James Stuart Ryley-Hartingdon

This little account of our latist little 'Hart' and how he entered the world, was meant to go up a lot sooner (I have been very busy sleeping :-).. but then its better late then never so here you go (as told by Steve)!

Jimmy's Arrival!

Well when Teri prayed about this delivery she got that he would come very fast, and he sure did. On Sunday night we took Teri to hospital because we thought her water bag had broken, it turned out to be a false alarm but a good trial run all the same and it made us hurry up and clean the room, pack the hospital bag, and just get everything in
order. There wasn't any contractions or much news for the next few days. But on the Wednesday morning Teri was having light contractions again, and I was running around the house sounding the alarm (which really bugged Teri mind you ;-) I guess my Aries enthusiasm was getting the better of me once again HA!). At about six pm we started to time the contractions and they were coming every five minutes so I was urging Teri to call the hospital and telling everyone it was time to go. But by eight pm I still hadn't convinced her to call the hospital (as she said the contractions were still very light) so I did and explained the time and strength of the contractions to the best of my knowledge which once again seemed to turn in to Chinese whispers as I put my slight exaggerations on the situation, and doing another quick lap of the house to inform everyone that it was happening FOR SURE! I went back to the room and kept pacing. Teri didn't want to leave till she was 100% sure, and I'll spare you the details but she came back from the bathroom being 100& sure and we were off in a hurry to the hospital. Katja's parents had joined us for dinner and I went in to tell them Nick and Katja and my dad that we were off and I guess I was getting a little frantic and at one point thought I was going to hyperventilate.

We were off to the hospital around 9:15PM and checked in about 9:35PM the midwife put Teri on a monitor to check the babies heart rate and contraction strength and time etc. After doing that for about twenty minutes Mum, Heidi, and I just sat next to her and talked to her and gave encouragement etc between pains. They gave her an internal at about 10PM and I knew when I heard her say from behind the curtain "Oh your 9-cm dilated" that it was about to happen I turned to Heidi and said "this is just like Jolie he'll come anytime now" I called Nick and Dad giving them the news they both seemed shocked as it was very fast indeed, the midwife brought a wheelchair to take her to the birthing room and when I got off the phone and I heard Teri yell "I felt a pop I'm pushing" so right there in the admission area Teri gave three quick pushes the babies head crowned and the midwives calmly said well I guess where having the baby here and in a matter of seconds he was sitting on Teri's chest giving us a real grumpy leo cry.
FUN FACT: Apparently Leo's love their sleep and comfort someone told me they are like the lazy lion especially in the winter who would love to just curl up in a sunny corner and not be disturbed. Well Jimmy was like that 10 min before he arrived on earth the midwife informed us that she had to monitor his heart for a few more minutes because he had fallen asleep. Anyhow I guess the whole experience woke him up made him feel cold and uncomfortable so he was a little bit grouchy till he was able to cuddle mummy.

We then moved to the birthing room Teri got stitched up. This took them a good 40 minuets, almost the same amount of time she was in the hospital to have the baby. Apparently she wouldn't have needed stitches but when he crowned he gave an almighty fend pushing his arm and hand out next and the Indian doctor reckons he'll be a good spin bowler but that fend seemed to me to be a footy thing ;-) ;-). I got high on happy gas which I was sneaking in behind mum so that the midwife wouldn't see ha! It was very comical and I was laughing at Heidi when she realized I was having so much fun without her she came over for her little share of the action. Anyhow that didn't last long as we met our new midwife who was Nigerian and we talked with her about Africa for quite a while and she was a big help to us during the night took Jimmy for a while and we gave her an Activated and our email and she told us she'd keep in touch. Dad also came down with Krikket and with modern technology in a matter of minutes after Jimmy being born people were seeing pictures on there mobiles as well as Teri's parents knew in Ireland.

Anyhow it was another wonderful experience and I really believe that when the Mum can stay calm during the labor and delivery, and trusting the Lord it makes it so much easier and eliminates fear.

James Stuart Ryley-Hartingdon was born on the 30th of July 2008, at 10:08 pm, weighing 3.76KG and measuring 52 Centimeters in length.

Steve cutting the Cord



First moments with Mum



Proud Dad & tired Mum



Squshy little man



Two hours old



Holding Mums hand



First family photo



Big Sister Jolie



Home, two days old