Daddy has left for Dublin today on a business trip that I asked him to postpone til after our Tiny Baby had arrived. I thought that missing one night with him/her would be better than missing the birth. And with Gramma here, it is very manageable to be without Daddy...not ideal but manageable. And Daddy took two days paternity leave this week so we have had some nice times together.

Yesterday we practically had a tornado here in Brussels. I walked Gramma and Frunty over to the tram on Tervuren so they could go to the Little Gym. Then I went to Medicis to book a doctor's appointment. I got caught there for over an hour because of thunder and lightening and Gramma and Frunty got caught at a tram shelter near the Little Gym. It was a really crazy storm. Luckily we all arrived to our destinations safely. Daddy was powerless to help us since his car was in the shop in Stokkel.

Gramma and Frunty ended up having fun cuddling in the shelter and then had a great time at the Little Gym even though they were a bit late. The class was very small because perhaps a lot of parents didn't want to drive there in this storm.

I ended up having fun at Medicis. Dr. de Vylder chatted with me since his patients were late for their appointments. We talked a bit about my birth experience, he told me about his grand daughter, he advised me not to run again until I'd seen a kinetherapist for standard, post-natal care. Even though I went there to make an appointment for August, I kind of had a free appointment right then and there and it was very nice. This doctor always makes time, it seems, for me and I would guess for other or all patients as well since anyone I meet who has him for a doctor says he is "magnifique". It is great to have a doctor with a nice bedside manner even though we don't always understand each other at first due to a small, language barrier.

Eventually I got home although had to stop on the way to say "hi" to a friend, show her our new baby and borrow an umbrella to get us the rest of the way home. Baby was happy the entire time in the "Hugabub" sling and never woke up once or made a peep. When I did get home the cleaning lady was working her magic (we have one come once a week who is absolutely fabulous and very sweet doing all kinds of extra touches to make our home lovely...a baby gift to me from Daddy to make all of our lives better and healthier!) so Daddy and I relaxed downstairs and chatted just us with Tiny Baby.

The famous St. Luc hot tub. Four delivery rooms, four women giving birth the night of June 17/18, one hot tub...who would get it that night? The lucky winner, the bath queen herself...moi. Thanks to this hot tub, I got through transition (and all the lovely parts of active labour proceeding transition) without drugs. It relaxed my body so much that I didn't need laughing gas during the pushing stage either.

Daddy said to me once, why don't you just have drugs so you can enjoy the birth experience like you did with Frunty to which I replied, "I don't want to enjoy the birth. I want to experience it... fully." If I had come out of the tub with 5 cm to go, I probably would have thought differently but that was not the case. During transition in the tub, drugs definitely crossed my mind at one moment of near-despair but I remember thinking, "no, I do not want drugs". After I was hauled out of the tub by the doctor and Daddy, I was ready to push, thank goodness, and the rest is history!

Tiny Baby is ten days old today and we are celebrating by going to a market and then to K and E's for lunch! Everything is going great and Daddy and Gramma are making us rest well. We took Frunty to Mandarin yesterday since it is a very short walk away and Frunty enjoyed himself as did Gramma. She could finally see and hear Frunty speaking Mandarin. I am so grateful that Daddy has these paternity days off so he can be part of the fun too.

Congratulations to our friends in Toronto! B phoned to say that her baby came three weeks early and arrived on Sunday, June 26th! A baby boy too! She went running on Saturday morning and felt fine but the following morning, woke up with contractions that turned into the real thing! How exciting! Best wishes to all of them back home!

Let no one come to you without leaving better and happier.

-Mother Teresa

Tiny Baby is one week old today!

And what a great week we have had! Tiny started gaining weight a few days after his birth, much to the surprise and happiness of his doctors, smiled at us a couple of times already and sleeps well. He also grabs me for a drink which is very adorable. His eyes are open and he has been more alert the last few days. His eyes by the way are steel blue/grey so we are wondering if they will turn brown or not.

