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At 9:39 am EST on 5/15/2006, Marian Elizabeth was born. She weighed in at 6lbs, 3.9oz or 2.43 kg and 21 inches in length. Mom is recovering from C-Section, Marian is in the NICU for observation. Apart from a small problem with low normal blood sugar, a possible small problem with two cervical vertabrae (nothing major, just not complete bone closure yet - the column is intact just the closure/fissure has cartilage right now) and the doctors saying they have to monitor her liver bile ducts a bit closer (but they aren't worried), Marian is doing fine. There will be running a more extensive battery of test on her tomorrow including an echo-cardiogram, EKG, EEG, and an Ultrasound of her head and kidneys. The poor little girl had to have an IV put in, in case they had to give her fluids for the blood sugar, and it blew on each of her hands so she has one in her foot. But if the tests come back she's as healthy as she appears otherwise...she'll be in the regular nursery tomorrow at some point. I left the camera at the hospital, otherwise I'd post a picture of her right now. Maybe tomorrow, right now I've been up since 3 am and am going to sign-off. Happy Birthday everyone, buy a drink and send me the bill...this round is on me.

Well, Marian (note spelling change) is due to be delivered by c-section on May 15th. We'll finally be able to meet (Father/Daughter) and I hope to post a picture here by the end of the month. So the pre-baby scurrying is going at a good pace....we may actually have everything in place and ready! I've got three weeks of paid "Daddy" leave, so I can be around until Karen is well enough to walk around with a minimum of pain...plus help to keep all the helpful people from driving her more insane. Almost done with the Etruscan article and with two book reviews (including the Christmas giveaway, finally). I should be able to finish them out while Victor is in daycare during the week. Or at least that is one of my hopes.... Catch you all soon.

What a week so far, and it ain't half over. We're moving this weekend to a new place, so we're busy with packing and light moving (we have an overlap of four weeks to move, but we want to get primarily re-located this weekend). I have been working on finishing the new basement as far as we can to make it into a functional room in the evenings ( I hate sanding dry wall mud, especially over my head for the new ceiling) The evenings are for moving light loads too. My shoulders are playing "I surrender..." Now this afternoon I had to come home early from work with the trots, and I still got to go out and work on drywalling the steps and landing down to the basement tonight ( no I don't do it alone, but I can't let the other two guys do all the work either). Blaarrrgh. Oh well, Karen keeps injuring her knee (bad enough it goes out at random times...and falls aren't fun in the sixth-seventh month of pregnancy), Marianne hasn't had any bad news lately but her doctors have enraged us. A vessical on one side of her brain may be too large, but the doctor said, and I quote: " In a normal baby this might be a cause for a little concern, but since we know she will be MRDD there shouldn't be a problem." WTF? And they wonder why we're changing her delivery hospital... Victor is, well...being an almost 3-year-old. No major problems, other than being the little bundle of energy that he is while both parents are tired, sore and a bit ill. So, all in all things are about are going as good as possible Hope things are going well with all of you...see you on the flipside!

I had an allusion to Sallust an a small dicussion of the merits of fame from physical vs mental excellence. But bright boy moi seems to have lost it or this #@!* computer is having connection problems again. Either way, it's late and lost and I'm going to bed to get up at the crack of dawn. Goodnight, and God's love and help to all in need.