Ponder Post: Para-what?

It has been while since I've written a random thought ponder post so here it is.

Frank and I were sitting at a traffic light next to a paratransit van. I looked at and wondered aloud, "Why is it called para-transit?". Frank replied, "Because it transports paraplegics." Ok. Maybe. But what does that mean for paralegals? Are they partial in some functions? How can you have paratransit and paraplegics and paralegals? What is the similar meaning for the root para?

That started us on an adventure of word play. Some words the base does not make sense let alone the root.

• There is parachute. How does para change chute and why indeed it is considered a chute of any sort? Because it directs the air into itself? In French chute means fall so maybe that helps.
• How about paragraph? This is text, not a numeric plot, so does para mean partial graph?
• I just learned a keet is a guinea fowl, so is a sort of fowl possible for parakeet? 
• Sol can mean sun, so is a partial sun a reasonable interpretation for parasol? 
• Parallel stumps me though. What is a "llel" - a line perhaps? And when you have two side by side, are they a pair of llels?
• How about paradox, parapet, paratrooper, paradise, and paramour?

What parameter do they all have in common?  In writing this post I looked up the origin of the root para-. Apparently para- is a Greek root meaning beside or near. That explains some of the words but not all.

• Paratransit is a special route that runs without a schedule near a scheduled route. 
• A paralegal works beside or near a legal professional
• Parallel is one line beside another
• Paragraph is interesting. In editing it began as symbol beside related text, demarcating it.

The parable of this post is that I have no consistent paradigm no matter how I look at it, even taking parallax into consideration. Maybe the people of Paraguay know.

Lillian Comes Home

Dan and Carrie's baby girl, Lillian Diane Chambers, was born on Wednesday, May 11, 2016  at 1:23 pm weighing in at 7 lbs even and measuring 21.5 inches long, one lb less and two inches longer than her sister Vivian's statistics at her birth in 2014. Lillian was born by by pre-scheduled C-section and she actually waited until the appointed time. Based on her mom's quite expansive girth during pregnancy, an early arrival could not be ruled out. Here is my first picture of Lillian, texted to Frank and me by her dad shortly after her birth.

Lillian was a high achiever already - scoring a 9 out of 10 on her Apgar evaluations at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. Apgar scoring rates a baby's breathing effort, heart rate, muscle tone, reflexes, and skin color. But Lillian's stay in the hospital would last 11 days.

Although robust, Lillian spent ten days in the NICU following a pre-planned surgery for an annular pancreas, a rare condition occurring in 1 out of 12,000 to 15,000 newborns where part of the intestine is constricted by the growth pattern of the pancreas during development. The condition had been diagnosed in utero due to her mom's retention of extra amniotic fluid (hence mom's large uncomfortable size).  On Thursday, May 12th, the morning after her birth, Lillian weathered a two-hour surgery well, in which her intestine was re-routed. Her little intestine needed to remain empty while it healed, so it was continually drained while Lillian was nourished intravenously via a PICC line.

But dad and mom visited her and Dan read to her while she was recuperating. She listened attentively.

Once sufficient healing had occurred, the intravenous feeding method could be discontinued gradually. Feeding by the normal oral method was introduced four days after surgery. On Monday, May 16th Lillian was allowed to eat for the first time. It was a team effort. Dad Dan did the honors of the first feeding. Mom Carrie had provided the breast milk from her pumped and accumulated supply.

Carrie fed her too, but from a bottle initially. Lillian could not nurse directly from Carrie just yet since input and output had to be measured and accounted for.

Once fed, Lillian slept well. I think I can see a hint of a smile around those eyes. All tubes are out. Tummy is full. Ah!

Dan, the proud and relieved daddy is snuggling his little girl. Doesn't he look pleased and doesn't she look peaceful nestled against her daddy?

Carrie poses for a picture with a wide-eyed, awake, alert Lillian. "So this is my mommy from the outside, huh?"

Can this be a yawn of contentment?

On Tuesday, May 17th, big sister, two-year-old Vivian, was allowed to robe up and enter the NICU to meet her one-week-old little sister, in person, for the first time.

Lillian was released to come home from the hospital Sunday, May 22nd. She had successfully demonstrated that she could nurse directly from her mom and generate output just as she should. A family portrait taken seated on the couch in their living room shows a very happy dad and mom and two daughters. Home. Together. At last.

