Aislynn Breigh was born at 3 am! She's 4 lbs .9 oz, 18 inches long and in perfect health for being nine weeks early. Her mother is doing fine as well. Hopefully neither mother nor baby will need a long hospital stay.
(And as a side note, if she was nine weeks early and already 4 lbs, 18 inches long, that means if she'd gone full term, she would have been a 10-lb, 24-inch whopper of a baby.)
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
The Christmas of Gross
This was the Christmas of Gross.
It was great seeing everyone, don’t get me wrong. My niece (now five months old) is cute as a button. The travel was long and arduous, but we were prepared for that, and the new Prius performed like a champ. (Total gas expenditures: less than $200 for 2,800 miles.) But not only did my husband get the stomach flu on Christmas Day, leading to some fairly Technicolor carpet decorations, my sister-in-law went into premature labor at about 4 am New Year’s Day. There was quite a lot of blood. Guess who got to clean that up, too.
New Year’s Eve was what you’d expect. We opened presents, played family beer pong, got drunk on my uncle’s homemade hooch in the hot tub. My brother and his wife, almost seven months pregnant, came in late. We all went to bed around 1 am.
About 4 am, I awoke to her screaming in the next bathroom. There was blood all over the bed, and all over her. She’d had some trouble with bleeding earlier in the pregnancy, so as my brother scrambled for clothes, I woke up my mom, who woke up my aunt (a nurse), and we got them bundled up and out the door to the nearest hospital. My parents got dressed and took off after them, while my aunt and I washed all the sheets and towels, cleaned down the bathroom, and started the process of scrubbing out the bloody mattress. Far too much drama for 4 am, in my opinion, especially as I was working on about three hours of drunk sleep.
I was afraid she was miscarrying, but she had actually gone into premature labor. She’s currently flat on her back in the ICU, pumped full of labor-stopping drugs, while they try to keep the baby in her as long as possible. At nine weeks premature, the baby would probably survive on her own (she’s already four pounds), but regardless, both my sister-in-law and the baby are looking at very long hospital stays. So think good thoughts/pray for both of them. I could have a new niece any day now.
My husband and I drove back home the next day. He’s now coming down with a head cold, and I’ve had just about enough of bodily fluids to last me quite a while, thankyouverymuch.
Then we had to shovel last week’s two feet of snow out of our driveway.
Next year people can come to us for the holidays. Or maybe we’ll just go to Fiji.
It was great seeing everyone, don’t get me wrong. My niece (now five months old) is cute as a button. The travel was long and arduous, but we were prepared for that, and the new Prius performed like a champ. (Total gas expenditures: less than $200 for 2,800 miles.) But not only did my husband get the stomach flu on Christmas Day, leading to some fairly Technicolor carpet decorations, my sister-in-law went into premature labor at about 4 am New Year’s Day. There was quite a lot of blood. Guess who got to clean that up, too.
New Year’s Eve was what you’d expect. We opened presents, played family beer pong, got drunk on my uncle’s homemade hooch in the hot tub. My brother and his wife, almost seven months pregnant, came in late. We all went to bed around 1 am.
About 4 am, I awoke to her screaming in the next bathroom. There was blood all over the bed, and all over her. She’d had some trouble with bleeding earlier in the pregnancy, so as my brother scrambled for clothes, I woke up my mom, who woke up my aunt (a nurse), and we got them bundled up and out the door to the nearest hospital. My parents got dressed and took off after them, while my aunt and I washed all the sheets and towels, cleaned down the bathroom, and started the process of scrubbing out the bloody mattress. Far too much drama for 4 am, in my opinion, especially as I was working on about three hours of drunk sleep.
I was afraid she was miscarrying, but she had actually gone into premature labor. She’s currently flat on her back in the ICU, pumped full of labor-stopping drugs, while they try to keep the baby in her as long as possible. At nine weeks premature, the baby would probably survive on her own (she’s already four pounds), but regardless, both my sister-in-law and the baby are looking at very long hospital stays. So think good thoughts/pray for both of them. I could have a new niece any day now.
My husband and I drove back home the next day. He’s now coming down with a head cold, and I’ve had just about enough of bodily fluids to last me quite a while, thankyouverymuch.
Then we had to shovel last week’s two feet of snow out of our driveway.
Next year people can come to us for the holidays. Or maybe we’ll just go to Fiji.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Grandma's hooch
Happy New Year!
We've spent this past week and a half with family (my husband's, then mine). I met my niece Leah for the first time, learned how to knit and crochet, bought a 12-quart stainless steel mixing bowl (which Leah fits into), watched my stepson make out like a bandit on Christmas Day, and spent lots of time eating and laughing.
