Merry Jadyn Christmas

Here's a little photo I got while taking the Christmas picture of our "Littles." Jadyn is doing well, growing, eating, sleeping (sort of...) and pooping. She's becoming a really smiley baby, which makes her Daddy's heart soar. I credit her Mother...

A very blessed Christmas to you all!

Perhaps I *won't* give up coffee...

This morning I Googled "benefits of coffee" and found this. Apparently, coffee is not all bad as the rumors about it want to indicate. (Don't forget...I read this on the Internet, so it must be true)

This things that are interesting to me are the positive effects on stamina and alertness (thank you, Mr. Caffeine) but also they say it lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes in both men and women, drastically reduces the risk of Parkinson's disease, and at one point in this article, the author even states that a study of Brazillian children found that kids who drink coffee with milk in the morning are less likely to suffer from depression. I'm not about to get my 3-year-old twins all jacked up on "the bean," but it's interesting to read.

Another interesting thing is that coffee is loaded with antioxidants called quinines, which increases the body's response to insulin. I also found it funny that people who smoke and drink alcohol heavily are less susceptible to heart disease and liver damage when they drink large amounts of coffee compared to those who don't. There you have it folks...you can beat up your body with booze and smokes as long as you drink tons of coffee to get you going in the morning!

This article is also about drinking quantities of coffee that are a bit high. The maximum effect is on people who drink in excess of 6 cups of coffee a day, or two large mugs. Hey...that's how much *I* used to drink. I think I'll go brew a little more coffee. After all, I wouldn't want to get type 2 diabetes or Parkinson's, and the Internet told me that drinking lots of coffee will save me from those, right?

I'll give up coffee...

...when the kids can get themselves up in the morning and I can sleep in.

I had made the decision recently to give up caffeine and start taking panax ginseng supplements. Ginseng is a wonderful herb with many positive effects, including helping the body recover from stress, improving mental ability, is a powerful antioxidant, etc. Here is some info, if you are interested.

Where this is difficult is that I am a coffee snob. I had to give up my cup of coffee in the morning, and that has been rough with a new baby and a son who thinks that, as soon as it's not pitch black outside any longer, it is morning and morning time is for playing...not sleeping. Today is one of those days. He woke his sister up this morning, too, and she normally sleeps in until at least 8:00. I know that coffee is hard on the system, is a diuretic, and is not a substitute for proper sleep and rest for the body. That's all good and dandy, but what about parents of small children who, on a scale of one to ten go to eleven?!

I brewed a cup of coffee for myself and am about to go drink it.

I keep asking my wife at what point will the kids be self-sufficient enough to get themselves out of bed, grab a bowl of cereal and let Mom and Dad sleep in for a while. She assures me that it will not be for several years yet.

I'll be drinking coffee for the next several years, and will give it up later, when I can get up in the morning without my head feeling like it's in a fishbowl.

Doing well

Jadyn has been home for a little over a week now. She had a doctor appointment this week, and she is doing excellently. She weighs 9.5 pounds, which puts her right on target for a normal child. Wow, what an amazing week! It has sent our family reeling a little, but we have an overwhelming sense of gratitude to God for keeping us all sane and pulling us together. It has been an awesome blessing to have so many people come forward and tell us they are praying for us. We have a new appreciation for the power of prayer and the sovereignty of God, that's for sure.

She's still a little delicate, but doing well. We were told that she would not be able handle a cold very well, so we're trying to stay as healthy as possible and not expose her to anything. With RSV season upon us, it's exceptionally important. The doctors and nurses all told us that, with her delicate respiratory system, RSV would be especially hard on her. She would doubtless end up in the PICU (Pediatric ICU), and there it is even more difficult to keep her from being infected. So, we pray and keep our hands clean.

Thank you all again for praying. God has blessed us exponentially through you, and we are grateful.

Home at last!

We arrived home just a couple hours ago. Mom and Jadyn are doing well. Adrian, Amber, Grace and Jeremiah are loving her up, making up for lost time.

Dad's going to go take a nap...

YAJU (Yet Another Jadyn Update)

Just arrived home and delivered the good news to Sandra. I was told today that the doctor's order was that, if Jadyn was unable to eat at least 60 cc's in two consecutive feedings, she would need to have the feeding tube put back in so that she would keep her strength up.

