Yet more company

People just keep trickling in. Today it's my wife's other sister and her mother, with a nephew in tow. Tney did not stay long, it was nice to see them.

Although I think it will be nice to be alone after so many people have been available for help and support.

Later today my mother called to tell me she will be coming up from Florida on Monday to help out my sister. My parents will be in the city but they won't be spending as much time with us as other family members have.

Where's the Rage?

The Democratic convention ended yesterday and with the Republican convention coming at the end of August I can't help but wonder where is today's Rage Against the Machine?

I really would like to hear what they would do with what has occurred in the last 4 years. The kind of music and grooves they would put together. There's no one out there today doing what they did.

Pediatrician visit

The baby's second visit to the pediatrician results with a weight of 7 lbs. 4 ounces (net gain of 10 ounces) and a height increase of 1/2". His next visit is in 4 weeks where he will begin getting his immunization shots.

New Hire

Today a new guy started at the office to specifically work on closing out projects and old jobs just sitting there. We have hundreds of thousands of dollars just sitting there held up because we haven't closed the job.

A large chunk of it is retainage. Add to that the numbers I add with change order proposals, which are averaging $100,000 a week. I don't expect us to get 100% of the submitted cost since we're always getting arbritrarily chopped down but we should get something out of it.

Back to work

My first day back to work after the baby was born results in several pounds of paperwork to follow up and complete.

Ugh. The paperwork is driving me crazy. It just seems that for every piece of paperwork I push out I get four back.

Milestone reached

Tonight what's left of my son's umbilical cord fell off. Now once his circumcision fully heals I won't be worried of hurting him or possibly harming him when I'm changing his diaper.

Post-Op follow-up

My wife was experiencing strong pains and heavy bleeding. We were concerned and visited her doctor who examined her and did not detect any problems with the stitches or her healing process and he did not seem worried about her loss of blood. If it were to occur continuous as opposed to the stop and go way that it has been occuring he would be worried.

He prescribed a creme to help out and if the heavy bleeding does not stop within a day we are to contact him.

The baby is doing fine but he's experiencing prickly heat because his sweat glands are not fully developed yet. We keep him cool and dry hoping he'll be okay.

Aargh!!!

Today I go to exchange the Wipes Warmer and we end up waiting 45 minutes just to have a 35 second swap. I hate having to wait for stuff like this since every one else's returns were giant productions requiring multiple signatures and proferring of identification...

Totally ridiculous.

Uh Oh

Today my sister-in-law flew in today, she landed here at 5:30 a.m. I went to Babies R Us to pick up a Wipes Warmer and a few other things since my son doesn't like cold wipes on his body. Just my luck the Wipes Warmer is damaged and I have to take it back to be exchanged.

My wife's mother came by and they once again had a big blow-out. Her mother left and I suspect she's not coming back anytime soon.

My wife's nanny stopped by to see the baby. She's a very nice lady, I like her. Good head on her shoulders and no pretense.

I'm trying to catch a good buzz on Bacardi Coconut Rum, but it's too low in alcohol content to make a difference. Good thing I guess since I'd want to smoke if it did.

One week old

Today our son is a week old.

I went into my office to pick up some paychecks without which I would not be able to pay bills and everyone just went crazy looking at the pictures of our son I took with my cell phone.

I stopped by Cosco on the way back to pick up diapers but they did not have diapers small enough for him. I guess I'll have to wait for another 2 or 3 months.

Again he slept for quite a bit. I'm afraid that he's gonna keep us up for 2 days.

Pediatrician

We had our first pediatrician's visit today. She likes his color, she would prefer he gain an ounce a day for the next week.

He managed to introduce himself by peeing on her.

We learned he does not begin to get immunization shots until he's six weeks old.

After seeing the pediatrician our son slept for most of the day.

This takes some getting used to

I was alone with the baby to relieve my wife, and the baby started crying. I checked his diaper and it was dry. My concern for him was because we had him circumcized and that gives him a bit of pain.

I thought it might be gas but he did not seem to need to fart. I gave him a pacifier but he did not want it. I tried to feed him with formula but he did not want that either.

Finally I picked him up wondering if he had a fever or if he was sick. Shotly after picking him up he quieted down.

Seems he only wanted to be held. Will wonders never cease.

Our son

Our son

First night home

My wife is looking to exclusively breastfeed our son but I convinced her in order for her to get any sleep at all in these first weeks we'll have to give him some formula until her milk comes in at a greater capacity.

I only fed him 2 ounces of formula but he was looked like he enjoyed it. Mom thought that he gave her a little trouble with the first feeding after the bottle but he handled it just fine.

Hospital Stay

Today my wife and my son go home. We have spent the last couple of days in the hospital and we're looking forward to going home, the first time for our baby.

My son's hospital stay - Day 2

Today wasn't a good day for my wife, the photographer took a second set of proofs and gave my son a pacifier to calm him down. Not the preferred thing to do on his second day of life, especially when he's exclusively breastfed but the damage is done.

Our son was tired and cranky and my wife was convinced that our son wouldn't take to the breast again.

After a brief moment of stress on both their parts, all was fine. He fed and my wife was happy.

My wife's next moment of stress came when the OB came to circumsize our son. My wife freaked out a bit, but in the long run everything was again ok.

Looks like my wife and our son is coming home tomorrow.

My son's hospital stay

Today our son got an A-OK on his hearing test. Yesterday he didn't react to sounds to I figured that maybe he was really tired. My wife hasn't slept much yet, she't really tired.

Today my wife is off of liquids and onto solid food.

My son has taken to breast feeding rather quickly.

My wife didn't like the proofs that the hospital photographer took, tomorrow they will take another set.

