Somehow I don't get emails when people comment and its hard to check this site now that I am FAMILY FRIENDLY.
Is there anyone in LA I should be sayin' HI to that I have somehow missed? I may be in need of a social life, but can't promise much. You can come over and do laundry and play with my kid, maybe...
Is there anyone in LA I should be sayin' HI to that I have somehow missed? I may be in need of a social life, but can't promise much. You can come over and do laundry and play with my kid, maybe...
What to do if you want a baby blog? (reposted with permission from ours)
First, make a baby.
Check.
Next, have the baby.
Check.
Now you have prime grade A material for your average boojie baby blog.
To this effect we would like to proudly introduce to you, Isaac Robert Rosenfeld.
How did all this happen? Well, early Saturday morning, Erika's water broke. Since it was 1 am and she isn't very well rested to start out with, this was thought to be bladder action, so she promptly returned to bed. It was only upon an expedition to your friendly neighborhood Apple Store that a sudden gush was deemed unusual enough to call the U Dub clinic. They had her come right in to do tests to see if her membranes had broken.
Meanwhile, Seth is at work, and he gets the call that afternoon - first to say that something might be happening, and then next to say something definitely is happening so pack up your gear and get out of Dodge. The second call came after I was back at the apartment and had already packed most of the gear. Getting out and to the airport for a 6:30 flight was effortless thanks to the help of one Daniel Tyrell (forever thank you) and I actually made it back to Seattle in by 9:30 that night.
In fact, Erika actually didn't even start feeling contractions and the real onset of labor until around the tim
e I landed in Seattle. She was waiting for me. My brother Howard picked me up from Seatac and came with me to the hospital, where we joined Amy Herb, Jehann & David Strauss, and our doula (Molly, who was subbing in for Barb, who was at a birth already). We all spent some time together chatting while Erika had periodic light uterine surges (hypnobirthing terminology for contractions). It was nice, and Erika and I were very happy to see each other after being apart for almost three weeks.
David & Jehan left after about an hour and we settled in as Erika's waves got deeper and more frequent. She started to get some pretty intense back pain, so Amy and Molly and I would take turns putting pressure on her back - her favorite position kneeling over the bed or back of the bed on her knees. I think this early period lasted until 2 am or so.
Once Erika started getting really uncomfortable, we decided to move her to the laboring tub. I spent the first hour or so behind her in the tub, helping with her back pain. Over the next few hours we moved her in and out of the tub a few times and the doula helped focus her breathing during the waves. Erika was rock solid, taking each wave with almost silence for awhile.
Time is a little fuzzy, but we know that Amy had to leave for a little while and she returned at 5 am or so, when Erika was heavily into transition. By this time Erika was also getting really tired, having not been super-well rested to start out with. The late labor stage began to wear on her mentally and she need to grunt or cry her way through these surges.
Shortly after Amy got here, we had Erika in the tub and the midwife, Michelle, checked Erika's dilation about - 8 centimeters. Michelle started to help push the last bit back - very painful - so that the baby could get past.
Pushing was the real trick. By this time, Erika was exhausted and having trouble focusing on pushing. She was unsure of what to do (even with instruction) and all those doubts and fears started coming out. Apparently the baby was also having trouble descending, so this compounded things, especially when we started having trouble finding the baby's heartbeat with a manual monitor. This was around the point when Erika finally wanted to be done - even with all her strength, she gave in and asked for drugs once. Of course, by now, it was too late for that.
It was decided to hook up the internal fetal monitor and since the baby's heart rate dropped a bit, we needed to get Erika on the bed and really put some pressure on her to get the baby through. There needed to be doctors on hand for the baby (since he was taking so long) and more nurses on hand. When they gave Erika Oxygen, she started to get a bit frightened with all the people in the room, so I let her know she should just close her eyes and focus on what she needed to do.
The baby did get past this initial stuck point and he started coming down. His heart went back up enough so that the doctor felt OK enough to leave. After a dozen or more surges and a Herculean effort by Erika to push him down, his head started appearing. A half dozen more pushes got him out. At about 6:35 AM, I looked down and watch his pale, gooey face appear out of Erika. Moments later he popped free. I was amazed at how elongated his skull was, and thought that we might have to name him "Banana Head Rosenfeld".
