Tomorrow in Inman, Kansas -- snow showers, wind 15-25 MPH, 29 F
Tomorrow in New Orleans, Louisiana -- strong thunderstorms with possible tornadoes, wind 15-25 MPH, 66 F
We now return you to your regularly scheduled LJ/blog.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Oops!
I was informed yesterday by Nico that my "nephew's" name is spelled Cylis.
Think someone would've told me by now.
Think someone would've told me by now.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
On the eve of the three month celebration
I was cleaning up my Photobucket albums last night to make room for pics when I realized I never journaled about my little "nephew's" birth day.
My friend Marlo here in New Orleans decided she wanted to have her baby at home -- partly out of her natural hippiness, partly because of her distrust of hospitals here in NO. As part of her decision to have a home birth, she invited several friends to be at the house when she gave birth. Reba and I were two of them. The following are pictures generously given to me by Nicholas Krebill, more affectionately known by the NO pack as Nico, who took far more pictures than these throughout the day's events. Thank you, Nico!
Marlo, two and a half weeks overdue, on the day she gave birth.
In the backyard
Relaxing in the kitchen
I was called by my friend Kim in the early afternoon of Sunday, 28 October. I could hardly believe I was finally getting THE CALL since we'd all been waiting on it for a month. Kim came to get me, and we arrived to Nico's wonderfully constructed ramp to get me in the house. I hung out in the kitchen until Kate (the dullah/midwife) told me M was asking for me. Reba and I went to her room and sat with her and her partner William through a couple contractions -- Reba actually leaped over my legs onto the bed to plaster herself against M.
This was my first birth, so I was completely unprepared for how I would physically react. As the contractions became more intense, the energy built and built inside me, even when I was in another room. Just before M gave birth, I was in the kitchen trying to ground the energy. Reba, ever the comforter, was making the rounds, putting her head in various laps between contractions, pacing during the contractions.
Suddenly, we all knew it was time. M had settled in the bathroom, so everyone crowded in the hallway outside, most everyone being able to see. Reba tried shoving her way into the bathroom and couldn't understand why I told her "no" and Kim pulled her back. All she knew was Aunt M was hurting and she had to get to her.
Because of the number of people in the hallway, neither Nico nor I could see into the bathroom -- but we could tell what was happening just by watching Kat.
The birth begins
Almost here
Welcome to the world!
That's when the surprise happened. All through her pregnancy, M was sure she was having a girl. Surprise!
Just after the birth
After moving to the bed, Grandma Mary (M's mom) looks on
Then later holds her new grandson
He wasn't as tiny as he looks here. He was 8 lbs, 4 oz a few days after the birth, so I'm guessing he was at least 8-1/2 at birth.
A few happy friend pics
Wendy and Rachel
Me, Laurie, Noah, Glen, and Kim
Kate, Kim, and Jayden
And Papa gives me my first up-close look
And last but not least from the birth day, my favorite pic of all
Poor guy went nameless for nearly a month while Mom, Dad, and Papa considered names. They finally settled on Cylis Ulysses Jude Walters.
Finally, here he is, at a month old, sleeping in Aunty Dawn's chair while Mama helps Aunty Dawn into bed.
My friend Marlo here in New Orleans decided she wanted to have her baby at home -- partly out of her natural hippiness, partly because of her distrust of hospitals here in NO. As part of her decision to have a home birth, she invited several friends to be at the house when she gave birth. Reba and I were two of them. The following are pictures generously given to me by Nicholas Krebill, more affectionately known by the NO pack as Nico, who took far more pictures than these throughout the day's events. Thank you, Nico!
Marlo, two and a half weeks overdue, on the day she gave birth.
In the backyard
Relaxing in the kitchen
I was called by my friend Kim in the early afternoon of Sunday, 28 October. I could hardly believe I was finally getting THE CALL since we'd all been waiting on it for a month. Kim came to get me, and we arrived to Nico's wonderfully constructed ramp to get me in the house. I hung out in the kitchen until Kate (the dullah/midwife) told me M was asking for me. Reba and I went to her room and sat with her and her partner William through a couple contractions -- Reba actually leaped over my legs onto the bed to plaster herself against M.
This was my first birth, so I was completely unprepared for how I would physically react. As the contractions became more intense, the energy built and built inside me, even when I was in another room. Just before M gave birth, I was in the kitchen trying to ground the energy. Reba, ever the comforter, was making the rounds, putting her head in various laps between contractions, pacing during the contractions.
Suddenly, we all knew it was time. M had settled in the bathroom, so everyone crowded in the hallway outside, most everyone being able to see. Reba tried shoving her way into the bathroom and couldn't understand why I told her "no" and Kim pulled her back. All she knew was Aunt M was hurting and she had to get to her.
Because of the number of people in the hallway, neither Nico nor I could see into the bathroom -- but we could tell what was happening just by watching Kat.
The birth begins
Almost here
Welcome to the world!
That's when the surprise happened. All through her pregnancy, M was sure she was having a girl. Surprise!
Just after the birth
After moving to the bed, Grandma Mary (M's mom) looks on
Then later holds her new grandson
He wasn't as tiny as he looks here. He was 8 lbs, 4 oz a few days after the birth, so I'm guessing he was at least 8-1/2 at birth.
