Club Foot Update

Well, this is an update because we have been going through the process of correction for many months but I hadn't yet posted about Austin's condition so I will quickly bring this to the present.

We discovered Austin had a possible clubfoot at a 28 week ultrasound.  We were pretty sure his left foot was affected but we could not get a good shot of his right foot so we were unclear if it was bilateral.  When he was born, it was clear that something was awry as both feet turned in significantly but the left one was definitely tighter.

Just minutes old!

When we went to the pediatric orthopedist at about 10 days old, he was not convinced that the left foot was not just turned through positional means so he instructed us to stretch his foot to a normal position at every diaper change for the next six weeks.  I can't promise you that we were very diligent in doing this during this period as we ended up discovering we had a little lad that also had milk intolerance and was also going through quite a bit during that period as well.

At his checkup, the doctor determined that although very mild, he did in fact have a true club foot on his left and we were beginning the corrective casting right away.  This is where a cast holds his foot in a certain position for a period of several weeks with weekly changings of the cast that eventually over-corrected his left foot to where it was pointing down as normal and beyond his shin by 70 degrees, using the Ponsetti method nonsurgical technique.  Each cast change he got better at adjusting and after 4 weeks he was ready to move to the brace.

Cast went up to his mid thigh

He started doing reverse crunches within a month and has very strong abs!

He was to wear the brace for 3 months for 23/7, with an hour to bath and do what I called "free foot time" that I spread out through the day to give him a break.  The brace ended up becoming an extension of him and although it has inhibited his ability roll over at this point, he is progressing on all other fronts normally, even sitting up pretty much unassisted a month early!

Holding onto his brace - very smart!

As of today, we have reached the 3 month mark and Austin can now wear his brace for night time only and his days will be free to work on the roll over, build his sit up skills without the weight of the brace and enjoy some breathing room in this Georgia heat!  We will put the brace back on as part of his night time routine and perhaps nap time and will be relishing in perhaps some new developments since he will have all of his facilities to get moving on his next phase of crawling and eventually walking!

Yeah!

Ode to the Working Mom

I am suddenly overwhelmed by the preparation, required routine (I do not do well with keeping them, but do well in them) and research needed to do the best by my son.  I mean some parents relish in the solid food stage but I have been dreading it so much that Austin is five months and we have only been toying with it!  I mean, we had a routine that worked and now I have to add in solids to the mix, which is in addition to his every 2.5 hour feeding of formula.  For heavens sake. 

Anyways, it got me thinking about all those moms that are working AND doing a great job with their kiddo(s).  I mean, I work but I am clocking in a month what these ladies are doing in a week and I am doing it from home.  How do they manage the nightly awakenings (Austin is still at 2/night and waking up between 6-7am) and make sure their children are getting the bonding time, the reading time, the play time, the discovery of new things, managing the new stages, cooking for the family, cleaning the house, researching the how-to's of parenthood, and fit in some "me" time?  I am amazed.  

During Austin's and my recent visit to my folks, naturally, we talked about what it was like to raise my brother and I and all the things that my mother had to manage, not only working, but for a few months at a time by herself!  My father was deployed on submarines quite a bit when we were younger so my mother often did everything by without the help of a spouse.  A new appreciation for her, I tell you!

I remember in my twenties thinking about whether I was the type to handle "being home" full time and not off working on building my career while a nanny or daycare provider cared for my son during the day.  I was a "climb the ladder" type and often the youngest to get there, always trying to out do myself each step of the way.  How does this extreme A-type personality go from the hustle and grind to staying at home? It was a hard thing for me to imagine for a good while.  It felt like it was an either/or choice because I knew I would not be able to do both very well.

Glad that I have the best of both worlds at this point.  Working a few hours a week breaks things up and gives me some personal, non Austin, satisfaction as well as keeps me in tuned with the "outside" world.  Plus I am doing it at home and my son is now my full-time gig and working with him is amazingly satisfying as well.  I am no super-woman, I have found, and although I am glad about our decision to have me stay home as I would not have it any other way, I am humbled by the fact that there are women that do both and manage it pretty well. 

So, hail to the working mom. You are my heroes!

You call this solid?

Mom Jeans

It's 4:30 am and Austin is laying next to me sleeping.  While spending the hour rocking him to sleep because he thought it was play time again, I was thinking about my faux pas the other day and it got me thinking about my new role. While with a client at my house, I was navigating on the computer, trying to get a last minute project completed and found myself babbling, OUT LOUD!  Even as I was doing it, I would catch it and say to myself  "Why are you doing that? Stop that!" and then find myself doing it again.  I could not help but crack up after the client left.  Seriously though?  What the heck is wrong with me?

Remember that Saturday Night Live skit where the girls of SNL are modeling jeans that are made for moms because, you know, we all have pouches and flat butts now that we are moms.  The famous line is "you are no longer a woman, you are a mom".  Hilarious.  But is it true? 

Austin is five months now and for the last few months I have been trying to get the old Jen back as quick as possible.  And I mean, like the early 20's Jen.  The one that weighed at least 30 pounds less, was running, a cycle instructer and could eat anything she wanted.  Sheesh!  I am almost 34 and I hadn't been in that shape in like ten years! Anyways, I know it can be done, I mean look at Brook Burke and after how many kids? Three? Four?  I'm no Brook Burke but you get the point. 

It's not just the physical part either.  When you wait till you are in your 30's to have a children, you likely had established a career, you have surpassed the "figuring it out" 20's and are pretty set in your identity.  Now, you throw mom in the loop?  It calls for a major adjustment.   Don't get me wrong, being a mom has always been a dream of mine.  It's still a game changer though and I'm still in the first inning.  Becoming a wife is a piece of cake compared to this.

