Monkey Boy

The safety gate isn't exactly working as intended... This boy loves to climb on everything.

Hot Tubbin'

After a stressful and exhausting day of play at Grandpa and Grandma's, there's nothing like kicking back in the hot tub and enjoying an ice cold chocolate milk...

Go on girl, you deserve it. Enjoy a little "me" time.

Dash's Super Shakes

We've been keeping a food diary of what Jonathan has been eating since our appointment last week. Long story short, he needs about 600 calories per day, based on commonly accepted standards and his body weight. That number needs to be higher in my opinion, if we want to pack on the pounds. Over the last 6 days (including the waterboarding sessions), we're only averaging about 400 calories per day. We've been weighing him, and he hasn't lost or gained any weight. The only calories we can't accurately figure are the ones coming from breastfeeding. We've decided to use a low figure for each session, regardless of length of time, just to be conservative. So, our daily average is probably a little bit higher then 400. If you consider the fact that he hasn't lost any weight, the number is probably somewhere in the 500s.

It's so frustrating that we have to force him to eat. I don't even want to think about how much he's been getting (or not been getting) the past few months. Today he took formula well. It was flavored with Nestle and Stacey had to pin both of his arms down, while I sang to him and used a syringe. This whole process is so ridiculous. He's all boy, and reminds me of an ADHD version of Dash from The Incredibles.

Finally

I was finally able to get a room on the main level to turn out like I wanted. It really has all to do with the caulk-job...filling in the cracks, but otherwise, making it invisible.

Also, one of the consequences of installing crown molding is that certain things, like curtains, need to be moved down. Otherwise, the ceiling looks "crammed" together. It's not a big deal, it's just one of those things that inevitably surfaces when doing a home improvement project. Right now I am in the middle of moving down the curtains in the dining room so that the room looks "right". It's not worth another picture though...

Boys and Girls

Julia was playing "instruments", while Jonathan was clearly fixing the wall and the grate. The hammer and flannel are a dead giveaway. He loves anything that makes a loud noise.

Waterboarding

Well, we've pretty much given up torturing our son...so that's a good thing. We tried very hard to waterboard him into taking a formula from a dropper, a bottle, a cup, a syringe, etc. Unfortunately, we had to ensure he got something in him since the plan was to wean him from Stacey. It was rough. We couldn't afford a hospital visit for dehydration. I think he didn't want it partly because he hates the taste of formula and partly because he didn't want to give up nursing. I don't blame him.

After a few days we came to the conclusion that this isn't going to work for him or us. He wanted nothing to do with formula or a bottle, despite trying a bunch of different things. I know this process should take a lot longer, but wewere also working within a lot of constraints. In the end, we decided to take the specialist's advice on the ultimate goal, but not on how we go about getting there.

We've realized that he probably wasn't getting enough calories. He has been drinking "skim milk" and eating fruit when he needed whole milk and scrambled eggs, cheese, and bacon. We found a formula that he'll take as a pudding, and we'll really push the cheeseburgers from here forward. We're also monitoring his caloric intake with a food diary and weighing him every morning. I think we'll be able to pack on the pounds in a way that works for everyone. If he doesn't want more food, even if we're offering it constantly, then I think we've come to the conclusion that we're not going to force him to eat. What else can you really do?

Pediatric Gastroenterologist

Today we visited the specialist for Jonathan because of his low weight. This first visit was essentially a consultation. Since the results were normal for all of the blood work and other tests we had previously done, he told us he probably isn't getting enough to eat. So, we have specific guidelines on what and how much to feed him and will head back in two weeks for a follow up visit. This makes sense to me. Since everything appears fine except for his weight, he wants to start at the beginning to make sure he's eating enough. That could be the easy solution to this problem.

What that means in practice is that we're going to have to measure and track the amount of milk he's getting. So, he's going to have to learn to take a bottle since that's the only way we can track the amount. I'm not sure this will be easy, since he hasn't wanted a bottle or formula supplementation in the past. However, if he gets hungry enough, he'll eventually learn (those were the doc's words, not mine). Stacey tried to pump tonight, and just like Julia, it just wasn't practical. She's not going to hand-pump for an hour just to get two measly ounces. We've tried different pumps, and like 3 years ago, it's not effective.

So, that means he's going to get weaned and go on formula. Somehow we're going to have to figure out how to get 720 calories of formula in him every 24 hours. That's 18 scoops of formula per day. Sorry to say it, but I don't think that's possible. We'll try our best, but I have a feeling it's going to be a battle.