After a bath, which Jadyn was sure to display her displeasure with, she was very awake and pounded down 62 cc's. I was amazed, since I don't know that she has eaten 60 cc's ever. Then the next feeding was a battle, but Jadyn saw her way clear to eating 70! One step closer.

Afterward, she zonked out in the biggest way and I continued to read to her. She started to smile at me, so I waited and finally captured this photo.

{heavy sigh}

I just think she's a real beauty...

Still waiting

Well, we were hoping today would be the day, but unfortunately it is not. Jadyn is off all medications, there are no tubes, and her breathing is much better. The only thing we are waiting on now is for her to be eating at a normal level. She should be eating 66 cc's every 3 hours, but through the night she is eating only 25-45 cc's. She is nursing when Sandra is there, so that is a good thing, and the problem is that she usually falls asleep before finishing. The doctor told me that the vicious cycle is that she needs to eat to keep her energy up to be able to breathe, and she needs to be able to breathe to be able to eat. Hence, our continued NICU stay.

We're home for a quick bite to eat, and I'll be heading back up to NICU for the evening. There's not much we can do but wait and pray, and I get a few hours a day to do just that. Even in the difficulty and disappointment, I'm grateful for the quiet hours spent with y daughter and my God. He has met me in the St Cloud hospital, and ensured me that He will meet me in whatever my circumstance.

Like the Apostle Paul wrote to the Phillipians:

"I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

He is far more than we could imagine, and I know He is working all this for our good and His glory.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the picture of Jadyn with no "face mask."

Sunday night

Well, another relatively long day, but more good news.

We spoke to the doctor in the NICU today, and he told us that Jadyn is doing very well. Her blood oxygen levels are staying up above 88% with only a half liter of pressure at 21% oxygen. They will be removing the cannula tonight after she receives her final dose of IV-administered antibiotics. Tomorrow they will be removing the IV and the only tubes or wires connected to her will be for monitoring purposes. This will be the first time we have laid eyes on our daughter's face without an assortment of tubes! I can hardly wait!

The doctor told us today that he was hopeful to send Jadyn home in 1-2 days. We of course heard "tomorrow" when he said that, but as I sat with Jadyn tonight he came by and told me that she was doing exceptionally well except that her breathing is still very rapid and based on that it didn't look very promising that she would be home tomorrow. I have to admit I am horribly disappointed, but grateful at the same time for the caution and care given to my littlest daughter. They are not going to release her until they are very comfortable that she is a normal newborn baby, and when I consider the risks I wouldn't have it any other way.

So again, we wait and pray. Tonight I read Psalm 27 to Jadyn, and she smiled at me when I finished it (I know you're going to say it was only gas, but I don't buy that. A smile is a smile - sometimes I smile after working a little gas out, myself, so why shouldn't a baby?). The lines that encouraged me tonight was the final verse, 14:

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

When these days are done, we'll turn back and say "what an awesome thing God has done for us, and He gave us strength when we needed it and courage when it was necessary." He'll be the one that brings my little girl home, and it will be done in His good timing.

Until that day, we'll be strong and wait for the Lord. Thanks for reading up on our little miracle. We wish all God's blessings this very day on you and those you love.

Time in the NICU

I'm just arriving home after a few hours of blissful time spent with my youngest daughter. Tonight was our "first date," just Jadyn and Daddy. I think we hit it off well, and I'm pretty sure we are compatible. ;-) Jadyn is doing well, loves to be held, and I'm anxious to bring her home to be with the rest of our family.

As I sit tonight, I'm reminded once again that the important things in life are found in the places we most often neglect when life gets hectic. I'm reminded today that our twins are turning three years old this month when only yesterday they were in bassinets like the one Jadyn sleeps in tonight. I'm reminded that our "bigs" are 18 and 21 this month, and it seems like only yesterday we were traveling to hockey tournaments in blizzards and driving hours to see dance lines compete. I'm glad to have enjoyed all that, and yet wish I had enjoyed it more.

