Well, it's now been two weeks since Rocky arrived and so far, so good. We're starting to settle down into a new routine together of eating, changing, cleaning, washing, crashing and sleeping. Rocky seems to be very healthy. Lots of people who see him are saying that he is strong and alert and that is encouraging. It's also encouraging to meet people who tell us that we are doing well because half the time we don't believe that. Every problem that we meet for the first time seems like a big deal. The hardest part of the last few days has been the wind. Alex has been terrible since the operation. No, seriously, we're having to learn all the tricks of dealing with a baby who's main aim in life is to have a good burp.
Sleeping has been ok as Rocky only wakes up about twice a night, once at 1ish and once at 4ish. This means that Alex is slowly getting more energy to get better with and I still feel like a human being. We're starting to work now on getting into something of a morning routine so that I can get back to work a bit more. I'm preaching all day Sunday, so that will be something of a challenge.
31 October, 2007
23 October, 2007
Home
We're home. With much relief. We got home about 6pm last night. Cooked Alex some home made pasta.
Our first night with the boy in the house was fairly uneventful, feeds at 11, 12.30 and 3, and we both feel like we got some good sleep.
We're just going to take it easy through the next few days, get used to things, allow Alex to keep healing.
22 October, 2007
Family news
Alex and Rocky are still in hospital, but we're starting to think towards coming home now. Rocky is healthy, everything seems to be in working order, he peed on my hand last night as I was trying to change his nappy, which has to be a good sign. Alex is slowly getting a bit better every day.
The wonder of Same Difference
Ok, i don't know what this says about me, apart from the fact that my routine is completely all over the place by Alex and Rocky still being in hospital, but I've just woken myself up at 6.30am on a monday morning with a genuine desire to blog about the X-factor. I think it's because I watched it last night at about 9pm on video and usually I get to debrief with my sister Hannah on the phone but there was no one to talk to. So internet, I'm talking to you.
Apart from the obvious comments such as Kimberley was robbed, how did Leon not get in the bottom 2? and that the favourites would have to be Rhyd followed by Niki, Hope, Futureproof and the over 25 bloke that looks like he's out of blue (not because he was good, but because he has a natural appeal to mums.) And that I wouldn't like to have to perform after Rhyd on any week, or on the X-factor tour because you would get shown up. Apart from all that, I want to talk about the many wonders of Same Difference.
I am totally on the bandwagon for these two. I don't think that they will win, but they are so much fun. I genuinely laugh when I am watching them, in a good way.
This is what I like best about them, the worst thing about the X factor is how it hollows out language of desire. I find it frustrating to listen to lots of people all real off the same cliches about 'how much they want it' and making pledges of how hard they will work and stuff. It's like they're trying to have a genuine relationship with someone but only quoting boy band lyrics. What I like about Same Difference is clearly they 'want it', look into her eyes, and they want it so bad that they're always seeming on the brink of falling into being completely barking mad because of it, but at the same time it feels like what they want is to be happy and to make other people happy. It's simple and I like them for it.
Also, I was interested to note Simon Cowell's explanation for why they are in the final, because Louis's comparison to the McDonald brothers is fair enough on the surface, with both being supercheesy, but Simon was right and Louis was wrong the minute that he pointed out that High School Musical is the biggest pop group in the world and that Same Difference will appeal to the same audience. And he's obviously right, the McDonalds, although fun in their way, we're old fashioned cheese, like a stilton, but Same Difference are like cheesestrings, obviously going to be no good for you but tasty all the same. mmmm. monosodium glutomate.
Apart from the obvious comments such as Kimberley was robbed, how did Leon not get in the bottom 2? and that the favourites would have to be Rhyd followed by Niki, Hope, Futureproof and the over 25 bloke that looks like he's out of blue (not because he was good, but because he has a natural appeal to mums.) And that I wouldn't like to have to perform after Rhyd on any week, or on the X-factor tour because you would get shown up. Apart from all that, I want to talk about the many wonders of Same Difference.
I am totally on the bandwagon for these two. I don't think that they will win, but they are so much fun. I genuinely laugh when I am watching them, in a good way.
This is what I like best about them, the worst thing about the X factor is how it hollows out language of desire. I find it frustrating to listen to lots of people all real off the same cliches about 'how much they want it' and making pledges of how hard they will work and stuff. It's like they're trying to have a genuine relationship with someone but only quoting boy band lyrics. What I like about Same Difference is clearly they 'want it', look into her eyes, and they want it so bad that they're always seeming on the brink of falling into being completely barking mad because of it, but at the same time it feels like what they want is to be happy and to make other people happy. It's simple and I like them for it.
Also, I was interested to note Simon Cowell's explanation for why they are in the final, because Louis's comparison to the McDonald brothers is fair enough on the surface, with both being supercheesy, but Simon was right and Louis was wrong the minute that he pointed out that High School Musical is the biggest pop group in the world and that Same Difference will appeal to the same audience. And he's obviously right, the McDonalds, although fun in their way, we're old fashioned cheese, like a stilton, but Same Difference are like cheesestrings, obviously going to be no good for you but tasty all the same. mmmm. monosodium glutomate.
17 October, 2007
Rocky Dietrich Travers: born 17th October 2007
We're so excited to be able to announce that Rocky Dietrich Travers was born today at 9.26am at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth. He came in weighing 8 pounds 15 ounces.
