What a story. Again, congrats to both of you. Marika is just beautiful. Nancy

What WONDERFUL news!!!! Congratulations Masaki & Amanda. What a beautiful little girl Marika is.

What a story! I'm glad it turned out well. Sounds like the whole epidural discussion was moot.

Whoa...close call! As a former L&D nurse, who was worried she might have to deliver her daughter's preemie...I know exactly how you felt!

Is she your first?

Now don't spoil her too much; however, you will be entitled to spoil HER children! (Being a grandma, "Granny Gumdrops", is more fun than I ever imagined.)

Love, happiness and good health are wished for your little one and her parents too, of course!

P.S. Where are the pictures everyone is talking about? I want to see...I want to see!

Wow, that's quite a story! I'm glad everything went well and that all three of you are well and happy. Congratulations!

masaki, warm congrats to Amanda and you how exciting for you both and happy fathers day too!

r/wes

I'm breathless after reading your story, Masaki! Marika will love hearing how she came into the world! - And, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY also!! What a wonderful story!!

Michele

Martha,
Go to the thread called "upcoming birth blog". Click on the link in Masaki's post. The cute photos are there.

Betty

Congratulations! Marika is a gorgeous little girl .. just like her mama. She's setting the stage for an exciting life for all of you, that's for sure (and who would have it any other way?). All the best on this happy occasion, Anne & Gary

Quite an exciting story, Masaki! When did your adrenaline stop flowing?

Agree with Betty that you not mention "next time" anytime soon! :D

My very best to Amanda and Happy Father's Day!

My S/O Lyndon has been in New Zealand waiting for the arrival of his first grandchild. His daughter was due on June 10th.

He called me yesterday to announce that he had a grandson, born around 2am on the 18th. Now, if you do the date and time calculations between Hawaii, (4 am on the 17th = 2 am on the 18th in New Zealand), his grandson and Marika were born within the same half hour!!

Do we start planning the engagement party yet? I hear matchmaking in your voice.
Tell Lyndon & his family that I am sending all my best.

How wonderful!!! The pictures are priceless. Thank you for sharing.

By the way, isn't it MY turn to hold the baby?

Frances

Dear Amanda and Masaki,

Congratulations!! What an exciting time for all of you, to bring a beautiful new and healthy person into the world. Happy Fathers Day and Birth Day for all. Jeanine

I have to ask. Masaki, how do you cup feed a newborn?

Congrats to Amanda and Masaki, and to Lyndon. Exciting times!

Suzanne, My best to Lyn on his new grandchild. My SO Randy became a grandfather for the 2nd time on the 4th. June 2005 certainly is a popular month for babies.

WOW Masaki, you and Amanda just barely made it!! I'm actually envious. With my first it was 13 hours IN THE HOSPITAL LABOR ROOM! They finally decided nothing was working and it would be a c-section. By the time they came to get me to go up one floor for the c-section, her head was almost out. IMMEDIATE CHANGE OF PLANS...2 pushes and Gina had entered the world!

Next time, with Amanda's history you can head for the hospital quick!

We're all so happy for you 3!!

WONDERFUL NEWS!
FANTASTIC!
It seems like only yesterday when you made the announcement to those of us having dinner with you on MINT - and now, here she is.
And in a hurry to get out!

Congratulations!!!!!

Congrats on Lyndon's grandson!

Thank you all once again on all the good wishes. Very tired and not getting much sleep overall (both Amanda and I). Because of a scheduling conflict, I need to go into work tomorrow despite being on paternity leave at this point - hate to abandon Amanda for 8 hours but her folks are coming over to help out so hopefully it'll work out.

Cup feeding? You take a small plastic container (the size of a takeout condiment container - like ketchup, BBQ space, ranch dressing for wings, etc.), fill it with 15 cc of formula, and hold it up to baby's lips while holding her almost vertical. Tilt container until the formula touches her upper lip and she'll start sucking formula out of the cup. Kind of like watching a cat lap up milk. :)

Masaki

Wow Masaki that's quite an exciting beginning. Enjoy your first Fathers Day!

Mary Ellen

Masaki wrote:

Maybe you should give her a straw ;)

Well that is great news! I'm thrilled for the both of you, and must say that was one heck of a story.

Congratulations to you and Amanda and it shows she loves her daddy already...after all, she was in a rush to make it here for father's day! enjoy your little bundle of joy. And Doug gives you wise words of advice. ;)

Congrats to you both. What a great Father's Day for you MAsaki!!!


Anthony

I talked to Aunt Ruth today and told her the big news. She asked me to convey her best wishes and said, "Such a nice young couple."

