Didn't Think I'd Learn From a Baby

That's right folks...Audrey has taught me something. Through trial by fire she has taught me something my own mother could never...the art of being organized. These last four months I have been Mr. Mom, and they have been some of the most rewarding 4 months of my life. It is the most amazing thing to not understand how Marriage works and it is just as amazing to witness something you have created, with a little miracle from God, grow up right before your eyes. Not to diminish all of the other life lessons I have learned about being a father (those post will come later), to me, leaning to be organized was something I knew I might need to work on, but I didn't think I would ever be good at it. Being that I was organizationally challenged, I had to learn to be organized in a hurry with a little crying child that wants food...NOW!!! Now it has seeped into my school life for the first time...which will seep into my nursing career which is where I need it the most...so i don't kill anyone!! I figure that might be important. You know...to be organized

Thanks Audrey!

It's What The People Want!

So Audrey has had this knack for giving what the people want when they talk to her in that weird voice when one talks to babies. You know, that hi pitch nonsense that seems to over take even the most eloquent orator. So what Audrey does is assess the situation then gives a smile (like an Elvis side smile) because that is what this person that looks and sounds funny wants. She is appeasing her audience. I think it's funny because it does appease her audience but I know she is just giving what the people want...acknowledgment for the hoops this person ran through to get that smile. I know my child can read people because she reads us as parents as well. Take this video clip for example; which is hilarious. She is minding her business, destroying and dominating a catalog that we gave her to dominate. Then she sees that we are capturing her destruction...you'll see what I mean...

And Now Your Starting Lineup...

So when I was going through OB/Peds 2 semesters ago, it was a healthy sign that parents had expectations for their children. This meant that the parents were involved in their children. So my healthy expectation of Audrey Lane is to be the first 2nd baseman for the New York Yankees. That position is perfect. She won't have to throw far and I am going to teach her how to hit like Ichiro because he slaps and runs at the ball at the same time...much like in softball. Let's go Yankees...buh buh ba ba buh

Back From The Dead!!!

That's right...I'm blogging. I'm giving you a post to satisfy your urge for my Puerto Rican Slant on things...just kidding. I figured I should blog something since I have one.

Today Jess Mac came over with the girls to go swimming in my new pool at my new home. That's right...I moved from Orange Crest to Canyon Crest...5 mins away. Holly and I live in the Canyon Creek apartments. Anyways it was just me and Audrey...holly wasn't even home. Jess didn't have to come over but she did and that meant a lot to 

me. Why you ask???

Ok so I have been Mr. Mom for the last two mont

hs. it has been such a blessing and privilege to do so. Whenever I tell guys or gals for that matter, they all say, "oh you are so lucky as a dad!!" I guess I am, I am just doing what we as parents have to do. Now what I am about to say my make some people mad but to me it is reality...being a parent is not that hard! Babies, kids, adults, the cosmos...it all has some sort of rhythm. If you find the rhythm then it becomes predictable and simplified. There is to say that bit of unpredictability but again if you are in tune with the rhythm then it is easy to sense the unpredictable and roll with the punches. What is not hard as a stay-at-home parent is the lack of Adult interaction. God created to need people and even though my little Audrey is a person, I can only repeat certain words so many times before I crack. I put on DVDs just so I can have some adult interaction; which I don't really watch...it is just for the adult sentences coming from my iMac. Especially for me (Super Extravert), I need 

people. So you see...for Jess to come over, without her good friend, my wife Holly there and just hang wit

h Mr. Mom meant a whole lot. For all of those stay at home mommies out there I can empathize and fully understand that it isn't the kids but the lack of common adult interaction that can drive you nuts...

So there is that...and some pictures of Audrey!!

Blow Out of The Century

First off, I know...every parent thinks their kid had the blow out of the century and I would like to take the time and enter in my bid for the Blow Out Of The Century...Holy cow!!!

Ok, so Audrey's poop is like the consistency of Organic Creamy Peanut Butter. If you don't know what that is like here is a description. The oils in Jif and Skippy don't separate until like 2 years down the road but Organic Peanut Butter is constantly separated. You have to mix the peanut with the oils...that is what it looks like! Not only that but every once in a while we supplement her breast milk with formula so it looks a tad bit seedy...Seedy Organic Creamy Peanut Butter.

