Cine Slideshow...

Filmed this off the back of the Canon 600D using Flyingpops' point and shoot, it's a quick sweep using preview through the (several thousand) shots I've taken over the last 9 days, sort of like a roving time-lapse I guess, extraordinary to see the bursts of shots turn into little snippets of film before your very eyes and see all that time condensed into the blink of the camera's eye... ;)

Ready for the new baby?

Well, here we are at 37 weeks (or "full term" as it is generally known), for comparisons sake, Thomas was already born 2 weeks ago(!) when it was his turn - we have the names chosen (no idea if the little one is a boy or a girl so we need both to hand), we have the bags all packed (ipod - full of relaxation music, portable CD player, Shinco portable DVD player, battery powered speakers (with spare batteries), high energy food and drinks, wash bag, lots of Mummy clothes, lots of teeny tiny baby clothes, lots of teeny tiny nappies, 99% water baby wipes, a big bath towel, a V-shaped cushion and even a little present for Thomas (from the baby))...the big new camera has a nice clean memory card in it and two fully charged batteries standing by...Mummy is huffing and puffing and walking around slowly holding her tummy (or bouncing around on her birthing ball)...Daddy and Thomas are creeping around quietly trying to avoid being told off, the changing station is down in the living room and the nursery has been patiently waiting for weeks (now it is free of Christmas goods)...just one teeny tiny thing we need to arrive now! ;)

CONGRATULATIONS!

To G & S on the birth of their new daughter (and my niece) after *quite* a while spent at East Surrey Hospital, can't wait to meet her...! ;)

The clock is ticking...

Can't believe how exciting this is, must have checked my mobile about 20 times already this morning waiting for news...!

It's only been six months since Thomas' birth, and here we are already expecting another member of the family - any time now, Thomas' new cousin will officially take up their position as youngest, good luck Timmy and Gayle! We can't wait to meet the new addition (and have it driven home how much Thomas has grown since we all went through this rite of passage such a short time ago, no doubt)!

Delivery by c-section, Dad's perspective

...and so that was it, they left us alone to have a little cry and try to get used to the idea that we were about to go through major surgery and much sooner than expected be holding our new baby, but it was abundantly clear that there was some considerable urgency in getting the procedure underway, before we knew it Flyingpops was being rolled down the corridor towards the birthing centre...I had to hurriedly change into some fetching blue surgical attire (the trousers were both way too short on the leg and far too wide at the waist, threatening to fall down all the time as well as make me look quite ridiculous) -

- and then, after a quick trip up the hall to one of the theatres (me scrambling around for camera and the CD Flyingpops had wanted during labour, scuttling after the rapidly vanishing bed), Flyingpops was hooked up to all sorts of machines (during which she managed to convince one of the nurses to let her try a gasp of gas and air - her only go at any of the other forms of pain relief) -

- and the injection of opiate drugs was administered into her spine (they had to stop and wait during contractions as there is danger of paralysis if the patient moves while they are inserting the needle, bit scary!), meanwhile I handed the CD over to one of the other nurses (original cast Joseph)...

I was handed a pair of wellington boots (which were about 3 sizes too small, but were the largest that they had) as I pulled them on I noted with no little amount of alarm that they came pre-blood stained (this had the potential to be quite messy then) and offered a chair...Flyingpops was put into position on the operating table, her lower half gradually loosing it's capacity to move (which she found most odd) and any ability to feel pain (there was still some gentle sensation of touch) which the anesthetist tested using what looked like a lemon flavoured ice lolly...when Flyingpops could feel nothing very much at all a screen was clipped in front of us, so neither of us could see the bump, and the three surgeons got down to work, talking quietly to one another in Doctor's cant...Flyingpops was smiling and happy throughout the procedure, which lasted a shockingly short amount of time before one of the doctors was saying "Congratulations!" and holding up a slimy, grey, blood streaked tangle of arms, legs and loud wails...I *thought* at this stage (as the baby was whisked away to be cleaned) I had spotted some testicles, but I couldn't *quite* be sure...so I told Flyingpops it *might* be a boy, but I would have to check...

I was then invited around the curtain, as I stood up I saw all the tools of the trade (and quite a number of bloody swabs), passing the foot of the bed I couldn't help glance back at the surgeons working (not something I will forget in a hurry, but not as terrible a picture as my mind had been conjuring) and then I was presented to my baby, offered a pair of scissors (which I asked the nurse to confirm were extremely sharp, for some odd reason)...and then, as the nurses shielded their bodies and masks, I cut the cord (which I didn't think I would be able to do)...it's quite a messy process, the blood in there is under a lot of pressure and it sprays out a little like a slightly shaken Coke can...and then I came back to Flyingpops and told her that it was indeed a boy...

Seconds later Mummy and baby were united...phew!

The bit that really took the time (as of course it would do), was all the stitching up afterwards, during this, one of the surgeons fainted (fell flat on the floor!) and had to be rescued by colleagues and taken out of the theatre...Flyingpops told me that she could feel them working on her torso, but the sensation felt a little like a washing machine churning around (yes, the drugs I recon)! ;) When they were all done I went around to check what the wound looked like and it was incredible, a barely visible red line, like a scratch from a blackberry plant, not a single stitch was apparent, almost like nothing had happened at all!

And before we knew it I was returning my boots, getting changed back into my civilian clothes and joining Mum and baby in one of the delivery rooms...!

Early stages of Delivery - Dad's perspective

Okay, I know, I know...naughty Daddy hasn't had a lot of time for blogging, even busy Mummy has been telling him off about it... ;)

So let's go back -quickly- (wayback machines powered up please!) to the morning of the birth...Picture, if you will, as your minds-eye cameras do a gentle beauty pass over the very early morning Surrey farmland surrounding our estate (perhaps spotting a fox or badger fleeing before you), tilting suddenly into the air to avoid the large hedgerow ahead to take in the east side of Whitebushes, orange sodium lit, circling in (finally) on the open window of the spare room (where Flyingpops had been sleeping on the harder mattress for comfort)...the intro-music fading gently as the camera focuses in on a clock showing the time - 0459 hours...and then, as the silence grips the audience - suddenly and without warning -

POP!!!

(According to the midwives, to actually hear the waters break is *incredibly* rare, but so began this conclusion to the journey we have travelled together for what seems like such a very long time)...

Of course, at this moment of great need, I was fast asleep (snuggled in my duvet in the Master bedroom dreaming of sentient plants effortlessly butchering waves of frustrated zombies) immune to any sort of frantic yelling by Flyingpops, in the end, she grabbed her mobile and called the house phone, the shrill report rousing me - eventually, anyway...

When I had rubbed away the sleepy-dust I managed a semi-conversation which ended with me saying something like "Urm, yes, I do think they probably have" and "How about we get you to the bathroom"...?

Some slightly inelegant fluid draining later, we opted to return to bed, this time, Flyingpops consented to be in the main bedroom so I could keep an eye on her...the pains in her back and front were coming quite regularly now (at least every seven minutes) but everything we had learned from NCT told us not to worry, and to just get some rest...

...and so Mummy and Daddy (to be), happy that everything was well, went back to sleep... ;)

I have a son!

Woo hoo!! Little Thomas Joseph Alan was born just before one pm, weighing 6 pounds 13 ounces...! Mum and baby both doing well!

More later, just on a very quick shower 'n shave break then back to the hospital... ;)

Waters have broken...!

Waters broke at 5am this morning, contractions are regular, happening about 5 minutes apart...we rang the hospital and they said as the baby is early we are to come in!

So this could well be it...(can't help feeling a bit guilty for my post earlier in the week though, whoops)...!

Oh well...wish us luck!