9th November 2009

Finally, under a cabbage leaf out in the garden... my sweet little daughter was found and she weighed in at 7 pounds, 15 ounces *S*. Snuck that one by you all didn't I? I had been staying in Canada for the last month waiting to have her, as my specialist doctors were there and I did not want to change my medical care at this late date.

My little "Sweet Pea" was born 8 days late and I lived in a hostel for a month waiting for her, contracting what they think was N1H1 (aka "Swine Flu") while I was still pregnant so both of us probably have antibodies for it now. These photos were taken a few hours after she was born. Everyone thinks she looks just like me with her blonde hair and blue eyes. I will have to find my baby picture and compare them side-by-side. But I think we do look pretty similar at that age.

She had a bit of a rough start, (possibly due to a major drop in my blood pressure [it was 70 over 'something also very low'] and hemoglobins) and had to be resuscitated at birth and I did not get to hold her for the first few hours of her life, but she perked up pretty quickly due to a wonderful team of pediatric doctors and nurses. (This is why I wanted to stay with my specialists!!! -- Just in case!). When she was born, there was a doctor and 2-3 other staff for her, 2 surgeons and a multitude of support staff for me.. about 12 people present all told when she was born. Plus my wonderful doula, Pene.

I think "Sweet Pea" is pretty awesome and glad she came into my life. We are sure to have quite the adventures together she and I. (Poor girl, she doesn't know what she signed on for !! *L*)

Special thanks to:

Dr. S. R. (My specialist & surgeon)
Dr. T. V.R. (My GP doctor and anesthesiologist)
Dr. Malcolm (neo-natal doctor)
Lisa (pediatrician  nurse)
The 'almost' Dr. Emma
Lana R.N. (and thanks for only one poke for the IV!!!)
Susan R.N. (and her mother for the beautiful handmade quilt)
Jordan (2nd year nursing student who was very attentive)
Kathy & Kris (housekeepers for the hostel)
The admitting staff at the hospital
Pregnancy Outreach (Excellent people!!)
Wild Rose Camp for giving me such a good rates since April
Gerald for housing me on occasion
Ginger from Lillooet
Ash for her companionship in the early days and camping with me
Ash's grandparents for housing me in the early days
Kat for housing me sporadically *L*

And my doula Pene, without her caring and friendship, I may not have been able to do this at all!!! Thank you so much Pene and everyone!!

To anyone else I have overlooked in this blog... it doesn't mean you are any less appreciated, just I am really rather tired at the moment. We took our time driving back to Oregon, but with issues trying to get her to eat and my heartburn before she was born, I AM tired! She is a very easy sweet baby and it is not due to her for the lack of sleep on my part.