A few months ago, I was introduced to the Lullaby Project via the University Health Network’s (UHN) Krembil Brain Institute. The purpose of the Lullaby Project’s collaboration with Krembil is to offer mothers living with epilepsy the ability to create lullabies for their kids and also to see how music impacts those living with the condition. All participants were matched up with a songwriter who would create something for them (or another singer) to record. This was done in partnership with Massey Hall/Roy Thomson Hall. The song I recorded (with special thanks to my songwriter, Scarlett Flynn) is called Bug.

I really enjoyed working with Scarlett and recording. It was my first time recording solo at a studio – I had done some recording as a member of the school choir back in high school for a singer who performs for elementary school students (I don’t even remember his name. It wasn’t a big name musician from the kids’ music world like Raffi or Sharon, Lois and Bram). All the choirs in the school, from JK through high school also recorded an album of holiday/Christmas music back in the 90s. But that was done in the chapel, not an actual studio.

Was it nerve-racking? Maybe a little, but like I said, I had a lot of fun!! And I love singing, and really, I should do it more outside of the shower. I haven’t really done much singing since Jr. Mintz was very young. And prior to his birth, I rarely sang. A far contrast from when my high school and university days – especially high school, when I sang in chapel EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL DAY!!!

NOTE: The Lullaby Project is an international program first started in New York through Carnegie Hall’s Weill Institute. The Toronto chapter (??)/program first collaborated with Jessie’s Centre, which helps empower young women/parents, providing them with programs and services to help them, including education, health services and housing support. It later expanded to projects with the Regent Park Community Health Centre and UHN’s Krembil Institute.

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Baby Mintz is two weeks old and is slowly learning how to be a baby (technically, he’s 37 weeks gestation, don’t forget – his actual due date is November 18).  He was having a lot of trouble with the bottle for several days and the hospital wouldn’t let him go home until he could be on full time for 48 hours.  It took him until Wednesday to start grasping the idea of taking a bottle for food (rather than a feeding tube) and we were able to go home on Friday.  Thank goodness!  I just can’t deal with hospitals anymore.  At least we didn’t stopped having to commute to St. Catharines after the third day AND the Toronto hospital was subway accessible (though not our first choice).  We are, however, very glad to have him home and look forward to spending much more time with him.  Meanwhile, there’s MUCH MORE TO DO (e.g. making doctor’s appointments, looking for parent/baby programs – especially ones WELCOMING to parents who were never pregnant).  I’ve also contacted two preschools (yes, I’m thinking that far in advance).

We’re glad we can spend much, much more time with him and caring for him in an environment which we find much more comfortable.  My parents have been in daily to visit their grandson (and still getting used to being known as Poh Poh (my mom) and Gung Gung (my dad)).  Adam’s parents will be coming in a few weeks.  We’re going to be at this for the rest of our lives!

My husband and I would like to thank the staff at both St. Catharines General and Toronto East Hospital for their kindness and effort in caring for Baby Mintz and for showing us what to do!  We were completely clueless (okay, maybe not CLUELESS – I’ve cared for children before – just not newborns) at the beginning and we’re slowly getting the hang of it now.

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