Well she just blew up her diaper and it flowed to the points of least resistance. Unbelievable, all I could do was laugh, because I was holding her and it just kept coming. And because I was holding her, I held her at arms distance. Which for me is pretty far away. What an experience!!! I can't wait till she is dating at age 25; I will have so much amo.

My Life Has Changed!!!

***Warning: This Is A Long Post***

To all my fans...SORRY for the absolute lack of posts. I suck. I triple dog suck. I have been wanting to post but like RevRock I haven't really wanted to post lately. But due to some life situations I feel it a must to inform and educate you all as to why my life has changed...I AM A FREAKN RICAN DAD!!!

Many of you have seen my initial post that Audrey Lane Rodriguez (Audrigo...thanks for the nickname Mr. TheEpic) was born on Monday, February 25, 2008 at 12:06pm and I haven't been the same since.

Holly was in labor for 32 hours straight with some nice strong contractions. She started her contractions 4:00am on Sunday and they just got stronger as time went on. We went in to Kaiser at around 9:oopm and the contractions just got stronger. Mind you Holly hasn't really slept because even at 4am, her contractions were waking her up every 15mins. She finally got an Epidural and that helped her so much.

Now Audrey was 6.1 lbs and 19 inches long. Even without that information I think the staff knew, and I kind of new that Audrey was probably coming into this world via C-Section. However, that did not stop the staff from being the best staff ever, allowing Holly to give it her all. They exhausted every avenue in trying to have a vaginal delivery. They were so accommodating and understanding. Holly was determined and focused and I am so proud of her for it. After 3 hours of pushing, the staff, Holly, and I came to the decision of a C-Section; 20 mins later Audrey was born. It was completly surreal to hear the cry of God's creation for the first time.

Because Audrey was stuck for 3 hours, she came out with some good looking Caput (Cone Head). So weird...so very weird, that is all I could think. As a student nurse I was pulled in so many directions because I knew the procedure inside and out so I was paying attention to that as well as the Nurse Anesthetist (that is what I want to be) and looking at my baby girl. My senses were on complete overload. It was great!

Even now as I remember everything that went on, I don't have words to describe it all.

We stayed in the hospital for 2 days (standard for a C-Section). That sucked because I had to sleep on a convertible arm chair meant for people who are 5-5. Not only that but we didn't get a room by ourselves. For some reason, everybody in Riverside decided to get a Sinus Infection (this turned into Pneumonia for most people) so they took over the overflow section that was meant for Postpartum patients. But it didn't matter because most of our time was spent learning about Breast Feeding from the Lactation Nurse, or just waiting for Holly to pass gas (passing gas is the official get out of jail card in a hospital).

Holly, of course, recovered at a ridiculous pace. The doctor and nurses were amazed. When they asked if she wanted pain meds she said she didn't need it, she wasn't in pain; mouths dropped. When she started walking around the unit just 6 hours after her surgery, mouths dropped. Pretty much she did a two day recovery in 3/4 of a day.

Going home was another weird feeling. I was going home with a child...my child...forever...?!?

The last two weeks have been such a learning process without sleep. But I wouldn't change it for the world. Audrey has already grown so much, it's ridiculous. She has started to smile and we talk every morning as to what we are going to do today. I usually tell her I'm going to school. She just looks at me.

So what do I get out of this besides a beautiful daughter...more lessons on life and love and a bit more of God's personality. I have prayed every day that God would reveal more of his idea of love, his church, and any other lesson He can teach me. So far he hasn't disappointed.

Well this concludes a seriously long post. I need to blog more I know. It keeps my posts down to a manageable size I know.

More about what is going on at ThePuertoRicanSlant to come...stay tuned!!! Here are some more pictures of the miracle...

3 Generations First Bath She hates being changed...then loves it!













Seriously though...I did not teach her to do this. We were taking pictures last night and this happened...the funniest thing ever!!!