Saturday, April 26, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Samuel Ignatius Johnston
He has come.
The contractions started to become more intense around 3:30pm, so we decided to head to the hospital. They admitted us at 4pm and took us to our Labor and Delivery Room. Lauren was doing great with the contractions and she measured at 5cm when we arrived. The contractions were getting stronger by the minute, so we decided to do the epideral. I had to leave the room during the process, but I came back and Lauren had a nice big smile on her face. She could not feel any more contractions.
Two hours later, we had the parade of visitors and Lauren had a huge smile on her face with every one of them. All of them commented on her great attitude. The doctor came back at 6pm and measured her at the same 5cm. So, doctor decided to burst her bag to hurry up the delivery.
Two hours later, nothing had progressed so she decided to start her on the petocin...
Finally, at 11:26 doctor decided to have Lauren start pushing. It looked like Lauren was doing great, but two hours later, the head was still not coming out. The baby's head should be face down to get through the pelvis, but Sammy was looking to the side a little, which was stopping him from going all the way through. The doctor came back (from being awakened from a slumber) and decided to move things a little faster. She helped Lauren go a little faster and at 1:51, little Sammy Johnston entered the world.
Tears could not be held back from Lauren and I. I was nervous, at first, because doctor asked the NICU team to be there because Sammy's heart rate was climbing up to 200 bpm. When he came out, his head was elongated because of the prolonged pushing session, and I was scared some permanent damage was done. But, apparently this is my first birth because no one else was concerned.
He came it at six pounds, one ounce and nineteen inches long. A tall, skinny fella'.
Mommy is sore, but she is recovering nicely. We are all enjoying our new gift. Thanks for all the prayers...they were answered.
The contractions started to become more intense around 3:30pm, so we decided to head to the hospital. They admitted us at 4pm and took us to our Labor and Delivery Room. Lauren was doing great with the contractions and she measured at 5cm when we arrived. The contractions were getting stronger by the minute, so we decided to do the epideral. I had to leave the room during the process, but I came back and Lauren had a nice big smile on her face. She could not feel any more contractions.
Two hours later, we had the parade of visitors and Lauren had a huge smile on her face with every one of them. All of them commented on her great attitude. The doctor came back at 6pm and measured her at the same 5cm. So, doctor decided to burst her bag to hurry up the delivery.
Two hours later, nothing had progressed so she decided to start her on the petocin...
Finally, at 11:26 doctor decided to have Lauren start pushing. It looked like Lauren was doing great, but two hours later, the head was still not coming out. The baby's head should be face down to get through the pelvis, but Sammy was looking to the side a little, which was stopping him from going all the way through. The doctor came back (from being awakened from a slumber) and decided to move things a little faster. She helped Lauren go a little faster and at 1:51, little Sammy Johnston entered the world.
Tears could not be held back from Lauren and I. I was nervous, at first, because doctor asked the NICU team to be there because Sammy's heart rate was climbing up to 200 bpm. When he came out, his head was elongated because of the prolonged pushing session, and I was scared some permanent damage was done. But, apparently this is my first birth because no one else was concerned.
He came it at six pounds, one ounce and nineteen inches long. A tall, skinny fella'.
Mommy is sore, but she is recovering nicely. We are all enjoying our new gift. Thanks for all the prayers...they were answered.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
He's Coming!
It looks like Sammy wants out. Contractions started this morning and it looks like we will be headed to the hospital soon. Our regular doctor visit was this morning (thank God) and she said Lauren was 3-4 centimeters dialated and everything look good on the monitors. If the contractions got worse today, then we should go in tonight. If not, then tomorrow morning for sure. Well, it looks like the contractions are progressing, so tonight it will be.
Wish us luck!
Wish us luck!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Bottom of the 7th...
...down by 11 runs...no chance, right?