I still have my identity, it has just expanded into being a mom and while they are separate they are also very much melded together.    I just keep having to remind myself that I can get back to feeling fit, it's just going to take a little longer and require more dedication and patience.  I can still do the things I would like to do, it just may be delayed or it will be adjusted to incorporate Austin. Nothing wrong with that.

I AM a mom now.    For me that means I am a wife, a lover, a friend, a companion, a mentor, a teacher and much, much more.  I'm cool with that.

California Trip Part 2 - Visit to Great Grandpa Herdman

5/22 and 5/26

We were able to visit my Grandpa Herdman (my mother's father) on Sunday and the following Thursday.  I have always loved my grandparents house.  It is located in a little town, Los Olivos, in the about 30 minutes north of Santa Barbara.  It is western, ranch style house that was built about 30 years ago and sits on about 5 acres of land.  We used to think it was pretty neat that they were located 5 miles (off the same road) from Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, but that poor piece of land had lost its luster for many, many years. 

There is still the doghouse that used to be the home of three dogs of my childhood, Woody (a lab), Amanda (grandma's cocker spaniel) and Missy (a mean ole mutt).  The placards with their names remain even though they have long passed (some 20 years ago) and a few dogs have come along after them.  Right in front of that doghouse is a HUGE oak tree where the first set of grand kids (Peter, Mike, and I) used to climb up and down.  The second set of grand kids (Jason, Brianne and even Tracy and Kari) followed in our footsteps some five or more years later. 



The doghouse



The Oak Tree

An then there were the childhood horses, Harvey, and Ralph, a mule that was there to keep Harvey company.  Grandpa rode Harvey actively in his Los Rancheros outings, including the yearly, week long ride in May that spanned quite a bit of the valley.  Harvey and Ralph passed ten years ago or so and a borrow, named Jack, has taken their stead. 

Grandpa has a shed/barn that holds his woodworking tools, everything you can imagine you would need to create a masterpiece.  Peter and I would escape to that barn almost as soon as we would arrive at Grandma and Grandpa's house while the adults got reacquainted at the house.  We would feed the horses bits of hay and try not to get our clothes or hands stuck in their mouths.  Before our teens, we were just a little frightened and fascinated by the horses, so crossing the fence was always a heart racing experience as were crossing into their "territory".
 

The Barn/Shed

Thanksgiving was at their house for many, many years, even for us "Holdridge's" on the east coast.  We would make the trek to California on Wednesday and be welcomed with guacamole and homemade tortilla chips for something to snack on Wednesday and whatever was for dinner that night.  The turkey on Thanksgiving was usually about 35lbs with all the fixings to go with it including an assortment of pies to finish.  The next day was shopping in town (Solvang) for the ladies and to the woodworking shed for the men to help Grandpa with his latest project.  That night were authentic Mexican tamales made by my grandmother's hairdresser, Rachel

It is sad to say that Thanksgivings have dwindled these days, those tools are now covered in dust from lack of use and I don't see much of my uncles, aunts and cousins since my grandma passed this very month in 2005.  A lot of time has passed.  My hope is that the next time I see them is not just at my grandfather's funeral.

I am grateful that Austin met his great grandfather.  While he won't remember this experience, I hope pictures and writings will help him understand what he and my grandmother meant to me.  Grandpa was born the year of the stock market crash and perhaps set him up to be a part of a very tough generation.  My grandparents were almost never affectionate when I was younger and I relished in the very few times they were when I was older.  All the same, they hold a special place in my heart.

Austin and Mom visiting with Grandpa's dog, Max

Four Generations (birth dates 1929-2010)



California Trip Part 2 - Random Pictures

5/22-5/25/2011

Temps are running 50's/60's on the coast and 70's in the valley, but sunshine everywhere!

El Rancho grocery store in Santa Ynez

 

Austin skyping with Daddy in Georgia

Perhaps the last time I eat scallops in white wine/butter sauce :(

My parent's dog, "Maggie" (yes the same name as my dog) watching over Austin

Lunch in Los Olivos

 

 A couple of prancing "mini" ponies

 

Roses in California are abundant!

 "Mini" pony ranch in Los Olivos

 

Austin and Mom's "Maggie" on a walk with me near parents home

 

California Trip Part 1 - Beach Baby!

I have been really looking forward to taking Austin to the beach.  Early in the season, perhaps, is not the time to go however as while the weather is beautiful the ocean is FREEZING!  I didn't fret though.  Grabbed a carrier, lathered on some sunscreen and we went exploring.

Austin had a new experience with sitting in the stroller, facing forward.  He liked this new viewing position as he was able to socialize with anyone that came within site and see all that he was approaching.

California Trip Part 1 - Getting To Know My Folks

5/19-5/20/2011

When we arrived in Santa Barbara - it was great.  A little chilly but we excitedly got off the plane and finally joined my folks near the baggage claim.  Mom was crying and Dad was grinning and I think I got a hug before they started gushing over my sweet boy.  Austin is just days from being five months and the closest my folks have come to seeing him to this point was via SKYPE so this was a wonderful greeting.  Lompoc is a about an hour north of Santa Barbara so we got on the road and headed that way. 

It is so great to see my folks gushing over Austin while I sit back and watch, take pictures and grin from ear to ear.  Experiencing it like this gave me a glimpse of how they were with me and Peter, which is so endearing.

I take a nap and they already have him in a NAVY hat!

 Nothing like California sun!

The pathway to every man's (or little boy's) heart is food



Showing Austin how to roll over with his brace

Dad has always been a goof when it comes to the little ones.  Here is a video to prove it:

We settled in great.  Austin got to his bedtime routine by the second night and although he gets up every three hours, I have been doing fine with a little nap at some point during the day.