Science works wonders these days. Not only was Lillian diagnosed before birth, but a team of surgical specialists was on board to handle the major surgery flawlessly and guide Lillian expeditiously on her way to nursing and processing her milk intake the conventional way. We were relieved and amazed and most of all thankful.

Welcome to the world, Lillian. We are so glad to have you here!

Vivian Awaits Her Little Sister - May 14th to 18th

Saturday May 14th Frank and I both slept in at the hotel, recuperating a bit from our couple hectic days with a toddler. Vivian was as good as gold but a two-year-old can really wear you out. We enjoyed the hot breakfast complimentary with the room. Dan took Vivian with him up to the hospital to visit her mom. They have a Ronald McDonald toy room there where Vivian played happily with Carrie's oversight while Dan visited with Lillian in the NICU.

Dan brought Vivian back home in the afternoon so she (and Carrie) could nap and so he and Frank could do some yard work, tidying up before Carrie returned home from the hospital the next day. Dan caught his breath a bit by chilling on the couch with Frank, watching part of a Nascar documentary before heading back to the hospital for the evening, leaving Vivian in our care for the remainder of the day.

I gave Vivian a post-nap snack, a container of blueberry yogurt. Carrie was surprised when I texted her a photo. "That's good. I can't get Vivian to eat yogurt." But Vivian loved it from Grandma and the banana strawberry flavor as well. 

Grandma buys the good stuff with sugar and fruit already blended in and her mom probably buys the healthy Greek variety which is very sour in my opinion. Vivian called it "ice cream" and I did not correct her.

We then took her along to look at some nearby model homes and she had a blast. The entry of one had a water feature wall with a huge screen TV mounted on it playing a film feature of sea turtles. Vivian loved the "Nemo" display as she called it.

I let her lean over and put her hands in the sheet of water falling as a decorative accent in the back yard. OK, she did get some wet sleeves, but who cares?

I reminded Vivian that the yogurt she'd just eaten had blueberries in it so the super big, high gloss, blueberry on the kitchen counter caught her eye.

We headed upstairs to tour the upper floor. The curving staircase with its fancy scroll work banisters was like another play structure and she loved pulling her way up the steps one by one. This whole house was like one extravagant play ground – with a $1.6 minimum price tag. Unlike the trampoline or music activities from the previous days though, it's admission was free.

Vivian enjoyed pointing out all the different dogs on the wallpaper in one of the bathrooms.

Then we entered the Peter Pan themed bedroom, ushered in by signposts at the entrance.

Vivian enjoyed rocking on the crocodile ride-on toy. Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock...

Overhead, suspended from the ceiling, glimmered a galleon chandelier whose riggings of delicate strings of pearls appeared to be subtly glowing. Second star to the right and straight on till morning...

Instead of "on to morning" we proceeded "on to dinner" at the Olive Garden Italian restaurant. Vivian dug into those breadsticks with relish!

She devoured her rather large plate of shell pasta with gusto. We told her they were Nemo-sized shells.

Sunday morning May 15th Frank and I were off duty again. We drove to a nearby town of Costa Mesa to visit a model train store and a combination fabric/antique store. We were back in time to take Vivian to a late afternoon birthday party, also held at a local park. Carrie came home from the hospital on Sunday but she stayed home and rested while Dan went with us to the party. There was a jump house set up, and a big dog visited.

Vivian would have nothing whatsoever to do with that big dog. She is happy enough with her dog Snoopy, thank you very much.

Monday May 16th was a day care day for Vivian so Frank and I were not needed for baby sitting until later. But a grandparent's job is never done.

I woke up at 4:00 am PDT to be in cell phone contact and support for our daughter Robin because our grandson Isaiah, back in Oklahoma was having surgery to have ear tubes inserted due to repeated ear infections. The surgery is considered minor but it does require anesthesia and no surgery is truly minor when it is your child. Since he is so young, nine months, his surgery was early, one of the first of the day. Thankfully all went well and quickly. Robin reports Isaiah is actually responding to sounds much more now. He refused to sleep an entire night when there was a thunderstorm and really freaked when their doorbell rang. Those sounds had never been issues before. The trick now is to find the volume button on his older sister, Autumn, or encourage her to keep a bit more distance between her mouth and his ears.