I will admit my family has loosened up considerably in their old age. They're a lot more fun than they used to be (or maybe I'm just old enough to fully appreciate adult fun?). Part of the annual Christmas get-together are my grandmother's increasingly funny antics. She's 84 and going strong--one of those old Southern ladies who plays cards with her bridge club and still cans her own pickled watermelon rind. The first year of our now-annual get-together, she cracked everyone up with the advent of her rooster collection. The gift exchange that year went something like this:
[Grandma opens a big present, to reveal a two-feet-tall ceramic rooster.]
Grandma: It's just what I always wanted!
Someone else: Grandma, you wanted a ceramic rooster?
Grandma: Yes, I've always wanted a cock for my kitchen.
[Everyone starts giggling.]
Grandma: For Christmas this year, all I wanted was a big ceramic cock, any size, any color, but preferably black and over 18 inches tall.
[We're all in hysterics now, rolling on the floor.]
Someone else: Grandma, you wanted a cock for Christmas?
Grandma: Yes! I can start a collection now! I'm going to put him in my kitchen and call him Cocky.
I'm still not sure Grandma knew why we were laughing so much, but now she gets roosters of every size and description from everyone, each Christmas. Rooster statues, clocks, salt and pepper shakers, creamers, placemats, plates, you name it. We all snigger like fourth graders whenever she says the word "cock."
This year, my uncle brought several Mason jars of moonshine and something called "Apple Pie Hooch." He brewed it himself, using the following recipe:
2 gallons apple cider
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 cinnamon sticks
A bottle of grain alcohol
(Brew the first three together over medium heat, stirring, until the sugar evaporates. Let cool to room temperature, add the grain alcohol, drink.)
Grandma discovered the apple pie hooch and has been drinking it steadily all week. "Grandma's hooch" has become a new family catchphrase.
I asked my sister to take a picture of me in the hot tub, drinking moonshine out of a Mason jar, surrounded by uncles and aunts and cousins. That's me--class all the way.
We've spent this past week and a half with family (my husband's, then mine). I met my niece Leah for the first time, learned how to knit and crochet, bought a 12-quart stainless steel mixing bowl (which Leah fits into), watched my stepson make out like a bandit on Christmas Day, and spent lots of time eating and laughing.
I will admit my family has loosened up considerably in their old age. They're a lot more fun than they used to be (or maybe I'm just old enough to fully appreciate adult fun?). Part of the annual Christmas get-together are my grandmother's increasingly funny antics. She's 84 and going strong--one of those old Southern ladies who plays cards with her bridge club and still cans her own pickled watermelon rind. The first year of our now-annual get-together, she cracked everyone up with the advent of her rooster collection. The gift exchange that year went something like this:
[Grandma opens a big present, to reveal a two-feet-tall ceramic rooster.]
Grandma: It's just what I always wanted!
Someone else: Grandma, you wanted a ceramic rooster?
Grandma: Yes, I've always wanted a cock for my kitchen.
[Everyone starts giggling.]
Grandma: For Christmas this year, all I wanted was a big ceramic cock, any size, any color, but preferably black and over 18 inches tall.
[We're all in hysterics now, rolling on the floor.]
Someone else: Grandma, you wanted a cock for Christmas?
Grandma: Yes! I can start a collection now! I'm going to put him in my kitchen and call him Cocky.
I'm still not sure Grandma knew why we were laughing so much, but now she gets roosters of every size and description from everyone, each Christmas. Rooster statues, clocks, salt and pepper shakers, creamers, placemats, plates, you name it. We all snigger like fourth graders whenever she says the word "cock."
This year, my uncle brought several Mason jars of moonshine and something called "Apple Pie Hooch." He brewed it himself, using the following recipe:
2 gallons apple cider
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 cinnamon sticks
A bottle of grain alcohol
(Brew the first three together over medium heat, stirring, until the sugar evaporates. Let cool to room temperature, add the grain alcohol, drink.)
Grandma discovered the apple pie hooch and has been drinking it steadily all week. "Grandma's hooch" has become a new family catchphrase.
I asked my sister to take a picture of me in the hot tub, drinking moonshine out of a Mason jar, surrounded by uncles and aunts and cousins. That's me--class all the way.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
...and the Christmas aftermath
Involves upchucking, apparently. We arrived at the in-laws safe and sound, after 21 hours of driving, and the new Prius performed like a champ. And we only spent $85 on gas to travel 1300 miles. So that was pretty awesome.
The kids had a great Christmas; there was the standard orgy of capitalism. The best part, of course, is the time spent with loved ones, and we may have succeeded in convincing everyone to come visit us in MA this year.
The downside to it all is that a 24-hour stomach bug was working its way through the kids, and last night my husband came down with it. Violently. All over the carpet. Merry Christmas to me. He hasn't moved all day, he's been sleeping it off (I hope). Running a slight fever but at least there haven't been any more...episodes. It remains to be seen whether he'll be well enough to travel to VA tomorrow. Or if my sister, with her new baby, will allow us to, due to possible contagion and all. So travel plans are up in the air right now.