The doctors needed to take him immediately, since he seemed a bit stunned coming out. Apparently there was fluid in his lungs and his responses were off, so they needed to put him into NICU for a few hours. We got Erika's placenta out and Erika attended to and I think both of us were zombie tired at that point. We spent the next few hours doing who knows what, but once Erika was able to get into a wheelchair we went top the NICU to see him. At noon, he was released to us and marveled at how tiny he was - 6 lbs, 13 ounces at 21 inches.
We are still at the hospital now and will be going home soon. The first night was fine, waking every three hours to try and feed, change and love him enough so he could go back to sleep. The most significant development this morning being the naming. Robert was always on the table after my beloved Poppa Robert Rosenfeld, my father's father. Isaac was on our shortlist, and after learning about Isaac Hayes' death on Saturday, it seemed to be some sort of sign. There was a last minute wrassle between Brooklyn and Isaac, but I wanted to go with Erika's final decision. Isaac Robert it is.
Welcome to our world little guy.
First, make a baby.
Check.
Next, have the baby.
Check.
Now you have prime grade A material for your average boojie baby blog.
To this effect we would like to proudly introduce to you, Isaac Robert Rosenfeld.
How did all this happen? Well, early Saturday morning, Erika's water broke. Since it was 1 am and she isn't very well rested to start out with, this was thought to be bladder action, so she promptly returned to bed. It was only upon an expedition to your friendly neighborhood Apple Store that a sudden gush was deemed unusual enough to call the U Dub clinic. They had her come right in to do tests to see if her membranes had broken.
Meanwhile, Seth is at work, and he gets the call that afternoon - first to say that something might be happening, and then next to say something definitely is happening so pack up your gear and get out of Dodge. The second call came after I was back at the apartment and had already packed most of the gear. Getting out and to the airport for a 6:30 flight was effortless thanks to the help of one Daniel Tyrell (forever thank you) and I actually made it back to Seattle in by 9:30 that night.
In fact, Erika actually didn't even start feeling contractions and the real onset of labor until around the tim
e I landed in Seattle. She was waiting for me. My brother Howard picked me up from Seatac and came with me to the hospital, where we joined Amy Herb, Jehann & David Strauss, and our doula (Molly, who was subbing in for Barb, who was at a birth already). We all spent some time together chatting while Erika had periodic light uterine surges (hypnobirthing terminology for contractions). It was nice, and Erika and I were very happy to see each other after being apart for almost three weeks.
David & Jehan left after about an hour and we settled in as Erika's waves got deeper and more frequent. She started to get some pretty intense back pain, so Amy and Molly and I would take turns putting pressure on her back - her favorite position kneeling over the bed or back of the bed on her knees. I think this early period lasted until 2 am or so.
Once Erika started getting really uncomfortable, we decided to move her to the laboring tub. I spent the first hour or so behind her in the tub, helping with her back pain. Over the next few hours we moved her in and out of the tub a few times and the doula helped focus her breathing during the waves. Erika was rock solid, taking each wave with almost silence for awhile.
Time is a little fuzzy, but we know that Amy had to leave for a little while and she returned at 5 am or so, when Erika was heavily into transition. By this time Erika was also getting really tired, having not been super-well rested to start out with. The late labor stage began to wear on her mentally and she need to grunt or cry her way through these surges.
Shortly after Amy got here, we had Erika in the tub and the midwife, Michelle, checked Erika's dilation about - 8 centimeters. Michelle started to help push the last bit back - very painful - so that the baby could get past.
Pushing was the real trick. By this time, Erika was exhausted and having trouble focusing on pushing. She was unsure of what to do (even with instruction) and all those doubts and fears started coming out. Apparently the baby was also having trouble descending, so this compounded things, especially when we started having trouble finding the baby's heartbeat with a manual monitor. This was around the point when Erika finally wanted to be done - even with all her strength, she gave in and asked for drugs once. Of course, by now, it was too late for that.
It was decided to hook up the internal fetal monitor and since the baby's heart rate dropped a bit, we needed to get Erika on the bed and really put some pressure on her to get the baby through. There needed to be doctors on hand for the baby (since he was taking so long) and more nurses on hand. When they gave Erika Oxygen, she started to get a bit frightened with all the people in the room, so I let her know she should just close her eyes and focus on what she needed to do.
