Finding Humor in Our Chaos

When Megan was first born, we had the usual adventure as first-time parents feeling overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for such a highly altricial newborn. When Ian came along, we wondered, "How are we ever going to manage two children?" When Erin was born, the children outnumbered the parents. With four children, our attention is even further subdivided. Dallin has already learned that he needs to be assertive to make his wishes known.

Dad is trying his best to help out where he can. Here is a highlight of his efforts in the kitchen:

Ian is also being an extra helpful big brother. This is what results when Erin plays dress-up with him. What name would you give this super hero?

Deconstructing Childhood

Where to begin? . . . Perhaps 34 years ago, when Barbara and Randy bought a great house just down the street from the one they were living in.

Immediately some changes needed to be made--old carpets and drapes, stained with dog pee, had to be removed immediately. At some point internal walls started getting knocked down here and there, and for what seemed to a child's mind to be several years there was a dumpster in the driveway and continuous remodeling of one sort of another inside the house. Then there were periods of relative calm when the dust would settle, interspersed with occasional outbursts such as taking down the "praying mantis bush" along the alley fence line or knocking down the old garage to build new, or the addition of a deck and hot tub. In spite of all these changes, the house and yard kept the overall feel and look that the children growing up there were used to.

And then Randy died. Or at least almost died. And something changed in Barbara's psyche and she determined that serious changes needed to be made. That is one explanation for the recent uprising in the yard. Perhaps it can instead be traced to the construction of a new house across the street. In one day the old house (still functional) was knocked down, and over several months a new house emerged. Barbara and Randy both enjoyed watching the construction. Perhaps when that construction came to an end they simply missed seeing the cement trucks. Or perhaps there is a simpler explanation, embodied by Ian's question of "Dad, are they going insane?" Age might do that. Then again, it might just be about using our agency and influence to make a positive change within the world.

Those unfamiliar with the house will recognize that some major changes are in progress. Those who grew up in the house will realize that the place of their childhood is simply gone, replaced by something yet unseen. It will likely turn out lovely, with a new landscape in which to form new memories. I, for one, will miss the secret hideouts within the bushes, the views from atop the trees, and the familiar little sledding hill.

This writer will make no further attempts at probing the reasons for his parents recent remodeling rampage, but will instead simply offer these few bits of photographic evidence:

It actually started with the driveway--since Randy could no longer shovel, it seemed a good idea to get a new, heated driveway.


















Here is where there used to be a front porch:


















And the cement trucks that are so fun to watch:


















The old blue spruce was the only pine tree saved. Sort of. It was first shaved beyond recognition:


















The front and back yard are now continuous, and the tree and shrub-covered hillside on the south is gone. A new patio is in progress off the deck:


















Ironically, the swing set of childhood (albeit no longer hidden by a large snowball bush) , which had been at an aunt's yard for years, is (at least for now) back in the yard as a final vestige of those "good old days."

Meeting the Relatives

Dallin had some family visitors on Saturday--he met Grandma and Grandpa Young and Uncle Tyler and Aunt Andrea. Grandma gave him a super soft white blanket (pictured below) along with some wonderful muslin wraps. We swaddled him in a wrap (see bottom right photo with Andrea), and he loved it! Erin now thinks he looks like an egg when he's wrapped up in white.

Tyler and Andrea gave Dallin an adorable new wardrobe with a bear motif. He's all ready to go on his first bear trapping trip!




Andrea also complied with the suggestion for visitors to bring yummy treats and made some divinely rich and delicious key lime bars. We all indulged in take-out from Indian Oven for lunch.

Megan and Ian were not particularly social, as Megan was anxious to show Uncle Tyler her new game, Spore. Once she started showing him the game, she and Ian spent the rest of the afternoon immersed in their imaginary world.




We were all very spoiled by the visit--thanks for making the trek up to Cache Valley. It is almost as difficult to come here as it is to get into Grandma and Grandpa's house--but that is a topic for the next post!

One Week Old

Dallin Tsukamoto Young

(nickname: Caterpillar)

Thank you to all who participated in our baby naming poll. In spite of the popular vote results for Spencer....three of the superdelegates chose Dallin, Ian voted off the ballot for Gavin, and Erin still insists on calling him Caterpillar. By default, Dallin gets April's maiden name as his middle name.

More Photos of Baby Boy Young

First of all, we would like to thank our friends who have helped out the first few days while April and Kevin are recovering and adjusting to life with a newborn. We have greatly appreciated the delicious food and the child entertainment that various people have provided for us. Kevin has been so diligent and compassionate in assisting with the post-partum recovery, which is not always pleasant (but we'll spare you the details of coping with afterpains, the shakes, fluxuating hormones, and nursing issues).

