No news is no news

We’re still alive. I guess that’s the gist of this update. About a week has passed since my frantic delving into the liquor cabinet, and I’m pleased to report a moderate turn-around. Not quite a turn-around then, perhaps more like a turn. Her colic is being managed by Suntorymedicinal means, she’s still gaining weight and apart from some persistent day-night reversal, things are definitely going better.

Not to gloss over that last point – she sleeps like a cherub during the day (while everyone visits and admires our little angel), then somehow mutates and screams like a wild-eyed banshee during the night. Not ideal, not desirable, and not all the attractive at 3am. And I mean… “like a banshee”. She’s really got a colossal set of lungs and a remarkable repertoire of not-so-calming cries.

Anyway, we have had our moments to bond with our new addition (who I’ve temporarily dubbed Micro-Awesome), and she certainly has all the hallmarks of being a full-time cherub – providing we survive to see the metamorphosis. We’re both still pretty frazzled, which concerns me somewhat as I return to a work-week in 9 hours time. Gasp. Wheeze. Grimace.

So, given my time pressures, no pictures today. I’ve had a great week off work spending time with Jamie. Although not an angel himself, I’ve seen a really precious side to him which I usually miss on account of work. He’s being a real toddler – pushing all the boundaries and exercising all the wrong buttons – but he’s a stunning kid!

Can only wish Janet the best of luck as she (wo)mans the fort! Back to the grindgrinstone!

For stressful times, make it Suntory time…

Hometime: Saturday midday. Sunday 14h30: I cracked open the whiskey. I was quite impressed at my resilience! And in another reference, I think that – very sadly – my relationship with Erin is currently Lost in Translation too. I hate to say it, but it’s freakin’ difficult clicking while the yelling is at full-pitch (did I mention blood-curdling and endless?) and no-one is sleeping. So I might be missing something in the crying, but I might not be either… (I am missing Suntory. It’s reviews indicate it might be worth putting in the effort to get some!)

Anyway, let’s try and dwell on the positives. Um. Well. She’s healthy, cute and a visit to the clinic confirmed that she’s drinking well! The jaundice is on it’s way, she hasn’t caught Jamie’s cold, and she can’t yet open the doors like big brother now can. And to be fair, as I write this, the crying is absent. Oh… and she’s very clean. She had a bath yesterday, which went off pretty well. After a few evenings like we’ve had, the protest she musters for a bath time is insignficant and quite musical actually.

Jamie was a stellar assistant (and VERY generous with the soap), and is being a huge star with this transition. Poor guy’s sitting nursing his first bee-sting on his finger after a busy day gardening with Grandpa. Another positive: no allergies!

Last note: Airshow time! Finally got the programme online (here) and since I’ve pre-child-authorised this visit, I can safely get excited. So I am.

The tribe has spoken

So we arrived home, baby slept, and life carried on pretty much as usual. Jamie is extremely curious and wants to hold her at every chance. I think he’s also quite annoyed that we’ve only brought her into his life at this late juncture since almost every time she sees him, she’s brought him some new toy!

So – his verdict, unpressured – was 2 stars. In fairness, he only had 2 stars, so I guess what he’s communicating here is that he quite likes his new sister.

As he excitedly unpacked his army track (which results in perpetual, brain-numbing noise as the car/tank runs around, and around, and around… bad Erin!), we got on with the practicals – the feeding, the wrapping, the bouncing and the nappies! But oohhhh… nothing could prepare us for the night!

Ever measure your sleep in minutes?

Homeward bound

Well, my wallet’s melting as I pay for having had the ‘luxury’ of a semi-private ward. Oh darn, it’s just burst into flames! Spent the morning doing some last-minute stuff in “Bebe Eyun”‘s room (I’ve discovered that Jamie’s “Bebe Eeyore” was simply a tease), and arrived to a picture of calm and serenity here. Until I paid that is! Anyway, we’re about to depart for the next chapter of parenting – hold on tight Jan!!

For lack of a better title

Bit journalistically challenged today I’m afraid. Something about the poet needing the pain perhaps?

Since there’s no pain, let’s just update things by saying that we’re all good. Erin is feeding well (and so, by implication, is Jan), Jamie is a slightly sick, yet happy camper, and the parents are both still excited. Jan had a better night last, so her day’s been appreciably better, and I think the benefit of experience is working it’s magic! Both the ladies return home tomorrow, so tonight I’ll be putting the final touches on the ranch! Will put some more pics up soon. Thanks everyone for your comments!

Acceptance Testing

Well – so far so good. Trials are in advanced stages, and so far the acceptance rate has been very good. OK, I’m hardly going to allow anyone to reject this um, development – even though Jamie insists on calling her Bebe Eeyore behind her back. Last night he was reenacting how he was “holding” her during the course of the afternoon, during which we held her hand to stop her crying. His sentence construction yields a lesson in brevity: “Dad Me Bebe Eeyore Stop!! Waahhh”

More grandparents and visitors today, so I’ll continue my professionally inspired observations and compile a report in the near future.

Footnote: I’m mildly troubled that having just drawn him a stick-figure-family, he’s taken the pen and edited (read deleted) the smallest figure. Hmmm.

Oh. Wait… it’s OK. He’s just drawn over (read completely obliterated) the two biggest ones too. No problems there then…

16000 words

Unless of course you count the cropped picture as fewer than a 1000?

So. Here are the first pictures to emerge! There are some other, dramatically gory pictures, courtesy of the better-positioned paediatrician, but I suspect they’d induce a degree of undesired queasiness! Of course it’s obvious that these still don’t do justice to a new baby (hmmm, can’t really blast off a million flash-photos at 10 hour-old eyes!), but I’m sure they go some way to helping!

I’m sitting at home, finishing this off, then gonna head back to the hospital to introduce the big-brother. Jamie is certainly aware that ‘bebe’ was arriving today, so it’s going to be interesting to see his response. More on that tomorrow.

Thanks everyone for your enthusiasm, encouragement and best wishes. They’re all received, not all replied, but definitely appreciated! As for comments here, I’ll moderate them as quickly as possible!

Erin Ross-Gillespie

God has blessed us with a perfectly healthy, absolutely beautiful baby girl. For the record, she is 3.35kg, 51cm with 10/10 scores. She’s blonde, loud and currently sucking on my finger. Jan should be out of surgery soon, having required TWO spinal taps to knock her nerves out. Guess that explains Jamie pretty well! Pictures will follow soon, probably this afternoon. Thanks for all your wishes!

T minus 10

Now pre-theatre. Met the crew, changed into my green-gear, taken some video, butterflies are behaving at the moment! Shouldn’t be long now. We’re both super-excited to meet the missus!

Hurry up and wait!

The title is Jan’s take on proceedings so far. Woke at 5am, arrived here at 6am, and sitting in pre-preparation. We’ve booked the ward, signed the tomes, and now we wait…

Hang-on tight!

So here we are – final approach on what has certainly seemed like a crazy, high-speed rollercoaster ride. Erin (unless by some awkward oversight she looks more like an Eric…) is due for c-section delivery at around 8am this Wednesday (20-08, 2008). I’ll do my best to keep this up to date with pictures and a bit of a blurb, but I’m not gonna make promises!

And in the final moments…? Jamie is with Granny tonight, Jan’s already crashed out, and I’m sitting like a mullet updating a blog. Which is lame! I’ll stop now. God-willing the next post is full of sunshine and happiness!