He didn't come easily in the end. As soon as we got to hospital it was clear that there were complications. Alex had a fast and furious labour, starting at 4am and experiencing virtually constant contractions by 8.30am. It was clear that baby's heartbeat was slowing down with each contraction, so an emergency caesarian section took place at 9.15 with Alex under a general anaesthetic. It turned out that Rocky had managed to wrap the cord 3 times around his neck.
However, mum and baby are both doing fine. They'll be in the hospital for a couple of days for Alex's sake, but it looks like things are going well.
We want to give thanks to our God, who gave us real peace in a stressful situation and who protected mum and baby.
We also want to give thanks to all the staff at Derriford maternity unit. Derriford hospital can sometimes be viewed as a running joke/laughing stock in Plymouth, but the staff who served us today worked with incredible professionalism, care and compassion. They were nothing short of brilliant and Rocky would not have survived without them.
He didn't come easily in the end. As soon as we got to hospital it was clear that there were complications. Alex had a fast and furious labour, starting at 4am and experiencing virtually constant contractions by 8.30am. It was clear that baby's heartbeat was slowing down with each contraction, so an emergency caesarian section took place at 9.15 with Alex under a general anaesthetic. It turned out that Rocky had managed to wrap the cord 3 times around his neck.
However, mum and baby are both doing fine. They'll be in the hospital for a couple of days for Alex's sake, but it looks like things are going well.
We want to give thanks to our God, who gave us real peace in a stressful situation and who protected mum and baby.
We also want to give thanks to all the staff at Derriford maternity unit. Derriford hospital can sometimes be viewed as a running joke/laughing stock in Plymouth, but the staff who served us today worked with incredible professionalism, care and compassion. They were nothing short of brilliant and Rocky would not have survived without them.
11 October, 2007
You tube-ry
Haven't added any you tube clips for a while.
As a celebration of the baseball playoffs, here is the greatest ever fictional home run in history.
This is Teenage Fanclub at Glastonbury 93, just because I was there.
Don't usually care for bushisms, but this is something else.
And this is just a little taste of why Studio 60 is so great, with added Spanish subtitles.
As a celebration of the baseball playoffs, here is the greatest ever fictional home run in history.
This is Teenage Fanclub at Glastonbury 93, just because I was there.
Don't usually care for bushisms, but this is something else.
And this is just a little taste of why Studio 60 is so great, with added Spanish subtitles.
10 October, 2007
Past due date...
For anyone reading, baby still hasn't made an appearance yet and is now officially beyond due date. Both he and Alex are well. Alex went to the midwife yesterday and heartbeat and movements are good.
We're spending our time as productively as possible. Alex is on a mission to clean. We're reading hard times by Dickens, watching the baseball playoffs, talking about politics, going for walks on mountbatten pier. I spent some time working this morning on my busker renditions of 'I will survive' and 'How deep is your love'. Sleeping when we can.
We're just waiting. Ready and waiting.
We're spending our time as productively as possible. Alex is on a mission to clean. We're reading hard times by Dickens, watching the baseball playoffs, talking about politics, going for walks on mountbatten pier. I spent some time working this morning on my busker renditions of 'I will survive' and 'How deep is your love'. Sleeping when we can.
We're just waiting. Ready and waiting.
In Rainbows
Listening to the new Radiohead album for the first time here. Like the two tracks I have heard so far.
I paid £5 for the download. Partly because I like Radiohead, but wouldn't buy an album at full price, would've either not bought or would've waited for a sale. Partly because so many albums I like I have bought for that price and partly out of nostalgia for 20 years ago when i had a record player and Woolworths sold vinyl albums for £5 on special offer. I bought Heaven on Earth by Belinda Carlisle and The Christians first album like that. If the customer gets to set the terms, then I want to set them to 1987.
I paid £5 for the download. Partly because I like Radiohead, but wouldn't buy an album at full price, would've either not bought or would've waited for a sale. Partly because so many albums I like I have bought for that price and partly out of nostalgia for 20 years ago when i had a record player and Woolworths sold vinyl albums for £5 on special offer. I bought Heaven on Earth by Belinda Carlisle and The Christians first album like that. If the customer gets to set the terms, then I want to set them to 1987.
03 October, 2007
Waiting...
For anyone reading this, we're still waiting for baby to make an appearance. We have less than a week to due date, so he is not late yet.
We're about as organised as we are probably going to be, bar a new bathroom and stuff... We feel as ready as we're going to be.
So we're waiting, like this spider who was one of the many to frequent our garden this morning. There are lots of spiders in Plymouth at the moment, and of course the dew makes their webs look great.
While we're waiting, we're the following things:
- Into the baseball playoffs while being resigned to the differing ways that the Mets and Orioles (our teams) are useless.
- Into both the x-factor and the new leona lewis single.
- Watching the bringing up baby series on 4 and coming to the conclusion that you need vision and grace to raise a baby. Just like you need vision and grace to do just about anything.
- Enjoying alex's chicken casseroles, and thinking it is time for some home made soup.
- Trying to keep the house tidy.
- Waking up lots in the night needing the loo, if you're Alex. Balancing a magazine on top of the bag of toilet paper on the toilet window shelf if you are Simon, so when Alex needs a new toilet roll at 3am, the magazine lands on her head.
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