Today is a little cooler and therefore more comfortable. We left the hospital after three nights (we were allowed to stay 5 but it was too hot) to enjoy the comfort of our home which is a lot cooler and more importantly, to be with Frunty. I am feeling better and very happy that the running/stair climbing/weight lifting has paid off as I am only a few pounds overweight and therefore feel stronger and less hot then when Frunty was born.

Frunty has been more himself the last couple of days and it is a relief. The first few days were extra hard for him and for us but we are now settling into life with Tiny Baby and despite some fatigue, we are all doing well and are very happy. Frunty loves his little brother, brings him toys, pushes him in the stroller around our house, kisses and hugs him and wants his picture taken with him often. So far very good. No jealousy at all.

The hard part has been when Daddy goes off to work (a few days a week) or when Gramma tries to take Frunty out for the day. Frunty is very worried he won't see us again and sometimes says, "I cried because I lost my Mommy". I am happy that at least he can express himself and we can talk to him about it. He now understands that he always sees us again and we give extra hugs and kisses when we do...which is not hard to do since he is still a big, sweetie pie. I told him the other night how happy I was that he was doing such a great job with Tiny Baby and I knew that it was hard and he said, "I love you so much, Mommy."

Gramma has been a huge source of love and support to us all and works like a dog helping in every department. If it weren't for Gramma, I could not take my daily nap which makes me a happier Mom. Gramma plays with Frunty and takes him on adventures, tidies up the kitchen, puts away laundry, cooks, holds Tiny Baby...the list goes on. We are so grateful to have Gramma here and this is a very special time for all of us.

I will try to write more later and add pictures but if I thought I was too busy to do the blog before, it is even harder now because when I do have a spare minute, I need to squeeze one of my 4 boys or make Gramma a much-deserved cup of tea.

Hope everyone is well! And enjoying the summer.

Enthusiasm is a kind of faith that has been set on fire.

-George Matthew Adams

It's a boy!

On Saturday, June 18th at 2:42 am our Tiny Baby safely arrived at St. Luc hospital, Brussels! After two weeks of contractions, it was a very fast delivery and our baby was very eager to meet us too! (3.260 kg/51 cm)

No sleep for the wicked! I've had contractions all night, from 9:30 pm. I wonder if Tiny Baby is getting as tired as I am!! All in due time.

Mom and Auntie enjoyed a beautiful day in Ghent yesterday while Frunty and I visited some parks and did some errands. We took our dinner over to their place and found out about their adventures. I am so happy that our Auntie can explore Belgium. Everyone talks of Brugges all the time but Ghent is quite a lovely treasure to see too with canals, hanging baskets overflowing with flowers, a castle and a cathedral in which my Mom and Auntie spent at least two hours.

I enjoyed 4 hours of very strong contractions last night which started around 3 am and ended by 7 am. It can sure wear a person down. But it isn't about me...the baby will come when he/she is ready...it just seemed that those four hours were the beginning but alas, not quite yet...these two weeks have been a really big, physical and mental challenge for me. Not just for me. Now Daddy has a really bad cold from so many bad nights. I also have a cough. Frunty's nose is running a bit too. But if we think we are all tired now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good thing I have so much support right now. I am too lucky.

Baby update: We made it to our ultrasound due date yesterday and nothing yet. More contractions, some bad ones last night, but not regular.

Mom and auntie have gone off to Brugges today and I am happy that the sky is blue even though the air is a bit cool. I'd like my aunt to see as much as she can before the big day.

Speaking of the big day, it does not seem that imminent anymore. I just received an email from a friend in Boston who has been 3 cm dilated for the last two weeks and was with her first baby and her first was two weeks late. So dilation clearly doesn't mean that birth is imminent as I originally and excitedly thought. With three more hours of contractions the other night, my body clearly is taking its time and that could be a very good thing in the end.

Friday night we enjoyed waffles at the Grande Place. We want to make sure auntie gets the full Belgian experience of waffles/chocolate/beer/Brugges and if I have missed anything, not to fear, Daddy will think of it!