I am glad all are out of the woods, now. Having three family surgeries in five days is indeed worrisome: Carrie's on Wednesday, Lillian's on Thursday, and Isaiah's on Monday. Later in the day, while Carrie was at the hospital with Lillian, and Isaiah was refusing to nap for Robin after coming out of anesthesia, we spent some time with Dan having lunch together and raiding Home Depot and Hobby Lobby for an eclectic array of items to spruce up the house and yard a bit. The hectic days that had preceded required a bit of catch up in routine home maintenance. We returned to our hotel for the evening letting Carrie, Dan, and Vivian have some private family time together at home.

Tuesday May 17th was our final full day before our departure home. Vivian had no day care and we took her to Pretend City Children's Museum while Dan and Carrie returned to the hospital. It was to be the first day of feeding by mouth for Lillian and they were excited.

You can take a virtual tour of Pretend City at http://www.pretendcity.org/exhibits/. We had gotten there first thing upon opening and Vivian was enthralled and seemed undecided where to go first. We let her meander at her own pace.Vivian loved riding the Little Tikes vehicles about Main Street.

She took a real liking to this push toy that had a pair of galloping zebras.

She went through and climbed over the caterpillar tunnel in the park section.

She picked strawberries and apples and oranges in the agricultural section.

As the morning progressed, the museum became more populated and a rowdier group of older boys intimidated her a bit. She would play with something we showed her, but her courage and initiative to explore on her own diminished as the crowds grew. Vivian was thoughtfully floating some ducks down a sluice in the water play section when she murmured quietly, "I want to go home". We had not really explored the sand section at the beach nor gone shopping at the grocery store, but that was OK. We honored her wishes and left in time to drive Vivian over to the library, about 7 minutes away per Siri, for the quieter activity of toddler story time. I guess she must have been pretending harder than we appreciated because, during the brief ride she fell sound sleep. We followed plan B, taking her home and letting her nap there. I did not fall asleep, though I was tempted.

After her nap we drove up to the hospital to meet up with Dan and Carrie who were already there. They had filled out the appropriate paperwork so that Vivian was finally allowed to visit her baby sister in the NICU. We waited for Vivian's return outside in the Ronald McDonald play room. After Carrie brought Vivian back out, Frank and I were pleased to learn that we too could go in and see Lillian in person. We'd seen a video camera feed and photos but this is the first opportunity we'd be permitted to see her for real! Dan held her while we looked on and I planted a kiss with my fingertips on her forehead. What a doll! What a relief!

After the hospital visit, we met up with Dan, Carrie, and Vivian at her Tuesday evening swim class and went out to a final dinner afterward. Here we are outside BJ's restaurant. I tried to bribe Vivian when she was antsy and did not want to behave and smile for the photo, handing her a Hershey kiss I fished out of my handbag. Carrie intervened asserting her mommy authority, well practiced with Vivian during the first two years of her life. She snatched the chocolate from Vivian's chubby little fist with the admonishment. "No, you did not earn this! You have to be good first." Vivian complied immediately.

I got my photo. Vivian got her chocolate. Carrie gave the Hershey Kiss back and helped Vivian unwrap it. Carrie willingly admitted that Grandma spoiling was an acceptable and to-be-expected part of life.

Wednesday, May 19th we headed straight for the airport from our hotel. Lillian had not not yet been released from the hospital, but it had been a very rewarding visit for us, even if stressful and a bit tiring. Frank and I are so thrilled we got to spend time with Vivian and got to know her so much better. We can't wait for our next get-together when we'll begin to hold and learn about her little sister, Lillian, also.

Vivian Awaits Her Little Sister - May 9th to 13th

Have car seat, will travel. Frank and I arrived Monday afternoon May 9th in Southern California to help care for our two-year old granddaughter Vivian for the next nine days while her mom and dad would be busy having her little sister. Since we had a rental car - Frank is waiting in line for it - we brought the car seat we have in Livermore for when our grandkids visit. I bought a back-pack style traveling case for it so it could be checked like a piece of luggage. The seat is awkwardly huge but not too heavy. The zippered cover worked out very well. I wore it too. Nobody ever accused Frank and me of traveling light! Granted one of the suitcases is full of presents –  cue eye rolls from my son and daughter-in-law.

At a very huge nine-months pregnant, Carrie had still prepared a delicious polenta and sausage dish for our dinner at their house with Vivian on our arrival night while she and Dan went out for a quiet dinner of their own. We took Vivian to a local park where we held our breath as she fearless navigated the climbing structure. She wants to be independent and firmly tell you "I got it" when you try to assist her. Well, one time, she didn't "got it. She failed to reach far enough with one leg, slipped, and fell about 10". Frank and I were right there and she slid through both our hands. There were some tears and a pitiful wailing cry for "Mommy" but the drama was brief, Grandma hugs and kisses sufficed, and she was back down the slide in less than five minutes. We walked home shortly there-after and got Vivian ready for bed but dallied enough that her parents were home in time to say goodnight and finish putting her to bed per their request.

