Story of Rowan

Hi all! Yes, it is I, Nancy.. finally making a post! Rowan is 3 1/2 weeks old and I am finally getting my footing in the world again. I was thinking about keeping "great thoughts" or "not so great thoughts (aka.. Nancy's thoughts) on the world/family/life on this site. But first, I thought I would write the story of Rowan's adventure into this world (11 days late!).... let's go back to the faithful day.

Tuesday, September 29th

8:15am: Nancy is up and showered - trying to get to work. Ben and James are still sleeping.
9:15am: James is dropped off at daycare and we go to work.
10:00am: Nancy at work typying ... saying aloud "I think I am having contractions".. but I didn't really know.. I was kinda joking to freak out the students in the office to practice safe sex.
12:30pm: Nancy says "See you tomorrow" after a meeting she attends and runs out to the car to meet Ben to go to the Radiologist.
1:15pm: Radiologist tech says "Baby is 8lbs, 13 oz... + or - 1 pount". To that Nancy says "holy crap! I don't really want a 9'13" baby!". I also said to her "Well, maybe the baby will come tonight". The radiologist tech says "No way, you are closed up tight".
2:00pm: Nancy is eating Qudoba at back at work trying to finish a project.
3:45pm: Nancy says "See you tomorrow" to her other co-workers and run to the doctors for a stress test appointment
4:00pm: Nancy is hooked up to the machines that measure the contractions (if any) and heartbeat of the baby. The nurse says "really low heartrate... indicative of a boy". Nancy says to Ben... I think that I am having contractions (as the line on the machine goes up and down). Nurse doesn't say anything. We decide to play it by ear if we will do an induction on Friday because of how the baby is postitioned. Doctors say "good luck" before she leaves on vacation.
4:55pm: We pick up James a daycare... all of the way there I say "Ben, I think I getting come weird feelings comes from "down there". Our daycare provider, Jan, says "tonight is the night". I brush it off.
6:00pm: After continued "weird feelings", Nancy's makes dinner for James (mac/cheese), packs, and Ben walks James back over to daycare for the night. He calls our doctor (now on vacation) and she says "take a bath and relax". Nancy disagrees with the advise.
6:15pm: Ben calls the hospital and they said that we should probably start making our way in.
7:15pm: Ben pulls into the hospital parking lot "Nancy, we should use valet parking". "No, I want to walk in"... Ben says "were should we park"... contraction comes on and Nancy says "I don't give teh @#$##%# where we park... and you better know where we are going in the hospital" Ben gulps.
7:30pm: We arrive at the nurses station... nurse says "Please fill out this paperwork"... contraction comes on .. Nurse says "Let's, just go to the triage station and get a baby's heartrate". In the triage station another contraction starts ..nurse says "Let's... just get the doctor"
7:32pm: Doogie Howsier comes in (seriously, the resident on call was like 14 years old). He exams me and says "She is at 7 and totally effaced.... who is her doctor and where is the closest room"
7:32 and 30 sec: Nurse says "Do want anything for the pain?" I say "how much time do I have to decide"... she says "umm.. now it is too late. Are you ready for a natural birth". Nancy's glups and says something under her breath looking at Ben.
8:00pm: Nancy's doctor arrives cheering! No induction.
8:10pm: Ben asks if Nancy needs anything... she says "Don't talk to me, don't touch me, don't even breath on me".
9:00pm: I feel the urge to start to push and I am still standing up. The doctor says "You can keeping standing and you can deliver that way".... ummmm NO!
9:20pm: Lots of animal noises and screaming happening... I open my eyes to see the the weirdest look on the resident's face. He must be 14!
9:38pm: My doctor hits my leg and says "Open your eyes...you are having a girl!" What??? a girl?
10:00pm: Ben is calling people saying "this time is what a lot easier"... Nancy says "easier for you?"

Seriously, it was the easiest and best birthing experience that I could have ever wished for. She was 7 pound 9 ounces... so much for 8'13"! What do radiologist tech's know!

By the time we checked out on Thursday... I wished that I could have had another day at the Hilton (aka St. Mary's Hospital). Cable, personal bathroom, food brought to you, no 3 year old! What else could you have wished for.

~Nancy

Rowan Grace is Here!

This is Ben - I'm putting this up here quick because I know some of you have been looking for the little girl's name: Rowan Grace. She was born 9-29-09 at 9:36pm 7lb 9oz 20in with red hair like her brother. We went home on Thurs. and have been getting settled in with big brother James and a new routine. Challenging to say the least, but good.

Happy Groundhog's Day!!