It just goes to prove once again that, in the final moments of our lives, nobody is ever going to say "I wish I had spent a few more hours in the office." I can tell you right now that I will wish I had spent a few more hours on the rink, or dancing, or finger painting, or just sitting in the NICU holding my newest daughter. I know that I'll wish I had spent just a few more minutes holding my beautiful wife instead of rushing off to slay dragons and keep the city safe.

I'm off to hold my beautiful wife, and to thank God for her: the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes upon, my lover, my song and my best friend, the most loving and nurturing mother ever, and the one I plan to spend the rest of my life with. Even were we blessed with 70+ more years together, I know I'll always wish I had held her just a little longer...

Quick update on Jadyn

Good morning!

It's been a big week, that's for sure, and we have much to be thankful for. Last night Sandra and I sat in the NICU with Jadyn until around midnight. Sandra was given the opportunity to nurse Jadyn. Jadyn has only been fed through a tube so far, so she usually starts well and then loses interest. But apparently that is to be expected, and she should come around before long. They have upped her feedings 25 to 40 mL every 4 hours. That's a great sign, because she is processing everything well and her tummy is handling it. Once again, we praise God for His mercy and power.

They removed all of Jadyn's IV fluid lines last night, so she is nearly tube-free now. She is still getting a little oxygen occasionally through a little tube clipped to her nose, and she has the electrodes to monitor her SATS still connected. She has three more doses of antibiotics and then she should be done (Monday, I think). Again, we don't have a date that she will be released. Her breathing needs to slow down and steady out, and it's pretty much a day-to-day progression. But she's doing better and we are being as patient as we possibly are able.

They also moved Jadyn out of the "Giraffe" bed (which looks somewhat like a space-age incubator with all sorts of bells and tubes and a retractable lid) into a regular bassinet that any baby sleeps in. There is much more room around our "pod" in the NICU now, and we'll be sitting up there with her more. Sandra is going to continue to nurse, and I'm picking out a good book to hold me over until my turn. I think I'll start with "Everyday Talk" by John Younts.

We'll be heading back to the hospital soon. Jeremiah and Grace love the playroom, and Amber has been a great help watching them to give us more time. Adrian has been up to meet his little sister, too, and I always feel good to watch how they both fawn all over their baby siblings. We are all blessed immeasurably by little Jadyn, and we hope to bring her home soon.

Thank you all again from the deepest reaches of our hearts for your love and support. We are blessed.

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints," Philemon 1:3-5

More Jadyn Monica

A few new pictures, and a whole lotta praising God!

Here you see Jadyn enjoying some "kangaroo carrying," or rather skin-on-skin with Mom and Dad. I can't begin to tell you how incredible it felt to have our little girl in our arms and near us like this. She squirmed a little, but settled right in and fell asleep. Even after the transfer from Mom to Dad, she fell right back out and didn't peep until we had to go.

Today they had taken Jadyn off the CPAP, so here are pictures of her without any breathing apparatus. They ended up putting it back on later in the night as a precautionary measure. She's eating twice what she was eating yesterday and she's doing very well with the dirty diapers.

Still no word on when she will be able to join us at home. Sandra was discharged today, and it's a pain we've never experienced before to have to leave our newborn baby in the hospital without us. But thankfully, we live only a few minutes from the hospital and will be there often, if not always. We continue to be watchful and thankful for all God has done today and for what He will do tomorrow.

I'm tired. I'm going to bed.

Jadyn update

Well, the day has brought many things. I feel I'm losing a bit of my mind, which is sad because I didn't have much left to begin today...So tonight it's home for a quick blog entry and a little Grateful Dead from 06-06-1970 at the Fillmore West.

I have forgotten so many commitments and often I say I'm going to do something that I then just plain forget. I'm blessed to have the support and understanding of so many wonderful people. Thank you all (and especially Briana, who has been an immeasurable blessing to us, the twins and has given of herself and her time so sacrificially that I could never repay - sorry I made you late tonight...). We've felt outpourings of love and support, and I just wanted to let everyone know how tings are going.

Today was a banner day for Jadyn. She is now officially off the Nitric Oxide completely. They have stopped the fentanyl also, so she is starting to perk up quite a bit. They took her off the sedation so that she could start feeding on the milk Sandra is providing, which she has been doing all day and processing it perfectly (dirty diapers never looked so good!). When we arrived back in NICU tonight, we saw that they had removed the breathing tube, and she was simply being assisted with a small amount of oxygen via a mask (CPAP). Things are looking up for our little girl!