We start slow with a run here and a run there. Eventually, there are two outs and I'm gonna be third up...we are down six runs...bases loaded. I'm thinking...there's no way I'll get up...BOOM...Ed hits a grand slam...down by two. Rudy gets up...dings a triple to right center. Crap...now I'm up..."just don't blow it" is racing through my head. I hit a sharp grounder to the hole between third and short, but the shortstop makes a great play...but Rudy deeks him by faking to home...stalling him just enough for me to dash to first (bum toe and all) and beat out the throw by a half step.
So now the deuces are wild...two outs, two on base, down by two. Chuck is at the plate. I see the pitch go up...and I see Chuck's eyes light up...I sprint to second, knowing he's gonna go for it. He hits a line drive over shortstop. I'm knowing that I will tie the game, but when I touch home plate I turn around and see the ball went in between the outfielders and Chuck is hustling home. WALK OFF HOME RUN!
We win! Our first victory in about six months. It feels good to be on the winning side for a change.
We start slow with a run here and a run there. Eventually, there are two outs and I'm gonna be third up...we are down six runs...bases loaded. I'm thinking...there's no way I'll get up...BOOM...Ed hits a grand slam...down by two. Rudy gets up...dings a triple to right center. Crap...now I'm up..."just don't blow it" is racing through my head. I hit a sharp grounder to the hole between third and short, but the shortstop makes a great play...but Rudy deeks him by faking to home...stalling him just enough for me to dash to first (bum toe and all) and beat out the throw by a half step.
So now the deuces are wild...two outs, two on base, down by two. Chuck is at the plate. I see the pitch go up...and I see Chuck's eyes light up...I sprint to second, knowing he's gonna go for it. He hits a line drive over shortstop. I'm knowing that I will tie the game, but when I touch home plate I turn around and see the ball went in between the outfielders and Chuck is hustling home. WALK OFF HOME RUN!
We win! Our first victory in about six months. It feels good to be on the winning side for a change.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Still waiting...
Lauren's guess date is tomorrow, but it does not look like it will happen, even though Sammy is positioning himself for the big dive. He woke mommy up early this morning with his daybreak calisthenics. It feels like he is doing the back stroke.
Baby watch 2008 continues...
Baby watch 2008 continues...
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The Countdown Starts...
I can't believe it has been a month since my last post. Sorry everyone (if anyone is paying attention).
We went to the doctor today and Sammy measured 6lbs. 10 oz. Everything looks right on schedule. Lauren's birthday prediction was this Saturday, but that definitely does not look like it will happen. My prediction of May 6 is looking better everyday. Sammy wanted some IHOP, so we both ate some Rooty Tooty Fresh and Frooties for lunch.
Our house is officially a disaster area. We have been moving furniture and putting new furniture together. We are scrambling before the third part of the family arrives. Today is Independence Day, so there should be a lot more time starting tomorrow.
Lauren is feeling great and looking even better. Everyone says pregnancy suits her well. She might just get her wish in the coming months.
We went to the doctor today and Sammy measured 6lbs. 10 oz. Everything looks right on schedule. Lauren's birthday prediction was this Saturday, but that definitely does not look like it will happen. My prediction of May 6 is looking better everyday. Sammy wanted some IHOP, so we both ate some Rooty Tooty Fresh and Frooties for lunch.
Our house is officially a disaster area. We have been moving furniture and putting new furniture together. We are scrambling before the third part of the family arrives. Today is Independence Day, so there should be a lot more time starting tomorrow.
Lauren is feeling great and looking even better. Everyone says pregnancy suits her well. She might just get her wish in the coming months.
Friday, March 14, 2008
50 days and counting...
Well, we are almost there...tomorrow will be an even 7 weeks to the due date. However, Lauren is predicting April 19 to be the day our little boy sees daylight. She is claiming motherly instinct...and also hoping against hope because of our big baby genes. That is also Fiesta weekend...another big weekend where something always seems to happen.
I'm predicting May 6...we'll see who is closer.
So...instead of 50 days...it's between 36 and 54 days...take your pick.
