Baby Kylie is Born

Kylie’s first outfit

Kylie’s Big Close Up.

Baby Kylie just a few minutes old.

Things started around noon Thursday morning. We had a non-stress test at 2:30 and a doctor’s appointment at 3:50. The alarm went off at noon and Sean and I were talking and fooling around a little bit when I turned over and felt a gush of fluid. I ran to the bathroom to check things out. There was a pretty large amount of fluid with blood mixed in. So I told Sean we were going to go right to the hospital as soon as we were ready and not wait until the 2:30 appointment. Sean got in the shower while I started to get some things ready and call my mom (who didn’t answer) while dealing with contractions. I got in the shower next and Sean packed the car. My mom got to the house just as we were about to leave.

We arrived about 1:30 and were checked into a labor/delivery room. I changed into the hospital gown, got set up to the baby heartbeat/contraction monitors and the doctor came in to check me and make sure it was amniotic fluid that gushed from me earlier. The paper thing they used did not turn blue to indicate amniotic fluid so they did another test and it turns out it was. At this point I was 2 centimeters dialted. They kept me on the monitors for awhile and was told I could take a shower to help with contraction pains. My mom ran out to Subway because we were told I needed to eat so I would have some energy for the big day ahead of me.

After eating, my mom ran home to get some things (fan, boppy, DVD player, etc) while I went into the shower, which felt wonderful. I had to get out because they came in to draw blood and was told they were going to check me again to see how I was progressing. When I got out of the shower I was bleeding quite heavily and was a little scared. They took the blood for the lab and wanted me back on the monitors for a little while. When I was checked again I was 3 centimeters, this was about 5:00-5:30. I eventually got back into the shower and by this time my contractions were getting really strong. When I got out of the 2nd shower I asked for the IV and some pain medicine. I didn’t get the epidural yet because I would not be allowed to leave my bed once I did. My mom got back with the stuff and Amanda arrived at some point after that. I was on the monitors again for awhile, got a shot in the butt and my IV was started and some pain meds injected. I stayed in bed for an hour and a half-ish.

My mom and Amanda went off to Babies R Us to get a couple things and I got back in the shower a 3rd time. I was feeling a little floaty between contractions from the pain meds but they started wearing off and the contractions were getting intense. When I got out of the shower I asked for my epidural. I had to get some IV fluids first so when those were done the doctor came in to give me the epidural. I was really scared of this process and was shaking pretty bad. It did hurt, and I was contracting during it too, which didn’t help. Once that was done the doctor came in to check me again. I was only 3-4 centimeters and was told they were going to start pitocin. My mom and Amanda were back by then and hanging out in the room.

At about 8:30 Sean’s mom and sister got to the hospital. My mom and Amanda had to leave because you can only have 2 people up at a time. I was feeling pretty much nothing at this point from the epidural and chatted with them with no pain at all. I had to have an internal monitor placed to monitor the baby. My mom and Amanda came back into the room and that’s about when I started to feel the pressure building from the pitocin. I didn’t feel the cramping/contractions but the pressure was getting worse and worse. I was told I wasn’t going to be checked for a couple hours unless I started feeling bad pressure or the urge to push. Within 45 minutes I was feeling tremendous pressure and asked to be checked again, I was 9 1/2 centimeters, this was about 11:30-12:00.

Within about a half hour I was fully dilated but was told I couldn’t push yet. I was NOT happy about this because I felt like I HAD to push. I was screaming during each contraction and at one point begging for a C-section. I was shaking really bad, my eyes were rolling back in my head, I couldn’t breath very well and just cannot describe the pain I was in. My legs were numb from the epidural and I was unable to get any pressure off my back during contractions, being unable to move them put me in sort of a panic, and was very uncomfortable for me. FINALLY I was allowed to push, it burned badly. When her head was out they made me stop pushing which really was not comfortable and I just wanted her out. Then I was told to push slowly with my next contraction, and she came. I only pushed for 35 minutes. I felt a gush of fluids after she was out and then she was placed on my chest. I felt the placenta slide out, which was a weird feeling. She was born at 1:55 AM.