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support. Again, I'm humbled to know that the Lord of the universe who creates life and heals is using your prayers as part of His perfect plan to heal my child. Thank you so much, and good night.

Jadyn Monica Rolling arrives

I wanted to post a picture or two from our recent hospital stay. Jadyn has arrived, and it's been a rough start to life for her. To chronicle her journey so far...

Sandra started to have strong contractions somewhat irregularly a week ago Monday. Since they were irregular and she was not dilating rapidly (or at all, for that matter) we waited to go to the hospital. Finally, they were coming every 5 minutes early on Monday the 27th, and we grabbed our bags, called our dear friend Briana to watch the twins and off we went.

Once connected to the monitors, it became apparent that the baby was in distress. Her heart rate dropped considerably on each contraction, and the decision was made to perform an emergency c-section. We thank God for the wisdom and quick action of the doctor who made the call, believing that she saved the life of our daughter!

The surgery went well, but once the amniotic sack was punctured it was obvious that the baby had been sitting in the maconium of her first poop in utero. The neonatal unit was on hand, thankfully, and thanks to the quick and expert action of the neonatologist our daughter Jadyn was born and stabilized enough to get her down to the intensive care unit, where they continued to work on her to stabilize and bring her around.

As a computer geek, I can only relay the layman's understanding of what has and is happening. Essentially, the first poop came for Jadyn days ago, and she has been in distress ever since. When she was distressed, she would take deep breaths and she took a lot of the maconium deep into her lungs, causing her lungs to contract as if still in utero and aspiration pneumonia. The bottom line is that they were not absorbing oxygen like they should, and the heart was sending the blood to a non-existent placenta for life giving oxygen.

Over the day, several procedures were implemented to foster the opening of the capillaries in the lungs, most of which were unfruitful. Finally, late in the evening, she took a turn for the better and has been improving since.

Today we hope that she will have the breathing tube removed. They are weening her off the sedation meds and will start feeding her the milk Sandra has been pumping. I would give more detail, but will leave this off now to go sit with my lovely wife (who is recovering well from the surgery) and my beautiful new daughter, named Jadyn (which means "the Lord hears") Monica (in honor of her Great-Grandmother). Our current expectation is that she will be in the NICU another week, perhaps two. We thank you for your prayers and feel them in a very real, intimate way.

The information I know the ladies will want:

Jadyn Monica Rolling
Born 9:15 AM, 2007-08-27
8 pounds, 13.6 ounces
20 inches long

Gracie took a look at one picture of her and said "there's Jeremiah!" What do you all think?

May (God) grant you your heart’s desire
and fulfill all your plans!
May we shout for joy over your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!

Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with the saving might of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Psalm 20:4-7

Bicycle riders can suck, too

Just a quick update...

Today was one of the few days I was driving around in a motor vehicle. I ride my fixed-gear bicycle the five miles to work nearly every day, and love it. I usually find myself angry and irritated at car drivers who rarely see me (or the flashing LED's attached to my bike) and run me off the road or drive inches away from me when I'm driving in the roads which are rightfully mine to share.

But anyway, as I sat at a four-way stop in a company vehicle today, I waited for my turn to progress through the intersection. As I entered it, a guy on a bicycle sped up to the intersection and didn't stop. We both hit the brakes - me so I didn't kill him and he so that he would not become a hood ornament - at which point he made an obscene gesture and offered some sort of denigration at me as if I had blown the stop sign and was in the wrong.

Unbelievable!

I'm an advocate for bicyclists' rights. Nothing irritates me more than car drivers acting as if bike riders have no right to be on the road (it is actually unlawful to ride on the sidewalks, in case anyone was wondering). But come on! Bike riders need to obey the road rules, too, or expect to be treated like they don't belong. If you want equal treatment, bicyclists, follow the rules. If you don't want to be a hood ornament for a PT Cruiser, don't blow downtown stop signs.

Easy enough.

Please DON'T tell anyone you're a Christian...