The hospital

I got to my wife early in the morning. After 13 or so hours she was dilated to 1 centimeter. It's developing slowly. They followed up with Pitocin  to let the contractions open up her cervix. After a few hours of the drug doing it's work they noticed no change in her cervix.
 
Her OB broke her water and discovered meconium in the amniotic fluid, which is bad news since any introduction into the baby's system can be dangerous. After speaking with the OB we felt it was better for the baby to perform a cesarean section than to have the baby exposed to the meconium for another 13 or so hours.
 
I was surprised by how quickly everything went from that point forward. After deciding on the c-section we were in the operating room within 5 minutes. Ten or fifteen minutes later our son was born.

Sonogram

Today we had an appointment for a fetal heart monitor and a sonogram. The monitor went well however during the sonogram the doctor calculated a lower count of amniotic fluid than he would have liked.

The doctor made a quick phone call to my wife's obstetrician and we went off to see the OB for his review. We walked down a few blocks and he squeezed in an appointment for my wife. After a brief visit he felt it was necessary to induce labor so off we went directly to the hospital.

After getting my wife situated I came home for a brief nap and to bring to the hospital several things my wife packed for.

Today is the day.

Still waiting

My wife is getting anxious and frustrated waiting to give birth. Tomorrow we have an appointment for a fetal heart monitor and sonogram just to keep a check on the baby's condition.

My mother-in-law didn't stop by, she and my wife are having a bit of trouble dealing with each other. Her mother constantly believes she is on the receiving end of hatred from my wife. Her problem is that she leads with darkness and then feels justified when my wife gets snappy because her mom gets flighty and negative.

Hmm...is this the type of relationships that parent and children have? I don't have this kind of relationship with my mother, on the other hand my father and I haven't spoken in 20 years. I'm very aware of how children pick up the habits of parents and that's one thing I don't want: to be my dad.

Price of gas today

Queens Boulevard
Rego Park, Queens
New York

Frustration

I have been given the aggravating task of figuring out how to get a private vehicle registered as a commercial vehicle. It looks like a private individual has to go to DMV and file the paperwork but I know that's not the case.

I'm sure that it's a fairly simple process, it's just that it's not intuitive and I hae no idea where to start. DMV is no help, the phone just rings or I'm on hold hell.

Hmph....I'll talk to the office manager and see if she has done it before.

Doctor's visit

Our weekly doctor's visit resulted in no news other than we have to wait and see. There are no indications that the baby will be coming any time soon. However her doctor is quick to point out that can change at any moment.

We are now doing the fetal heart monitor and sonograms twice a week until the baby comes.

DAoC

I played a little Dark Age of Camelot today, I haven't spent time on that game in quite a while. I typically play on Bria server. Gaedoc is my main with various toons populating the game.

I like the game, it seems that MMORPG is the basis that all games will eventually trickle down to.

Hit the mark

Today is the baby's due date. I'm not sure how they calculate it but my wife is at 40 weeks today. My wife has been feeling the Hicks contractions but so far no signs that it's the real thing.

Long day

I had to play mediator between my wife and her mother. They were fighting amongst themselves for much of the day. They have all the baggage that's associated with a typical family with various dysfunctions. We did this for much of the evening.

The horrible part is that this resolved nothing.

Price of gas today

Queens Boulevard
Rego Park, Queens, NY

Incoming

My mother-in-law flies in today to stay for a month to be here for the baby's birth. And today is my wife's birthday. I don't know if it's a good idea for her to be here since she's the single most stressful cause to my wife. We shall see.

Independance day

We had hamburgers and hotdogs. A truly american meal for 4th of July. That and the traditional Twilight Zone marathon on The SciFi Channel.

Today

My wife reached week 39. So far nothing much has changed. Hopefully shee won't give birth this weekend. That way she doesn't have to worry about getting the 'B' squad at the hospital. Although I'm guessing no matter what they'll do a good job.

Insurance

Take note people: don't get sick. If you get sick and you don't have medical insurance you're screwed and if you get sick and you do have medical insurance you're still screwed.

I am in the process of driving myself to drink. I receive an Explanation of Benefits from my health insurance company for my wife's hospital stay (actually the radiology that took place during the stay but it's related), which informed me that payment was not paid. The notation provided indicated it was a penalty for non-certification of the stay.

I contact my insurance company and ask what's going on. They tell me that until they receive certification they cannot release funds against the bills.

I call the hospital and tell them what my insurance company says and the billing department tells me they have an authorization number and read it to me. I happen to have in my briefcase an authorization letter sent to me from the insurance company when this started, however it only certifies 1 day. And wouldn't you know it, the authorization numbers match. I inform the hospital that authorization is for one day only and not the 5 days my wife was admitted for. The hospital isn't too concerned, they tell me until they hear from the insurance company they cannot do anything. No biggie for them. But i'm the one getting a $17,000.00 bill.

I call my insurance company's Pre-Certification department and ask them what they need me to do to resolve this. The nurse replied I can't do anything. The hospital has to provide clinical documentation in order for the insurance company to certify the 4 days. The hospital was contacted twice and has not complied with the request, so the insurance company closed the issue. NICE!!! They don't pay anything on this, the hospital is waiting for further information, EVEN THOUGH THEY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION!

I call back the hospital and they tell me that they received no request for information. I tell them that the insurance company has closed the case and will no longer contact the hospital. The hospital still is not worrying about it.

I suppose I should be so relaxed. I'm not going to pay a damn thing for this. Let them fight it out. I'll just sit in the background. It's just so frustrating that I'm trying to push this along and all I get is fingerpointing and aloofness.

This is why the cost of medical bills go sky high. Jackbooted bureacracy.