Tuesday May 10th, Dan, Carrie, and Vivian wanted to have their final day to themselves as a family of three, which conveniently gave Frank and me a chance to unwind from our travels. It is not the 1-hour 20-minute plane flight that tires you out; it is the house prep and packing before. We also were aware that we had a toddler marathon ahead of us for which we would need to pace ourselves and conserve energy. Frank and I had a luxurious brunch at Denny's and then walked across the parking lot to browse Hobby Lobby's home decor offerings. They were simple activities but we enjoyed each other's relaxed company. We met up with Dan, Carrie, and Vivian that evening to watch Vivian in her swim lesson. She is quite the little fish and is learning many safety skills at the same time.

C-Day: Wednesday morning May 11th Dan and Carrie took Vivian to daycare themselves on the way to the hospital for Carrie's scheduled C-section. Frank and I switched hotels that morning while they were in transit. Frank and I had stayed elsewhere our first two nights because the Staybridge Suites, which was closer to Dan and Carrie, had restrictions resulting in exorbitant rates if reservations were not made sufficiently in advance. The uncertainty around the baby's arrival, precluded an early booking for us even though we knew we would meet their minimum stay requirements. Transferring our luggage from the Candlewood Suites to the Staybridge Suites was not too difficult because we had not really settled into there. The relocation activity also provided the adequate level of distraction for us preceding Carrie's surgery. We ensconced ourselves in their home by noon however to await the news of our third granddaughter's birth. Dan texted us as soon as he could that mom and baby were doing fine. Vivian now had a little sister though it would be a while before she would get to meet her in person.

Lillian Diane Chambers was born on Wednesday May 11, at 1:23 pm, weighing in at a robust 7 lbs even and measuring 21.5 inches long. Starting life at 1 lb 1 oz less than her big sister Vivian, but 2 inches longer, Lillian was very alert and had two Apgar scores of 9 and 9. "See? Already an A student," thought the proud and relieved grandma. Lillian's hospital stay would be longer than typical newborns because she needed an operation soon after birth for a somewhat rare, but well understood and surgically correctable, intestinal anomaly, detected while in utero. I will write a birth post of her own with photos, shortly after Lillian Diane's arrival home.

Our next scheduled assignment for Vivian was to pick her up from daycare Wednesday evening. She was happy to see Frank and me and went with us without a hitch. After bringing her back to her home, I prepared a 10 minute, one pan, pre-packaged Gobble Dinner kit Carrie had left for us. We opened a Spin Again toy we had brought for Vivian and she enjoyed dropping the gears down on a corkscrew post and watching them whirl around during descent. She went to bed with no fuss whatsoever. Dan got home very late from the hospital and gave us a bit of a download of the days events. Carrie remained at the hospital, Lillian remained in the NICU, her surgery scheduled for early the next morning. I slept over at their house so Dan could leave early Thursday to return to the hospital and wait with Carrie throughout Lillian's surgery.

Thursday May 12th Frank and I took Vivian to Big Air Trampoline Park. Toddler time is from 10 am to 1 pm. The place is really well set up with padded surfaces every where and fun ways to jump and play with soft balls, blocks and other items. 

We initially bought a pass just for Vivian but she was a bit shy and apprehensive so I got a pass too and went in with her. Whew! I jumped, bent over, holding her under her armpits and bouncing in sync with her and higher than she could have done on her own. She loved it but I sweated up a storm. She also played with some of the balls and stacked some of the foam blocks but had had enough after about 50 minutes. That was fine with me. Dan texted with Lillian's surgery results while we were there and all had gone smoothly.

Outside Big Air Trampoline Park is not very impressive and does not reveal the well thought out set up within. I was drawn to the speed bump outside in the parking lot. But what is that covering on it?

Closer inspection revealed that it must be a tradition to place your time-stamped sticker pass on the speed bump when you leave. There was quite a collage there. On the drive home we picked up TOGO's sandwiches, soups, and salad for lunch and dinner.