She was so beautiful, she stayed there with me for awhile then was taken to get weighed and such. She was 6 pound 7 ounces and 20 inches long. I had a tear from the birth and they had to stitch me up, it was uncomfortable but not extremely painful. Grandma held her then Sean’s mom and sister traded places with my mom and Amanda and they got to meet Kylie. They left and so did Amanda and grandpa Gary came with some food and to meet her. My epidural was taken out and I had to wait to be able to feel my legs again before getting up. Around 4 they left and it was just me and Sean. I was allowed to take a shower (a very painful shower) and Kylie got her first bath. About 5:00 we were taken to the recovery floor and daddy cuddled with his daughter before he had to leave at 6:00 for a job interview. Grandma showed up within 20 minutes of his leaving though.

Kylie was wonderful, I got her to the breast for feeding, she slept well and was just a doll. I didn’t really sleep until 2:00 that afternoon and only slept until 4:00 when Sean got back. We had constant doctors/nurses coming in the check stuff (blood pressure, my stomach, temp, lots of stuff with kylie, etc). Sean and I didn’t sleep much the entire time we were in the hospital. Kara, Dan, Aunt Janet, Gary, and Grandma all came to visit. We checked out Saturday evening around 5:00.

Taking care of her hasn’t been to bad so far. Grandma has been really helpful and has allowed us to get some sleep. We’ll see how life changes, I’m excited about our new life!

She’s Coming!

I apologize for the lack of updates lately. I am still doing my job search, but have had a couple promising interviews last week. It also is looking like Kylie is on schedule, and should be here soon We’ve been busy, busy, busy getting the nursery ready, and I am very excited to meet her for the first time!

The Fireworks in Detroit

The Detroit Windsor International Freedom Festival Fireworks are arguably the best in The Nation

The cars leave the parking lot, which we did not have to do. The pictures below were taken over an hour and a half after the fireworks had ended.

The Detroit Windsor International Freedom Festival Fireworks are arguably the best in The Nation

The amazing six way Grand River and Cass Intersection traffic jam. Many Metro Detroiters do not know what to do in traffic circles, urban radial street grids, and six way intersections.

Detroit City traffic on Grand River and Cass fades off into the horizon.

Even after Grand River turned back into a one way street, it took another hour to fully clear them out of the C.B.D..

Fireworks crowds

From all around Metro Detroit, Detroiters come Downtown for the Fireworks at the International Freedom Festival on the Detroit River. This is one of my favorite nights because it is a time where there are just a mass amount of people Downtown. Unfortunately, since Detroit does not have proper mass transit, most of the people coming to watch the fireworks are forced to drive. The need for auto commuting means that this is one of the few nights of the year that all the surface lots (which once housed buildings) are full of cars, so many in fact that they eventually close the Detroit Central Business District (CBD) to automobiles.

Meanwhile, while Cass, Woodward, and Grand River freeway exits are stop and go, the Bagley exit from the Lodge Expressway remains virtually car free.

Some pictures;

Looking North over the Foxtown Parking Lots

Midtown full of cars

Another aerial view of Foxtown full of cars.

Traffic jam on Grand River

This area of parking lots is usually only filled during the Detroit Fireworks

Car Explosion in Foxtown

There was a movie crew filming in a parking lot behind our building the other day. They had a track set up and some classic cars. In the afternoon some fire trucks started showing up, only Sean didn’t tell me that and ran out on an errand run. Suddenly I heard three big booms that scared me so much I’m surprised I didn’t get put into early labor (one month to go). When I got up and looked out the window, there were some flames in a car they apparently had blown up. I grabbed the camera, but by the time I got it the fire crew had extinguished the fire and all that was left was smoke. Here are the pics I took;

Actor’s trailers up the street

Fire trucks ready

Smoke coming out of the black car.

Smoke coming out of the black car.

