Welcome to the World Emma Marie, My Granddaughter

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This has been quite a week, to put it lightly. Actually, as you know if you follow me on Instagram, this has been a week of amazing highs and devastating lows. Talk about a roller coaster.

It didn’t seem quite right, though, to combine the events of the week, so for today I just want to talk about this:

Welcome to the world, Emma Marie, my granddaughter. Born on Wednesday, August 26 at 2:14 pm. And for those who like details, she was 7 pounds, 1.5 ounces, 19.75 inches long. Both mother and daughter are at home now, doing fine.

For personal reasons, my son and daughter-in-law chose to have labor induced on Wednesday. Early on in the pregnancy, they had asked if I could stay with Samuel when Emma was born, and I had agreed. Then, my class for my fascial stretch therapy certification ended up on the same week that Emma was due. This was an important opportunity, so I had sadly told Nathan and Sarah that, if Emma was on time, I wouldn’t be able to be there. They had arranged to have Sarah’s sister help out.

Then, as these things happen, fate changed their plans. Sarah’s father is very ill, her sister is helping out with him, and, with hopes that her dad would have a chance to see Emma, they decided to induce a few days early. I was happy that I was able to help out, so early on Wednesday morning I drove the hour and a half to their home.

Their appointment was at 8:00, I arrived around 7:30. Throughout the day, while Samuel and I played, we received updates on Sarah’s progress. Everything was going quickly and smoothly.

Finally, around 2:30, I received word that Emma Marie had been born. Celebration! Both mom and daughter were doing well, Sarah was recovering, and Nathan said he’d be home around 6:30 to take us all back to the hospital.

It’s hot where they live, but not nearly as hot as it is in the desert, so Samuel and I were able to spend some time at the playground late in the afternoon.

Things are so different from when I gave birth (duh, right?). Back then, dads were just starting to be a part of the birth experience, to coach their wives and to see the arrival of their babies. The babies where then whisked away, cleaned up, fed, while mom was sent to recovery, alone, for a few hours when finally they would get a chance to see and hold their newborn.

Now, as recent parents know, fathers are a normal and necessary part of the birthing experience, moms get to hold their children immediately after their birth, and the new big brother or sister is invited to see their sibling while still in the hospital. Dads even have the option of staying overnight. It is so different and so wonderful.

Samuel was obviously a little confused when we arrived at the hospital. He had, of course, been told what was going on, but at two and a half, it really didn’t mean anything until he arrived at the hospital to see his mom holding another baby. He chose to deal with it by denying her existence.

Sarah was so lucky to have an amazing nurse, who not only was kind and helpful, but had also given birth just three months ago. She had dealt with the exact same situation as Sarah and Nathan were now going to have to deal with. Her two year old son took almost two months to accept his new sister. I think it will be very helpful for Sarah to know that she’s not alone, and to understand that it may take a while before things return to normal.

One of the few times that Samuel actually looked at his new sister that first night.

We stayed a little while longer, but Sarah was tired, as were Nathan and Samuel (and me!), plus we hadn’t eaten dinner, so we left mamma and daughter for the night. I drove home early the next morning, but I was told that the next day everybody was still doing well, and would be sent home later that afternoon.

A few more pictures:

This one cracks me up. I wasn’t sure if it was the timing of the photo, or if Samuel thought that if he just closed his eyes and hoped hard enough, Emma would go away.

But (fortunately) that didn’t work.

I thank you all for your blessings and good wishes. Have a wonderful weekend.