Hangin with Baby Sister

We got Jack back into the Intensive Care Nursery today again to visit Baby Sister who's very close, we're told, to coming home -- maybe even next week. This weekend, Baby got a hearing screening, my attractive wife got a lactation consult, we both attended Infant CPR class, and a hospital discharge class.



Jack was pretty excited again to see Baby Sister. When we arrived, our ICN Nurse was feeding her as she's now on an ad hoc feeding schedule since she ripped out her feeding tube. After the feeding, the nurse gave Jack a small diaper and bottle for his Bebe Bear, which he brought along. Jack pretended to feed it. Jack patted Baby Sister's head and said, "Nice."

Firetruck

Our cool neighbor, "Day-Day," continues to buy supper cool-ass toys at the flea market under the guise of getting them for Jack. Here's his newest acquisition, a remote control ladder firetruck. You can steer it, drive it, and deploy the ladder in 360 degrees at a 45 degree elevation. Jack doesn't have the whole driving thing down yet but he loved working with the ladder this afternoon in the back yard. Thanks, Day-Day!

Funny Face

One of Jack's favorite shows at the moment is "Yo Gabba Gabba." One segment is called "Funny Face," where kids on the show make a variety of funny faces. This evening, I was trying to get Jack to come back to the common back yard area and get ready to go back inside for his bath. He wouldn't budge. I distracted him by invoking the "Funny Face!" command. This is what he did.

Glasses

Our condo association traditionally has a Memorial Day potluck our in our common backyard area. This year's celebration was unseasonably cold! It barely got to the low 60s F accompanied by a brisk wind! We made the best of it, though; everyone bundled up, ate quickly, and we fired up our backyard fire pit. While the pit does provide warmth, our north facing windows get bombarded with smoke.

As night fell and we gathered around the firepit, Jack mugged for the camera wearing a pair of hip glasses from a guest. He's sitting with my attractive wife who was enjoying a much deserved beer after eight months of pregnancy.

Rabbit Ears

Jack brings home a lot of artwork from preschool. Today he brought home some cool rabbit ears. My attractive wife snapped this picture with yours truly in the background. Nice haberdashery, Jack!

Playground

Our weekend routine includes a visit to the local city park (or, Parky, as Jack calls it) after breakfast. Today, we ran into Jack's best friend James. Jack and James have known each other since they were each six months old. They went to the same day care and now preschool. At preschool, the teachers say they behave like siblings. They have so much fun together.

Music

We have a cool neighbor, Bert, who is a musician. Now that the weather is finally warming up in northern California, our condo association neighbors are spending more time in our common backyard area. When we are out there, Jack likes to knock on Bert's sliding glass door and ask to play his piano. Bert is a jazz drummer by trade but plays guitar and piano too. While Jack plays the piano, Bert plays the guitar. What is remarkable is how Jack and Bert play off each other. At his age, all Jack knows is rhythm; while banging on the piano keys, Bert will strum chords on the guitar at the same rate. When I watched them, Jack slowed down and so did Bert. Then Bert sped up and Jack followed suit. Jack's first jam session!

Olives

Jack has a fondness for olives. His favorite trick is putting an olive on each finger and then eating each one. Our neighbor, Dewey, provided the yummy olives for this go around.

Goatee and Tats

This evening when I got home from work, I found Jack running around the house without a shirt on. He quickly found some of his washable markers and started drawing on himself. When he started drawing around his mouth, I picked up another marker and drew a goatee on him as well as an anchor tattoo on left arm. It all came off the bath.

Jack Meets Baby Sister!

The hospital where Jack's sister remains in the Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) finally lifted the ban on visitors under 16 years of age (based on concerns with the swine flu). On Sunday, we took Jack to visit and meet Stephanie. For the most part, she remained asleep but Jack was excited to meet her nonetheless.

Clone Trooper

Jack loves Star Wars: Clone Wars on Cartoon Network. A couple of years ago, Jack's godfather, Victor, sent us a Clone Trooper helmet. During this particular episode, Jack asked to wear the helmet. His journey to the Dark Side is complete. Heh.

Picture of Baby Sister

I went to the NICU to visit Jack's baby sister and much to my surprise she opened her eyes! The attending nurse snapped a picture with their electronic camera and gave me a hard copy to take home. When Jack saw the picture he was very excited. We snapped this picture of him holding the picture of his baby sister.

Playground Girl Friend

Jack has a cute Asian girlfriend! Well, at least that's my story. He met her a last week at the playground and they played together for quite a time. Then, a few days ago, we saw her again and they hung out. Jack's entire pick up line was, "Hi," and a smile. Enjoy it while it lasts, buddy.

