Tiffinwallahs

This is a fascinating read about the tiffinwallahs of India.  They are an amazingly efficient orgnanization that reportedly makes a mistake once in every eight million attempts when delivering hot, homemade lunches to their subscribers.

401K Plan Administration Costs

I heard about an interesting resource this week.  freeERISA.com allows employees to compare how much their company is paying in administration fees to the companies managing their 401K plans.

Search by company to find Form 5500 Schedule C.  I noticed my company ( Per-Se Technologies ) is paying $277,075 annually to allow Hewitt Associates, Northern Trust Company and Morgan Keegan to manage our 401K plan.  Of course, the higher these fees, the more money that will ultimately come out of your hard earned savings.

This is a pretty good resource if you are investigating a company to work for and want to size-up their 401K plan administration costs.

Grandparents are visiting.

This week has been grandma week.  Grandma Abell and Karas visited this week and Grandma Livingston is due on May 6th.

Morgan 1
Morgan 2
Morgan 3

Good Luck Everyone on Derby Day !!!

Ahh, the ol adage "paralysis by analysis" can certainly apply to my Kentucky Derby analysis.  I'm a statistics geek, so don't be totally freaked out by all the details on my Derby Daze analysis.  I hope I've provided everyone with enough information to be a bit more educated on Derby Day so it's more enjoyable for you.

Scott's Derby Daze

Morgan is 6 days old today.

Morgan is six days old today and got glowing reviews from the pediatrician.  As all babies do, she has begun adding weight now after initially losing some.  Her birth weight was 7 lbs 10 ounces and she went as low as 7 lbs 1 ounce as of last Friday.  Today, however, she weighed in at 7 lbs 10.5 ounces !!!  Woohoo !!!  We've turned the corner and she is making great progress - very healthy.

We gave Morgan her first bath this morning as well.  Check out the bathing beauty.

Morgan 1
Morgan 2

Derby Daze!

The Derby is two weeks from yesterday.  Below is a link to my analysis as it stands right now.  Much more research is required and more helpful info will be posted on the site over the next two weeks up until post time.

At this point, Brother Derek does indeed look like a legitimate favorite.  As far as a long shot, I like what I've seen from Jazil with his powerful closing speed running in a distance ( 1 1/4 mile ) that will benefit him greatly.

Scott's Derby Daze

Good Routine...

We're working to establish a good routine with Morgan right now.  Things are a bit less stressful now as we have somewhat solved how to remedy her needs based on her crying.  Things are going very well right now.

The first night home was pretty rough, but that was mainly due to Dayna's milk not coming in yet.  It typically takes 72 hours before the mom begins producing milk.  Until that point, the baby primarily gets colostrum from the breast in which does not seem to give them a feeling of fullness.  Morgan cried a lot the first day home from the hospital because she was not getting enough to eat.  We finally had to supplement Dayna's breast milk with formula to help fill Morgan's stomach.  Now, Dayna is producing the real deal and Morgan is quite satisfied.

Baby pictures from St. Francis Nursery

Here's the link to the Saint Francis Hospital Web Nursery...

St. Francis Web Nursery ( password = karas )

More pictures...

Morgan 1    Morgan 2
Morgan 3    Morgan 4
Morgan 5    Morgan 6

Enjoy.

Home Today!

We all made it home from the hospital fine today.  Dayna and Morgan are taking a much needed nap.  I'll work to make all the pictures and video available on the blog over the next couple days.  We're just trying to get our feet underneath us right now.

Morgan 1
Morgan 2
Morgan 3

Morgan's Birth - Timeline

Dayna is resting fine now at the hospital.  She is scheduled to come home tomorrow.  Morgan is doing great.  She had her first pediatrician well-baby exam today.  She lost a couple ounces, but that is very normal for newborns.  Dayna and baby have been adjusting to each other throughout the nursing sessions.  Both are getting more skillful at it each day.  Below is a timeline of the events of the past 36 hours...

Monday ( 1pm ) - Dayna visits doctor in preparation for Tuesday's 7pm induction

Monday ( 1pm ) - Doctors strips the membrane

Monday ( 11:30 pm ) - Dayna's experiences "pop" and contractions begin ( 5 min apart )

Tuesday ( 12:30 am ) - Arrive at St. Francis Hospital Labor and Delivery

Tuesday ( 12:30 am ) - Dayna measured at 3 cm dilation

Tuesday ( 12:30 - 1:30 am ) - monitor contractions. contact Dr. Blackstock

Tuesday ( 2:00 am ) - Petosin administered to speed up contractions.

