Saturday, April 18, 2009

This will be his birthday!!

At 2:00 a.m. Esperanza called to us from her room. We got up and began timing contractions. By 4:30, they were coming quite frequently, but irregularly. Sometimes they were 2 minutes apart, other times 6 or 7 minutes. Within 30 minutes, she had had 8 contractions (the doctor had told us on Friday to go to the hospital if she had 10-12 contractions within an hour!) So, we checked with the doctor on call and then came to the hospital. When we arrived here at 5:15, Esperanza was dilated to "4" and by 7:30, she had gotten to "6." The pain was pretty rough and her doctor said that sometimes happens when the labor is fast. Since Esperanza wanted some help coping with the pain, the doctor ordered an "interthecal" medication which is apparently also known as a spinal block. Now, Esperanza is finally getting a little relief and a little rest. Grandpa and Grandma are very tired but also very excited. We expect to be meeting and cuddling this little guy before the day is over. Happy Birthday, Frankie!

Friday, April 17, 2009

He's "working on it!"

The doctor says Esperanza has now dilated to "2" but the little guy is still a bit high. She's continued having contractions, but they are still relatively far apart at this point. It's a beautiful spring day here, perhaps our warmest yet. It would be a lovely day for a birth (but then, a birth day makes any day lovely!!)

Today was the original due date Esperanza was given last fall, but it was changed later to the 20th. We're betting he's planning on making one of those "deadlines"--but we all know that he'll come when he's ready, and no sooner. We're working at being patient and nonchalant, all the while tempering our excitement. Esperanza seems to be doing the best at that--she's napping in between contractions.

Something's Happening!

Grandma-to-be has just put on her "Mom" hat again. It's 4:30 in the morning. Esperanza awakened us at 3:00 saying she was having contractions. I got up and sat with her, timing them for about an hour. I was amazed: They were exactly 10 minutes apart. It got to the point that I could be looking at the clock and predict that she would have another contraction. Sure enough--at the 10 minute marker, she would tell me another one was starting!

"According to the book," we are also supposed to keep track of how long the contractions last and whether they are getting "stronger." Each contraction was definitely getting longer--they started out about a minute in length and the last one we timed was nearly 3 minutes. But Esperanza says they are not getting stronger and she is able to sleep (more like "doze") in between each one.

Mom, on the other hand, cannot sleep. So, I have collected some things we'd be taking to the hospital (e.g. the camera!) and plan to check on Esperanza again in a little while. Since I seem to be trying to contain excitement, I doubt I'd sleep right now anyway. It seems a good time to make note of this experience of what the books call "pre-labor."

Esperanza has a doctor's appointment at 10:15 this morning, so we should learn a bit more about the stage of her labor then--if we're not already at the hospital!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Sweet song conjures images of days ahead

This YouTube video we found the other day makes us all the more eager for the fun and sweetness of the days ahead. Esperanza imagines her little son will look a bit like the boy in the video. We like the words, and the melody is much like a lullaby. The song is "Beautiful Boy" sung here by Celine Dion, but originally by John Lennon.


Monday, April 13, 2009

For all you Grandmothers out there

Today's mail brought greetings from Ellie, a friend who goes all the way back to high school days. Ellie has been the grandmother of a little boy for almost 2 years. She sent the following sweet reflection, written by a third grader. Since we have no "baby" news to report, I thought I'd share this. Those of you who are grandmothers (or "man grandmothers") will probably find it especially sweet:
What Grandmas Are Made Of

A Grandmother is a lady who has no children of her own.
She likes other people's little girls and boys, and they love her.
A Grandfather is a man grandmother.

Grandmothers shouldn't have to do anything except be there.
They're old, so they shouldn't play hard or run.
It is enough if they drive us to the store where the pretend horse is, and
have lots of dimes ready.
If they take us for walks, they should slow down going past things like
pretty flowers or caterpillars.
They should never say "hurry up."
Usually they are fat but not too fat to tie your shoes.
They wear glasses and funny underwear.
They can take their teeth and gums off sometimes.
It is better if they don't play cards, except with us.
They don't have to be smart, only answer questions like
"How come we can't see God?" and "Where does the wind come from?"
They don't talk baby talk like visitors do, because
it is too hard to understand.
When they read to us, they don't skip parts, or mind if it is the same story over again.
Everybody should try to have one, because
Grandmothers are the only ones who have got the time.
"Man Grandmothers" have the time, too, of course! Thanks for this, Ellie; it's advice from a third-grader well-taken.