This seems paradoxical to me, but I find myself thinking this about so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ. It goes against the great commission. It goes against everything Christ preached. But too often I find myself thinking this about people I know who profess to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

At risk of "calling the kettle black," I'm not writing this post in anger or judgment. I'm deeply saddened by this, convicted where I see it in myself, and pray for the Spirit to change me and my brothers and sisters who should be salt and light among the earth and known for their love. Way too often, we are known for our hypocrisy...

My story is about a man I know who claims Christ as his savior and Lord. He is a trustee of his church (whatever a "trustee" is, I don't know, but it's an officially recognized position of responsibility I presume). He frequently invites me to Christian gatherings in his church and other Christian clubs he attends. I have gotten along with him pretty well over the years.

But other friends we have in common have an incredibly negative perspective of this man. They shudder when he calls, and often avoid talking with or seeing him at all. When they do slip up and make contact or are forced to do so because they work together, he is snide, back-biting, disrespectful and cowardly in his sideways complaints and insults. I can honestly say that not a single person we know in common enjoys his company, and certainly no one has even the least bit of respect for him. He is a serious pain in the backside.

And this is the picture he leaves people of what "Christians" are like. He doesn't show the love of Jesus. He doesn't show compassion. He brings shame to the name of Christ, and drives people away. I wish he would not talk about his church or his organizations, and definitely wish he would never claim the Name of Jesus!

Christians, let's live a little more like Jesus! Jesus said that others would know us by our love, but now I'm afraid that others know us by our attitude of superiority. We think that we have a corner on righteousness because we're "saved" and are therefor better than others. Don't forget whose righteousness we are viewed under! "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:5

We are scum! We are the most wretched of all, if for no other reason than that we think we are not! Let's remember where we came from and look at people not through our eyes but through the eyes of compassion and love, wanting to be used to draw people to the Lord instead of having them go away thinking "if that's what a Christian looks like, I want no part of it!" I want to rededicate myself to having people know I'm a Christian because I treat them differently than others treat them, and that I love them as much as I am able like the Lord Jesus loves me. He didn't wait until I cleaned up my act and became "good enough" to call me to Himself. He came down to me where I was - lowly, sinful, addicted - and raised me out of my despair. Isn't that what we want for everyone?

So, let's not go around telling everyone we're Christians. Let's strive to show love and compassion, and then when someone asks "why would you treat me so well when the rest of the world treats me like dirt?" we can tell them, "we love you because Jesus first loved us."

Biking and Praying

A friend of mine who is one of the finest preachers I have ever known once told me that he didn't always feel like waking up early and going to church. (We were talking about my excuses...) But he said "when I feel like I don't really want to go to church, I've found that's when I need it the most."

This morning, I didn't feel like biking in to work. It wasn't even 50 degrees and I was tired. I was feeling lazy. It would have been so much easier to fire up the ol' gas-guzzler and pollute my way to work. At least then I wouldn't have to do anything other than sit...

But somehow I mustered the energy to crawl out of bed, put on my warm clothes and bike in to the office. I was amazed at how refreshing and invigorating the cool morning air was, and with a few layers I was more than comfortable. I started thinking about how cool it was to have legs that could pedal a bike at all.

I began to pray...

One thing that I enjoy doing is praying while I bike to work. It's about 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic and trains. My world is not completely isolated, but God meets me on the morning commute. I get the chance to pray for people who need prayer - like my children. I get the chance to praise God for glorious sunrises and incredible cloud formations. I get the chance to examine my own thoughts and listen to God as He whispers into them.

When I don't feel like biking in to the office are the times that I'm most glad I did anyhow. I'm sure there's a post about human nature in here somewhere, but for this morning I'm going to leave it at the fact that my body feels great and my spirit and mind are refreshed in 30 simple minutes spent with the Lord.

Yet another reason to keep pedaling...

Bring the boys (and girls) back home!

I just read this:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,269737,00.html

I would bet money that our men and women in Iraq would love a 2 month vacation this summer. I have long supported the troops, and have long believed that it was important for us to stay there until there was peaceful resolution to the sectarian violence. With the Iraqi Parliament preparing for a 2 month vacation beginning in July, I am forced to ask three questions:

1) Are the Iraqis as concerned about peace between sects as the US is?
2) Do the Iraqis define peace the same way as the US?
3) Do the Iraqis want US troops to assist them at all?