Congrats Masaki and Amanda!



Trish

To the proud parents, and happy Fathers' Day, Masaki! Daughters are very special. I just spent the weekend with two of my three, and they are still getting into fights and arguments. Wouldn't be so bad if their ages weren't 33 and 35! And while they weren't fighting among themsleves there were criticizing the third daughter who wasn't there because she lives well beyond driving distance. The weekend was spent at the 33 year old daughter's house in a suburb north of Dallas about 225 miles from my home. (BTW, I drove my Honda S2000, a Japanese car, for this trip. I averaged 74 mph with construction delays, and got 28 mpg.)

The daughter at whose house we all visited has born me a 21 month old grandson. We are great friends, as we have an enemy in common. This daughter is the first person in my family to have an inground and fully landscaped swimming pool. It was great fun teaching grandson how to squirt mommy with a variety of water toys! When I looked at "mommy", I was reminded of not so long ago when she brought home what used to be a car (before her wreck), and asked me what to do with it! Then the third daughter (age 31) got on the phone, and got into it with the other two. Now about this time, my wife and I got into a discussion about all the things we could have spent our money on besides these kids! Invested right during the time, WE could have bought the PG and leased it to Radisson! Not invested at all, and we could each have had a Maybach (German Rolls Royce). Or maybe an airplane. Especially as the daughter with he grandson keeps asking ME how I'M going to pay for grandson's college education! She alone (not counting her husband) earns more than I ever did!

Daughters are very easy to spoil. Mine are certainly spoiled! Try to avoid the same mistake, if possible. Often, it is not.

Still, after all, wife and I decided we'd rather have the daughters than the Maybachs, airplane, or even the PG. It's a challenge, but you will feel the same too.

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

Thanks for everyone's well wishes! Once again, I have to say that we are so fortunate to be so loved. I'm not sure what I'm running on since I haven't had a full night of sleep since Wed. But we're so happy that Marika is here!

Karen - a straw? LOL!

Richard - I don't need to spoil Marika -- her grandmother has already promised that she'll take care of that!

Masaki

Congratulations Masaki & Amanda!

So sorry you didn't make it in time for the epidural, but hey, at least you didn't have to wait hours on end. The baby is beautiful! Masaki, I'm sure you didn't speak too sternly to Amanda. I bet she didn't hear you over her own screams! It is acceptable Amanda to scream, I did! You have to let it out! We were at dinner the other night with friends & Anthony was so kind as to give a demonstration of me with my head hanging out of the window on the way to the hospital. He said that I looked like a german shepard with its head hanging out! How embarassing, but our friends just laughed.

I'm glad everyone is doing well. Please keep the pictures coming!!

Lots of love & good luck!
Paige

Congratulations Masaki & Amanda - What a sweet little girl Marika is!

Lis and Mary

Paige, your husband gives the best stories of you in labor! Trust me, I DEFINITELY screamed. One of the OBs that rounded on me told me that my chart stated that "patient came in yelling in pain". I'd say that I had a good reason. If they weren't going to let me push, I would just have to yell instead!

Thanks again, everyone, for the well wishes!

Oh Paige, that's so funny!! I can just picture you with your head out the window!! I'm sure we ALL were pretty pathetic while we were in labor... Afterall, it is the appropriately named LABOR for a reason!

Paige - thanks! I loved that story -- I can just see Anthony demonstrating the "german shepherd" technique of pain control. :D

Lis and Mary - thank you ... looking forward to meeting you guys on MUSH!

Masaki

Whew, Masaki and Amanda! I'm catching up on LCT today and just read your delivery night story, Masaki. What a ride! Amanda, I laughed out loud when you said your chart read "came in yelling in pain." No wonder!

So, beautiful Marika arrived in style with a story to tell. As it should be, right?

All the best to the three of you. Hope someone besides Marika is getting some sleep!

Congratulations!! That is quite a story - goose bumps...Off to look at the photos now.

Thanks Priscilla and Robert!!

Masaki

I was induced so didn't have to wait for mother nature. But we almost didn't get to the hospital in time for the scheduled procedure because Clay couldn't decide whether he needed to wear a coat and tie and I had the quandry to wear make up & fix my hair or go au natural. We almost got into a fight about it.
Looking back, how ridiculous.

I'm just playing catch up on this wonderful thread. What a labor and delivery story! Marika's exciting entrance into the world is just a taste of the excitement and joy she will add to your lives from her birthday on forward.

Happy First Father's Day, Masaki! Our very best to you, Amanda and Marika!

Betty - ah, the memories. :)

Denise - thank you!

Masaki