Tuesday ( 2:30 am ) - Epidural administered

Tuesday ( 2:30 - 7:00 am ) - contractions continue. dilation continues

Tuesday ( 7:00 am ) - Dayna reaches 9 cm dilation

Tuesday ( 7:30 am ) - increase dosage of epidural medication

Tuesday ( 7:30 - 9:00 am ) - contractions intensify ( 1 min apart )

Tuesday ( 9:00 am ) - Dayna begins pushing

Tuesday ( 9:56 am ) - Morgan is born !!!

Morgan

Meet Miss Morgan!

Miss Morgan Avery
Birthday: Tuesday April 18, 2006 at 9:56am
Weight: 7 lbs 10 ounces
Length: 20 inches

Morgan

Tomorrow is the big day!

Dayna is scheduled to be induced at 7pm.  The doctor determined that Dayna was dilated to two centimeters today.  We won't have to wait too much longer before we catch a glimpse at Miss Morgan Avery !!!  WOOHOO !!!

April through June are three of my favorite months.  Not only because it's springtime, but because it's also Thoroughbred Racing Season !!!  The Triple Crown ( Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont ) is fast approaching with the Derby on the first Saturday in May.

Keep an eye on these beauties as the Kentucky Derby approaches...

Sinister Minister

Lawyer Ron

Brother Derek ( on the right )

I'll keep the Derby Watch updated as the first Saturday in May rolls around.

Additional Triple Crown resources...

Equine Line

Blood Horse

Thoroughbred Times

Daily Racing Form

Strange Movies

An interesting twist to a disturbing topic...

Hard Candy

This will be another one in a long list of edgy movies that will not be shown in Tulsa due to this town's extremely conservative nature.

One thing nice about living in Austin was that you could be assured of fascinating arts and mind-challenging topics in the media.

Speaking of strange movies, here are a few.  Be forewarned, these movies are not for everyone.  They are certainly not G-rated and may not even be enjoyed by most people.

Dancer in the Dark

American Psycho

Jacob's Ladder

Midnight Express

Mulholland Drive

Homecoming Outfit

My mom and dad sent this outfit to us for Morgan to wear home from the hospital.  My parents were in Salado this past weekend and could not pass up buying this Aggie-wear for Morgan.  I'm of the mind that we must indoctrinate our children in the ways of A and M as soon as possible.  I'm just strategically timing my move back to Texas when Morgan is a senior in High School so we can get in-state tuition.  Yeah, yeah, I suppose Dayna may have something to say about this with her Sooner pride on the line.

Coming Home Outfit

Better to be safe...

We spent another 3+ hours in the hospital today giving more blood and monitoring the baby's heartrate.  Blood work results came back fine and once again Dr. Blackstock sent us home to resume bedrest.  Again, fortunately, everything has progressed like a textbook scenario.  Even though Dayna has had a lot of tests performed, I believe that Dr. Blackstock is overly cautious ( which is not a bad thing ).  We're just taking it slow and easy.  Dayna is still having very minor contractions, but nothing that she really feels.  We only know she is having them when we see them on the monitor.

We have the middle name!

Dayna and I decided on Avery for a middle name for Morgan.  Dayna's appointment is at 10:40 this morning.  We'll find out the results of the blood test and the doctor will let us know if today is the day for inducing.

Still no middle name!

Our mission tonight is to finalize Morgan's middle name.  Dayna has a good list we'll narrow down to five and then make the final decision.  I also need to put together a small bag of things to have at the hospital.  Dayna already has her bag packed and it's in the car ready to go.  We'll find out tomorrow if Dr. Blackstock needs us to check into St. Francis.

Oh, just for the record, Dayna's belly button has officially become an "outtie" as of today.

Induction has been scheduled.

Dayna had another followup visit the Dr. Blackstock today.  Her blood pressure reading was fairly reasonable, but her cervix has yet to begin ripening.  The doctor drew blood again for another round of tests.  The plan of action now is to get the lab results back on the blood and meet with the doctor again on Wednesday.  If there are any abnormalities with the blood, then Dr. Blackstock wants to induce Dayna on Wednesday.  If the bloodwork is ok, then we're scheduled to take Dayna in to be induced next Tuesday the 18th at 7pm.

So, in less than one week, Miss Morgan will be ready to say hello to the world.

Spring is here again...

Dayna has been doing quite well this weekend.  She mainly battles boredom since she is captive in our room.  I believe during our birthing classes that the instructor said a baby's weight increases 1 pound for every couple weeks in the womb during the final months of pregancy.  I guess the point is, the longer Morgan can have to percolate inside Dayna, then the better chance she has of being born at a good healthy weight.  All signs point to a very healthy baby in the works.

