This quote popped into my mind as I watched the dust settle on this election: “I am committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the President.” That was Walden O’Dell, CEO of Diebold, makers of easily hackable voting machines.

Not that I think Ohio’s votes were anything but honest, because I believe that they really were honest. I just think its spooky that he’d say that before Ohio goes and takes the title of Election Battleground away from Florida.

Truth be told, I think the whole electoral college voting is as rigged as a Midway carny game. “Close, but no cigar, kid! Try again, yuk yuk yuk.” I’d like to see direct elections in this country.

Looks like our long national nightmare will continue for another four years.

I had something important to do today. Can’t seem to remember what it is…

Today is the birthday of my mother, Mrs. Old Nole. Please join me in wishing her a very happy day.

You rule, mom!

Haven’t posted anything since we got home. Reason being is the big sleep deficit that we’ve built up since entering the hospital. It doesn’t leave much time for blogging, you know.

Travis spent the first day home being passed around a bit. He seemed calm and sleepy while it was all going on. Friday night, however, he cranked up and demanded to be fed almost all night long. Poor Kelly could barely keep up! We bought a rocking recliner last week and Kelly spent Friday and Saturday night in it, cradling Travis in her arms. She called the chair “our new best friend” for the next few weeks. I’d say it’s already paid for itself.

Last night, however, was heavenly. Up until last night, Travis seemed content to sleep only in someone’s arms. Before going to bed last night, we decided to see how he’d do in his bassinet. So, after Kelly topped him off, I placed the drowsy kid in the bassinet and crossed my fingers. He squeaked a bit here and there, but stayed asleep! It was a blissful three hours later before we heard him smacking on his hand. After a meal, he went another three hours before waking. Yet another hour later, he awoke for another snack, after which Kelly left him snoozing in bed between us. I awoke to see both of them, eyes closed and stretching dreamily next to me.

It’s nice to have Kelly sleeping next to me after a week apart, too. Nevermind that there’s a hungry little boy between us. 🙂

As he and I dozed chest-to-chest on the couch yesterday afternoon, I caught glimpse of his chanigng eye color. A glint of sunlight seemed to throw out a brownish tint. Kelly’s mom Linda agreed. And this morning, his brown eyes are even more apparent. Together with his dark brown hair, he is a handsome young man indeed!

We marvel at his strentgh, too. He is a week old today, and yet he has surprising strentgh in his arms and legs. His neck is super-strong, too: able to pick his head up off your chest and turn it from side to side. Kelly and I were thinking back to how excited we were when Hallie could finally do that. It didn’t take long with Travis.

Mommy and Travis head in today for his first doctor’s appointment. It’ll be interesting to hear his latest weight measurement. The Kid has been working hard to get bigger, so it should show.

Hallie has been quite a moody girl this weekend, too, though she seems much happier now that we’re all under the same roof. When Travis first cried Friday afternoon, Hallie got whiney and looked scared, saying “make Travis happy! He is happy!” again and again. Since that point, she seems to be more accepting of his cries. She’ll still say “he is happy,” but gone is the worried look and the tears.

Hallie also loves to point out the features of her brother. “He does have funny ears!” she’ll say as she points to his little ear. “He does have pretty brown eyes!” was something she said this morning.

We got home to find a giant, 7 foot tall stork sign planted next to our front porch, courtesy of our neighborhood. It has a plaque hanging on front with Travis’s birth statistics painted on it. We get to keep the plaque when the stork moves on to the next new arrival. We think it’s very cool that our neighbors do this for us. If that weren’t enough, they’re lining up to cook us some meals, too. What a great neighborhood!

I’m going to head into work today to try to catch up with all the work since I left. The company is moving so quickly that missing a week could leave me out of a lot of decision-making. I’m anxious to be back, but will certainly miss the time I’ve spent with our newly-expanded family.

We’re home now!

Kelly cut me loose tonight from the hospital. I decided to give Hallie more TLC as her world’s been so rocked with the arrival of her brother. Kelly’s mom volunteered to stay with her as I came back home.

Soon after I arrived, Kelly’s parents left for a visit with Kelly and Travis, leaving me with Hallie. Hallie was thrilled to see me at first, but then became her moody self of late. After her bath, she began to rebel against the choices I made for her bedtime routine, and I was presented with Fragile Girl again. I spent most of her bedtime having her contradict whatever the characters in her book were doing.

