Earth Quake Baby:  Sebastian Miguel Cabalceta-Sieffert

We were blessed with this sweet baby on September 5^th when he came into the world not long after a 7.6 earth quake hit Costa Rica.  Fortunately, most of the damage was along the Pacific coastline in areas where not many people live.  While we felt the earth move quite vigorously here in our hilltop home, San Jose was spared.   After Page endured 36 hours of labor, 7.1 lb Sebastian was assisted into the world by C-Section.  Sebastian made it difficult to deliver normally because he favored lying with his back facing his mother’s back and just would not progress into a normal birthing position. 

It has been tiring getting used to the routine of having a baby around.  He is either breast feeding, burping, eliminating, fussing and occasionally sleeping in 3-4 hour intervals. Then there was the breast pain and nipple soreness that caused tears to form in Pages eyes whenever the baby needed feeding. Add abdominal incision discomfort and sleep deprivation and it made for a rough first week.  Fortunately, we have passed this painful period and Page nearly back to her old self probably because she is finally enjoying several hours sleep at a time.

 I occupy my time with cooking, doing dishes, washing diapers, doing the laundry, and assisting Page where possible with the baby.  I get to do all the fun stuff like cuddling, walking, rocking, and changing or bathing our newest family member.  Sebastian makes all this work and lack of sleep possible because he is so adorable.  As you can see he has a full head of dark brown hair, almond eyes with expressive eye brows and long lashes, full lips, perfect ears, and beautiful smelling baby skin.   It is wonderful to wake up to this sweet baby every day.   After enjoying so many other babies over the years, it is amazing to realize that this one is my very own grandchild.  However, it is even more wonderful to see my daughter Page enjoying her new role as a mother more than I ever thought would be possible.  We want to thank everyone for their support and well wishes while we waited for Sebastian to arrive and thanks also to those who have written since his birth. 

I am happy to report that we are all doing well, getting into a good routine, and when possible, I am still climbing the hills.  We will continue to stay in San Jose until the end of the month.  Page and her new family will go back to there home in Nosara where she will snuggle in and endure the usual October rainy season. And Sebastian’s daddy, Chandy will finalize plans for building his restaurant as soon as the rain stops.   I will come back to Manhattan Beach briefly and then head to Baja for the month of October to avoid the rainy season in Costa Rica.  Then, in mid-November, I will return to Costa Rica to help with Sebastian while Page goes back to a very busy work schedule.  The weather in Nosara is generally wonderful during Thanksgiving and Christmas time.   I look forward to walking the beach, talking to the howler monkeys, and enjoying my grandson as he begins to smile and giggle and notice the jungle world where he will live. 

Nature Verses Invention-Intervention

We are currently into a mind challenging waiting period that is ten days past due-date for my weight gaining grandson.  It is becoming both a physical and mental exercise for Page who feels the burden of the heavy load.  She is feeling like a ticking time bomb wondering when her natural Pitocin induced contractions will begin.  With a full Blue Moon transitioning us into a September birth we hope that the natural forces of the moon’s pull will safely and naturally guide Sebastian into the world.  We are hopeful that there will be no need to travel down the slippery slope of hospitalized intervention.

Today, as with most days, I like to climb the cellulite burning hills that surround us. I find it clears my mind and settles any anxiety that comes from three weeks of waiting.   We are surrounded by a natural gymnasium that is both challenging and invigorating.  While those in urbanized areas are running on treadmills, elliptical machines, and stair steppers, I am stepping into nature’s fitness center by pushing myself up winding, steep hills that quickly make demands on my muscles, heart, and lungs.    Here there is no mind numbing TV program.   From the moment I step from the house nature embraces me.  I am joined by colorful butterflies and one unusual looking, giant, white caterpillar that slowly undulates toward bushes that will support his eating habits and eventual cocoon.  Leaf cutter ants carry a heavy burden, many times their weight, back to feed the hungry colony that waits somewhere nearby.  The ant reminds me that if it can climb these hills, with a leaf on its back, then so can I.  Along the road there’s a large cement gutter carrying gallons of fast moving clear water from the rain soaked mountains above.  I pretend that it is a rushing stream and try to keep pace with the sound.  Today thankfully, the wind blew a cooling breeze across the fields and up the mountain side.  It is a welcome relief in the heat of the morning sun. 

With each mountain crest I enjoy the kindness of strangers calling out “Ola, Buenos Dias”  to me as I trudge on by.   Smiles and waves are always exchanged.  I am encouraged to continue up each new hill by sweet over weight old men who I see daily.  They cheer me on with unknown words of kindness and laughter for the gringo woman who climbs the hills merely for exercise; not the purpose of reaching my home.    I have also made friends with a few of the dogs that live along the way.  They come to greet me in their own friendly way. 

My reward, upon reaching the top, are the sounds that add a new dimension to music from my I-Pod.  I see cool winds send rustling ripples through banana leaves.  I hear water gushing down gullies, roosters crowing, birds singing, and dragonflies buzzing.  I am always rewarded by the stunning beauty of the multi-hued green mountain sides lush with vegetation.   Today, of all days, I am reminded that nature is calling upon us to be patient.  It is reminding us to embrace the mystery and wonder of it all.  Babies come when they are ready.  And, like the undulating forces deep in the earth that made these crazy steep hills, labor will start naturally if we relax and allow the natural forces to prevail.