I posted photos on Facebook last week. To see them without logging into Facebook, go here to see a few more pictures of Mona's first six months.
I started this new album for the second half of Mona's first year. Mona was a fairy for Halloween!
I also have some pictures from Gabe and Emily's wedding . Mona had a great time meeting all the cousins.
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This is the story of my labor and delivery of Mona. After discussing it with friends and reading up on childbirth, Navid and I decided we wanted a supportive setting for a natural birth, so we switched from Sharp Mary Birch hospital to Best Start Birth Center. I was eligible to deliver at Best Start because I was having only one baby, she was positioned head down, I was in good health, and the pregnancy had gone smoothly so far. Best Start has four midwives: Ashley, Brook, Janna, and Susan. During my prenatal visits I got to know all four of them and they are all very friendly, knowledgeable, and supportive. They always spent plenty of time with me and made sure I got all of my questions answered. This was a nice change from the typical doctor's office where the doctor zips in and out before you can even collect your thoughts.
My due date was Sunday, April 10th, but I knew there was a good chance Mona would come late since she's my first. But she didn't keep us waiting; I actually started feeling contractions when I woke up that morning. The contractions were fairly mild and spaced out, so Navid and I went to Ki's in Cardiff for lunch and walked on the beach a little, and then we did some more walking at Mission Bay. I carried a piece of paper to mark down when each contraction started. The contractions were slowly getting closer together, so we called the birth center around 8 pm to let them know I'd be coming in soon. Ashley had just started her 24 hour shift so we assumed she'd be the one to deliver my baby.
By bedtime the contractions felt pretty strong, especially when I tried to lie down in bed, so I couldn't fall asleep, and at 2 AM there were a few in a row that were about a minute long and three minutes apart, so we called our doula, Terry Rogers, to come over and help. A doula's role is to provide support and suggestions to keep the labor moving and cope with the pain without resorting to drugs. Another reason we decided to hire a doula was to have someone who we knew and trusted in the room with us, whether we delivered at Best Start or had to transfer to the hospital, to watch how things were going and give us an extra layer of assurance in case the midwife or doctor were to miss something. Terry was a good match for us because she has many years of experience as a nurse and doula, and we felt comfortable with her as soon as we met her.
I thought we'd be going to the birth center sometime before morning, but the contractions slowed down again by the time Terry arrived. Terry took over timing the contractions so Navid could get some sleep, and she took me out for the first of several walks around the neighborhood while it was still dark. She sat with me while I sat in the rocking chair or on the birth ball that she had brought over for me a couple of weeks beforehand. She reassured us that the slow pace of labor was no problem and that all of the contractions were helping, and encouraged me to doze off between contractions to get some rest. If she hadn't been there we probably would have gone to the birth center too early. When each contraction started I would cope by taking deep breaths and rocking in the chair or swaying on the birth ball until it was over. Deep breathing didn't really stop it from hurting but it helped me to stay calm and feel in control. Later on Terry suggested other activities to do with Navid to get labor moving, and by early afternoon on Monday the contractions got much stronger, longer, and closer together, and I started crying, which I knew was a sign that the labor was moving into the next stage. Terry suggested I stand and lean on the countertop to get through the contractions better, and when I told her that my legs felt shaky, she said that was another sign that I was making progress.
Since the contractions were strong and well-established, she said I could get in the hot tub, because the warm water would help me relax and reduce the pain of the contractions. Sure enough, it worked like a charm! When I was in the water the contractions were still strong, but the warm water was so relaxing that I immediately felt much more comfortable and calmer. I wished I could stay there and deliver Mona right in our hot tub, but they were expecting us at Best Start and we didn't want to get stuck in traffic, so I got dressed quickly and got in the car and we got to the birth center at 4:00. We were supposed to meet Ashley, who was still on duty until 8 pm, but she had already delivered two babies on her shift and it turns out that after getting off the phone with me at 3:20 or so she fell back asleep! So Susan came in to examine me around 4:30. My calmness from the hot tub was still with me, and the contractions had lightened up in the car, so Susan was expecting to find me only a couple of centimeters dilated and have to send me home. She was very surprised to find me 8.5 centimeters dilated! She took me to the birth room and I went right into the tub with Navid, to continue using hot water to cope with the contractions.
Janna showed up at 7 pm to take over, along with birth assistants Dawn and Delilah. Terry was still there too, so it was quite a crowd, all to help me get Mona out. At 8 pm I was feeling some pressure so Janna examined me and accidentally broke my water. After that the contractions felt more intense. They suggested that I labor standing up for a while, so I held onto Navid for support and we swayed back and forth - basically, slow dancing - to help the baby descend. I had brought some CDs along to listen to during the labor, and it just so happened that Tango to Evora, the first dance from our wedding, came on right when Navid and I started "dancing." That was a nice coincidence. We tried other positions too, and at 9 pm Janna examined me again and said I could start pushing.
At first I didn't know if I was pushing correctly and didn't feel like I was making any progress, so I was starting to feel discouraged, but after a while I got the hang of it, and getting back in the water really helped. Pushing was definitely the most intense part of the labor, but it really helped when I started to feel her head coming down, because I could concentrate on the progress I was making instead of the strain on my body. Dawn was checking the baby's heartbeat after every contraction. I found it so annoying having to hold still briefly so she could hold the Doppler on my abdomen. I can't imagine being in the hospital and having the fetal monitor strapped on me continuously!
