17th May 2010

Dear All,

This is "Princess" checking in. I want to let you know that I am "finally" here...Yay!!

So, here's a little bit of background on how I came in to "your" world which is also now "my world" :)

On Monday, 17th May, my mom was admitted to G.M. Modi hospital, Saket, New Delhi, India at about 8 A.M. IST to induce artificial pain (I guess that is because apparently I was still very comfortable inside my mom even after 9 months and 10 days...lol). She was initially given two rounds of oral doses to induce the pain, but guess that wasn't enough, so she was put on a drip with syntocin (injectable artificial pain). At around mid afternoon, the pain started and was progressive during the entire day.

I could hear my mom scream out loud and my dad was constantly with her encouraging and supporting her. My nani, dadi, maasi, mama, mami, bua, maasad ji (lol-that is what I am going to call you Bupesh uncle) were curiously waiting for me to arrive :)

I knew that all of those waiting for me, were praying constantly for my and mom's good health and my smooth arrival.

At about 7:30 PM, I could hear mom asking for "Epidural" as the pain was getting unbearable. Dad asked the doctor (Meenakshi Ahuja) about it, but the doctor felt very positive that mom should be able to get me out without any more unnatural aid.

At around 8:00 PM, an assistant doctor (Dr. Abhilasha) informed Dr. Meenakshi that the path was yet not very wide for me to come out. When Dr. Meenakshi finally came to take me out at about 9:00 PM, the situation hadn't improved much.

All of the audience (lol) including my dad were waiting outside the labor room (# 11) to know what was going inside.

I heard mom saying to the doctor that she still wanted me to come out of a natural birth and she was "still" willing to bear the pain; and just needed some guidance on what needs to be done next. WOW!! Isn't that incredible. Mom-I love ya for this :) :)

Here's something interesting-I got to know later that my dad was constantly standing outside the labor room with his ear fixed to the door to hear what was going on inside-funny dad :) He was supposed to be inside the room, but somehow mom decided at the last minute that no one from the family should be allowed inside so that she doesn't grow emotionally weak-good decision mom :)

Finally I came out at 9:36 PM. The paediatrician slapped my sweet li'l butt and wrapped me in a thick green towel before showing me to my lovely impatient family outside the labor room...lol

All of ones waiting outside had tears in their eyes looking at me-they were just so happy. And I kept on moving my eyes looking curiously at my dad as he held me so close and tight to himself

And then they took me to the nursery and wiped me clean. In the mean time, they shifted mom to the ward (# 16) where the rest of the family was waiting to meet her.

In about 15 minutes, I was with mom and every one else-I can't tell you how happy each of them was :) I could see everyone being so proud of my mom for being so strong all throughout. It wasn't something that anyone had expected out of her :)

They brought me a cradle and placed it next to mom's bed. And then we had visitors till late night.

Nani and dad decided to stay back with us. Nani did a wonderful job throughout the night cuddling and taking care of me. I did my first "potty" and "susu"(urine) on the same night. I started sucking my thumb on the same night. Mom nursed me for the first time on the same night :)

Dad didn't sleep almost the entire night and he was holding me in his arms and cuddling me to sleep :) Love Ya dad!

Thank you Jesus for such a wonderful family :) Love you.