Sister!

Say it like Darth Vader in Episode VI: "Sister!

Last Monday, Jack's attractive mom gave birth by C Section to his new baby sister, Stephanie! She arrived six weeks early so, for now, Mommy and Baby Sister are still at the hospital for a while. Also, Jack is banned from the hospital because he is sick with an eye and ear infection.


For now, Baby Sister is somewhat abstract. I've shown Jack pictures but I get the sense he's waiting for her to arrive home before he accepts her. When I told him her name, he said, "Sesame." There's a nickname there somewhere.

James' Birthday

On April 26 Jack and I went to his playmate James' third birthday party. Jack's third was held at Chuck E. Cheese's but James' was held at Super Frank's Adventure Club. From the get go, I could see Frank's was a much better venue. The toddler play area is walled off from the rest of the facility and has much friendlier toys, including a giant inflated slide. The area also has luxurious leather recliners for the parents. How did I not know about this place?

Jack and James cruise the Toddler Area in their sweet rides.

Like Chuck's there is an area with video games which spew tickets which can be redeemed for gifts and toys but it's comfortably walled off from the toddler area. There also glow in the dark miniature golf but Jack is too young for that.

Enjoying Super Frank's fine board of fare.

Jack and James had a grand time running around the toddler play area, using the inflated slide, eating pizza and cake.

Trifecta

Well, it's been a helluva week. The attractive wife is still on bed rest at the hospital. The baby is doing fine although my wife is going stir crazy. During her first 48 hours in the hospital, she was hooked up to several IVs: magnesium (for the contractions), two types of antibiotics (to prevent potential infection) and a glucose (for hydration). The magnesium in particular had terrible side-effects: dry mouth, a burning sensation at the IV site, and general levels of crappiness. After 48 hours, the doctors were pleased that her contractions were under control and took her off the magnesium. Almost immediately, she began to feel better.

By mid-week, she was on oral antibiotics and anti-contraction medication. Yesterday, the took the hydration IV away (although she maintains a saline lock on her arm in case another IV is needed). Also, our doctor weighed in that the baby was ready to come out, via cesarean section, on Monday (which corresponds to 34 weeks gestation). As of the last ultrasound, the baby is breech (feet down) so the safest route is a C Section.

Jack has been a trouper throughout. At first, we were making daily visits to the hospital but by mid-week, concerns about the spread of Swine Flu put the hospital on lock down: no more than two visitors at a time and no visitors under the age of 16. So for the last few days, he's been asking why he couldn't go see mommy. I keep telling him she has to rest to prepare for the arrival of baby sister or (lamely) that the hospital is closed.

Jack adjusting TV channels for Mommy before being banished from the hospital

To make matters worse, Jack came down with another viral infection late in the week. Today he stared a bad cough and a mild fever. I took him to the after hours clinic and the doctor who saw him said his lungs sounded fine but that he likely would get worse before he got better. Damn.

Potty Progress!

So my slacker plan to outsource potty training via preschool is showing some results. Over the last week, Jack has asked to go to the potty several times at home. When I do the pick up at preschool, I get a mini-report card of the day's activities which include diaper changes and/or successful potty events. I wildly praise Jack when I read about him going to the potty at preschool.

The first time he did it at home, I raced him to the bathroom, pulled down the pull-ups and boom, he's making a hole in one (#1, that is). More wild praise, which he enjoys. Two nights ago, while outside with the neighbors, I caught Jack developing that far away look that usually heralds a bowel movement. "Jack, do you need to go poopies?" I yell. "No, I don't," he says a couple times. Then, "I need to go." I rushed him inside but had a false alarm. "I was just gassies," he says. Back outside we go. Then he says he has to go again. We rush inside but another false alarm. After his bath we try again but it's #1. Still, not bad.

Tonight, my friend Herschel came over to help me out. I picked up some Asian food (Yan Can Cook) and we all ate and watched Tivo'd espisodes of Star Wars: Clone Wars. For someone who claims he hates kids, Herschel has a fondness for Jack and Jack loves him. Maybe because it's clear, at three and half, that Jack is gonna like SciFi. We three get along famously. Jack shows off his potty skills again. Then I get a phone call from a Toyota dealership I'm courting regarding the availability of a 2009 Sienna. I decide to take the call. Sure enough, Jack announces another potty event. To my complete shock, Herschel says he'll help. As I'm on the phone, I hear a, "Whoa!" from the bathroom followed by a flush. Jack comes rushing into the kitchen announcing, "Daddy, I went poopies!" Wow. We're getting somewhere!