The OB unwrapped the cord from the baby's neck (wrapped around twice). I looked down to see that Karen was alright, then the OB handed Séamus off to the "Stork Squad" - a team to take care of premature babies. They cleaned off the slimy white reside, and asked me over to cut the cord. I think it was mostly symbolic, because it was already cut, I just trimmed it down a bit. The cord was really rubbery and I had to cut several times to get all the way through (I was also using my left hand).

The next thing I noticed was the mystery guest; Tom Cruise. Sorry, the eBay auction is over, Tom Cruise won the placenta. He quickly gathered up the cord and placenta and sat in the corner and started to eat. He couldn't stay for long, as he had won another auction in Cleveland, after that he left to go and mumbled something about some alien named Xenu?

I followed the "Stork Squad" down the hall to the NICU for evaluations. They poked and prodded him, while he screamed like a baby. Special arrangements were made for Karen to recover from surgery in the NICU (thank you L&D nurse Joy).

He weighed in at a normal weight of 6 pounds 15 ounces (actually big for 35 weeks), and measured 19 inches. He has 10 fingers & 10 toes, and lots of hair with the hairline of his Grandpa Mort (Dick). He has the same pouty lower lip as his mother. Mother has asked to wait until she is home before receiving visitors.

5/29/2008

Karen has been up and out of bed and into a wheelchair this morning to feed Séamus. Karen said she was pain free and the OB said she was healing fine.

Séamus is already a proud member of the American Homebrew Association (member #185707 ).

Séamus spent his first hours under a warming light, like they use at McDonalds to keep the old & dry burgers warm. It was like an EasyBake® oven, for a baby. Once it was determined he could keep his temp up, he was moved to an acrylic bucket.

Séamus had high levels of Bilirubin, so he was moved again. This time, because his grandmother works at K-Mart they placed him a special kennel with a powerful Blue Light. This will help his skin metabolize the Bilirubin so he can go back to the acrylic bucket.

Séamus must be a student of Oedipus, as he has taken to the boobs of his mother quickly. The boy got to second base with Karen much faster than I ever did! [Sorry, no pictures of Karen's boobs at this time!] I have a story if you want to read about boobs!

Fortunately I did get some time with him. Here we are plotting our world domination plans.

Karen's friend Samantha said I needed to get Karen a "Push Present." Since there wasn't much pushing, I figured I could get away with a smaller present. Here Karen is eating the Rice Krispy Treat I got her at the hospital cafeteria. Rice Krispy Treats are one of her favorite things (along with shoes) and the Fairview Ridges Hospital's cafeteria makes some of the very best around.

Baby has quickly learned to suck, but tires out quickly. He's had his first wiz, and I already heard him fart (takes after dad)!

Séamus' college fund has already started from the Ad revenue from this site. Feel free to look around at other pages, but check back here for updates and commentary!

When Karen gets home we will begin to take appointments. Holding the baby will run $10 for five minutes. Changing a dirty diaper will run $2.00.

Séamus is Tongue-Tied and will have a frenectomy on Monday. I have heard the term before, but always associated it with difficulty speaking in public or with your mother-in-law? Everyone has that "thing" under the tongue to keep the tongue in place. Séamus has one also, his just extends to the gumline, making it more difficult to nurse. Monday, an ENT (Ear Nose & Throat) specialist will stop by and clip the fraenum and solve the problem.

The Return of the Blue Light Special. The bilirubin levels are high again, so Séamus will go under the blue lights again. This time they are going to skip the kennel and just place the blue light over the acrylic bucket. Here's what he looks like under the Blue Light Special!

My idea for Séamus is to get him a bluish neon beer sign for his room, so we can bring him home and bath him in the blue light he needs.

Shared Birthdays;

Thomas Moore - May/28/1779 - Irish Poet
Jim Thorpe - May/28/1888 - Versatile athlete
Ian Fleming - May/28/1908 - Author (James Bond series)
Rudolph Giuliani - May/28/1944 - Failed presidential candidate
Gladys Knight - May/28/1944 - Soul singer
John Fogerty - May/28/1945 - Musician, drug tester
O. Wendy Williams - May/28/1949 - Punk rock singer
Kylie Minogue - May/28/1968 - Bland Pop singer, cancer survivor

6/4/2008
Séamus is done with the blue light and the kennel, and is back in the acrylic bucket, hopefully for good. After a bunch of hemming and hawing from different opinions we finally went ahead with the frenectomy last night. We had questions about it affecting his ability to nurse, speech, and his ability to whistle (at girls and for his dog). I also wondered about his first French-Kiss if he wouldn't be able to stick his tongue out.

Last night his fraenum was cut and he was better at nursing right away. This will help him put on some weight and be able to come home sooner.