My reflections on fatherhood
The other day we went to one of those temporary Halloween stores that spring up to get the kids their costumes. I could go into buying vs. making your own and our lack of time, but that’s not really the point.
If you look at this image closely, you’ll see the size for this costume is for 8 to 10 year olds. And maybe I’m just become a grumpy old man, but should an 8 to 10 year old really be dressing as a pimp? Don’t get me wrong, my pimp hand is strong, but I am not 8 to 10 years old.
We’ve hit a milestone. Evan hasn’t killed us (or his sister) and vice/versa for a year! Hooray. Happy Birthday to him!
So, a few weeks ago Evan had pneumonia. As part of the treatment for his cough they prescribed some medicine to be distributed via a nebulizer. The infant nurse wanted us to replace the tubing with every treatment. Another nurse said “i didn’t tell you this, but you can use it for three or four before discarding.” Now, I’m fine with that discrepancy and I understand that its probably due to avoiding bacterial build-up in the tubing.
Here’s where the anger comes. Based on the advice/orders of the nurse, I would assume the tubing should be easy to come by. So, when Evan was feeling better, we discarded all the tubing.
He’s started to have a bad cough similar to what he had when we were prescribed before. The doctor said that if the cough comes back of this type, we can do more treatments, so we planned on doing that tonight. Unfortunately, we have no tubing and NEITHER DOES ANY OF THE FARKING PHARMACIES WE CALLED! What the hell.
Its our fault for not keeping the tubing, but at the same time, we were led to believe we could just go and get some at any time. What the hell would we have done if we had followed the “toss it after every treatment” rule. ARGHGGHGHADASDFH
Gone are the days of radio updates of where Santa is, now we can get REAL-TIME on your fat-man tracking ass.
First, you can visit NORAD’s web site for tracking Santa that is in 5 languages and features a map that updates every few minutes. Second, they have a link to a kml file for Google Earth so you can track Santa in 3D. I had fun with my daughter this morning showing her the difference of where we are vs where Santa is right now using Google Earth.
Not following Santa, but fun just the same… For those of us around Chicago, if you’re jonesing for some Holiday lights check out Chicagoloand Christmas Lights. Its main feature is a color coded Google map of 216+ well decorated houses around the Chicago area.
Evan Charles was born today at 7:34 pm weighing 7lbs 15oz. He was 20inches long. He joins us at much larger than his older sister did. Mom and baby are doing well. Dad isn’t too bad. Big Sister hasn’t yet been notified, but I’m sure she’ll be happy.
[Update 9:17: I forgot to add that true to form, as I was starting to think about putting information online, before I could do anything, Dave Terrell send me a message. Good that some things didn’t change. ]
As many people know, version 2.1 (or is it 3.0?) will be a boy. Sarah and I had always planned on having 2 children, and its just an easier decision now that we’ve collected the whole set. The downside to having a boy is that we have to have a discussion that we were able to avoid the first time around: circumcision.
While I may be cut, that doesn’t mean its the right choice for my child. Sarah, being a female, really hadn’t given it much thought until recently. While no decision has been made, I think we’re starting in opposite camps. Or at least slightly divergent camps. I’m strictly on the fence, but leaning on the side of "being intact." Sarah is leaning in the opposite direction, but she’ll fully admit its due to conformity and aesthetics.
As part of our reexamination of the issue, we had Netflix send us Penn & Teller: Bullshit season 3 disc 1. This was their episode on circumcision. We had watched it when it first aired on Showtime, but it was time for a refresher. It was fairly grueling to watch, and just based on the pain of the child, its a fairly compelling argument against. Sadly, some of the "intactivists" they show don’t help the cause much. Some of their arguments and presentation were fairly "out there" so it weakened the case a bit. However, those who were for circumcision didn’t have their case bolstered by the fact that in the United States circumcision became popular thanks to efforts by Kellogg and Graham as a way to keep those pesky kids from masturbating and keep their devotion to God. 1) It doesn’t really slow guys down (I’ve verified this) and 2) the cereal guy and the sweet cracker guy? Give me a break. Anyway, even after watching, Sarah was still on the side she started with, but it gave us a few more places to check out.
One of the items that P&T mentioned was the American Academy Of Pediatrics: Circumcision Policy Statement which I intend to read in the next few days. I also, on my own, looked up the wikipedia article on circumcision. Also, in trying to find some links for this post, I found this recent article in the Charlotte Observer.
In what I’ve read so far, I’m still on the fence. It doesn’t seem medically necessary, despite recent reports on the reduction in HIV transmission in Africa. Something doesn’t sit right with me on those reports, especially given the reported rampant nature of unprotected sex there. I would hope that I would raise my child right and he would practice safe sex at all times.
Anyway, one final thought from the Abstract of the America Academy of Pediatrics (also referenced in P&T:BS):
Existing scientific evidence demonstrates potential medical benefits of newborn male circumcision; however, these data are not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision. In circumstances in which there are potential benefits and risks, yet the procedure is not essential to the child’s current well-being, parents should determine what is in the best interest of the child. To make an informed choice, parents of all male infants should be given accurate and unbiased information and be provided the opportunity to discuss this decision. If a decision for circumcision is made, procedural analgesia should be provided.
Anyway, dear lazy web, what say you on the removal of foreskin?
[Update 1/17: For various reasons, most of them having to do with travel, I missed an article in the Chicago Tribune on this topic: Circumcision Circumspection. (Actually, this is the same article I pointed to above from the Charlotte Observer. I guess I didn’t realize it was from a local origin.) However, I caught a pro-circumcision letter to the editor that was in this mornings paper.]
In the morning while preparing to leave we normally have the tv on to catch the weather and a quick blast of news. As usual, because we’re in their home market, an Empire commercial came on. When the familiar 588-2300 jingle came on, my daughter just sang along with it.
Its both a proud moment and one that is kinda scary. However, my child is now officially identifiable as a child of the Chicago area.