We had considered doing a water birth, which Best Start allows, but we wanted to do cord blood collection and we needed to be on dry land for that, so when the birth got close I got out onto the bed. I was lying on my side, with Terry holding up one leg, to open up space for the baby to come out. Janna massaged my perineum with oil so I wouldn't tear, and I'm happy to report that it worked perfectly. They held up a mirror for me to watch her coming out, and it was amazing when I looked and saw her dark head poking out, but I didn't look at the mirror very much because I had my face scrunched up pushing as hard as I could. Now I'm wishing someone had videotaped the delivery so I could watch that magical moment of Mona's emergence. Janna told Navid when to hold his hands out, and with her hands right beneath his, he caught Mona, and shortly thereafter he cut through the tough umbilical cord and Mona became a separate being!
She was very alert and healthy, with a good strong cry, and started nursing very enthusiastically as soon as I put her to my breast. My body was shaking strongly from all of the hormones, but all I could do was marvel at our beautiful baby, with her long black hair and eyelashes and lovely dark eyes. She was born just before 11 pm, 39 hours after my contractions started. We stayed at the birth center long enough to eat some food (unfortunately pizza was the only thing we could get delivered at that time) and lie down with Mona for a bit, and then since Mona and I were both in good shape they said we could leave, so by 4 am we strapped her into the car seat and started our new adventure as a family. (We got a home visit from a midwife on Wednesday to make sure all was well.)
I feel very fortunate that there were no complications and very grateful for the caring people who took care of me and Mona throughout the process - Navid most of all. The natural birth experience was everything I hoped it would be, and I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants the best for herself and her baby.
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Mona Grace Ehsan was born on Monday 4/11/11 at 10:58 pm. She was 8 pounds, 4 ounces, and 21 inches long. Delivery occurred naturally at Best Start Birth Center as planned. She, Navid and I are all doing well, except very tired.
Pictures are at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 00a792ae0e
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After a year with our solar panels, I'm happy to report that we generated more electricity than we used. We're supposed to be getting money back, but the letter we got from SDGE says the California Public Utilities Commission is still working out the details.
Our energy requirements were based on using the hot tub at least part of the year, but this year we didn't use it at all, so we ended up generating a substantial surplus: 3526 kWh! That's compared to a total usage of 4649 and 4338 kWh the two previous years. You can see a graph of net energy usage, plus photos of the solar installation, here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... 2c063c737d Now I need to look into the proceedings at the CPUC and find out what's holding them up!
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I finally got around to posting the pictures from our Christmas in Florida. Check them out at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 6d74c0fa09
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Here's what I wrote to Obama about his millionaire tax cut pact with the Republicans:
Mr. President, you are wrong, and Congressional Democrats are right to reject this deal. There is no excuse for giving tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans in this time of record budget shortfalls. As the nation's number one Democrat it's your duty to stand up for tax cuts for working people, appropriate taxes on the rich, and extending unemployment benefits. If the Republicans take the stand that their millionaire friends must be taken care of before they will give tax cuts to the rest of us, call their bluff! If they choose to raise everyone's taxes, they will be the ones earning America's hate, not the Democrats. Give them enough rope to hang themselves. When I heard on the radio Friday morning that you criticized the congressional Democrats who opposed this deal, I ripped the Obama sticker off my car. If you want my support, you'll have to earn back my trust. In the meanwhile, I'll put my trust in Bernie Sanders.
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Check out the ultrasound pictures we got this morning:
http://www.bethandnavid.com/gallery2/ma ... temId=4003
She's coming April 5th. We can't wait!
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Check out this article on the burqa ban in France, and the lively comment thread:
http://www.fair.org/blog/2010/07/16/bur ... ment-28592
I've commented a couple of times so far.
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I just filled out my ballot! (This was my first time getting a mail ballot.) I voted:
Jerry Brown for Governor
Gavin Newsom for Lieutenant Governor
Debra Bowen for Secretary of State (and the others running unopposed)
Alberto Torrico for Attorney General
Hector de la Torre for Insurance Commissioner
Barbara Boxer for Senate
Tracy Emblem for Congress (50th District)
Lori Saldana, Daniel Smiechowski, Bill Irvine, Gloria Johnson, Matthew Corrales, and Eleanor Mang for Central Committee
Lantz Lewis, Richard Monroy, Robert Longstreth, De Ann Salcido, and Joel Wohlfeil for Superior Court Judges
Tom Torlakson for State Superintendent
Stephen Whitburn for Board of Supervisors
David Butler for Assessor-Recorder
Jim Duffy for Sheriff
Dan McAllister for Treasurer-Tax Collector
Howard Wayne for City Council
Yes on 13
Yes on 14
Yes on 15
No on 16
No on 17
No on A
Yes on B
Yes on C
No on D
Don't forget to vote in Tuesday's primary!
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We have three adorable foster kittens from the Tweenie program, our first of 2010.
The photos are here .
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