Getting Back to Normal and Naming Molly

Things are finally settling down at the Keogh household. The addition of Molly and having sick boys has been a lot of work. The good news is that the boys are on the upswing, Molly is sleeping better at night, and Marathon Girl is recovering well from labor and delivery. Despite a very busy schedule and little or no sleep I’ve been so incredibly happy the last week. It is so wonderful to have a little girl to hold in my arms. It’s been something I’ve wanted for so long and it feels so nice to have a girl who can grip my finger, smile, and nuzzle her face into my chest. I love Molly so much. I’m glad she arrived healthy and well.

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Several people asked how we came up with the name Molly. It’s actually one of Marathon Girl’s favorite girl names. And since I didn’t have any objections to the name (i.e., I didn’t know anyone named Molly that I associated negatively with the name, the name wasn’t overly popular, etc.) I was okay with it. We've had the name in the cooker for a long time and would have named one of our first two children Molly if either of them had been a girl. I even wrote a poem titled To Aidan or Molly four years ago in the waiting room of the doctor's office -- right before we found out our first child was a boy. (I just realized I haven't posted this poem on my website yet. I'll have to see if I can find it.)

What Happened to Six Packs?

Because we’re runners, Marathon Girl and I don’t drink much soda pop. Since we’ve been married, I can count on one hand the number of times we’ve gone to the grocery store and ended up with something carbonated in our cart. The only time we might have something carbonated is on the occasion when we go out to eat. Even then we’re more likely to order water than anything else. The day we brought Molly home from the hospital, I came down with the stomach flu. (It has now spread to the boys though Marathon Girl and Molly – thankfully – seem unaffected.) Needing something that would help settle my stomach, I went to our local grocery store for a six pack of 7up. I guess it’s been awhile since I seriously pursued the soda pop aisle because, to my surprise, they don’t sell six packs of any type of soda pop anymore. You can either buy two liters or a refrigerator pack that contain 12 or 24 cans. Not a fan of two liters because they quick loose their fizz (it’s the fizz that really settles my stomach) and thinking that even twelve cans was way more than I needed, I drove to another nearby store and discovered they don’t sell six packs either. This second store did sell six 20-ounce plastic bottles of pop, but quantity wise that was still more than I needed.

I don’t know if this is just a local thing or if it’s something that’s gone national, but I really miss having the six pack option. Maybe people drink more soda pop and therefore more convenient to buy the large refrigerator packs. It’s been so long since I’ve purchased soda pop on a regular basis, I have a hard time seeing myself buying that much.

I ended up purchasing a refrigerator pack of 12 (which was a good move with Aidan and Steven getting the stomach flu yesterday) but still think that wee have way more than we need.  This is good news for Aidan and Steven seeing that they might have some pop to drink long after they’re feeling better.

Molly

Molly arrived about 3:30 this morning. She was 20 inches long and weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz. -- not bad for being three weeks early. Both mom and baby are doing well.

Contractions Are Like Running a Marathon Everyday

Marathon Girl, my wonderful wife who has done such physically punishing things such as running a marathon on a broken leg, is beat. Friday night we went in to the hospital again thinking our little girl was on her way. Contractions were intense and 2-3 minutes apart. We were sent home three hours later and told that she wasn’t in active labor. The contractions finally stopped around midnight but resumed on Saturday afternoon for five hours, resumed for several more hours this afternoon then stopped around bedtime. The on and off again contractions are draining her both emotionally and physically. The only time I’ve seen Marathon Girl this beat is after running a marathon. We need this baby to come soon. We have a doctor’s appointment Monday afternoon. Hopefully we’ll have some more good news (like an induction date) or maybe these contractions will finally into active labor. I hope to have good news soon.

Happy Thanksgiving

If anyone knows any labor-inducing Thanksgiving foods, Marathon Girl wants the recipe. Nothing would make her happier than having the baby this weekend. Yes, the baby would be three weeks early but right now she doesn’t care. Since it’s hard to sleep or do just about anything else, Marathon Girl is ready to be done. Providing that Marathon Girl doesn't go into labor our plans tomorrow include playing in the annual neighborhood Turkey Bowl tomorrow morning (I'll be doing that, not MG) then we’re off to spend the holiday with loved ones.

Hope you all have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

News Photos Can Be Cool

This is one of the best news photographs I've seen in years. I hope the guy who took it wins an award.

 

South Korean farmers hold torchlights as they try to enter government building during an anti-FTA and anti-government protest Wednesday near Seoul.

Baby Update

Contractions have started back up but their not regular or very strong. Baby is still head down but her body has moved up in the uterus. When we asked the doctor this afternoon when he thought the baby would come, he just shrugged his shoulders. Maybe we’ll be going to my parent’s home for Thanksgiving after all this year.

The End of the Line for Michael Richards

Apparently Michael Richards doesn’t just play a loser on TV. He’s a loser in real life as well.

Friday night appearance by Richards at the Los Angeles Laugh Factory got ugly fast when Richards responded to hecklers by screaming at the audience, shouting a racial slur repeatedly and clearly referencing lynching. The audience reacted angrily, and Richards walked off stage…. 

I thought his career had already bottomed out. I was wrong.

Enduring to the End

Marathon Girl's contractions seem to have stopped – ironically at the same time that the doctor would have let her deliver the baby had the contractions continued. As of now we have no idea when the bundle of joy will arrive. Tomorrow. Thanksgiving Day. Two weeks from now. Who knows! The good news is that when the baby decides to arrive, she's been in the oven long enough that she should come out healthy and well.

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I've spent the weekend making edits on the last few chapters of my book. (I can't wait until it's published!) I love reading those chapters because it reminds me how fortunate I am to have Marathon Girl as my wife. There were so many things that could have derailed our relationship if we had let them. Yet despite the hardships we endured there was a determination from both of us to make our relationship successful. After one particularly difficult incident I held Marathon Girl in my arms and asked her if she wanted to continue being with me. I told there would probably be more trying days in our future. Marathon Girl looked up at me and said that she was wanted things to work out between us and wasn't willing to give up just because we had a difficult day and some rather unique issues to deal with. It was that moment that I realized we were the only ones that could determine if things were going to work out between us. It didn't matter the issues either of us brought to the relationship, so long as we were willing to work together on them.

Thanks to that attitude, we have a wonderful marriage. Different problems have come up over the four years we've been together but we've worked through each one successfully because we want to be together and want our marriage to endure. The difficulties we've encountered have made our union stronger and brought us closer together as a couple.

So, thank you, Marathon Girl, for letting me know you weren't about to give up when we hit a speed bump all those years ago. I owe all my happiness to your patience and love. I can't imagine my life without you.

No Baby...Yet

Good news. The contractions have been slowed down and Marathon Girl is back at home – albeit on strict bed rest. Had a visit with the doctor this morning and he said as long as the baby can wait until after Sunday, it should be okay to deliver her early if the contractions start up again. A lady from church is helping out Marathon Girl today and my mom will be in town for a few days tomorrow. The boys are happy to be back at home with Mom and Dad. They love their grandparents but miss being with us. Last night they didn’t want to stop hugging Marathon Girl and playing with Dad.

Hopefully the contractions will stop or the baby will come soon.  Marathon Girl’s going stir crazy being in bed all the time. Here’s hoping things go well the next few days.