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Little Luka arrived safely and without any drama

Well, as I am sitting here typing this, Luka is fast asleep in her camp cot in my room.  She is a whole week old and I simply cannot believe it.  My pink princess arrived safely and without even a hint of drama and she is 100% perfect.  We are all madly in love with her and we sit and look at her pretty face for hours and hours.

So let me start at the beginning. 

On Tuesday 12 April 2011, I went for a scan.  Luka was healthy, but the placenta was starting to show signs of calcification and the amniotic fluid levels were low, so we decided to opt for an elective c-section the following day.  Luka was also still in the breech position and chances of turning were getting slimmer by the day.

We left all excited, I went to the office and wrapped up last minute things, then straight home for some sleep.  I picked Liam up from school a bit earlier, was the kids last day as an only child.

Made some last minute wardrobe changes to Luka's hospital bags and then spent a sleepless night tossing and turning in bed.  The last time we went to hospital to have a baby it nearly ended in a disaster, so what would this time bring.

To try and get into a private room, we went to hospital on the morning of the 13th of April at 6, just to be told that there were none, but we were now second in line on the waiting list.  Back home, tried to read, had some toast for breakfast.  Back to hospital at 10.  When we got there, there was a mad rush to get all the things done that needed to be done, catheter inserted, drip in, pre-checks and what not done, and then I also got dressed in that lovely garment, the green hospital gown.  And then lay in my bed in the general ward from 11.  We were told that I would have gone into theater at 1, but then there were two emergency c-sections, so I was eventually wheeled away at 2:30!

Gerhard put on some scrubs, such a pity that I forgot to take a picture of him!  He looked so cute.  At 3 into theater, spinal done, no worries, peace and quiet all around, Gerhard sitting at my head, holding his contributions, a pink bunny ear cap and a tiny diaper!  And at 15h05 Luka was born, she cried immediately and her apgar score was 9/10.  Gerhard asked the paediatrician why not 10/10 and she said they never give 10/10.  Gerhard joked that she needed to come out able to read and write to score 10/10!

She was perfect!  We were both in love from the very first second of laying eyes on her.  Gerhard beamed, ever the proud daddy.  Gerhard brought me this perfect pink bundle and I could not believe how gorgeous she was. 

Whilst I was being super glued together, Gerhard and Luka went off to the nursery to heat her up a bit, 10 minutes later I was in the recovery room, a bit cold but fine.  When I got to my room, Gerhard and Luka arrived, she latched like a champ and has been doing so ever since.

Then Liam arrived at 19h00 to meet his sister, I think he was probably even more in love!  He walked in and demanded that we give him 'his baby'.  He insisted on holding her and when she cried he said "toemaar Luks, ek is hier" (don't worry Luks, I am here). 

This has been such an amazing experience, so peaceful and calm, I am so relieved that all went off well and that this baby is fine, I would not have survived another NICU baby.

So, Luka van Rooyen was welcomed into this world at 15h05 on the 13th of April weighing in at 2.9 kilograms, all 49 cms of her.  Welcome princess, we waited very long for you!

Well, let me and Luka go and cuddle a bit, before she grows up and leaves for varsity already...

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