Wednesday, January 19, 2011

WOW...it has been awhile

Dinner is cooking. Eloise is watching a movie...scratch that. Eloise is sleeping. Dadoo is en route to Anchorage. Silas is asleep in the Moby wrap. Here I am, finally finding a moment to type a few short thoughts.

For those of you who are unaware of what has taken place, our son, Silas, was born 5 weeks early here in the village. The story is quite interesting. In the next edition I will regale you with the long version. At this time I will recount with brief-ness what occurred and what we're up to now.

Silas was born 5 weeks premature here in Deering in the clinic (think minor emergency sans the doctor). He weighed 6 lbs. 8 oz. and was 19.5 in long. He and I flew from here to Kotz and then on to Anchorage. Silas was admitted into the NICU. His lungs were still in womb mode. We struggled through a week of his recovery from PPHN (Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn). There was about a week where we were unable to hold our sweet new baby boy. After 12 days in the NICU our son was ready for the world. We took him back to Spokane just to be nearer to medical facilities should he need them.

Silas in his oxygen hood getting better. This was the period of time where we really couldn't touch him.



Silas with all of his wires


The day we brought Silas "home" or home-away-from-home (aka Spring Hill Suites Anchorage)


We enjoyed the holiday season with family. We "enjoyed" our time in the cabin once again. Okay so that was a lie, not the family part, but the cabin part. For all the improvements to that dear little cabin, it serves to make me appreciate Deering, especially the laundry facilities. I end up with a grateful heart about Bush housing which is quite a feat.

Since we have been back Paul has redeemed himself in Caribou hunting. Just before he joined us in Spokane for Christmas he went hunting. It was a balmy -15 degrees with a wind chill of course. Paul blasted one that had crossed the river toward him. He was in the process of finishing him off when Eddie came around the corner. Paul, being the talker that he is, stopped to chat with Eddie before finishing this poor caribou off. In the short conversation Paul and Eddie had, the caribou had mustered up enough strength to get up and get the heck out of dodge before it became heart and tongue soup. Paul tracked that animal for 5 miles. The blood trail just vanished. We are certain he became supper for the wolves.

When we got back to Deering it was unseasonably warm. It was in the low to mid 30s. That is truly balmy! The best part about hunting at this time of year is that there is so little daylight. Paul couldn't even really leave the house until lunch time and it was well before dinner that he was back. In fact, from the time he left the house to go hunting until he got in the shower after hunting was a total four hours. Paul is amazed at the number of caribou. There is herd after herd numbering in the thousands. It is unlike anything he has ever seen. It is a time of plenty when the caribou come through.

Last week was truly a subsistence dining experience. We started the week off with Sheefish. We feasted on Caribou tenderloins, Caribou ribs, Musk Ox spaghetti and then we finished the week off with Salmon fish and chips. It feels good to get back to eating this way. There is no doubt that the way we eat up here is by far better for us.

It has been interesting adjusting to having both kids here. This has been Eloise's domain and now this little brother "thing" is moving in on her turf. Eloise has been adjusting well considering. She reminds me that the toys around here are HERS! She even stakes her claim on the stroller and other "baby" items. I had to rearrange the furniture to accommodate supervision. Eloise, as family back in Spokane can attest, likes to play in the refrigerator. Picture this scenario: I am sitting on the couch nursing Silas. Eloise is oddly quiet. I ask her what she is doing. No reply, just a the sound of the things moving around in the fridge. When I am finally free to check on her, there is usually something on the floor or in her mouth that should not be. Now I can parent from the couch with ease.

Eloise has graduated to big girl underwear and she has been using the potty chair. So far the novelty of big girls underpants has not worn off. She is pretty faithful to use the toilet. The accidents are limited to once a day. Eloise is pretty much a rock star!

The kids have all been excited to see Silas, especially the girls. They are very curious about him. They love it when I come to school and he is actually awake in the sling. Most of the time he is taking full advantage of snuggling by dozing off. Silas has an interesting hair line for a newborn. He looks remarkably like a balding man. He has a dark horse shoe ring of hair and the top is rather light and wispy. The kids all think it is so funny! I will have to take a picture and save it for his wedding.

Life is good. Life is a constant balancing act with two bambinos. I am reminded that upon reflection later in life I will consider these some of the best and most precious years of my life. It is magic to witness the growth and development of a child. I am glad I am at home with my amazing children. I feel like this is a rare gift and I pity those who are not able. I am often tired and frazzled. My clean laundry is piled up on the back of my couch. My one luxury has been to do my hair on shower days (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) and to sip a hot mug of cocoa almost every day.

Here is hoping that it isn't quite so long before I post again.

1 comment:

  1. You have a wonderful ability to make the most trying circumstances seem like a walk in the park. I love that you consider your life a charmed one. My take on the matter? You lead an interesting life. : )

    I hadn't seen the picture of Silas in the NICU oxygen tent. He looks so little! How gratifying that he's a healthy, fat baby. I hope you'll Post again with the latest baby photos and some more of the grand Miss E., as well.

    ReplyDelete