It’s tough seeing her so unhappy, but I feel some structure is comforting to her, on some level at least. I know she’ll eventually come along, but its tough right now to see those tears.

After Hallie went to bed, I had a lonely night at home until Kelly’s dad came back. We spent the rest of the evening having a nice fun chat about inventions. I stayed up much later than I anticipated, but it was time well spent.

Tomorrow Kelly and Travis leave the hospital. I’ll be there, too, to help with arrangements and drive her home. Finally, our family will be together again!

I posted more Travis pics into his gallery. There are sure to be more from today as my family will be here momentarily for more visiting.

We’ve spent the afternoon snoozing, mainly. Looks like the food supply has finally caught up to demand, which makes us all happier. Things are coming together now.

I’m going to head home tonight to do Hallie’s bedtime routine. It will be good for her and me to get a “routine” going again. Then it’s back here for another night on the Chair They Call A Bed.

A longer post when I get more time. I’m having too much fun!

Well, right about now was the time that Travis was supposed to be born. His c-section was going to happen at 9:30 this morning. Instead, he’s swaddled up in a bassinet, soundly sleeping in our room. Funny how things turn out, huh?

The hospital room was less of a train station than the night before, but was still filled with all kinds of distractions to sleep. Kelly hit the “call” button quite a few times, mostly for problems with her IV lines getting disconnected. A phebeloblahblahblahigist staffperson came in around 4 AM and happily turned on all the lights while she stuck Travis for one last blood test. My evil twin began scheming about finding out where she lived and walking into her house at 4 AM, turning on all the lights. Lucky for me it was just a fantasy.

Kelly’s epidural line came undone at some point in the night, leaving her increasingly uncomfortable. I discovered it when she asked me to pick up Travis from her arms. I stepped into a pool of drugs on the floor, causing me to shift my balance and steady myself with a hand on her sore abdomen! Ouch!! If her drugs were still in her, I might have gotten away with that. But no such luck. She eventually talked to me again, so I think she’s okay.

Travis is one of the most enthusiastic eaters I’ve seen. He spent most of the night smacking loudly and eating his sleeve. His appetite has outpaced Kelly’s supply at this point. While he might have another day to be fully fed, he certainly shouldn’t have any trouble with things once we get there. The kid knows how to eat.

Travis’s constant smacking causes him to swallow air, which led him to be uncomfortable at points last night. The first time it happened, I was concerned he was really suffering from hunger. Kelly and I bickered about what to do. She told me to walk around with him. I balked, and instead lay down with him. When that didn’t soothe him, I popped up and walked him around, which led to a sizeable burp from him followed by immediate calm. I meekly conceded to Kelly that I don’t know what the hell I’m doing and will listen to her from now on. 🙂

In spite of the speedbumps, we did manage to get some sleep. I conked early in the evening and was out so far that I didn’t her Kelly’s IV alarm or the two nurses who showed up to do vital signs on her. It was a short nap, but very deep and refreshing. Earlier this morning, I gave Kelly a break and slept with Travis on my chest for a while. It was so nice hearing her snoozing next to me and at the same time having our son snoozing in my arms. Good quality family time was had by all.

This morning I remembered an important rule from when Hallie was an infant: sleep when the baby sleeps! We forgot that yesterday and have visitors in this morning, which is when Travis will be slumbering the deepest. Another group of visitors will arrive after work this evening, which I think is a better time to visit since Travis will likely be active then. (For any of you who are also interested in visiting, give me a call on my cellphone or leave a message at home and arrangements will be made. I check email once a day, so don’t count on catching me that way.)

Kelly got her epidural out this morning and had her IV disconnected, so she’s free to move about the cabin. It was a relief to her to brush her teeth yesterday, and I’m sure she’s looking forward to a warm shower today. We could be leaving as early as tomorrow, depending on how she feels. If she takes the appropriate drugs with her, I think we’ll be better off at home. The sleeping will be better there, no matter what.

I found myself really missing Hallie last night and wanting our family to all be together again. That can’t happen soon enough for me. Let’s get on with life!