Life is good

Welcoming a new child always tends to complicate things. We are very grateful that he is here. It just means that there is a little less time for some things. Blogging has suffered immensely, even after I returned to work (I often write a little something when it's slow or on my breaks). I've gotten behind on laundry, but I hope to catch up on that tonight. All in all though life is very good.

It's amazing how busy things can be but yet life is still very good. Perhaps I continue to use that express because I feel like life has been good to me. There are many things that could have gone horribly wrong with Roo's delivery, or any number of other things we are experiencing, but yet we continue to be meeting our needs and progressing through this thing called life. Kanga is learning Chinese quite well and Tigger is going to start a local pre-school soon. Angel is recovering speedily and Roo really is a good kid.

I know that if I look critically at our situation there is plenty to worry about - hospital bills being at the top of the list. Working in education means that you, comparatively don't make much and while it has never caused contention in the home the situation it pleases my family in can be worrisome. I am very luckily that I married a wonderful woman who does a really good job at sorting our our finances and so we have done relatively well for ourselves, considering.

There is still plenty to do and plenty that can be said about the challenges we face, but despite it all life is very good.

Baby Roo, the full story

It happened. After posting initially on Facebook I figure I better give the whole run down here (with pictures). On Sept 4 / 2014 at 5:24 am Roo was born. He weighed 8 pounbds 3 (actually he was 2.9) ounces and was 21 inches long.

With Roo, Angel was so high risk for preterm labor that we expected him to come every day. So it was weird to have go actually have him go to 39 weeks. Last week the doctor decided that they could break Angel's water so an appointment was made for Sept 3rd at 8:00 pm. Many people asked why schedule it for the evening and we don't know. Maybe it was so the hospital wouldn't be so busy, but that didn't work. In short, we don't know why it was scheduled for that time. My mom came up to watch the kids while we went into the hospital.

Angel had actually been having regular, strong contractions starting at 5:00 pm that day, almost as if her body had just been waiting for an appointment. We got her all checked in at the hospital and set up in a birthing room. Since she was contracting they didn't break her water right away, but did so at about 11:00. By midnight she has having very painful contractions and she got her lovely epidural. The medicine took well and she was able to get some relief. I snatched a few hours of sleep at that point, which was nice. but woke up at about 3:00 as Angel was having some discomfort. We got her adjusted and at 4:00 the nurses said she was ready to start pushing.

Roo was quite obstinate. He kept slipping back up after she would push him down. The doctor came in at about 4:40 and said that he had dreamed that this kid would be 9 pounds 2 ounces. We hoped he was wrong and enjoyed his good humor for the rest of the delivery. We felt bad for our nurse, Taylor. She went off shift at 5:00 and had been so wonderful during the whole process but didn't get to see Roo. When he did come he came quickly. As he crowned the doctor commented about how big and hairy his head was. They were a little worried about the state of his amniotic fluid and that he might have breathed some in, but he was fine. I remember Kanga's birth and that she fussed and cried a bit as they were cleaning her off but Roo was quite and stoic through the whole process. He gasped a little after they suctioned him out, but other than that he just wiggled and looked around. His eyes were open for most of the time and he would move around, but didn't make any noise. That sounds like it should be worrying but it wasn't.

The staff here at the hospital have been great and we should be able to go home today. Roo's delivery and first day couldn't have gone better. He's passed his tests and is feeding well. He is a quite boy who has slept quite a bit, but done well. Angel even had to wake him up for his first shift of evening feedings. Kanga and Tigger came to visit and both approve of their new brother. It's been a wonderful experience here and we are looking forward to getting him home.

Waiting

In the words of the great Spaniard, Inigo Montoya, "I hate waiting." Really I've gotten better over then years but it's still something I struggle with. As I write this we are waiting in the hospital to hear if they are going to send us home or if they'll have us stay because Roo is going to be born.

Angel started having contractions yesterday at about 3:00 pm. They were regulars as long as she was moving or standing abut they would become irregular if she sat or lay down. Last night we prepped a few extra things (her overnight bag and mine were already packed) and she spend several hours pacing to see if it would continue labour. I tried to get some sleep with moderate success. This morning we decided to come in and have them check. So far it's mixed. Yes she has contractions but we can't tell if her water broke (we thought it might have sprung a leak) and she's not dilated beyond a 2.

So we get to wait at the hospital  for the lab results, for the doctor, for Roo. I am glad that I have a book and my iPod but this mind of waiting is the type that distracts you from your distractions. What's more, last time Angel went into labour we were in the hospital for about 14 hours. I wish the chairs were more comfortable.

Update: they are sending us home. Evedently today is most likely not the day.