I'm predicting May 6...we'll see who is closer.
So...instead of 50 days...it's between 36 and 54 days...take your pick.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Fore!
Went golfing on Sunday...got sunburned. I also lost three balls. Not a good day, but a fun one. FYI...golfing with a hangover is not a good idea. The only cure is three Tecates on the front nine...and that is exactly what we did. Hair of the dog!!
Golf is another reason for the greatness of spring. As the PGA tour gears up for the Master's, I gear up in my own way...losing golf balls with a flair. I never thought I would be one to watch golf on television, but it is easy to lose an afternoon watching Tiger, Phil and crew spend some time on the links. Watching brings a sense of calm to me...I would even call it mindless bliss.
I'm getting old.
Golf is another reason for the greatness of spring. As the PGA tour gears up for the Master's, I gear up in my own way...losing golf balls with a flair. I never thought I would be one to watch golf on television, but it is easy to lose an afternoon watching Tiger, Phil and crew spend some time on the links. Watching brings a sense of calm to me...I would even call it mindless bliss.
I'm getting old.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Matthew Kelly inspiration
The Beauty of Friendship
There is nothing more beautiful in this life than a good friendship. When I was a teenager, my father held out his hand, spread his five fingers wide, and said to me, "If you find five true friends in your lifetime, you will have lived a life infinitely blessed." At the time, I thought it was a little strange because I had so many friends, but as the years have passed, my father's wisdom has become more and more apparent.
Friendship
The question I have struggled with over the years is, "What constitutes a true friend?" Perhaps it would be helpful for you to pause for a moment and reflect. Who are your true friends? What makes them good friends?
As a child, I thought friendship was about hanging out together all the time and sticking up for each other when others were critical or cruel. In my adolescence, I thought a true friend was someone who liked everything you liked and never did anything to upset you. But as an adult, I have learned that the defining quality of a true friendship is when the other person encourages you to be all you can be, challenges you to become the-best-version-of-yourself, and vice versa.
What sort of people do you like being with? What types of people give you energy?
As I look at my life and my years of traveling, there are certain people who I yearn to spend time with. Some days, as I walk through the airport and look at the television monitors to see which gate my flight is leaving from, I look at the list of cities and one will catch my eye. For a moment, I wish I were going to that city. Why? Because there is someone in that city who inspires and energizes me to be all I can be.
I love being around people who are constantly striving to better themselves. They energize me. They inspire me. They challenge me.
Socially, I try to surround myself with people who make me want to be a better person. I admit they are not easy to find, but when you do find them, they are more precious than any treasure or pleasure this world has to offer.
If you want a litmus test for choosing friends, use this question: Will spending time with this person make me want to be a better person?
Spiritual Friends & Loneliness
I try to apply this truth not only to my social life, but also to my spiritual life. This is why the saints are such good friends. They challenge us to become all we can be and encourage us to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. But the real beauty is found in their method. They don't preach endless sermons, and they don't try to impose their views on others - they challenge, inspire, and encourage us simply by living their own lives to the fullest. That is the social dynamic of holiness. It is attractive, and it is contagious.
If you and I sit down at lunch and you order soup and a salad, it makes me think twice about ordering a double cheeseburger with bacon and fries. If my friends are going to the gym after work, I feel that inner nudge to work out myself. If a colleague is honest and humble about a mistake he has made, I am humbled by his example of humility.
Goodness is contagious. The problem is, so is evil. The challenge for you and me, as Christians in the midst of the modern world, is to be examples of good living.
None of us realize how much we influence others. Everything you do, people are watching, and everything you say, people are listening. The influence of your words and actions is contributing to the way they live their lives. In A Call to Joy, I wrote, "You will learn more from your friends than you ever will from books. Choose your friends wisely."
This is why the saints are such treasures. They may have lived in another place and time, but they can be true friends. I'd rather spend a couple of hours with Francis of Assisi and Teresa of Avila than with some of my contemporaries on a Friday night getting drunk. I'd much rather spend time with dead people who inspire me to be all I can be than with live people who lead me to be just a shadow of all God created me to be.
