swedenusa

It is hard to believe that we will be in the US in only 2 months! We both talk about it quite often. We have so many people that we want to connect with. Those moments with family and friends are priceless. I received some pictures of my nephew in Montana.

It seems like a couple months ago that we blogged about him being born. Now he is all grown up…and apparently a farmer.

Mir is doing alot better. We have been going out during the days for a few hours. It gives us a chance to use our stroller.

The building behind me would have been Noah’s daycare, but we are moving out of the neighborhood.

We went to IKEA and the mall today. We thought this display was kind of funny. What the heck!?!?

Noah got his first hair cut today. It was a little long in the back. We did it while he was sleeping. Neither of us can cut hair apparently so it turned out pretty bad.

It kind of reminds me of Billy Bob Thorton’s haircut in Slingblade.

I think he will forgive us. It will grow out. Finally a picture for the grandparents.

Fall is here. The leaves are changing. I have always loved fall and think it is such a beautiful time for nature. This year I have been wishing and longing for fall to be here, that is only natural. I dreaded summer and hoped it wouldn´t be too hot considering very few places have AC in Sweden. It was a good summer for me. Some sun, some heat and a lot of relief from it all. Still I couldn´t wait for summer to be over.

Last time I checked it was the beginning of September and then I blinked or something and it is already October. Remember past years blog entry about how I feel September really is the 7th month of the year? That one I think got a lot of comments.

We have so much to do! We are moving in just two weeks and we haven´t started packing yet. Sam keeps telling me that I can´t do anything but everything will work out just fine. Which is pretty much true. Still not allowed to lift anything heavier than our son! And it will have to work out fine!

Why are babies´ feet so precious?

week 1

week 2

We have both been home alot with the little one. Mir is doing better and better although she is still really tired. One of the downsides about having lots of time off is it is hard to find new and interesting things to blog about. So this blogpost will be full of random things that in itself may not be worthy of it’s own blog….but collectively it should have something for everyone!   

#1. International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Did you know that September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day?

Here is the link to a great site that translates whole chunks of text into Pirate Lingo…For instance, Here is a sample from my last blog…

Well I must say, things have been wonderful! It is so much fun having a baby in the house. However, we have learned that we have to take any opportunity we can to sleep or eat or do something for ourselves. Days and nights run together…I remember yesterday around 6.00 PM…wondering if I had brushed my teeth that day.  

And now I run it though my Pirate Translater…

Well I must say, things ben wonderful! ‘Tis so much fun havin’ a baby in th’ house. However, we be havin’ learned that we be havin’ t’ take any opportunity we can t’ sleep or eat or do somethin’ fer ourselves. Days an’ nights run together…I reckon last high tide’ around 6.00 PM…wonderin’ if I had brushed me teeth that tide…. Gar.

Much Better.

#2. I made the newspaper! 

Here is the link. A few people from my work entered a Kubb tournament. Kubb is basically LawnJarts…but with a Scandinavian twist. Our team did pretty well…We made it to the Quaterfinals, but then we were rained out. We left because we were wet and cold, forfeiting our chance at the 500 dollar prize. Yeah, that is me in the picture giving the victory sign with my fingers…although in reality I was just a quitter.

#3. Hey Jonas and Shie. Dosn’t this guy look like Joe from NorthCentral!???? They could be twins!

#4. Thanks Mom and Dad for the outfit!

#5. Noah snores. He gets that from me I think. Here is the video.

Ok that about does it. If you feel inclined, leave a comment in English, Swedish, or Pirate. Gar… 

Well I must say, things have been wonderful! It is so much fun having a baby in the house. However, we have learned that we have to take any opportunity we can to sleep or eat or do something for ourselves. Days and nights run together…I remember yesterday around 6.00 PM…wondering if I had brushed my teeth that day.  

Noah is such a calm and sweet kid, but like all babies he needs a full tummy and a dry diaper to be truely happy. The diaper changing responsibilty falls mostly on me since Mir is still in pain and she spends lots of time feeding and burping the little guy. I don’t mind, it is a great chance to spend some quality time with my new son!

