Baby: Update
November 16th, 2007Our baby boy was born early this morning (November 16th). He’s beautiful and doing fine. We have named him Owen Thom Flaherty.
Owen gazes at Rebecca
Rebecca had a very hard delivery. Very hard. She is going to be ok. She is recovering in the hospital now.
I won’t be posting to Cryptogon for a while longer. Thanks for understanding.
UPDATE, NOVEMBER 19: Becky, Owen and I could all be home as soon as tomorrow.
UPDATE, NOVEMBER 21: We came home yesterday. Owen is very hungry and demanding and darling, as you might imagine, and Becky is also trying to recover from the physical trauma of the birth. In other words, we’re up to our eyeballs in baby shit as mum is trying to heal. Becky is feeding the baby, recovering and resting. Everything else is up to me. Alison, my mother in law, has been our savior, cooking and bringing us delicious evening meals.
As the world slides into chaos, it’s not economic collapse, war or any of the other usual topics that are on my mind.
It’s laundry.
I miscalculated on the laundry front. Big time. It’s not that it can’t all be done by hand; indeed I’m doing it that way. There’s just not much time for anything else. I’ve been washing, rinsing, wringing and hanging laundry all day today. The garden needs so much attention. The cow needs milking. Cryptogon needs updating. A large tree fell across the fence in one of the goat paddocks. I need to swing the ax on that and repair the fence so we can rotate the goats… And I’m out there doing the laundry by hand. All day.
For nearly two years, my kind mother and father in law have been offering to give us a washing machine. (They have a redundant one.) I’m seriously considering taking them up on the offer. Doing your own wash by hand is one thing, but the baby adds a frightening new dimension to the situation. (Yes, Becky is already trying the no-nappy techniques, and they’re showing great potential.)
It would be nice to say that I was able to do all of his nappies by hand, but that’s about it, really. There would be no gold star for the effort, and my attention is required in so many other places. I don’t like to have to admit it, but I think I’ve hit the wall on that front.
The garden is wilting. I’ve got to get out there while there’s still some light.
I’m going to find a way to dive back in to updates soon. I can do it. It’s a matter of better time management now. Thanks for all of the kind comments and emails. Thanks, again, for your understanding.
Congratulations to the both of you! I’m sure Owen will grow up to be a wonderful human being with such great parents and in such an idyllic and authentic place as the farmlet.
I hope Becky recovers quickly and all three of you are able to come home together very soon!
Best of luck,
Dan
Congratulations to you and your wife for getting through a tough delivery and giving birth to a bouncing baby Scorpio! This is going to become a harsh world in which to be a young person, but little Owen will no doubt have the distinct advantage of knowing what’s really going on and how to deal with it.
Speaking for myself, please take as long as you think best. Your place is not here, but with your wife and son. If I may be of any assistance at all, please feel free to ask. I have had 4, all by vivisection, so I understand.
cybele
Congrats and a speedy recovery.
Michelle
Many congrats, and best of luck.
Salutations & Congratulations
It’s been said already, but do take your time away from here; do you good. The group you attract are with you…
Sorry to hear the birth was so difficult. Nevertheless, congratulations to you both and welcome to the wee one.
I can’t remember if this is your first child or not.
If it’s not, then you probably already know that everything only gets better with the second child! All the hardships and joys, with none of the stress of not knowing…!
If it’s your first child, I’ll just say that children are a huge test, and a huge blessing. They’re truly a magical experience: they bring profound changes into your life that you could never have understood rationally beforehand.
My young children have completely renewed my faith in a just Universe! Everything I thought before was important has become so small now with them in my life. A hole has truly been filled.
Of course, the first six months were Hell. But after that, each stage just gets better and better and better. I just hope your inlaws are close at hand!
Many, many Blessings!
pookie is pink of face, glassy of eye, and twitchy of bod. The diagnosis is CWS — Cryptogon Withdrawal Syndrome. Gawd help her.
WELCOME, Farmer Owen!
All my best to you, Rebecca and Owen. If we know anything, we know that Owen will be well educated, well fed and well loved. 🙂
Kevin,
So glad to hear that all of you are home! That is great news.
Laundry, gardening, chopping trees, and rotating goats, (don’t forget to milk the cow!), all sound like REALLY GOOD THERAPY to shake off the hospital juju experience.
Ugh. I’ve spent enough time in hospitals over the past six years that, well, I dunno. Sometimes I am thankful for the hospitals, but I don’t like them one bit. No matter how loving, kind, life saving, etc. I wash everything that comes home with us. Sometimes I think there are bad spirits that attach to things that have been there.
As Pookie said above – I am also into Cryptogon Withdrawal Syndrome.
A day without Cryptogon is like a day without sunshine for my spirit (the sun in the sky also hasn’t shone here in weeks now it seems).
Alison sounds so wonderful. I for one think you should take the washing machine and USE IT. The inventor of said machine must have been in a similar dilemna when they invented it. No problem using technology as needed.
Happy Homecoming!
E
Congratulations, Kevin. Despite the nappies, you’re a very lucky guy. Have fun with the tyke.
And do you think the markets would collapse without you being around? Relax, the yen is only below 109 today. You too need a break after the last week, so get the washer!
I hope Becky is feeling better.
Yeah, you should use the machine. Back in the old days, you would have had neighbors who knew what you were going through and dealing with to help you out, but seeing as how you’re a pioneer in simplifying your lifestyle, you probably don’t have that option.
Owen sure has intelligent and aware eyes, doesn’t he?
I am putting away food preserved – listening to Kate Bush – Aerial. Song called Mrs. Bartolozzi is all about a washing machine. A love song to a washing machine!
Made me think of you wringing, and rinsing, and wringing. Hope you got the machine!
E