This was supposed to be a picture of Kathy in scrubs, or a picture of a baby’s feet…but with the events you will read about dragging into the late hours of Saturday night, we’ll have to settle for this.

(Sunday Paper, Year IV, Issue 28)

After last week’s special interruption, we’re back to the guest posts!

This week, it’s my wonderful wife Kathy.

It always takes a little extra cajoling to arrange Kathy’s Sunday Paper guest post because she’s so busy being a great mom.

This week was a little challenging because she was also being a great sister.

I’ve had three babies, so I’m pretty familiar with what childbirth is like. It’s painful during, painful after, and good Lord, there’s a lot of blood.

When my third daughter was born, I was fairly certain she would be the last baby I would push out of my body. And so I didn’t expect to find myself in the labor and delivery department of Newton-Wellesley hospital ever again.

Yet, here I am, writing this blog from an antenatal room in the hospital. Thankfully, it’s not me who’s having a baby this time, but my sister. And I’m getting to experience childbirth from a different perspective.

When I was the one giving birth, it was all about my comfort and well-being. And now, it’s all about someone else’s. That took some getting used to in childbirth class when I was the partner who had to give all the massages and not get any in return.

But I guess motherhood has prepared me well for this new role. I have someone else to take care of, someone else whose needs come before my own, and someone else who will need cheering on when the going gets tough, and possibly even some stiff directives to just get the job done, dammit!

I know not many people get to experience childbirth from both the birthing role and the partner role. I consider myself very lucky, and I can’t wait to support my sister during this awesome time. I especially can’t wait to meet my new niece!

Comedy

*John had a comedy show last night at Exhibit ‘A’ in Framingham. It’s the first Exhibit ‘A’ show I haven’t had a chance to go to - this was with good reason with the baby on her way. I heard it was a good time. [Note from John: It was really great.]

*I’m not sure what else John has going on comedy-wise, but if he’s doing something, it will be on his schedule, so check there.

Writing

*John isn’t the only writer in the family. Writing is a large part of what I do in my job. I recently published an ebook called, “10 Healthcare Analytics Projects with Real Results.” Sounds interesting, yes?

What I’ve Been Enjoying

*Back in March, I decided to crochet a baby blanket for my new niece. I hadn’t crocheted in many years, but I found the process very calming. So after I finished with her blanket, I decided to start one of my own. I probably won’t finish it for a long time, but it’s relaxing.

*I never saw the Netflix series ‘You’, but I recently read the book it was based on. That was one creepy novel. But good if you like that kind of book.

A Few Thoughts About Dog Ownership

When we first got Tate, I have to be honest - I felt like a total failure in the dog mom department. She peed where she shouldn’t pee, pooped where she shouldn’t poop, and didn’t listen to a darn word I said. But once I started to treat raising a dog like raising a child, I found it became much easier.

We try to keep a pretty tight schedule revolved around potty needs, food, play, and crate/sleep time. And she and I have both responded well to that. I realized the other day that I finally earned her respect when she climbed on top of me and fell asleep, and then afterwards, took a walk around the neighborhood with me and didn’t flop down and refuse to move. I can do this.