Three months in California

Bright and early three generations headed from our little Illinois house to Missouri.  We were taking mom to Lebanon and Lindsay to meet her extended family, and then heading to California for three months.  

We spent two nights in Lebanon, showing off the new baby, and then headed west.  Our first stop was only an hour away, to visit with my grandma (now living with my uncle and aunt).  Of course, grandma was thrilled with her great-grandchild!  Our visit was too short, but we had miles to go, and knew there would be many frequent breaks along the way.

Lindsay was a fantastic little traveler.  We gave her lots breaks of course, and enjoyed a slower travel pace than our first trip cross-country.  We made a sidetrip to the Grand Canyon.  She wasn't impressed, but I was.  (She was much more interested in dinner.)

When we arrived in California, one of the girls in Kent's office offered to watch Lindsay so we could go out to dinner.  Wow, that was a long two hours!  Seems like we were away forever!  While I appreciated the gesture, I hated the separation!  And then, the little scoot was mad at us - wouldn't look at us all the rest of the evening!  We'd call her name, and she would deliberately turn her head away!  We knew we were in trouble from the start with that one. :)

Lindsay loved to watch the jacuzzi.  We would take her swing outside by the jacuzzi and she would fall asleep mesmerized by the bubbles.  During the day she liked to watch the TV (videos we made of her) and she would look all around trying to figure out where daddy was - she could hear his voice, but not find him.  As I would start supper, she'd sit by the window at the table and get so excited when daddy would come to the window on his way in!  

At three weeks, I left Lindsay on the bed to go get her a diaper.  When I came back, she was on her stomach... I guess I read the wrong baby books!  So no more leaving her unattended. :)   One night I fell asleep early.  When I awoke in the middle of the night, Lindsay was not in her bed!  Panicked, I started to wake Kent, when I saw her - sound asleep in her swing.  Kent had fallen asleep, too, and she had never been moved to bed.  

When Lindsay was four weeks old, we went to Disneyland.  That night, she slept through for the first time (either that, or we were both too tired to hear her wake up!)  We spend hours and hours at the beach, a weekend in San Diego to the zoo and into Tijuana, and went to San Jose to Kent's brother's for Thanksgiving.  Kent's mom flew out to join us, and watched Lindsay for an afternoon so we could go to San Francisco.  

While our time was amazing, and getting 3 months maternity leave was great, living in a hotel was getting a little old.  Even shy of three months, Lindsay was getting antsy in the same room every day.  But new adventures were on her horizon.  

.... and baby makes three (well, five, actually...)

Due date, August 15.  Doctor visit, September 16.  The doctor finally agrees to induce the next day.  Kent spends the evening cleaning the house (mom and dad are coming up) and after a restless night we headed to the hospital at 7:00 a.m.  Sixteen hours of pitocin later, Lindsay was born!  And I know why they don't warn you about back labor ahead of time.

Dads in the delivery room were still about a 50/50 split in our area when Lindsay was born.  We did the lamaze classes and Kent was a terrific coach.  "Rooming in" was the new trend, except dad wasn't allowed to stay over then.  So dad headed home about 2 in the morning, and was back early the next day.  It's amazing to me that when I was born my mom stayed in the hospital for ten days (no complications, just how it was), and barely was allowed any time each day with me.  I had full care of my daughter from the first, and now with my grandchildren I see how involved dads are allowed to be.

Missi and Kathi visited with the grandparents (couldn't come in my room, so we had to use the "visitor's room".)  Missi wanted to know why Lindsay was wearing a hat, and my dad told her it was to "keep her hair clean".  I think she believed him, but as she got to know him better, she learned about his teasing. :)

We headed home on Monday (19th) and arrived just before my dad had to leave, so he got to hold his first grandchild (yeah, only dads were allowed in the patient's room when baby was in there, and he had to scrub up.)  Mom stayed on with us to help, because in just another week we were heading to California.....                                                                                    

 - Dana

With a due date within 4 days of my birthday I was naturally hopeful that I would share that date with a son.  In hindsight that was really funny.  The 15th arrived and departed with no baby. The 19th came and went, then the following days, then the month of August.  Finally the doctor relented and agreed to induce.  It was always my understanding that the nesting function was a pink function.  Must have been a typo, eh?

Since I have the best in-laws in the world (and I am serious about that), I really didn't mind cleaning before their arrival.  So it was clean, sleep, gather the goody bag and leave for the hospital.

Regardless of the biased statements made above, I was a mediocre coach at best.  Remembering and encouraging the when and how of LaMaze breathing was spotty at best.  Nerves were intense.  My one redemption was that I could rub a back til my arms fell off.  Still, 16 hours is a long time to give a back rub.

Finally, the PUSH command was ordered, and I was excited and eager and anxious.  Then the most amazing thing happened.  A beautiful little girl appeared where the boy was supposed to be and in a nano second I had lost my heart to another female.  This was better than any plan I could have come up with.  I got to hold her and she was magnificent.  I didn't want to leave but I was exhausted and I knew there were others waiting to hear the news, so I relented.

Ten days later my two ladies and I were headed west, with Grandma to her house, and then Dana, Lindsay and I were off to California.  Early indoctrination into the travel mindset is essential.

 -- Kent