Delivery Room, Pre-Birth, June 14th 2006

It’s a boy! Introducing Daniel Karl Johnston, my little newborn son, although at 9 pounds 3 oz, he was not so little. Up until a bit over a week ago, I had myself convinced that this birth would be the same as the last. But a few days before my due date while on my weekly visit to the doctor, I was surprised to find out the baby was breach. Since it was unlikely the baby would turn at that late date, and there was some severe swelling (my feet looked like balloons), I was told a C-section would be a less risky choice of delivery. I’m grateful to have had both experiences, and wouldn’t say one was better than the other, just different. The C-section was a little more of an out-of-body experience. I was saved a lot of initial pain, but the hardest part is having to wait several weeks before I’m able to lift or chase after my energetic toddler, Conor.

Right now I’m in the midst of constant nursing, diaper changes and getting to know Daniel while the days and nights blur together. Already he is surprising me in the moments he wakes up to look at me. There was such a startling look of awareness and thought in his eyes even before he was a week old.

Danny just moments after entering the world

This may be the last blog post I can write for a little while, since we’re about to pack up the computers. This is a season for changes. Doug has accepted a job in Yellowknife, and we are preparing to move across the country. I’m looking forward to a lot of things, but having the chance to paint the Aurora Borealis is definitely one of them.