Welcoming Calvin

As my littlest boy sleeps on my lap I will brief you on some of the action of the past few days.

Friday: Told to plan to be at the hospital for induction from 7-7:30am. All 15 delivery rooms were full. Grateful to have a room after lunchtime. The same room Audrey was born in.

Membranes artificially ruptured to induce labour 2pm. Active labour from 2:15pm. Straight in the shower. Out of the shower with a new baby just before 4pm. It was no ordinary shower, but I shan't blog about all the details! My midwife and my husband were very obliging to cram into the small space to "catch" Calvin. Glad I had packed spare clothes for Steve - the shower didn't get turned off for a while!

Stayed a couple of nights in hospital until Winton and Audrey were over the worst of their sickness. Was so glad for them to finally meet Calvin yesterday when they came to pick me up (although the event itself was pretty chaotic!). It has been lovely to be home all together since. We have been enjoying introducing Calvin to many special people. There are still many left to meet.

A picture of things "as they were" last night, after my arrival home. Embracing the chaos.

Winton has recovered from the fact that Calvin is not a girl called "Jamesy" (his name idea, in honour of his special friend James who has moved away). Initially, Calvin's arrival was a "little bit great", a "little bit exciting" and he was "a little bit glad". Now, Winton is less moderate and is regularly gushing about how cute Calvin is. The day after Calvin was born Winton told Steve that he wished we had called him Calvin when he was born.

Audrey's new favourite line is "My hold it? My cuddle baby Calwin?". She has suddenly become very maternal. She is full of suggestions whenever Calvin is crying, "Baby Calwin need your milk? Baby need my milk? Baby need cuddle?".

Steve has been working very, very hard keeping all of us going. I am so grateful. God's generosity to me through Steve is vast.

The usual fatigue is setting in as more time elapses since I have had solid sleep - not a complaint, just a fact. I am finding that there are small opportunities to read my Bible or listen to a psalm (it was a great way to block out the sound of other people snoring in hospital!). I am finding I am not really in the "mood", but it is happening. I'm sure I will write a little about how I am going with all that some time.

Calvin resting with me this morning.

For now, I am off to have a cuddle with my husband and a snooze before the next feed...