A leaving fire truck.

Adams Theater Demolition and Renovation Pics

Some updated pictures of what is going on at the former Adams Theater off Grand Circus Park in Downtown Detroit. The Adams Theater portion will be demolished, and the facades will remain. I have mixed feelings about this project. I am sorry to see it go, but am glad the facades will remain, and the street wall on North Grand Circus Park will be maintained. New office buildings are supposed to be built behind the building facades.

The Adams Theater Office Building from Grand Circus Park.

Adams Theater being demolished, as seen next to the Kales Building.

Adams Theater Demolition side view from West Elizabeth Street in Downtown Detroit.

Steam shovel claws tear into the Adams Theater, reducing it to a depressing rubble.

A lonely theater door stands amongst the wreckage of the Adams Theater in Downtown Detroit

Water sprays at the gaping hole that once housed Detroit’s Adams Theater stage.

Rosa Parks Transit Center Gets Fourth Canopy

Here are some pictures of the raising of the fourth canopy at the Rosa Parks Transit Center on June 10th, 2009, as well as a rendering and archived pictures of the raising of the first canopy. The new transit center will provide a state of the art facility for Downtown bus riding, and possibly trolley riding in the future. The Rosa Parks Transit Center is also adjacent to two People Mover stops to the North and South of the site.

Guests will purchase tickets at the larger glass building, refreshments and restrooms will also be located there. Transit riders then will be able to board hybrid buses or shuttles under the large white canopies. D.D.O.T., S.M.A.R.T., a Greyhound terminal shuttle, the Windsor Tunnel Bus, and the Detroit People Mover will all meet at this location. Taxi stands and possibly event shuttles will also be near by, and future trolley lines such as the new M-1 Woodward line will have stops near the Rosa Parks Transit Center. The location at the intersections of Grand River Avenue, Bagley Street, Cass Avenue, Michigan Avenue, and Washington Boulevard make this location ideal for all modes of transit, and transit riders.

These are exciting times for Metro Detroit. In my opinion, Michigan and Metro Detroit need better transit options. This is a very important step for the future of our region. The Rosa Park Transit Center is expected to be ready by next month.

View of the Rosa Parks Transit Center under construction from Bagley Street.

Ground view from the South of the Rosa Parks Transit Center.

Rosa Parks Transit Center gets her fourth canopy.

Rosa Parks Transit Center’s fourth canopy is positioned in place.

Aerial view of the Transit Center construction site as the fourth canopy gets lifted into position.

Close up of the Rosa Parks Transit Center as the fourth canopy is raised into position.

Rosa Parks Transit Center’s fourth canopy in position.

Detroit’s new Rosa Parks Transit Center with fourth canopy.

Archived photo from DetroitYES.com poster “DetroitDad” of the first canopy being raised into position at the Rosa Parks Transit Center.

Archived photo from DetroitYES.com poster “DetroitDad” of the first canopy being raised into position at the Rosa Parks Transit Center.

Archived photo from DetroitYES.com poster “DetroitDad” of the South sign at the Rosa Parks Transit Center.

Archived photo from DetroitYES.com poster “DetroitDad” of the first canopy being secured at the Rosa Parks Transit Center.

Special thanks to DetroitYES.com’s GREENTROIT for posting this rendering so we can see what the finished buildings will look like.

The Great Job Search

So I mentioned in a previous post that Kally and I are having hard times. With GM and Chrysler facing bankruptcy, and thousand of job losses in Metro Detroit, the tough economy basically forced my employer to lay me off. The past couple weeks I’ve been putting in about 10-20 resumes and applications per day, and this week I had some call backs, along with a couple interviews; promising.

Before I got those call backs, things just started to seem hopeless. We faced not making rent, and other obligations. Entry level work is hard to find in this tough economy. Meijer in Livonia had a half hour wait to fill out applications at their kiosks, The Home Depot next door was at over an hour wait. Some of both our downtown and suburban restaurants are getting an average of 8-13 applications a day. Professional work is even harder to find, as there are many other individuals looking for jobs who are sometimes older and more experienced than me.

