morning. I had to leave work at 11:00 today, and I wanted to clock in as many hours as I could before exiting the building. So, first, I was already very tired.
Second, the midwifes came over for a home visit today. I heard the fetus’ heartbeat again. I’m kind of a pro at finding fetus heartbeats, by the way. I don’t know; maybe I could get on Oprah or something to demonstrate my talent.
Anyway, they left around 12:50 and then my wife and Owen ate a quick lunch and then sped off to a play date so Owen could play with his former preschool classmates. I, meanwhile, stayed home.
So there I was, tired and alone. It was a good time to get stuff done around the house, and I began immediately by importing a CD into my computer and making a copy of it for a friend. This takes some time, of course, and so, while waiting, I laid on the couch and continued reading By the Shores of Silver Lake. Major bummers in this book. SPOILER ALERT! Mary goes blind. And Jack dies. But Laura gets a bag of candy for Christmas and later, Mr. Edwards returns.
Where was I? Oh, yeah – so there I was, reading, and I could hardly keep my eyes open. I think it took me about five minutes to read and reread the last two paragraphs. Then I set the book down and closed my eyes – you know, just to rest until I heard the electronic PING! alerting me that the CD was done cooking. Alas, that ping must’ve came and went. Next thing I knew, and hour and a half had passed by.
Finding the fetus heartbeat and being able to hear it is much more challenging when you are using a fetoscope and not a doppler, which is what our midwives use. I haven’t ever even been able to hear it, so it’s cool that you have been able to.
If Owen is going to be sharing the birthing experience, you might want to not use the fffffuuuuuccccckkkk technique! He is bright, He’ll pick up on that, and of course share…
Jennifer: Yes, it’s a gift I have. I think it’s a lot like looking through a telescope; you have to completely block out everything else, even stopping your own breathing if necessary.
Mike: Too late, he already swears. Actually, I don’t think he says fffuuuccckkk, so maybe I’ll just tell him that he should only use that word if he’s giving birth. Or if he’s made a wrong turn in downtown Minneapolis.
James,
If I stop my own breathing, it will stop the baby’s flow of oxygen as well. That’s probably not a great idea.
Mike,
Owen does know some swear words as James pointed out, but I’ve been trying to explain to him the proper times to use them. I tell him when he is really angry or gets hurt, he can say them, but to try to only say them at home with us and especially not at school. So far that has worked. The reason for the “F” word and not a milder word, is that it’s important to keep the voice lower and not get into the higher decibles, which can lead to panic. So, the “S” word wouldn’t work as well because it would make the voice higher. Many women will just swear automatically, so I think we practiced the word that works the best in keeping the voice in the lower decibles.