From Wit’s End

I think Baby Nora really likes her Uncle Dave, and I think the feeling is mutual.

She slept through the night for the first time last night!

(Taken with Grandpa’s cellphone.)

…slowly but surely. It seems like everytime Jack wakes up from being asleep, he’s a little more reconciled to the idea of having a little sister around. The first morning at home was the most harrowing: he threw such a crazy tantrum that he fell into his toy cradle in his room, which is how he got that bruise on the side of his face. But he’s getting better: he likes to give Nora kisses, and he’ll get one of the baby shower gift bags from Nora’s room and bring it over to “give Nora a present.”

Another funny thing that has happened is that all of a sudden he plays by himself a LOT more easily. Something about a baby coming home has sparked his imagination in all kinds of ways, apparently. It’s kind of cool.

Wow, just look at that. She’s a little miracle.

Safe and sound. Grandma is bringing Jack home even as I type. Soon we will all be one big happy! When things calm down after he gets back (HA!), I will see about posting some more pictures (and videos? Maybe. ) from the last few days.

Rachel is sitting up and taking nourishment, and generally enjoying being lucid after childbirth (a distinct improvement from last time).

If you’d like to come over for a visit, we would love to see you. We are in room #223 at LMC. I’m told that we will probably be discharged on Thursday, so you are welcome to see us anytime before then.

Coming in at 19.75″ and 7 lbs, 7 oz, a stealer of hearts and a seller of smiles, I give you… Baby Nora!!!1!

Rachel is holding Nora and seeing if she will latch on. We are all well, as you can see.

Wow, that was fast! She only took about five minutes to go from seven to ten cm dilation. And she only had to push twice!

Baby Nora was born at 12:11pm.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

The contractions are more regular (about every 2.5 minutes) and more intense now. Rachel is starting to do her Lamaze breathing.

She is also eating a red popsicle.

Contractions are about two or three minutes apart now, and Rachel is actually finding it more comfortable to stand up.

“Man, I should have brought a pack of cards or something.”

This is definitely much less crazy than last time. Fortunately, I brought some reading material.

If I’m reading the computer chart correctly, it looks like the contractions are about five minutes apart.

He said Rachel’s platelets were at 128, so that’s good. The next thing they’ll do is give her some Pitocin and make Rachel’s water break.

We have arrived at Lexington Medical Center, and Rachel has changed onto her hospital gown. The room is a lot bigger than last time.

…and “D” is for daughter!

The doctor scheduled our induction for 5am. [journalist voice] And we will be covering it live and exclusively right here, so tune in bright and early. [end journalist voice]

Just like with Jack’s birth, time sure seems to be slowing down right before Nora’s upcoming delivery.

Added to the familial anticipation is the fact that my search for a new job can only be peripheral and can’t really begin in earnest until after Nora is born. That makes the time pass even slower, I think.

The one mitigating factor is Jack, believe it or not. He is a definite time accelerator of some kind in the hours when I am home. But even his effect works uphill before the looming event horizon of Baby Nora’s Birthday.