A few happy friend pics
Wendy and Rachel
Me, Laurie, Noah, Glen, and Kim
Kate, Kim, and Jayden
And Papa gives me my first up-close look
And last but not least from the birth day, my favorite pic of all
Poor guy went nameless for nearly a month while Mom, Dad, and Papa considered names. They finally settled on Cylis Ulysses Jude Walters.
Finally, here he is, at a month old, sleeping in Aunty Dawn's chair while Mama helps Aunty Dawn into bed.
Happy belated birthday
Belated birthday wishes to my Aunt Chrys and to Lynlee -- both of whom had birthdays yesterday. I called them both on their days but forgot to post wishes on the blog.
Friday, January 25, 2008
I'm the intellectual nerd?? No way!
Swiped from Nate
I never ONCE caused havoc at Summer camp. I was the perfect picture of innocence. I always followed the rules, I never instigated raids, and not once did I participate in a massive shaving cream fight.
Yeah, I was pretty much one of the Don Corliones of the camp.
I never ONCE caused havoc at Summer camp. I was the perfect picture of innocence. I always followed the rules, I never instigated raids, and not once did I participate in a massive shaving cream fight.
Yeah, I was pretty much one of the Don Corliones of the camp.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
IT'S HERE IT'S HERE IT'S HERE!!!
FINALLY!!! My very own copy of "Babylon 5" season one has finally arrived!
::happy Dawn dance::
Ever since I read that Entertainment Weekly top 25 list of the best science fiction TV series and movies of the last 25 years -- and was shocked/extremely irritated that neither B5 nor Stargate SG-1 made it on -- I have had a hankering to revisit Sinclair and Sheridan and Ivanova and Garibaldi and Delenn and the rest.
::contented sigh:: I've watched three eps today.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Aunty arrives with a bang
I finally started my period yesterday -- almost a full month late. Last night, the cramps were so bad it took 10 mg of Lortab and the reusable heat pack Lynlee gave me to get me comfortable enough to sleep. Today I still hurt some, but not as badly.
It's days like these when I wonder why I haven't talked my doctor into taking out my bits.
It's days like these when I wonder why I haven't talked my doctor into taking out my bits.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Still here
Because of Dad's news, I have postponed returning to NOLA until the 18th. I ignored the voice telling me to come home when P spent the better part of two months in hospital, thinking it was my own depression talking and thus telling myself to buck up.
Not that I think my dad's going anywhere. Part of the decision was practical -- the KC VA had a surgical consultation appointment today (my original departure date) or Feb. 5th. Dad was going to do the second choice, but then his desire to get moving as quickly as possible won out. The other part of the decision was to be here for a little more emotional support for them, especially Mom. I mean, jeezum, the woman's been through so much the last four months -- P's two months in hospital, my blood clot, my flu hospitalization, P's death (the last two on exactly the same day, almost to the hour), always keeping an eye on Dad's diabetes and congestive heart failure and lupus, and now Dad's cancer. I've had people tell me I'm strong, and if there's any truth to it, then I inherited it from my mother.
Oh, and Housing is delivering P's stuff tomorrow. Last week when Dad was getting his news, Mom and I went to P's apartment to get his bed and wheelchair to take to the MDA loaner closet, and I hid in Naomi's apartment (for those who don't know, Nay is one of my best friends who lives next door to P). I wanted to spend time with her, no doubt, and I truly would've been in the way of Mom taking the stuff to the van . . . but the truth of the matter is, I couldn't face going in there. I couldn't even look at the freaking door. Chicken, right? I should be past denial and avoidance by now, right?
::sigh:: I really do think about other things during the day -- a good majority of the day, in fact. Wouldn't know by reading my journal.
Assuming you're even still reading this depressing stuff.
Not that I think my dad's going anywhere. Part of the decision was practical -- the KC VA had a surgical consultation appointment today (my original departure date) or Feb. 5th. Dad was going to do the second choice, but then his desire to get moving as quickly as possible won out. The other part of the decision was to be here for a little more emotional support for them, especially Mom. I mean, jeezum, the woman's been through so much the last four months -- P's two months in hospital, my blood clot, my flu hospitalization, P's death (the last two on exactly the same day, almost to the hour), always keeping an eye on Dad's diabetes and congestive heart failure and lupus, and now Dad's cancer. I've had people tell me I'm strong, and if there's any truth to it, then I inherited it from my mother.
Oh, and Housing is delivering P's stuff tomorrow. Last week when Dad was getting his news, Mom and I went to P's apartment to get his bed and wheelchair to take to the MDA loaner closet, and I hid in Naomi's apartment (for those who don't know, Nay is one of my best friends who lives next door to P). I wanted to spend time with her, no doubt, and I truly would've been in the way of Mom taking the stuff to the van . . . but the truth of the matter is, I couldn't face going in there. I couldn't even look at the freaking door. Chicken, right? I should be past denial and avoidance by now, right?
::sigh:: I really do think about other things during the day -- a good majority of the day, in fact. Wouldn't know by reading my journal.
Assuming you're even still reading this depressing stuff.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
You've GOT to be kidding
My father found out this morning he has prostate cancer.
I was really hoping '08 would start better than this.
I was really hoping '08 would start better than this.