Macy's Santa

John took Lilly to see SANTA at Macy's on 34th Street!

I was so excited for them to go do this, and showed Lilly the pictures of her friend's on their blogs, so she could prepare for seeing Santa (and hopefully sit on his lap). She was surprisingly very happy about the idea and even ran up to see Santa at first meeting. John was such a trooper to brave the holiday crowds and the 40-minute line to take her. The Macy's store was amazing, with an old elevator, six floors of elegant decor and shopping, and even a Disneyland-like waiting line of entertainment as you wait to see Santa. (I think she asked him for candy, chicken or something that started with a 'c'.) I look forward to doing this together as a family next year, with two kids!

Take Two...and call me in the Morning

Isn't it grand to sit with a child and soak in their sweet spirit? Its even greater when they're asleep. Now I have two little ones. I've truly savored the small moments, fleeting as they are, to soak in the precious feeling of these Spirits. Having a new little one in the house is amazing, challenging (to balance two) and totally incredible.

This morning I went from a wet toddler in her bed to a wee-stinky tiny one in my bed. Take two of that! :) It's been seven days of having two children. Everything feels doubled, the laundry, the attention to food, the bodily functions, the cries, the kisses, the hugs, the melting of my heart... yet the sleep has been cut in half. All in all, it is so wonderful.

My mom has been such a huge blessing. She thankfully arrived just hours before labor began and has been a great caretaker for Lilly and us in this busy week as John continued his final projects and I adjusted to home with kidS. She has cooked, cleaned, helped with three runs (eight loads) of laundry, and baked yummy goods and comfort foods. All four of us have loved having her here and will be sad to see her return home tomorrow. Thank you Mom!!

We went to the doctors office last Friday to check Benjamin's post-birth stuff (his swollen head, jaundice level, etc.). He has gained an ounce and learned his real length is 20 inches long. Everything looks really good and I am SO thankful!

We had fun together, relaxed, had tea, watched too many movies and enjoyed many FOOD moments... baked cookies, made bread, sweet rolls, roasted chicken, delicious veggies, carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and even custard-style rice pudding. I was so excited about the rice pudding after going to Rice to Riches, that I even played with toppings: dark chocolate malt balls, brown sugared pecan, and berries! Yum.

John finished his big "3-5" project. Congratulations John! Now he only has papers and classes to complete. Lilly has totally loved having her baby brother here. She constantly wants to hug him, hold him or give kisses. Tonight I read them both a story; Benjamin was laying next to Lilly in her bed and she rested her head next to his in a very loving, big sister way.

I am so pleased and happy at how accepting she is. It has been a big comfort amidst the challenges of 2...double the joy, the work, the comfort, clean up, and a tad more craziness. After today, TWO seems a lot, so double the chocolate as well. Thanks to friends and family support, their calls and kindness. And, after the night, I'm glad the morning comes.

Benjamin Lee Foss

Our son has come, we are well and came home last night! Benjamin Lee Foss is home.

The STORY of his birth was intense, a New York City adventure to say the least. Baby Benjamin is such a sweet baby and we are so, so happy he arrived healthy and well. It all began Monday night, a few hours after my mom landed and thirty minutes after John returned from school. We were doing laundry but at 9:30pm I realized the contractions were getting regular and close. Timing was important to me because Lilly came in eight hours and we assumed he would come faster yet I wanted to labor more at home than at the hospital (where I hoped to avoid interventions and the infamous medical situations I experienced up until now). Next time I know I have to leave a.s.a.p, but at 9-10 pm I wondered if it was really Time. The next hour I realized "this is it!" The contractions jumped quickly from ten minutes to five minutes apart. It had only been 2 1/2 hours, so then at midnight we headed out the door. John grabbed a taxi, then came to get me, I had two contractions while he was gone, another in the elevator and then the entire drive to the hospital. My water broke IN the taxi cab during the fifteen minute drive! (John gave him a good tip.)

The midnight hour was the craziest I've ever experienced!!! We arrived at the labor and delivery triage area at 12:33. He was born at 1:01 AM! This is how the incredibly crazy, intense, miraculous and blessed final thirty minutes transpired:

When we got to the desk the lady told John he had to fill out paper work, I was moaning, John had to ask to do this later, they finally let me in, checked me, checked the heart beat, confirmed I was in labor and said I "could stay." They wheeled me into a second room and had to move beds mid-contraction. They were worried about the baby's heart beat, it was slow and indicating stress, so they did an internal fetal monitor connected to his head. The heart beat was 80, then 60, then 80 (supposed to be 120-160) and they were really worried. Soon the room was filled with eight people, John watched them staring at the monitor. One said they'd need to slow down the contractions because I was only dialated to a seven. I had planned and prepared for an unmedicated natural birth, yet said if they did that I wanted drugs. But...then they said we had to do an emergency c-section. (Ugh, from one extreme to the other, no!) Yet we had to trust the medical staff and wanted our baby to come safely.

baby Ben's puffy eyes and nose right after birth

They explained his heart rate was so low and it was critical, so I signed the surgery consent form, mid-contraction. (They explained in retrospect his heart beat was low because he was decending the birth canal so fast.) They wheeled me around the corner into the operating room and started preparing me for the c-section, but THANKFULLY... someone suggested to check again and after those few minutes I had gone from a seven to a ten; and there, on the narrow operating table, the huge group of people each grabbed a limb and I started pushing. John was dressed in his scrubs and ran into the room to thankfully help and hold up my head on the tiny, hard table. It was incredibly rough, many people shouting. Within minutes baby Benjamin was born.