The baby did get past this initial stuck point and he started coming down. His heart went back up enough so that the doctor felt OK enough to leave. After a dozen or more surges and a Herculean effort by Erika to push him down, his head started appearing. A half dozen more pushes got him out. At about 6:35 AM, I looked down and watch his pale, gooey face appear out of Erika. Moments later he popped free. I was amazed at how elongated his skull was, and thought that we might have to name him "Banana Head Rosenfeld".
The doctors needed to take him immediately, since he seemed a bit stunned coming out. Apparently there was fluid in his lungs and his responses were off, so they needed to put him into NICU for a few hours. We got Erika's placenta out and Erika attended to and I think both of us were zombie tired at that point. We spent the next few hours doing who knows what, but once Erika was able to get into a wheelchair we went top the NICU to see him. At noon, he was released to us and marveled at how tiny he was - 6 lbs, 13 ounces at 21 inches.
We are still at the hospital now and will be going home soon. The first night was fine, waking every three hours to try and feed, change and love him enough so he could go back to sleep. The most significant development this morning being the naming. Robert was always on the table after my beloved Poppa Robert Rosenfeld, my father's father. Isaac was on our shortlist, and after learning about Isaac Hayes' death on Saturday, it seemed to be some sort of sign. There was a last minute wrassle between Brooklyn and Isaac, but I wanted to go with Erika's final decision. Isaac Robert it is.
Welcome to our world little guy.
I am now in LA.
Spent the weekend driving down through Cali - Friday was the long ass jaunt to Frisco, where I kicked back for a day at my Aunt's. This morning I drove down I5 and arrived in Glendale a half hour or so.
Housing is an extended stay hotel on Glenoaks. I unpacked and am now in the curious limbo of not knowing what the fuck to do next. I could A) go get food, B) go check out the nearest gym, C) hook up my 360 or D) call someone for dinner plans. None of these plans sounds particularly appealing yet, but the food plans might get better as time wears on.
Saying that I miss my wife is obvious, unless you don't know that I'm married. This happened last week and what with new job, new location, and the new baby on the way, why not throw some more new in there, right? Its a good thing I'm paying attention, or else I might miss something.
Spent the weekend driving down through Cali - Friday was the long ass jaunt to Frisco, where I kicked back for a day at my Aunt's. This morning I drove down I5 and arrived in Glendale a half hour or so.
Housing is an extended stay hotel on Glenoaks. I unpacked and am now in the curious limbo of not knowing what the fuck to do next. I could A) go get food, B) go check out the nearest gym, C) hook up my 360 or D) call someone for dinner plans. None of these plans sounds particularly appealing yet, but the food plans might get better as time wears on.
Saying that I miss my wife is obvious, unless you don't know that I'm married. This happened last week and what with new job, new location, and the new baby on the way, why not throw some more new in there, right? Its a good thing I'm paying attention, or else I might miss something.
I just finished Iron Council by China Miéville.
If you like well written, original fantasy, please investigate. Miéville writes around thought provoking themes (Iron Council meditates on political dissent, revolution, labor uprisings and terrorism), and pairs them with some mind blowing action set pieces and the strangest creatures you never saw in the D&D Monster Manual. Great stuff to fuel your imagination.
Other than that, I'm having a kid in five months. Weee...
If you like well written, original fantasy, please investigate. Miéville writes around thought provoking themes (Iron Council meditates on political dissent, revolution, labor uprisings and terrorism), and pairs them with some mind blowing action set pieces and the strangest creatures you never saw in the D&D Monster Manual. Great stuff to fuel your imagination.
Other than that, I'm having a kid in five months. Weee...
Happy Helloween.
I'm stuck for a costume. If anyone can come up with anything better than Kelly from the "Shoes" video, I would love you forever.
Other than that, I am entering house buying mode soon. I think the market is as squishy as it may get here.
Here's a great video. I saw this dude last week here and I really enjoyed the show. This is one of my favorite tracks of the last year, so pay attention. The influences are obvious for those who know.
Trentemøller - The Very Last Resort
I'm stuck for a costume. If anyone can come up with anything better than Kelly from the "Shoes" video, I would love you forever.
Other than that, I am entering house buying mode soon. I think the market is as squishy as it may get here.
Here's a great video. I saw this dude last week here and I really enjoyed the show. This is one of my favorite tracks of the last year, so pay attention. The influences are obvious for those who know.
Trentemøller - The Very Last Resort
So, yes, I am now officially the President of Vice. Well... maybe that's Vice President, but really it is a perfect title for me in all the wrong ways.