Happy Feb 2nd everyone!  I know that I can speak for everyone in WI when I say...why the heck do we live in the frozen tundra?  I must be getting old, but these winters are lasting longer and longer!  I love snow, I love the changing of the seasons... but it is only Feb 2nd.  And that dang groundhog saw his shadow, so there goes another 6 weeks of my life!   I will just have to celebrate when the snow melts. On the good side of things, James loves to shovel and Ben and I hope that lasts the rest of his life.  We already lement that when he is 16, the "shoveling drive" will no longer be there.  However, we have pictures to prove that he once did... and now that I think of it.. are we breaking any child labor laws?  Oh well... it is only pay back for those 2am cries for mom/dad that he has been making since the holidays.  I just keep thinking that this too will pass and I will wish that he would still cry for me in the middle of the night.  

Speaking of holidays, if you are here... you know that the Kujak-Ford household celebrates this holiday.  But, what a weird holiday to celebrate!  Back when Ben and I were mearly dating, we could never get organized enough to give each other presents for Christmas.  So, we decided that we would exchange gifts on Groundhog's Day.  Well, the first couple of years went as planned... but now we are hoping to exchange on St. Patty's Day.  And thus, the reason behind the Groundhog's Day card.   In all seriousness, I wish you the best, warm-filled day!  ~Nancy

Thanksgiving 2008

I know that I haven't updated this in awhile, but my New Year's resolution is to start again!  Isn't that everyone's?  Starting again on new projects, new adventures, and new ... well, you get the point.  My new montra is "New Year, New Nancy".. catchy, right?  Well, I think that it is time for all of us to turn some of our focus inward to make ourselves and family stronger.  With this regained strength, we will be able to help push the change that this country so desparately needs.  We are the change that that is needed.  Ok, but back on focus a bit.  So, we ventured up to the Kujak's in MN for Thanksgiving again this year for a long weekend of fun, card playing, and family.  James had a lot of fun with his cousins and especially loved playing with beads.  At Christmas, he loved dressing up with the girls to play fairy princess (picture to come later).  So, I hope all of you have a good year and make the every moment count!  ~Nancy

James and his sled

James insisted that he get out his sled.  When I couldn't pull it with him in it (due to lack of snow), he thought he could take out on his own (notice the Kujak furrowed brow).  He is really excited for Halloween tomorrow!  He will be "Spidee" (aka Spiderman).  Wish you many treats and not so many tricks!  ~ Nancy

I love to clean...

Oh Mama K (now G-mamma K) would be proud of her little g-son James.  He sure loves to vacuum!  I mean, what kid likes to vacuum?  I remember growing up it was a constant "Not it..." or "I did it last time".  My most vivid memory of this chore was of my youngest sibling David (or Davy Baby if you prefer).  His only chore was to vacuum the kitchen floor and take out the trash.  Ok, you may say.. that is work.. but I am talking his entire life.. Even now at 27, at holidays.. that is what he does.  Dishes, laundry, cooking, cleaning the bathroom, vacuuming other rooms...nope... just the vacuum the kitchen.  James, Ben, and I were just cleaning up after a whirlwind of playmates coming over and visiting this week.  Monday night was John and last night was Alex, Augustus, and Everett. The highlight of the nights was running up/down the hallway chasing and screaming after each other.  I am trying to remember why that was so fun... maybe it was because the hallway seemed so much farther away when you are a little person. Here's to cleaning and running down the hall!  ~Nancy

Where has the summer gone....

Wow... it is September 15th already!  I blinked and August was gone.  So, as I promised to many people, I will keep up this blog on an at least weekly basis.  So, I hope you enjoy the adventures of the Kujord's.  The name Kujord's comes from combining our last name (KUJ, from Kujak and ORD (from Ford).  Ben always wanted Fojack's (pronounced, Fuuyak)... but I thought our children would get teased.  So, we came up with Kujak-Ford.  But, I was still holding out hope for a umlaut in our name... and now (almost 4 years later, I came up with Kujord).  However, Ben said he would never go through that process of changing his name again.  So, I guess I am stuck (until... Harrison Ford changes his mind, breaks up with that Flockart woman, and marries me!).  I bet that I could convince Harrison to change his name!  Ok, I digress...  Back to "where did August go".  Well, the Kujords, as you know, are never short of adventures, so we took off a week in August and did a night of camping, went to the zoo, and had some miscellaneous adventures around the house.  James was happy to be hanging with his parents, but by the end of the week there was too much family time.  So, it has been agreed that we must always build in some "friend or family member" time within our vacations.  Also, at the end of the month I celebrated my big 3-4 (not the big 4-3, Amy) with some friends and margars.  James did his best to be involved (he was at home with a fever), but in the end fun was had by all.  Now, it is back to the grind - the UW students are back from their summer adventures.  I just realized that I am 16 years older than the incoming freshman.. crazy... I thought I was so smart at 16 and now look at me (I am so much smarter now).  The pic is of James having an adventure on our "vacation" in our backyard.. he is trying to climb our 40 year old apple trees. ~ttfn  Nancy