This weekend Daddy took everyone but me on some sightseeing adventures to Woluwe park where they rented bikes, Hoegaarden for lunch and beer tour and geocaching in the surrounding forest. I was able to rest, go on some runs, rent some movies and luxuriate. No one would even let me make dinner. I am very lucky and very grateful.

We've gotta return the movies before Mandarin so cheerio for now! And stay tuned...just when I least expect it, I am sure our Tiny Baby will come! Just like falling in love!

Gramma and auntie have arrived safely from Canada and are already pampering us. Thank you for the wonderful gifts that were sent over. We haven't opened them yet but will soon, I hope! A few more contractions but nothing regular yet. We will definitely let you all know when something happens. In the meantime, it's an exercise in patience, that is for sure!

What a glorious day today. Frunty and I walked with our Spanish friends to Woluwe park and on the way, passed by our friend (J from mainland China) and her American, little girl, J. They were looking out of their window at that exact moment luckily and invited us to come and play for awhile and then we all went to the park together.

Frunty and J had a great time running, digging holes, giggling together...while the Moms/caregiver lounged on the grass and enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air. I have some discomfort while walking and had a contraction this morning but am not going to sit inside each day and wait for our Tiny Baby to come. Moving is great and I am still running/doing stairs/lighting weights because it makes me feel good.

After the park, our Spanish friends continued home and we played again at J's and she asked Frunty a question, in Mandarin, and he answered and the next thing I knew dinner was served! It was delicious and since Daddy needed some more time at work, it was fun for us to stay. I had a chance to flip through some magazines since J's employer gets a zillion different ones. The kids played really well, J cooked, I felt like I was in shangra-la!

Gramma's coming tomorrow with Auntie B. And then we'll have around the clock care for Frunty which takes the worry away!

Happy Birthday to C and K on the 4th and to Bones on the 5th and S on the 8th!

1.5 centimetres dilated...gotta skidaddle! If you don't hear from me for awhile, you'll know why!

Some of our favourite holidays seem to be in Holland. It is very picturesque. Here are a few photos. Today we are at 38 weeks, by the way!!! Not long to go!

"Strike an agreement with your family. The rule: You get 1 hour to yourself every day, provided that you use it for exercise (and reciprocate the favor). Since it's for your health, it's a contract they can't refuse. And that will allow you to exercise guilt-free while acting as a role model for your children."

-Carol Goodrow, Runner's World kids running editor

Just did my 30 minutes of stairs and walked Mowgli and the boys are still sawing it off. It is amazing that one would feel guilty about stealing the time for exercise when it could prolong life and make one live it more happily and fully but that is exactly how I feel...I feel like it is a luxury to have that time but it is really a necessity for me and should be for everyone, forgive my forthrightness!

Speaking of health issues, my belly button rolled off my belly and is nowhere in sight. Now what does that mean!? Could one cup of Raspberry Leaf Tea do that? Maybe it was the running or stair climbing. I dunno. I think this happened with Frunty. I noticed this yesterday and so did Daddy. Anyway, I don't have time to think about it as I gotta weight lift while my muscles are still warm! Cheerio and get out there and grab your health and your life by the balls! (that's a quote from me!) (exercise balls I mean, www.swissball.com)

The last two weeks, Frunty has attended the class for 3 year olds at the Little Gym. Last week he didn't seem to enjoy it very much but this week, he looked like he was having lots of fun especially with the camping theme. The class for 3 year olds is special because now the kids go in with the teachers and the Moms or other caregivers sit outside and watch through the windows. Frunty's teacher thought he was ready to graduate and I agree. Frunty seems to like the new challenges in the older class. Plus, I found it difficult to sit down and stand up and sit down and stand up and do other sporadic exercises with him in the Moms-Tots class. I just got dizzy! Next week is a dinosaur theme.

We are at 37.5 weeks, full-term, and trying to be patient but boy, is it ever hard! Went running yesterday, still feel fine. My friend, E, and her son came over for tea yesterday afternoon and kindly brought some Raspberry Leaf tea. I will double check with my doctor today about sipping this libation...apparently it helps get us ready for our big day! E and I are due almost the same day.

Happy June 1st everyone!