Babushka! Baby Update...

For those who haven't heard: I became a first-time grandmother about twenty four hours ago.  It's a club I've long wanted to join and now I'm in.  Yippee!

My BFF - who recently also became a grandmother herself, of course! - told me it would be like nothing ever felt before and she is so right.  It's fantastic when BFF's go through the same experiences at about the same time, joys and tears to be shared.  We've done so now for well over 40 years.  (Thanks, L!)

Thanks, also, to all who have kept up with this evolving story, your comments and encouragement here, on Twitter, and on Facebook.  Most especially, I thank you for all your prayers.  We had some mighty big scares and I'm convinced all the prayers helped.  

My sweet daughter-in-law was a real trooper as she held that baby in for as long as possible with her complications, all the while the parents-to-be and doctor having to weigh the pros and cons of the health issues for both mother and child.  The sweet babe came early via C-section but mum (they do British English out there and I love it!) is resting and sleeping - that is, between feedings - and the baby is gaining weight quickly already.  

Yesterday was a bit tense.  However, the Skype'ing, Facebook'ing, emails, cell phone calls from literally halfway around the world (the little family lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) started to go at seemingly lightning speed once everything suddenly started to happen. 

We, on this side of the world, have been watching video sent and seeing pictures since, loving every minute of it.  Thank heavens for such wonderful communications via all those handy electronic gadgets out there! Seeing and hearing the tiny babe hiccuping was just so very sweet.  As you can imagine, we're "over the moon."  What bliss! 

Welcome to the world, Baby Aiden!  We love you.  We can't wait to meet you and hold you for real.  Until then, Skype'ing will have to do. 

And just for the record, I'll be going by the title/name of "Babushka" - I've waited for ages to be called that. That's with the accent on the first syllable, please!

Stay safe, my friends, especially those in the US, most especially in the southern states where you're not used to this weather we're having.  Strange to think that it's in the 90's in KL.  That's what you get when you live too-few miles from the equator.  From Wiki I quote about the summer when the new dad was born: 

"[It] was a period of intense heat and drought that wrecked havoc on much of the Midwestern United States and Southern Plains throughout the summer of 1980... the most devastating natural disaster... destruction in U.S. history... The heat wave began in June...the central and southern Unites States allowing temperature to soar to 90 F (32 C) almost every day from June to September."

Ahhh yes!  The new dad was three weeks late and had to be induced.  He arriving on a balmy (!) 112 degree day and I suppose he fell in love with really hot weather.  And yes, I know, we who've given birth tell our stories, almost obnoxiously - and to anyone who'll listen, ad nauseum!  Welcome to the club, new young mum!   

As always, I hope everyone is doing their very best, only better.  Ciao and paka!   

Waiting-for-Baby Update

Praying for a healthy baby "Junior."  I cannot believe this baby is so worried about his new little one now...

I've been asked by quite a few friends on twitter, Facebook, e-mail, etc., as to how the baby is doing.  So here is an "official" baby update.  Before anything else, however: I thank all who have been praying for this new little family.  Words cannot express how much I believe that your prayers are helping things out.

The parents-to-be are on pins and needles as the doctor takes things one day at a time.  Grandparents-to-be, aunt and uncle-to-be are praying like crazy.  OK, everyone is praying like crazy.  And, again, I thank you for your prayers.  We are, after all, quite a few days post-previous crisis and I cannot help thinking all those prayers made a huge difference and continue to get mum and baby through this rough time.

This is an illustration of why medicine is an art and not just a science.  I'm so glad that the "youngsters" changed doctors when they realized that the one they'd been seeing was just not quite on the ball.  I say it takes guts to change doctors because I might have been too afraid of jumping out of the pan into the fire.  But they seem to be a mum and dad who are gutsy.  When they lost confidence in the previous doctor, they found one who knew what to do about a high BP, lessened movement on the part of the baby, protein leaking into the urine.  It's not just confidence.  They had a feeling they followed: they found someone who not only "knew his stuff," but also seemed to really care about them.  Again, it's always about "trust your instincts."  (And of course, a "knock on wood" and a "tphoo! tphoo! tphoo!" is called for!)

A C-section will be most likely, though mum, baby, doctor and dad (poor dad is always last!) try to hold out as long as possible for the baby to develop inside, without endangering the mum nor the baby, a huge consideration.  

When I'm able to communicate with my daughter-in-law and son via phone or Facebook, I try to keep them as optimistic as possible.  I've had some fun making up a (private for the parents-to-be) Facebook album for them to look at: my son before he came out of his mom's belly and after, hoping that will help them while away some hours and give them something to laugh at here and there.  In addition to being the official worrier, I try to be the official laugh-at-my-expense "jokester"  - as well as the official, "pray for that sweet young family person," I might add.  As I said before, whatever it takes, grandmothers-to-be are shameless I believe - nah, I'm absolutely convinced.

Incredibly, mum-to-be is a bit upset that she is causing the rest of us too much anxiety and worry.  I've tried to dispel that notion. As IF we wouldn't be worried.  She is the one who has all the discomfort.  She is the one worried beyond words.  It's at times like this that you wish you had the right words.  I've tried to express my feeling that this is the grandparents-to-be role: at the moment we are the official worriers.  Later, with God's help, we will become the official spoilers of any child.   

Thank you for all the prayers, the messages.  I ask that my friends keep on crossing their fingers, sending out positive thoughts, pray a little longer for the safety of the mum and babe.  Each day that baby-to-be gets stronger.  Each day we pray mum-to-be stays safe, rests, enjoys some movies or anything on YouTube.  It's hard to wait for that little one to finally come out when it's safe, but we must.

To all three of my babies, the young and old, the new and old, know how much we here on this side of the world love you.  

Hoping everyone is feeling and doing their very best, only better!  Ciao and paka!  Thank you!