As for me, I'm busy getting some things in order around the house.  I'm just thankful spring is here again and the days are long.  My therapy is working in the yard and on the house.  Today, I stained the fence that faces the street.  Last year, I built a gate on the side of the house, but never got around to protecting it until today.  Yesterday was normal yard work ( mowing, pulling weeds, etc).  Within the next couple weeks, I'll resume the painting of the house.  Just before winter set in last fall, I was able to finish the back and sides of the house.  This spring I will paint the front of the house.

Also, now that I can be outside more, I hope to sweat off some more pounds.  I'm currently at 187 ( 4 pounds above the normal Body Mass Index ).  My heart rate is very good at 60 bpm.  Hopefully I'm not dreaming here, but I sure would like to push my resting heartrate below 57 in order to attain "athlete" status and also get my weight between 175 and 180.  If I lay off the Starbuck's Venti Mocha Frapachino, then I might have a shot.

Bed Rest

Dayna had her followup visit today with Dr. Blackstock. Her blood pressure was 154/98. It was again a bit disturbing to the doctor, but Dayna was asked to lay on her left-side for a few minutes before they took another measurement. The second reading was 128/76.

Dayna is on complete bed rest until the baby comes. We've been asked to get a blood pressure reading at least four times a day and provide these readings to Dr. Blackstock on Monday.

At this point, we just make sure Dayna's blood pressure is at a reasonable level and to keep her mostly stationary ( particularly on her left-side).

Also, unfortunately, our new Per-Se insurance through Great West is not nearly as nice as our Cigna plan was. Not only do we pay much more in premiums, but only 50% of all birth expenses are covered as opposed to the 90% that would have been covered through Cigna. The OBGyn billing office told us today that we should have had this baby two weeks ( prior to April 1st ) before the Great West plan kicked in.

Yesterday, Dayna had her weekly OBGyn appointment. Apparently, her blood pressure was elevated a bit high. As a precautionary measure, the doctor had Dayna check into St. Francis hospital to allow for monitoring of the baby and Dayna's vitals.

We spent about three hours in Labor and Delivery.  Dayna's blood work was fine and no signs of preeclampsia were found. We were also able to see her contractions charted. Currently, her contractions are very faint and are about seven minutes apart.

The doctor asked to see her again tomorrow ( Friday ) to get another status on Dayna's condition.

I think we're getting close to seeing little Miss Morgan for the first time.

We'll keep you posted.

Also, fyi... I finally got around to another french lesson.

The Guy You Love To Hate

When I first moved to Tulsa, I was still naive about finding an authentic church experience.  As I was getting to know people at work I inquired about what church they attended.  Rarely did I have a geniune invitation extended to me, but I was eager to find a church home at the time.

There was one particular Project Manager I obviously did not know much about, but I decided to visit his church one Sunday.  Prior to that Sunday I mentioned to him that I would be attending.  I was received with a fairly "less than excited" response and certainly no "oh great, we'll look for you and you can sit with us".

Anyway, I show up at the very conservative church ( yet they had that trendy "we're a contemporary church" attitude ) and I find myself the one who is seeking this guy out.  I find him and the guy barely acknowledges my presence and does not even introduce me to his wife and kids who are standing right behind him.  So, I'm like "uh, ok, well" and the guy does not even invite me to sit with him so I find a spot a couple rows back, sit by myself through the entire service and then linger for a few moments thinking I'll talk to a few people.  Uh, none.

So, how did I get on this topic?  We'll jump forward a few years.  I enter the conference room at work for a managers meeting and he is the only one there at the time so I do my normal thing and say "hey *****, what's up?".  The guy remains glued to his laptop and does not even look up to acknowledge me.  So, you say, maybe the guy is just anti-social and awkward.  Oh contrar! my friend.  The guy is quite the social butterfly ( or should I say ass-kisser ).

You see, here is the deal.  There are these creatures in the corporate world whose entire philosophy in life is "what can this other person do for me?".  If the answer is "nothing", then this type of person has no interest in you.  Just a couple days ago my boss was in town and this other guy decides to do a stop-and-chat with my boss.  Of course, he is Mr. Personality while the entire time he literally does not look at me once.

These are the type of people on the planet that make me laugh and provide me with more then enough reason to avoid the entire church social scene altogether.

Walk The Line

Impressive.  It would be neat to be able to play like this guy.

For those of you who have seen Walk the Line.  Here is the original.

New Direction

I've moved the website more toward a personal blog as opposed to a financial one. I've obviously deviated quite a bit lately from being solely a personal finance discussion blog to covering a broad range of topics. With Morgan on the way, I'm sure I'll be devoting a lot of time to her on the site. I also want to clean up the look and feel. I'm trying new things to make the site less harsh on the eyes. The small font was probably killing a lot of folks. Hopefully, some of the more recent changes I've made will lend themselves toward a more user friendly blog.