26 August Thursday

Another exciting day at the hospital, at least for the grandparents. For the parents, exciting is not necessarily a good thing. Peace, tranquility, reflection and other low key activities are most in order. The excitement can be left at the birthing table.

Emma and her mother are achieving a state of togetherness with some skin on skin time.

Grandparents on the other hand have just spent time away from the hospital and are keyed up for some holding time. Fred has the ability to make the visits short and sweet but perhaps that is just what the doctor ordered. Short and sweet visits make for the quiet peacefulness that parents crave. I suppose the first night home will be exciting and remain that way until some semblance of schedule takes over. Then the little family will learn to get to know each other in new and meaningful ways.

Fred and Joe and I went out for some food, especially for Joe. That gave Emmas grandmother a little bonding time and it also gave Fred some time away from the hospital, something that he grows weary of very quickly. I don't think Fred is ready for peacefulness and tranquility ... he needs elevator buttons to push and storage tubs to thump. A ride in the parking lot shuttle ain't too shabby either. When Fred and his grandparents left the hospital, a shuttle was waiting to assist. We could actually see the car in the first row across from the main entrance but Cliff, the driver encouraged us to take the ride since it was a good time especially for Fred. He was all ears and eyes.

Ellen is wonderfully bonding with Emma. Emma has Ellens mouth and her hands. The nurses did exclaim when Fred arrived on the scene last evening ... boy, is that Emma's brother or what?