I promise you, it is better to spend time with dead people who bring you to life than with live people who lead you to death.
From time to time, I meet people who are dating a person they know they don't want to spend the rest of their lives with. If you ask them why, they say it is because they don't like being alone. I have learned it is better to be alone than with the wrong person.
Don't be afraid of your loneliness. Use it as an opportunity to befriend people who inspire you. Harness your loneliness as a chance to befriend the saints.
There is nothing more beautiful in this life than a good friendship. When I was a teenager, my father held out his hand, spread his five fingers wide, and said to me, "If you find five true friends in your lifetime, you will have lived a life infinitely blessed." At the time, I thought it was a little strange because I had so many friends, but as the years have passed, my father's wisdom has become more and more apparent.
Friendship
The question I have struggled with over the years is, "What constitutes a true friend?" Perhaps it would be helpful for you to pause for a moment and reflect. Who are your true friends? What makes them good friends?
As a child, I thought friendship was about hanging out together all the time and sticking up for each other when others were critical or cruel. In my adolescence, I thought a true friend was someone who liked everything you liked and never did anything to upset you. But as an adult, I have learned that the defining quality of a true friendship is when the other person encourages you to be all you can be, challenges you to become the-best-version-of-yourself, and vice versa.
What sort of people do you like being with? What types of people give you energy?
As I look at my life and my years of traveling, there are certain people who I yearn to spend time with. Some days, as I walk through the airport and look at the television monitors to see which gate my flight is leaving from, I look at the list of cities and one will catch my eye. For a moment, I wish I were going to that city. Why? Because there is someone in that city who inspires and energizes me to be all I can be.
I love being around people who are constantly striving to better themselves. They energize me. They inspire me. They challenge me.
Socially, I try to surround myself with people who make me want to be a better person. I admit they are not easy to find, but when you do find them, they are more precious than any treasure or pleasure this world has to offer.
If you want a litmus test for choosing friends, use this question: Will spending time with this person make me want to be a better person?
Spiritual Friends & Loneliness
I try to apply this truth not only to my social life, but also to my spiritual life. This is why the saints are such good friends. They challenge us to become all we can be and encourage us to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. But the real beauty is found in their method. They don't preach endless sermons, and they don't try to impose their views on others - they challenge, inspire, and encourage us simply by living their own lives to the fullest. That is the social dynamic of holiness. It is attractive, and it is contagious.
If you and I sit down at lunch and you order soup and a salad, it makes me think twice about ordering a double cheeseburger with bacon and fries. If my friends are going to the gym after work, I feel that inner nudge to work out myself. If a colleague is honest and humble about a mistake he has made, I am humbled by his example of humility.
Goodness is contagious. The problem is, so is evil. The challenge for you and me, as Christians in the midst of the modern world, is to be examples of good living.
None of us realize how much we influence others. Everything you do, people are watching, and everything you say, people are listening. The influence of your words and actions is contributing to the way they live their lives. In A Call to Joy, I wrote, "You will learn more from your friends than you ever will from books. Choose your friends wisely."
This is why the saints are such treasures. They may have lived in another place and time, but they can be true friends. I'd rather spend a couple of hours with Francis of Assisi and Teresa of Avila than with some of my contemporaries on a Friday night getting drunk. I'd much rather spend time with dead people who inspire me to be all I can be than with live people who lead me to be just a shadow of all God created me to be.
I promise you, it is better to spend time with dead people who bring you to life than with live people who lead you to death.
From time to time, I meet people who are dating a person they know they don't want to spend the rest of their lives with. If you ask them why, they say it is because they don't like being alone. I have learned it is better to be alone than with the wrong person.
Don't be afraid of your loneliness. Use it as an opportunity to befriend people who inspire you. Harness your loneliness as a chance to befriend the saints.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