Walk About

Jonathan is really close to walking. He's now moving around the coffee table while standing up, using it only to keep his balance. He's also moving between pieces of furniture, as long as he can get a good grip. Here's a fun video of his little legs in action.

Project Update

I've started to make my way through the main level over the past few weeks. I've finished the entry way and the dining room, and just caulked the office today. It's been pretty slow going for a few reasons. We've had a lot of things going on and I needed a short break from the fumes. In addition, I had to spend some extra time touching up the wall paint in these rooms because my caulk job was bad. In these rooms I used too much: the tape was too far away from the trim and I used my finger instead of the smaller caulking tool. The result didn't turn out as well so I had to spend more time fixing it. I essentially had to repaint the entire length (both sides) with my Crayola watercolor sized brush. At least I hadn't done the entire house that way.

This is what it looks like coming in the front door (and a dark shot of the dining room).

Gonzaga 67 - 89 BYU

Well, that game was quite annoying. We witnessed the Zags lose in Denver last night, and the scoreline suggests that BYU significantly outplayed them. In reality, it was a pretty even game in my opinion. The Zags and BYU traded baskets for much of the game, except that the baskets for BYU counted as three points and the baskets for the Zags counted as two points. In addition, the refs were way too involved in the game, calling 20 fouls (that's one foul a minute) in the first half.

BYU shot 50% from 3 point range, many of the shots coming from well behind the arc. They scored almost half of their points, 42, from 3 pointers! That is unheard of. They just weren't missing, and every shot no matter where it was taken or how awkward it appeared, seemed to go in. I did some quick research and the NCAA average and BYU's season average from that range is both about 30%. If they would have performed at that average, you could take 17 points off of the scoreboard. That's how ridiculous the game was.

I'm not being a sore loser, it's just very annoying to lose like that and to a team that I think isn't much better then the Zags as a whole. The Zags just faced BYU on a night where they probably would have beaten anyone else in the country. It's even more annoying due to the fact that BYU only shot 27% from 3 point range in the previous game against Wofford. I've watched enough college basketball to know this happens, it's just hard to swallow when it happens against your own team.

Quarterfinal Draw

Well, we're in for a challenge! This morning at 5 a.m. our time the final Champions League draw took place. I didn't wake up to watch it live since we got home from the NCAA Tournament shortly before midnight. We were drawn against Real Madrid...a real glamor quarterfinal. Most Spurs fans are actually pretty excited at the prospect of playing and beating Real Madrid, even if they are one of the more difficult teams left. The draw fell exactly as I hoped it would, except that Inter Milan and Tottenham had switched places.

As it stands right now, most people would agree that our outside chance at making the final is probably over. Even if we do beat Real Madrid, we will most likely have to face Barcelona over two legs. Depending on who you talk to, those are the two best teams in the world right now. Any of the other groupings in the semifinal would have been preferable. The pressure is now off and all that is left to do is to sit back and enjoy the ride. Going out to Real Madrid or Barcelona is extremely respectable, as would be beating them to make the final. We should be up for it and have no reason to not "have a go"...which is exactly what will be required to pull off the upset!

Gonzaga 86 - 71 St. John's

The Zags put on quite a performance tonight. This was Stacey's and my first time seeing the tournament in person...and it was quite enjoyable. We arrived at the Pepsi Center at halftime of the previous game between BYU and Wofford. To be completely honest, both teams looked pretty average. When our game started, you could tell the difference immediately. You never know how a team will perform on a given night, but based on what we saw, the Zags have a good chance to advance to the Sweet 16 on Saturday.

I don't think St. John's did poorly, I think the Zags just played well. Towards the end of the game the Zags had out rebounded St. John's 30-10, with the final numbers 41-18. Looking at FG%, 3PT%, and FT%, the Zags were better in all categories. Although we were sitting in the upper deck, we were at mid court and in the Gonzaga section. There were a lot of students and people that had traveled to the game sitting in our section. We sang and chanted, and enjoyed every minute of it. We'll be back up there on Saturday for the dinnertime match up against BYU.

Tomorrow Night

Look for us in the stands of the Gonzaga - St. John's game! Stacey and I are heading up to Denver to watch the Zags in the NCAA Tournament. I've never been to a March Madness game, let alone two. Our tickets are also good for the prior game between BYU and Wofford. Both games will be on CBS tomorrow night...the BYU game starts at about 5:00 and the Zags scheduled start is at 7:30. If the Zags win tomorrow, our tickets will be good for the second round on Saturday.