Tough times in a tough economy.

The Importance of The Arts and Architecture

Old Grand Circus Park Detroit Sketch

Set and Setting;

Through my depression (see my last post entitled “Hard Times”), I got a sudden surge of inspiration and creativity tonight while Kally and I were watching some shows on the Science Channel. I will be posting on those thoughts shortly. I am a believer that you have to give back first, otherwise you never will.

This inspiration came at a time of inspirational and creative drought for me. The new inspiration I received made me think about how important arts and inspirational education are to our economy. Without the arts, ideas never come, and it is much harder to work through problems. This is significant during a period in time where the economy is forcing the marginalization and cutting of art and music courses in schools, and news and educational organizations are going out of business. America needs more inspiration for our people, not less.

That is set, but setting play a part as well.

Being in a attractive setting with good architecture and decor is just as important. Buildings and both exterior and interior design not only can inspire, but they themselves can have an affect on cognitive abilities, emotional states, and how well you assimilate information. A study recently published in the journal of Science found that we remember things better when surrounded by red, and that we’re more creative and imaginative in the presence of blue. Even ceiling height can matter. High-ceilinged rooms encourage you to think more freely and abstractly, she reported, and low-ceilinged rooms leads to more attention to detail.

The buildings in Downtown Detroit's Campus Martius Park act as walls surrounding an outdoor room, making it feel more pleasant and comfortable to be in.

Urban streets and parks really are similar, as they really need to be designed as enclosed rooms surrounded by buildings to make them places people feel comfortable in and wish to spend time. Looking at our cities as outdoor rooms means they should be designed as inspirational places, just like indoor rooms. Buildings should have art like exteriors and ground floor retail with windows to look into. These places need to be interesting and filled with inspiration.

A study by M.I.T. and the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health found that clutter increases the memorability of a room and establishes a reassuring sense of place. In other words, a generous scattering of objects generates a fondness for the place, significant in a time when the United States has chosen to build plain and drab buildings similar to what the Soviet Union once built.

Now think about some of our schools in the suburbs of Detroit, and I’m guessing America in general. The

Riley Elementary School sits like a windowless prison.

schools are usually cinder block, brick or cement, with chain link fences and parking deserts (the only thing worse than urban prairies) surrounding the buildings. They look like prisons, and here in Michigan, some of the schools (like Grosse Point North) were actually designed by the same architect who designed our prisons (Jackson Prison). Other schools (Franklin High School) have added metal detectors and armed security guards to reinforce the prison concept. Other schools are so sprawled out (Stevenson in Livonia) that students cannot possibly get from one class to the other in the time allotted.

Then you have the puke yellow or sanitarium white painted cinder block hallways of our elementary schools that are so horrible that they have to draw cartoonish murals all over them. Unfortunately, many of these murals are painted by the art teachers who are now being cut, and the murals are beginning to get a little faded in many schools. The hallways in our elementary schools are so horrible that misbehaving students are now put into the hallways for “time out”, assuring that they do everything they can to avoid the horror of spending another minute in those depressing halls.

Hard Times

The recent move to Detroit has not been all fun and games for Kally and I. Part of what made this move back to the city possible was a job offer, and eventually finding other side work. Unfortunately, the economy is continuing to get worse, and one of my employers has laid me off, while another is extremely late on my pay check and hasn’t been able to work me as much as originally was discussed. To make matters worse my bills are all coming due, which means penalties and late fees. Kally’s e-business makes some money, but not enough to cover our meager living expenses.

It is extremely stressful and scary; I have a baby on the way, and if this continues, I am not sure what I am going to do. In hard times you can’t turn to to many people. People who owe you money avoid you like the plague, and anyone who is able to help me out is doing so at their own extreme expense. I have been looking for another job, and I guess I will have to kick that into higher gear this week.

Sigh… Wish me luck!