At least we won't have to worry about traveling in the big blizzard that's socking New York and Boston right now. We'll miss the first big storm of the season. I hope our kitties are okay...do you think blind cats know when it's snowing outside?
The kids had a great Christmas; there was the standard orgy of capitalism. The best part, of course, is the time spent with loved ones, and we may have succeeded in convincing everyone to come visit us in MA this year.
The downside to it all is that a 24-hour stomach bug was working its way through the kids, and last night my husband came down with it. Violently. All over the carpet. Merry Christmas to me. He hasn't moved all day, he's been sleeping it off (I hope). Running a slight fever but at least there haven't been any more...episodes. It remains to be seen whether he'll be well enough to travel to VA tomorrow. Or if my sister, with her new baby, will allow us to, due to possible contagion and all. So travel plans are up in the air right now.
At least we won't have to worry about traveling in the big blizzard that's socking New York and Boston right now. We'll miss the first big storm of the season. I hope our kitties are okay...do you think blind cats know when it's snowing outside?
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Week 1 of new job = success!
So far the new job is going really well. I'm surprised, actually. I think I expected a big boring suburban data farm, but it's not that at all. Everyone is super nice, my boss doesn't have any glaring personality disorders (yet), and best of all, I have more freedom with this job than I've had with any others. They've essentially given me carte blanche to do my job the best way I see fit, with no corporate bullshit clogging up the works. It's so nice to finally be treated like an adult.
So I'm optimistic.
We're leaving this week for the annual Holiday Drive Across America, so this weekend I'm packing and cleaning and cooking all the stuff in the refrigerator. (Notice I said I'M doing those things.) We spent yesterday morning stacking firewood, and let me just tell you how cool I felt, sweaty, covered with wood bits, struggling to throw a plastic tarp over the pile. Hot stuff. All those years in Manhattan, brunching at the hot spots in designer shoes, dating investment bankers, to be reduced to spending a Saturday morning stacking firewood in the 'burbs. But don't worry--it was more fun stacking the firewood than it was dating any of those investment bankers.
So I'm optimistic.
We're leaving this week for the annual Holiday Drive Across America, so this weekend I'm packing and cleaning and cooking all the stuff in the refrigerator. (Notice I said I'M doing those things.) We spent yesterday morning stacking firewood, and let me just tell you how cool I felt, sweaty, covered with wood bits, struggling to throw a plastic tarp over the pile. Hot stuff. All those years in Manhattan, brunching at the hot spots in designer shoes, dating investment bankers, to be reduced to spending a Saturday morning stacking firewood in the 'burbs. But don't worry--it was more fun stacking the firewood than it was dating any of those investment bankers.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
New job! And new furniture
I started the new job yesterday. Unlike the position at MIT, it's actually permanent. So now I have a real live permanent job, with benefits and a salary and everything. It's at a microchip company out in the 'burbs. We had to get a second car (the Prius), but now my commute is 5 miles, since it's in the next 'burb over. It's a big improvement over a 90-minute commute, with walking, and 14-degree temperatures. Everyone at the new job seems very nice.
Also this weekend, my folks were in town. They brought up my grandmother's dining room table. So now we have a dining room table, finally. We can eat like civilized people, and entertain. It's mahogany, seats 10, comes with six mahogany chairs. I also inherited some china and crystal. There's a great furniture consignment shop in town, and this weekend I picked up a mahogany china cabinet (to hold Grandma's china) and an extra prep table for the kitchen, at cut-rate prices. And I got a treadmill (since I won't be walking to and from the train station anymore). It was the weekend of furniture.
Once we get a load of firewood, that will take care of all the most pressing household needs (winter clothes, bookcases, desk, table, Christmas presents, new car, etc.). After the holidays we can concentrate on paying off debt/second-tier stuff, like furniture for the guest room.
We leave for our annual Christmas road trip a week from tomorrow! I can't believe it's so close...
Also this weekend, my folks were in town. They brought up my grandmother's dining room table. So now we have a dining room table, finally. We can eat like civilized people, and entertain. It's mahogany, seats 10, comes with six mahogany chairs. I also inherited some china and crystal. There's a great furniture consignment shop in town, and this weekend I picked up a mahogany china cabinet (to hold Grandma's china) and an extra prep table for the kitchen, at cut-rate prices. And I got a treadmill (since I won't be walking to and from the train station anymore). It was the weekend of furniture.
Once we get a load of firewood, that will take care of all the most pressing household needs (winter clothes, bookcases, desk, table, Christmas presents, new car, etc.). After the holidays we can concentrate on paying off debt/second-tier stuff, like furniture for the guest room.
We leave for our annual Christmas road trip a week from tomorrow! I can't believe it's so close...
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