I told Stacey that if the Zags were playing in Denver we would go and see them. When it was announced I looked around and couldn't find any decent tickets (price versus location, etc). I'm pretty sure this event has been sold out for a long time and people were trying to make a buck reselling them on Stubhub. On Gonzaga's website there was a phone number to call regarding tournament tickets. Their alloment was limited and restricted to boosters and alumni. The only reason we were able to get tickets is because Stacey is an alumni...and for probably half (and close to face value, I assume) what was being listed on Stubhub.

This will be the first thing Stacey and I have done together with no kids since Jonathan was born. GO ZAGS!

Sippy Cup and Pillow Fort

Financial Analyst Interview

I received a call this morning for another interview, this time for a Financial Analyst position with Ardak Corporation. My interview is at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. I'm hoping this is "the one". It's an analyst job (obviously), in the salary range I'm seeking (with benefits), and affiliated with the DoD. You can read what they do on their website. This position is much more on the corporate finance side, and sounds like I'd be doing a lot of analysis/data gathering of external financial statements for processing and evaluation through their proprietary systems. The job advertisement self-referred to Ardak as a "local competitive intelligence firm", if that helps explain what they do.

I see this as a great way to use my Fantasy Football and I Know The Score skills to make some actual money...

Nine Month Check Up

Well, after three more months Jonathan hasn't gained enough weight. He's tiny and in the one percentile. His pediatrician referred us to a gastroenterologist since he's stumped. All of the routine blood and urine work came back clear, so the only thing we can all come up with is that he's not absorbing the nutrients he's getting. That, or nothing is wrong because he's been "genetically engineered" to be small. There are so many different logical explanations, that the sum of them makes me think that there is probably nothing wrong. He's definitely very small though...nine months and only 13 pounds 11 ounces. We have an appointment in about two weeks.

In the meantime, we wanted to get his talking and grunting on video...

Encouraging Sign

Today I got a call from the HR department of a fairly large (about half the size of Focus, financially speaking) ministry in town. They had been given my name by Waterstone, the organization with which I had my first interview. Try to hold back the laughter, but it was for a VP of Finance position. Essentially, I would be in charge of their Finance department. I talked to the HR representative and then sent him my resume after the conversation ended. Obviously I'm not going to get this position, but at least this means I didn't make a complete fool of myself in that first interview. It sounds like my experience and credentials are at least somewhat of interest in the non-profit world...

Tottenham 0-0 Milan (Aggregate 1-0)

We're through to the quarterfinals! That's right, on their debut Spurs have made it to the last eight in the Champions League. When the draw was first announced I said this tie was 50-50, and I was pretty much right on target. We thoroughly out-played Milan in the first game, but in tonight's second game we were on the ropes for much of the evening. It was pretty tense since they had the ball in our end for long stretches and only needed to score once to even things. There were moments of panic (such as the Gallas goal-line clearance), but after the game was over we had held strong. Milan did not score on us in either match.

It was an ugly win - everyone agrees with that evaluation. The other 4 games in this round will be played next week. On Friday, 18 March, the quarterfinal draw will be made. This is just like Selection Sunday in college basketball except that it is entirely random. There are no longer seeds since the competition is this far along. I've been saying it all along, but it is no longer out of the question that Spurs can get to the semifinal or final with a favorable random draw. Do I think we will get that far? Probably not. However, it's still possible. Most Spurs fans agree that the ideal draw would match us up against Schalke in the next round. In my opinion, based on the rest of the teams still left (or that should be left after next week's games), I think Chelsea would be the easiest opponent we could face in the semifinals (after Schalke in the quarterfinals). We play well against them and are very familiar with their team. If everything goes according to plan, we'd then have the pleasure of getting blown out by Barcelona in the final.

Just for fun Jules and I held a mock draw. I did it five times. Unfortunately, 3 out of 5 times we drew Barcelona in the next round. One time I did draw Spurs and Schalke and they were to play the winner of Bayern and Shakhtar. I would take that. I guess everyone will find out "for real" on Friday of next week. Even if we get Barcelona and it ends right now, this run has exceeded all dreams and expectations.

Dave & Jean Sudduth's Legacy

A Colorado Sudduth family reunion of sorts...and we were even missing four of their grandchildren and three great grandchildren (plus two more on the way). This picture reminds me that although you can't take anything with you, you can sure leave a lot behind. Life isn't all about professions, but when I looked around and saw the professors, educators, doctors, clergy, and other professionals all coming from two people, it's quite obvious the difference that they made in this world to and through their family.