Dan came home midday Thursday and, after Vivian's nap, took her up to the hospital to see her mom. She would not yet be able to visit her baby sister but Carrie was missing Vivian. Since there is a limited window of time for a toddler to be a hospital room, we planned to pick her up before she overstayed her attention span or her parents' energy. We went to the hospital at 5pm, met Dan and Vivian in the lobby, and took her home so that her visit was just long enough. In the car on the way back, we were stopped at a red light and a firetruck sped right past us, close on our left, going our direction. Frank, in the excitement of the moment, rolled down the car windows to experience it better. Just then the truck sounded its extremely loud, blaring horn, as it was directly beside our car. I yelled at Frank that he would scare Vivian. She merely observed it all and, in the ensuing silence after the emergency vehicle's passage, murmured calmly, "Fire Truck." So much for being afraid or startled!

Dan came home late Thursday night after a very long and arduous day. I was glad we'd had the forethought to buy extra sandwiches and soup to warm up for him. I camped out on their living room couch once again so Dan could get an early start back to the hospital on Friday morning.

Mid-morning on Friday, May 13th Frank and I took Vivian to a Music Together class in which Carrie had enrolled her. I said to Frank,"Music class – that is right up my alley. I can handle that." I thought to myself that this would be a piece  of cake after those trampoline aerobics. Music Together is an internationally recognized program initiated in 1987 but, to quote Carrie on the topic, "It's a @#%^& workout". And she was right!

There are hand and body motions to accompany the rhythm of the music. Adults are to mimic these motions while assisting their child's appendages to do the same. We sing in quasi-pitch or just do rhythmic echoing of la-la's or tic-tic's or whatever the guttural utterance of the moment is. Then we tippy-tippy-toe at the song's pace from one corner of the room to another and back again. And again. And again. Then we march around with instruments like tambourines and bells. Then we toss scarfs in the air and catch them and hide behind and among them. Then we hand-over-hand strum ukeleles. Then we do stick clacking to different beats. Then we dump out the toys. Then we put away the toys. Then we sit in a circle and tap on each others backs in a syncopated beat. Then we reverse direction and repeat. Then the non-toddler participants collapse in exhaustion.

There is one song that stuck in my mind. I remember the verses as going something like
1...  Three little owls say "whoo, whoo, whoo" (3x) as they sat in an old oak tree
2...  Three little squirrels say "fft, fft, fft" (3x) as they sat in an old oak tree
3...  Three black crows say "caw... caw..." (3x) as they sat in an old oak tree
4...  Three little kittens say "meow, meow, meow" (3x) as they sat in an old oak tree
5...  Parents say "hold on tight" (3x) as they sat in an old oak tree
In the final verse the tree laments "All these things are sitting on me." By the end of class I was the physically drained tree!

We all got our hands stamped with musical instrument images at the end of class.

After the musical workout within, Vivian climbed on and hung from the equipment on the playground outside the music classroom. I said to Frank, "You got this one. I'm sitting down!"

Then it was off to Baja Fresh for lunch. I got a milk for Vivian but, upon getting back to our table with it, I felt it was not cold enough. I took it back to the counter for the clerk to investigate and I requested another. The clerk took it from me and shook it vigorously before inspecting it. She did not check first that the cap was secure. Off flew the cap, showering the clerk, me, the entire counter, and all customers within a five foot radius, with a deluge of tepid milk. She got me a fresh colder milk from the rear refrigerator and was a good sport about it all. Vivian enjoyed her newer chilled milk, chowed down on her quesadilla...

... and practically inhaled her rice and applesauce.

We arrived home after lunch just in time for a big event. A garbage truck was out collecting the trash bins. Vivian loved watching these with Grandpa and waved to the drivers - who waved back!

I would sporadically text Carrie photos so she would feel included. She informed me that the cute Minnie Mouse outfit with the appliquéd daisies on the top and daisy print leggings was pajamas. Well, if that is the worst thing a Grandma can mess up, I wasn't doin' too bad.

After nap time we joined up with neighbors who typically meet at a local park within walking distance for a Friday night Happy Hour where the kiddos play on play structures while the parents socialize. This was the same structure we'd taken Vivian to on Monday but this time she really did "got it" and did not fall. I did not change her outfit so if any of the Dan and Carrie's friends there noticed she was wearing pajamas, they did not mention it. Maybe I inspired them to start a new SoCal trend for comfortable playground attire. Dan met up with us there. After Vivian was bathed and in bed we three ate takeout Chinese for dinner.