ain't too proud to participate in a meme

Spotted on Big Jack's Blog, here's a list of ten things I've done that I suspect you haven't:

1. Spilled a hot plate of fries/chips on a blind man. (I am the world's worst waitress.)
2. Dropped an entire tray full of ketchup bottles. (See above.)
3. Met one of the dogs who played the Littlest Hobo at a mall in Brantford, Ontario in 1977. Honest, my Mom's got a picture to prove it.
4. Met one of the members of Platinum Blonde. My dippy roommate brought him over to our dorm room at 3am; I thought I was hallucinating as I had been up all night finishing an essay on Salvador Dali.
5. Fetched and sold the book "Black Robe" to Lothaire Bluteau. This is probably only of interest to Montrealers or Canadian film buffs.
6. Pretended not to be able to speak English to escape a Jehovah's Witness on a street in Montreal. It didn't work.
7. Got a jellybean stuck up my nose. Give me a break, I was 9 years old and I was sniffing it to see what flavour it was.
8. Pretended to be my "visiting cousin" on the phone when trying to avoid a call from work asking me to do an extra shift. I was 16, and no, they didn't buy it.
9. Fell up an escalator at Cours Mont-Royal (a Montreal mall). I wasn't even drunk at the time and it really, really hurt.
10. Fell over the side of a banister and landed on top of a Christmas tree. I was drunk at the time.

quickie

I promise to post my long and winding tale of failed induction, surgery, and birth very soon. I actually wrote quite a few notes while in hospital using something old people call "pen and paper". It was weird; I couldn't find the spell checker. Anyway, I will put something together shortly, promise.

Life at home is splendid and Jack is doing really well. We're amazed, thrilled, awestruck, shellshocked, and completely head over heels in love with him. My recovery is going fairly well, although I can't even manage lengthy phone conversations without needing to take a rest. I need to take it very, very easy over the next little while; partially to get over the c-section, and also to get my head round the fact that I'm not going through all the drama at the hospital anymore. It's a bit like having jet lag and a touch of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at the same time - I have no idea what time/day it is, and I keep having flashbacks to my experiences in hospital. Of course all of this disappears as soon as I look at my son. My son. How wonderful to be able to write that.

Oh and yes, I did finally meet Mr. Lim! He was a very polite, unassuming, gentle, Chinese man. I know, how disappointing.

Be back soon, and thank you all so much again for all the comments and emails. xx

freebirds

It is indescribably wonderful to be home. After a week of hospital food, being poked and prodded, forced to share wards with a couple of absolute lunatics, cut open, drugged up, stuck with more needles, and dealing with some (very few, thankfully) downright miserable hags of midwives, I am now the happiest woman alive. As an added bonus, they sent me home with this rather cute little boy and a dashingly handsome man (he can cook!). Lucky girl, me.

Paul printed up all of your comments and emails for me while I was being held captive in hospital, and they truly did lift my spirits. Thank you all so much for your congratulations and kind words; they meant the world to me. Our mantle is full of cards, I have two beautiful bouquets of flowers (very kindly sent by Jack and Heather, and the Citrix gang), and Jack's even got some gifts to enjoy. Even though we are sleep deprived and still a little bit wobbly on our new parent legs, we are simply over the moon. I will write more on the baby blog about the Week From Hell soon, and will keep the majority of the baby stuff (e.g. anything related to new motherhood and hilarious tales of recovering from a c-section) over there to avoid this blog getting too Mumsy.

In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures I took of Jack this morning. Thank you all again - I can feel the love. No really, I'm not being sarcastic for once.

normal service will be resumed soon

So tomorrow is the big day (we hope, fingers crossed). Jack and Lisa will finally be coming home. Its been fun keeping Lisa's blog ticking over for the last week. Lisa has a ton of stuff to update you with in person, so I'm handing back.

Goodbye 'til next time.

mum's first pictures

Here's some more pictures of our gorgeous son taken by his drugged up mummy.

Jack says: "If no ones going to play peek-a-boo with me, I'll play by myself."





Lisa says: "I'm not just a number, now get me the heck out of here!!!"


Lisa's spirits were certainly raised when I showed her the print out of all the kind messages everyone has left. Today they've needed lifting, last night was tough. The baby next to Lisa's bed screamed the whole night and continued most of the day. Jack on the other hand is such a happy and contented baby. Lisa has been out of bed today (although rather gingerly as you would expect) and has managed to get Jack out his cot and change him by herself. Not an insignificant feat when you've had major surgery just over 24hrs before. I had the honour of giving Jack his first bath. He was so happy and relaxed in the warm water he was almost asleep. He also passed his hearing test with flying colours. We have the perfect baby!

Tomorrow will Lisa's 7th day inside. We say, enough is enough! Free the Godmanchester 1 (and 1/2)! Write to your Prime Minister/President and join the campaign. Free Lisa and Jack now!

new life

Presenting Jack William Durbin, born February 22, 2005 at 12.48pm GMT.

The last bump photo:



Jack, newly born, red and screaming:



Lisa, the new mummy:



Paul, the new daddy:



Lisa, the very tired new mummy:

finally

May I present the newest member of our family. Born at 12.48 22nd February 2005. Weighing a very healthy 10lbs (no wonder I hear you say). Meet Jack William Durbin. Jack after my grandfather and William after Lisa's dad.

Jack's first baby photo: