On May 18, 2011 at 10:53AM Roslyn Rasmus Johnson was born via cesarean section at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Woman and Newborns in San Diego, CA. Annie's obstetrician was Dr. Sandra Petersen. Although the doctors and nurses remarked, "That's a big baby!" upon first seeing Baby Girl Johnson, her at birth stats are similar to her older sister's at 7 pounds 14 ounces and 19.5 inches.
Almost two years ago sister Josie was in a breech position at full term necessitating a c-section. Annie, JP, and Dr. Petersen had agreed to attempt a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) delivery for baby number two with the stipulation that Annie must start labor naturally because labor induction increases the risk that a previous c-section scar will tear. Ouch! With Annie not one smidgen effaced or dilated and Baby Ocelot still floating above Annie's pelvis or OOP (out of pelvis) at 40 weeks + 2 days, the choice was clear: repeat cesarean.
First moments after birth. Baby Girl Johnson looks more like Josie than Josie did at that age.
Baby Girl Johnson exited the womb flicking her tongue in the air. Those in the medical profession might think this is due to her innate need to suckle. Others might think that because she shares a birthday with Annie's good friend Jeff Gerhard, AKA the Hard Rock Specialist, perhaps she is practicing for a future career as a rock and roller.
Lick It Up!It wasn't until late in the evening of May 18 when JP and Annie finally selected Roslyn Rasmus as the official name for Ocelot from a somewhat lengthy list of front runners. Faithful readers of Bobcat's Tracks may recall from the flagship post that Josie's namesakes include a fictional outlaw and a family surname.
Roslyn's first name is inspired by Rosalind Franklin, a scientist and undercredited co-discoverer of the double helix structure of DNA.
Rasmus Johansen was Annie's great grandfather. The Edinboro Johansens have always felt a great sense of astonishment and pride toward their forefather because of his skill and determination. Rasmus and the Johansen ancestors lived about 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Norway until around the turn of the twentieth century when he and a couple friends decided they were tired of eating salted cod and herding reindeer. In a handcrafted fishing boat (after all, what other kind of boat is there 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle?) the men sailed to the United States via Canada. Jamestown, Pennsylvania appealed to them as a new home because of the other Scandinavians living in the area. And besides, what wouldn't be more comfortable than living on salted cod 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle? Rasmus and his buddies promptly sailed back to Norway, gathered their kin, and returned to western Pennsylvania where he settled into a life of making furniture, shoes, and children.
Roslyn Rasmus Johnson
JP and his new cubJP and Annie were naturally worried about how Josie would take to Roslyn. After months of preparation to be a big sister, would she balk at the reality?
Not one bit! On May 19 Josie came shuffling into Annie's hospital room sideways saying, "See sisser!" and "Josie hold her!"
"See Mama's arm?"
"See her fingers!"
"Josie hold sisser"
"See her nose! Beep-beep!"
Grammy, Josie, and RoslynJosie has maintained a consistent level of enthusiasm for Roslyn at home. Each morning she wakes up saying, "See sisser!" and spends the day keeping track of her whereabouts. One night while winding down in her crib, she was overheard saying, "Baby say, 'Waa! Waa!'"
On Saturday, May 21 Roslyn and Annie were happily released from the hospital back into their native habitat. There is no love lost between Annie and Sharp Mary Birch.
Annie in her office
Baby Roslyn snoozing in her whale jammers
Rock and roll all night! And party every day!Josie bought balloons for Roslyn on her homecoming and then entertained everyone by wrestling hysterically with them for 30 minutes.
Roslyn and Josie are savoring all the extra attention that comes with JP's paternity leave and an extended visit from Grammy and Grandpa Bob. Josie has been peeing all over the house in her underwear (part of our potty training "plan") and taking swim lessons. Roslyn simply likes the plentiful warm bodies to lounge on.
One of Roslyn's neatest features is her double hair whorl. But, instead of having two in the back, she's got one in the back and one up front.
