My birthday

This blog is being passed over to my daughter so she can post about her experiences of teaching me how to Dad. I've only been a dad for less than 3 weeks, but she has been my daughter for her entire life, so it's safe to say that she is better qualified for this than I am.

This post is adapted from an email sent to her Uncle Jared, who is currently abroad serving as a missionary for our church in Guam (a small Pacific island). It details her journey into this world and her first few days after that. Lucy was born on Thursday 28th July, and the email was sent on Sunday 31st July.

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Hello, Uncle Jared, my name is Lucy Katya Dann, and I am your neice!

Apparently you already know that I was a bit late coming into the world. Turns out I was nearly 2 weeks late! Mummy went to be induced on Wednesday morning at 10am. Within a few hours I could tell she was having contraction pains. They sent us home (well, to Mamma and Grampy Cardy's house) to let these build up.
After a few hours the contractions were happening every 2-3 minutes, and were lasting about a minute each. We called the hospital and they told us to come back in as it was time for them to keep a closer eye on things. This was about 7pm.

So Mummy and Daddy and Mamma Cardy were all there with the midwife and we were trying to help me get out. It took another 13 hours! We were up all night whilst Mummy's contractions got stronger and stronger. Both Daddy and Mamma were struggling to stay awake for so long and kept going for quick walks outside the room to wake themselves up. (Staying awake wasn't tough for Mummy - she was in too much pain to feel sleepy.)

At about 8am on Thursday the midwife decided that I needed help to get out. Mummy had been pushing for a while and my heart rate was a bit too high. So they got some doctors in to help. They used a fancy suction cup thing called a "ventouse" (von-toos) on my head to pull whilst mummy pushed. I came out very quickly after a couple more pushes. It was 8:52am on Thursday 28th of July. I was 7lbs 7.5oz (which is more than I would have been if I'd been born on time, that's for sure).

Mummy had a bit of an injury right at the end of giving birth and had to go to surgery to get some stitches done. The surgery team did a great job of looking after her. Meanwhile Daddy and Mamma did a good job of snuggling with me whilst calling my other extended family with the news.

Then we had visitors come round and start seeing me. Firstly Auntie Sarah and Grampy Cardy came round. Then Auntie Deanna and Uncle Scott. I had lots of nice snuggles with them. At this point Daddy and Mamma were soooo tired that Grampy drove them home so they could have an afternoon power nap. Whilst they were gone the doctors were checking me over and thought I might have a few problems with my breathing, so they took me to a special Neonatal Ward so the lovely doctors and nurses there could look after me closely.

They kept me on a monitor for a while and did a few tests. They found out I have an infection of some type and straight away they put me on antibiotics to help make me better. And they managed to do all this in the few hours Daddy was gone for his nap! When Daddy came back in was in my incubator being kept warm and having a bit of extra oxygen to help. Nanny and Grandad Dann and Uncle Mat, Auntie Emily and Cousin Lilly also came along in the evening to see me.

The next day the doctors came round and saw that I was doing better and so they didn't need to monitor me so closely. I got put into a cot and moved to part of the ward where my family can interact with me more. Mummy was able to start feeding me, and more family were able to come round for snuggles. I got lots of presents, especially from Auntie Becca and Uncle Mark when they came down on Saturday. We got to have a 3-generation photo! (I'm excited for you to join in the next family photo.)

So at the moment Mummy and Daddy get to stay in a special room with me on the Neonatal unit. The nurses are all amazing people who are really helping me get better and also helping Mummy and Daddy learn how to be parents by feeding me, changing my nappies and helping keep me settled. They're very tired but they really do love me lots and lots and lots.

I'll keep you updated with what I'm doing until you get home. At the moment I'll probably be here at the QMC until Tuesday when the Doctors hope I can go to my home. I'm feeling better every day and I keep feeding more and more (I'll maybe be as big as Daddy one day.) I look forward to seeing you!

I love you Uncle Jared!
-Nibling Lucy