If they go on vacation while leaving our troops in harm's way, I think the answer to my first question is "obviously, NO." If they do not reconsider, I think it says that they are not as concerned as we are with resolution to the problems in their country, and this leads me to my next thought...

I don't think that the Iraqis and the US are working toward a common goal. We would define peace as an environment without war - or terroristic attacks on civilians. I don't think that is the Iraqi mindset at all. Perhaps they have lived with terrorism so long that it is just a normal part of their culture now. Perhaps they live in a manner that has been the custom for so long that violence is the answer to every dispute. If that is their way, I say "let them have their way" and stop trying to force our way of life on them. Maybe we should position our troops around the perimiter and vaporize any one or anything that tries to leave...

Lastly, I read this:

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/09/27/iraqis-poll/

If that is accurate, let's give them their way. I think it's time to bring our men and women home after a job well done. They have sacrificed and given everything, and let's give them more than just a vacation. Let's give them safe return to their families and loved ones.

Cold weather biking

I had my coldest commute this morning to work. It was 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and with a few minor discomforts it was a pretty decent ride.

You see, I started my bicycling career last year, thanks to my good friend and fellow bicycling mad-man, Art (http://www.finelinefurniture.us). He built me a really cool bike - a fixed gear road bike. If you are not familiar with fixed-gear bicycles, check out the Fixed Gear Gallery. It's a very cool site if you are into bikes, and it will give you a lot of info, not to mention lots of pictures of fixed-gear bikes.

The cool thing about fixies is that they are project bikes the way we do them. You buy yourself a good steel-framed bike in a garage sale (Art tells me that you should only pay $1 for any garage-sale bike) and then you modify it to remove the free-wheel function by removing the gear cassette and lock-tighting the cog on the rear wheel. Then, as you break parts or grow in appreciation of finer parts, you add on. It's economical, and exceptionally cool to be different.

So what I learned today in the 40-degree weather is that I could stand to use some long biking pants. Curently I wear longer shorts, and while that wasn't all bad it would be nice to have a decent pair of riding pants. I also learned that a t-shirt, a long-sleeve shirt and a wind-breaker jacket is more than adequate for upper-body warmth. I wear a backpack with my work clothes right now, and that helped with the warmth factor, I'm sure. I also could have used some decent riding gloves that are designed more for keeping warm than the fabric gloves I wear now. But none of that is needed before the end of the season, which I anticipate to be sometime in October.

Bike commuting to work is great for all sorts of reasons.

1. I work about 5 miles from home. In my piece-of-junk truck, that costs me about a gallon of gas a day. That comes out to $50/month only in getting to and from work, $100/month when I go home for lunch every day (which I do).
2. It's good for my health, and good for your health, too. I'm no longer adding to the toxic waste that chokes the very life from you in the air you breathe
3. It's good for my pocketbook. I am not only saving the $100/month in gas, but my insurance bill has been cut in half (that's right...I took the plunge and canceled the insurance on my piece-of-junk truck)
4. It's good therapy to pedal home after a stressful day in the office, so it's prolonging my life (and saving me money on a shrink)
   

I'm sure I'll come up with many more ideas, and you'll read about them here. Thanks for staying until the end of this post...more things as they happen...

Kenny Wayne today

I'm back. It's been a little while since my last post, but I'd be lying if I said I do this for anyone but myself.

This morning I listen to Kenny Wayne Shepherd's "Ledbetter Heights." This guy is one amazing guitarist. I don't recall his exact age when he recorded this album, but judging by the picture on the cover he's very young. I think he was 16 or 17, actually. Phenomenal feel for any guitarist, much less one so young. He pays a debt of gratitude and obvious tribute to greats like Stevie Ray Vaughan, but instead of copying Vaughan he offers some fresh perspective and shows his own soul.

This one is a keeper. Great tone. Great feel. Cool songs. What else does a guy need in the office early on Tuesday mornings?

It's (probably) a girl!!!