John watched them whisk him away to the corner for tests, told me good job then went over to the baby. They did a few tests and confirmed everything was okay, his Apgar was 9. Yeah! Benjamin calmed down as soon as he heard dad's voice. I was still on the OR table, the medical staff incredibly nice and complimentary (I don't think they witness a natural, unmedicated birth very often), but I was happy to hear they were impressed.

Lilly was unable to come visit at the hospital because of the H1N1 flu scare, so I was eager to get home. Tuesday was a lonely day as John had to go to school, but he and my mom were able to visit a bit, then Wednesday John and I hung out all day together waiting to be discharged. It was sweet to sit together, Dad, Mom and new baby.

We discussed names for most of the day trying to decide. Finally settling with Benjamin Lee. (Lee is John's grandpa's name who also married us in the temple.) It was nice to look out to the big busy city and enjoy those hours of being together.

We were set to leave in the morning but waited from 11-5:00 for the doctor to come for the circumcision. Finally we dressed him for departure and got home for dinner where my mom had prepared a lovely welcome-home meal.

Lilly was SOOOOOO sweet in greeting her baby brother. She was excited to find him in the portacrib and instantly wanted to hold him. She came right up to him, said "ohh" and kissed his head.

She really loves her baby brother and is a wonderful big sister!


Our first new little family picture.

Counting our blessings...

BABY IS HERE!

Hello everyone, John here. The baby is born!

December 8, 1:01am
7 lbs 11 ounces
21.25 Inches long

The exciting and nailbiting birth story coming soon.

Snow and L's Space

Two fun things to share... It snowed yesterday! Lilly awoke from a nap and the puffy white flakes were coming down outside our window. It was a beautiful site to watch, with the red brick of the apartment buildings behind and the moist roof top where they landed. The snowflakes melted upon landing, but the air-show was lovely. Lilly and walked up to campus to see Daddy during his all day film shoot (on his final directing project of the semester). It was a cold, wet, three-block walk, but with hats, scarves and gloves we were enjoying the promenade. We actually did it AGAIN! After visiting with John and his film group, we came home to pick up and return with sweet treats for the gang. Lilly ran with excitement as we strolled past the Christmas lit trees and down the street. She walked the entire way, back and forth twice!! This is unusual, thus I'm so proud of her and how she's working up those "city-legs." The snow made the grass white and we had a wonderful walk, mommy and daughter, hand in hand.

And second, this is old news, but we have completely transitioned to a big girl bed for Lilly. We had both a crib and toddler bed in her tiny room and we took the crib down a few weeks ago. She then got a "tent" or canopy above her big girl bed and it looks very cute. She has about ten stuffed animals including her dolls to fill the bed with her and it is sweet to see her enjoying her space.

A glimpse

John has very long days, then has projects, reading, movies and other studies to burn an even later night before he starts the day again. One day he came home at 11:00 pm and wanted to "capture" what he looks like in the end of the first semester of graduate school.
There he is. He looks good, esp for a guy who gets about four hours of sleep. Good job babe!

And here's a glimpse on laundry day. And later that night of tired, preggo belly girl.

A Scene from the Subway

This are two a funny-random scenes we witnessed from the "entertainers" on the subway as we went to and from church today. It was an interesting encounter with two each way, clashing cultures.

On the first subway ride there was a ragged looking "santa" with tape on his glasses and dirty white fringe fur on the coat. He was sitting and talking to himself, maybe drunk, but he wasn't making any sense. Then a band of mariachi players came through the car; he yelled at them very unkindly calling names and saying this was "his" car. I had to bite my tongue to refrain from chewing him out, saying something to the effect that he was not a very jolly man!! Oh, that would have told him! :)

Anyway, on the return trip after church there was another vocal man on the subway car, this time in a nice suit, ranting about how China owns America and we better watch out. He went on and on and on, even annoying other people who began heckling back to him with snide comments and a "shutup" from a lady. It was an odd performance, I don't know what his angle was, but then the car opened up and the Mexican mariachi band came through playing, loud, thankfully drowning out the rantings of this other man (who was claiming "his" car, actually saying not to give them money). The people in the car cheered at the happy music, it was a unique reception, comical, as we were so thankful they came to rescue us from the man's lecture. I've rarely seen much money given to them but this time dollars were put into the hat with an obvious expression of gratitude.

And so, the adventures of New York City subway keep a smile on my face...first because its better to smile and walk away, and then later because the culture "clash" is often a breathe of fresh air in this busy city.