Now, on to more baby photos! Thanks to digital cameras these days, baby #4 may have more photographs taken than baby #1 did eleven years ago. Whether or not baby #4 gets a scrapbook before he turns ten is another story, however...

We are enjoying our new little boy and getting to know him.

This is the reason why Erin wants to name the baby "Caterpillar." She says he looks like a caterpillar when he's all swaddled up in his cocoon.

Baby is upset that he has some competition for Erin's attention.




















Meeting Grandma Tsukamoto, who came up from Friday to Monday

Meeting Quasi Auntie Chris, who brought by some yummy chocolate chip mint cookies and a chocolate mint raspberry cake roll (maybe desserts should be made a prerequisite for visiting!); Baby enjoyed it several hours later after it had been converted to milk.

With Chris Miller, our awesome midwife




















What a cute foursome!











We realized we forgot to mention a few other details about the birth:

• The baby was born with his right hand up next to his face (similar to Erin).
  
• As a result, April did end up with a small tear, but it only required 2 stitches (thank you wheat germ oil!).
  
• Ian cut the umbilical cord after it stopped pulsating. He thought that was a pretty neat honor.
  
• Kevin took photos of the placenta, but they are only available upon request. We don't want to scare away our readers. If you happen to take one of Kevin's Anatomy classes, you will for certain see it.

We're all trying to catch up on some much needed sleep!

Our Fourth Miracle

We welcome Baby Boy Young, who entered this world at 7:24 AM on Friday, 5 September 2008, putting him in the 3% statistic of babies born on their actual due dates. He weighed 8 lbs. 13 oz and was 21.5 inches long, by far our biggest (Megan was our smallest at 6 lbs 1/2 oz). His name is still to be decided--the favorites so far are Colin, Dallin, Jeremy, Spencer, and Caterpillar (Erin's choice). So far he is a sweet, calm baby who sleeps well and nurses well. He is being smothered with attention from his three older siblings. Erin is especially protective and possessive, taking her new big sister status seriously.














































If you want the details of the labor and delivery, then read on. If not, then avert your eyes now. . .



Since our other three children all arrived 8-18 days early, April was starting to feel hopeless about this baby ever making an appearance. Our little outings and projects were not enough to distract her, so we decided on a canning project. Thursday night we bought the ingredients for a big batch of spaghetti sauce. At 1:00 AM on Friday morning April awoke when she felt the mucus plug dislodge and fluid start to leak. Upon getting up there was a gush and about a pint of amniotic fluid came out. Contractions began shortly after and were 6-7 minutes apart. Kevin called Chris Miller, our midwife, around 2:30 AM. Chris was just finishing up with a birth in Tremonton and said she could be to our place within an hour. Contractions continued, increasing in strength.

Chris arrived around 3:45 and got the room set up for the delivery. April was disappointed at 4:00 when an internal exam showed that the cervix was only 2 cm dilated--with how intense the contractions had been she was hoping to hear that she was at least 4 or 5 cm. Megan had been planning on watching the birth and Kevin was anxious to wake her up. Even though April thought we should let her sleep longer, Kevin woke Megan shortly after 4 AM. Megan watched for a bit and then started working on one of her math work books, saying that if the baby was coming that day she might not get to all her schoolwork later.

We then decided to try resting for a bit ourselves and let Chris rest on the couch since she had been working for so long already. By 6:00 the contractions were very powerful and painful and Chris had returned to our room. Around 6:30 AM Ian woke up, saw Megan's bed empty, and heard noises coming from the other room. We agreed he could watch if he was very quiet (Megan later commented that she had never seen Ian so quiet for so long). By this stage the contractions were close together and very strong and April was exhausted. She basically tried to catch her breath between contractions and just work up enough strength to get through the next one. Kevin sat behind her, rubbing her shoulders and trying to help her relax. April was trying to not push too soon to avoid tearing, so she gave a little push when the baby was crowning then a big push on the next contraction hoping to get the head out. Megan and Ian's eyes were big with wonder as the baby came all the way out in one quick motion. Chris passed him right up to April and Kevin, and we all gazed in awe and touched this wet, wrinkly addition to our family.

A few moments later Ian asked the big question "Is it a boy or a girl?" He was thrilled with the response and immediately started talking about all the people he wanted to call (his vow of silence ended rather abruptly). His first priority was to wake up Erin, who was sleepy and surprised. We all spent some quiet time together falling in love with this lovely little boy.