Drivin' 55

Arrived at the hospital just before noon but I had to stop at the hospital gift shop to buy Erika a New Mom tee shirt. Aaron has a New Dad tee shirt so they new parents will have a matching set. Last night, I dreamt Jack started talking at 1 week old. He looked at me and said, "Grama, you smell good." This was probably generated because of all the talking baby commercials. Erika's co-workers, Marion and Tori. Tori is the one beaming like a bulb in a light house! And no, Great Uncle Steve, Jack is not a Mets fan! Dad holding Jack.

Jack arrived into this world tonight at 6:24PM, weighing in at 7 pounds 8 ounces and 20 inches long. He is soft and squishy and smells wonderful...just like heaven. Mom did really well. There was a period of time that we thought she may have to deliver C section, but Erika is a champ and managed to take matters under her own accord. Doesn't this face say it all? Proud dad, Aaron, holds his first born son. Grama cried quite a bit today, but what could be better than holding her very own little grandson. Grama and Grampa Kirby already are glowing. Grampa Fred will fly down to see his grandson next week. I'm sure he will make up for lost time. A grand day!

Hi everyone! We are at the hospital. Erika had the epidural about an hour ago and not experiencing any pain. Soon they will crank up the level of the pitocon. My very wise sister, Aunt Geri, the labor and delivery nurse, said that one won't have surgery without anesthesia or a tooth pulled without Novocaine, therefore, the epidural is a safe way to bring forth babies. At one time, one in ten mothers didn't make it through childbirth. We have come along way. As I write this blog, I can hear my grandson's heart beating on the monitor. I told Erika that when he's about two years of age, playing with his little cars or trucks on the floor, he will make that very sound and you can smile and remember the very first time you heart his heart beating. Northside Hospital is amazing. The women's center is a palace and the labor and delivery units are labeled A thru F. Each unit has 15 labor and delivery rooms. Tonya, Erika's nurse said they deliver 1400 - 1600 b...

Today, I made the most delicious chili for the kids, in fact, it was probably the best batch I ever made. What was so different about this batch? Well, the smokey flavored Tabasco sauce which is not spicy hot, but just has a real smokey flavor to it. And since, we are just sitting around on baby watch, I had to do something to keep me busy. Erika is waiting for Northside to call when they have a room available. It probably won't be until tonight. This morning we went to Mittie's for brunch. Although I was rather eager to again visit Mittie's, this visit was not so memorable. I ordered Tangy Sausage Pie which was described on the menu as tart apples, vermont cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and savory sausage. When the food was delivered to the table, I knew immediately something was wrong. After one bite, I knew BIG MISTAKE! The entire pie was sugary sweet and wreaking of brown sugar. Had the waitress not been all of 11 years old, just kidding, she may have r...

Did anyone catch the Oprah show the other day about the 21 day cleanse? Well I only saw a bit of it and all I can say is "My hat's off to you, Oprah". She eliminated all meats and meat by products, caffeine, sugar, alcohol, and gluten from your diet for up to 21 days. Oprah is keeping a blog, detailing her experiences and thus far, she is doing well. Some of the food choices are not something I could manage to eat. What exactly is an egg less omelet ? Mushroom soup with chunks of pecans? Now neither one of recipes sound remotely eatable to me. On a good day , I can barely eat an egg and as for mushrooms, well, it's all about the texture. We all know Oprah has someone to cook for her both at work and at home. How easy would that be for us common folk to do a cleanse or just a healthy diet regime if we only had to instruct the chef to make a meal minus our likes and dislikes? In closing, "You go, Oprah!" I hope you make it 21 days on your cleanse and tell us...

Having a little time on my hands on Sunday at the Rubber Stamp & Scrapbook Expo in St. Paul, MN, I walked the show floor looking for things I just could not live without. Sure enough, my friends at The Paper Cut, http://thepapercut.com/ , Ron and Sarah, had an adorable little accordion library pocket album. The neat thing about their stuff is it is packaged superbly and the instructions are very simple. The little album is for a busy mom and made to capture the baby's photos at the 1 month birthday and through 12 months of age. This one, of course, is for my grandson Jack.

After Erika's doctor appointment today, regretfully, no advance progress has been made since last week. Erika was secretly wishing that Dr. Houston would tell her after the exam to walk across the street to Northside Women's Center and let's get this party started! Baby Jack is determined to enter this world on his schedule and no one elses. Jack is already showing signs of unique Independence. As my sister, Geri, the labor and delivery nurse in New Jersey says, "we have to throw some little boys out of the womb!", this may be true with Jack! The current plan is as such, if labor does not begin naturally, then Erika will check into the hospital next Tuesday to coach labor along. I'll keep you posted!