Slumber Party

Sometimes, you just have to crash out with (and under) all your friends...

9 Months Old

The little guy is starting to take steps while holding on to furniture... He's a mover and a shaker!

Finished: Basement Crown

I finally finished a level in the house. I've been steadily working on it the past few weeks. It's been about four months since I started the project and I expect it's going to take a good 6 months or more to complete it. Anyway, a video was the only way to get a good idea of what it looks like (the alternative being pictures). One thing I learned from this project is that I'm a terrible tour guide. I can't film, talk, and walk at the same time.

Greeley Tribune

Jean Sudduth
Dec. 3, 1921 - March 2, 2011

Age: 89

Residence: Greeley

Jean Sudduth, 89, of Greeley died March 2, 2011 at Life Care Center. She was born Dec. 3, 1921, in Lovell, Wyo., to Harvey and Hazel (Williamson) Looper.

She graduated from Greeley High School in 1939 and then attended Colorado State University, graduating in 1943. She then went to Colorado State College and graduated in 1959 with a master’s degree in elementary education. She taught first grade for Greeley-Evans School District 6 from 1959 until 1981.

Jean married David Sudduth on May 9, 1943, in East Greenwich, R.I.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Greeley, belonged to PEO, Alpha Delta Kappa, Panhellenic and the Theta Alumni group.

Jean loved to garden, sew, read, travel and square dance. She also enjoyed spending time at their cabin in Red Feather and winters in Florence, Ariz.

Survivors include her sons, Thomas and wife Linda Sudduth of Omaha, Neb., Dr. John and wife Lori Sudduth of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Ken and wife Janice Sudduth of Eaton; daughter, Janet Sudduth and husband Dr. Robert Larson of Flagstaff, Ariz; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on Oct. 26, 2000; and two brothers, Robert and Joseph Looper.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, at the Allnutt Macy Chapel. A reception will follow in the Allnutt Reception Center. Private interment at Linn Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the charity of choice in care of Allnutt, 702 13th St., Greeley, CO 80631. Friends may view the online obituary, sign the guest book and send condolences at www.allnutt.com.

Buddy Boy

Jonathan is finally at that age where I can play with him. The past few weeks he's gotten very excited when he sees me (that's because I've started to play with him, like in this video). He smiles at me all the time now, begging for some more fun...

Hazel Jean Sudduth

December 3, 1921 - March 2, 2011

My uncle Ken called this morning to let us know that my grandmother (on my Dad's side) passed away early this morning in her sleep. She was 89 years old. For the past several years she's been in assisted living.

I've included the most recent picture I have of her in good condition (i.e. how I remember grandma). This was taken when Stacey and I were married in 2003. Unfortunately, she was never able to really know Stacey or her recent great-grandchildren. Most of my memories and time spent with her were as a child. We would spend a week with my grandparents each summer growing up. It was always fun to go to the pool and eat Cracklin Oat Bran or popcorn with "Oleo" on it. Sunday nights we would always watch Mutual of Omaha... I don't remember for sure, but I vaguely remember her giving us homework while we stayed with her. She was a long time teacher and I guess you can never stop being a teacher even in retirement. The coin, rock, and stamp collections were all a result of grandma. Maybe it wasn't homework...maybe she just made us read a book. I remember having to eat fresh tomatoes that were grown in her garden. With enough salt and pepper I could choke a slimy slice down. It's funny what you remember as a kid. She always kept a stash of board games and toys in her house for us. Avon's "Skin So Soft" was used as a mosquito repellent. I can't make a post and not reference the cuckoo clock they had in the kitchen. Michelle and I would dance around the kitchen whenever the top of the hour came and the music played. Both of my grandparents were big time Denver Broncos fans. I doubt they missed very many games over the years. I really enjoyed playing with the 8-track they had in their living room.

She was always very good to us kids. I don't think she had a mean bone in her entire body. Ahh...I almost forgot about the little candy dishes at Thanksgiving...I could go on and on...

One Month Mark

I've reached the one month job search mark.

So far it hasn't been too bad. I've had two interviews and probably could have a job by now if I would have taken the most recent opportunity. Luckily, I can afford to be selective. Based on my understanding of the time frame involved, I would not be surprised at all if things really get going in about another month or so. All of the positions I've applied for are starting to build up and in a few weeks I should see some results. There aren't a lot of jobs out there but in our local market I think things are still OK. I'm averaging about one application per day which is pretty good in my opinion.