Noah and I play a little game when I change him…at the exact moment when I remove his diaper, he diggs deep trying to find some sort of fluid to excrete. So far he has peed on me or the table 3 times and has “sharted” on me once. (If you don’t know this term I think you can google it…It is kind of offensive though…but accurate!) 

When we do have a free moment we sleep…

I love this face…

This morning he was making some funny faces, so we grabbed the video camera, hoping to capture a few of them…Unfortunatly, he didn’t do too many faces …but he does fart at the end. That’s my boy

Here is a link to the video…

We are finally home. I haven´t blogged in such a long time and feel somewhat overwhelmed with the task. I don´t know where to start, what to include and what to leave out.

5 days and 4 nights at the hospital was a long time but it went by so fast. Most of that time I spent in one of those tent-sized blue cotton hospital sleeping gowns. All new moms were walking around in those the first day or so. I also spent most time in bed as it hurt to walk around. I still have a hard time gettin in and out of bed and walking straight is sort of difficult too.

I loved the fact that the specialized nurses were just a button away. If I needed help adjusting the bed, figuring out something with our son, getting up, or just more painkillers I pushed the “signal” button and they would come. Sam has been wonderful in filling that function now that we are home. Getting adjusted is definetly a two persons job and we depend on each other.

This is when we were waiting in the hospital lobby for the Taxi to come and pick us up. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful fresh fall day as we rode through town to our home. It was strange for me to see the world outside of my “hospital bubble”. It was as though I had totally forgotten all about the life outside.

We have had our first visitors. My dad and little cousin T came and visited us in the hospital on Thursday. That was a pretty bad day for me and I had to meet my guests in a wheel chair in between blood tranfusions. My dad was a bit surprised when he called me on Sunday and found out that we were home. I suppose I most have looked pretty pale during that first visit.

T and grandpa came by to “look at the baby” one more time. T is a bit shy around the baby but he really wanted to give him a baby prayer book and told me that I should read it right away. T sat next to me as I read and sure enough, the baby fell asleep during the rythmic prayers.

It is strange to think that our son is soon 1 week old. Sam and I have really lost track of time. The hours disappear yet it seems like we really aren´t doing very much!

We are home tommorrow. I still can’t believe he is ours.  

What an amazing 2 days! Mir and I had been on pins and needles all week…nothing to do but wait to meet our child. Monday night we played the card game Skip Bo for the 800th time over the kitchen table, discussing our thoughts and fears…reassuring each other that it would all be OK…

Then we took one last picture of us together before the big day…

Here it is…

Surgery was set for 7.00 AM the next day. Of course we both hardly slept.

The next morning went fast! We caught a buss to the hospital, and we were ushered into a changing room. We both got nifty outfits to wear in surgery. I got these special indoor shoes that says “Pappa’s shoes”

As soon as we got dressed we were rushed away to surgery. There were 8 or 9 different people in the room…We had our heads in a little tent while they were working on Mir. It kept us somewhat seperated from the voices and the sounds of the machines beeping. Some of the nurses were explaining things to us and one even tried calming our nerves us by talking with us about our home and family in the USA. We tried our best to keep calm. 

Then we heard our baby! A high pitched gurgling cry that brought us both to tears. Our baby was placed inside of our cozy tent with us as the nurse told us it was a boy. 

Noah means “peaceful”.

He was 3,090 grams (6.8 lbs) and 48 cm (19 inches) long.

The next 2 days we spent in our room. Our beds were moved together and we held our new baby. Hours melted away.  

They kicked me out at the end of Day 2. I have to sleep at home now, but I will be spending every waking hour at the hospital with my family. Mir is planning to stay at the hospital until at least Friday. She is doing better but recovery is going to take a little while longer. We are all pretty tired. As I left the hospital tonight, I saw this cartoon hanging on the wall. I laughed pretty hard.

This is the 2nd crayfish party this fall for us. The Swedes love the crayfish. I think it is a little too much work for a tiny bit of meat….but I guess the main point is spending a few hours with friends, wearing the funny hats…singing the crayfish songs (oh, yes…they do have crayfish songs!) and socializing.