Our level-2 ultrasound yesterday was highly encouraging. 10 fingers, 10 toes, two eyes (free of cateracts, no less), strong heart pumping blood at 150 beats per minute, good growth, and according to the doctor, free from visible birth defects. That was great news, since the last time we met with a doctor we were given the news that it was a 1 in 41 chance that this child would have some sort of chromasomal defect, most likely Downs' Syndrome. After meeting yesterday, the doctor said that she saw no signs of Downs' or any other defect, and while that is not a gurantee it is encouraging. She said that our likelihood of problems now are at least 1 in 80 if not better.

Praise God for His faithfulness and in answering our prayer and the prayers of all who have been holding us up!

And I feel inclined to make mention of the fact that Sandra and I feel blessed with this child, regardless of her chromosomal condition or any other problem that may occur. If the Lord of Life blesses us with a child of Downs' Syndrome, we feel more concern for the difficulty that child will have throughout life, knowing that people are not always kind and that we will most likely not be available to protect her. But as far as blessings go, Downs' or not, we recognize God's grace on us and would love and cherish *any* child given us for earthly care.

So, having seen that this child is most likely a girl (the doc said she was about 95% sure) we move forward with naming her. Most likely, we will go with Jadyn, which means "God has heard."

He most certainly has, and most certainly has blessed us.

Ultrasound today

We have a level-2 ultrasound scheduled for this morning. It should be incredible to see how God's handiwork is taking place in Sandra!

Because we are old, there is an increased risk for chromosomal disorders with this child. That is what drives this more intense ultrasound today. Based on the nuchal translucency test we had performed, we were told that our risk for Downs' Syndrome with our new child is increased from 1 in 270 (the average of women over the age of 35) to 1 in 42.

But I put no faith in odds-makers.

This pregnancy was never supposed to happen, according to odds-makers. Once again, we are reminded that God alone is the giver of life, and He does as He pleases. Miracles happen every day. And if He sees fit to bless us with a child with Downs' or any other issue, so be it...Blessed be the name of the Lord! If that is the case, it is exactly what is best for us.

So, I'll post more, and hopefully pictures when I return. More as it happens...

Programming

In addition to being a music snob, I am a systems/network administrator for a local government agency. I'm studying to attain my degree in (currently) Business Computer Information Systems at St Cloud State, and taking a Programming in C course currently.

Tonight I studied recursion, and once getting my head around it I find that it simply makes sense. The most difficult thing to understand as far as I was concerned, is that a recursive function will "wait" for a return that does not include a function call. In other words, when I say:

return n * recursiveFunction(n-1);

It will attempt to solve that function and continue waiting until the recursiveFunction returns a value.

I don't know if that makes sense to anyone but me, but I guess it only matters that I know how to get the result I need...

...good night...

Gilmour today..."On An Island"

Thanks to Geoff, I'm enjoying some David Gilmour solo work today.

Gilmour will forever be one of my favorites. I read a quote one time about Gilmour that said "nobody plays the silence like David Gilmour." I tend to think that is right on the money. In the world of super-fast guitar diarrhea and punk-rock no-talents that can barely play 3 chords, it's good to know that guys like Gilmour are still putting out amazing albums like "On An Island" and receiving recognition for the accomplishment.

Check out davidgilmour.com for clips of his latest album and a truly enjoyable listening experience.

More Clapton today...

Today's early morning listening choice is Eric Clapton's "Reptile" album. It starts with a really cool, delicate piece called "Son and Sylvia" which just really is pleasing to the ear. It reminds me that one of the things that makes a great musician is not simply the technical aspect of being able to play cool scales or to write weird, challenging chord progressions. It's the ability to write pieces that stick in a person's head, that make their way from the ears, through the brain to the heart, where it incites an emotional response.

This is one thing that Clapton excells at, and what makes him Clapton. I haven't listened to him in a long, long time...and I'm glad to hear his stuff with fresh ears again.

More pointless thoughts and opinions as they happen...

Currently listening to...

Eric Clapton and B.B. King
"Riding With the King"

This is a fantastic album. Two greats, one album, all amazing...

For my money, I could listen to Clapton play the blues all day. It's what I always want from his albums, so when he puts out stuff like this, I can't listen enough. His rock stuff is good and cool, of course (he *is* Clapton, for cryin' out loud) but his blues stuff is just plain cool...

I'm back

There's nothing in here yet...