The Good, the bad and the utterly adorable...

Last Thursday we were all feeling quite proud and satisfied. At your second visit to Dr. DeDiego he pronounced you "perfect". You weighed 8 lbs. 8 oz. - one pound over your birh weight, but over one pound since your first visit the week before - you had grown one inch, and all your reflexes and body parts seemed to be in perfect condition. You behaved perfectly as well, sleeping peacefully as we stopped at the post office, the bank and the ISCAR offices on the way home.

I guess you wanted to make sure that we didn't expect constant perfection. Friday you fussed and screamed all day, eating fitfully on no definable schedule. Your Mom said it was as if someone had come in during the night and changed babies on us. By mid-day Saturday we were on our way to having our "practically perfect" baby back.

Sunday we had 12 visitors - your great grandmother, Tia Belén, Tia China, Tio Luis, Tio Tito, Tia Baby, and Maru, Eric, Karina, Valeria, Guillermo, Luis Mena. They swept in and swept out to baseball games, malls and other obligations. Nina and Belén stayed and visited with us at the house most of the time until the whole group took off again for Orlando on Monday.

(video courtesy of your Tio Luis)

And we were left alone to work our way back into a normal pattern for both Mom and baby.

June 18-22

Your Venezuelan Great Grandparents

Alicia Yolanda Soto, your future great grandmother, was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela on July 30, 1923. Her family lived in a house called "My Cottage" in English, because her father, Papa Ernesto, had spent some years in the U.S. It was on the Calle Belén in Santa Lucia.

Alicia, whom your mother named "Nina", went to grade school in the Colegio Sucre and continued on there to take a Commercial course given by Prof. Rincón Galvis. She later worked in her father's saw mill for a time.

While she was studying in the Colegio Sucre an older woman, Sra. Chinca, would accompany her to school each day in a taxi - a "por puesto". On the corner of the Callejon Sta. Elena, near the Maristas school where he studied, your future great grandfather, Rafael Morillo, would wait to see her pass by. One day when the taxi stopped to let out another passenger a friend of Rafael's stuck his head into the cab and asked Sra. Chinca, " Sra., when are you going to leave this girl alone?"

Eventually Alicia and Rafael met. Rafael Angel Morillo Atencio had been born on April 10, in the same year of 1923, in La Cañada, son of Don Manuel and Manuelita Morillo. He was one of six boys. His eldest brother Manuel died in an airplane crash, after surviving an earthquake in Caracas. Francisco became a pediatrician and lived in Maracaibo. Marcos, the 3rd brother, died at age 15 from rabies, and your great grandfather never really felt comfortable around dogs after that. Rafael was the 4th son, then came Roberto, who became an engineer, and Arturo, also a engineer, who was involved in the construction of the Hotel Avila on a mountain top above the city of Caracas.

Alicia and Rafael were married in 1946. Rafael was still working on his thesis for a law degree. He had begun his studies in Mérida, but graduated from LUZ, in Maracaibo. He worked for the Shell oil company, then Maraven. They lived in Maracaibo, building a house named Elaiza, for Alicia's mother, on the site of an older two story house belonging to Papa Ernesto.

There Rafael Enrique, your grandfather, was born on January 22, 1949; and your Aunt China, Alicia Beatriz, was born on February 24, 1954.

Your great grandfather Rafael always enjoyed betting on the horse races, and I remember him studying the racing forms and sometimes asking me to pick a wild card - which I always chose according to which name I liked best. Your great grandmother enjoyed sewing and at one point took a dressmaking course. They both liked to travel. They took your grandfather to Europe when he was a child, and he made his first communion in Saint Patrick's Cathedral in NYC. They all came up to NJ for your grandfather's and my wedding in 1972 and visited us quite a few times while we lived in Delaware, especially after your mother was born.

I will always remember the wonderful parties in the quinta Elaiza when I arrived in Venezuela. The whole family seemed to gather at their home for Christmas and New Year's Eve and for birthdays.

Your great grandfather, "Paparito", died on July 13, 1993. He is constantly remembered by all in the family. Hardly a conversation goes by without a mention of Paparito. He would have loved to have had the chance to spoil you.

Nina still enjoys travelling and has been from Patagonia to Russia and around the Mediterranean and the Carribean Seas. I took a trip to Spain with her a few years ago - and kept a journal which you will be able to read some day. She also enjoys eating out, one of her favorite parts of cruises and vacations is dressing up and eating food which she didn't cook. Oh, and she doesn't much like to have her picture taken.

Nina came up and stayed with your mother and me to await your arrival and was at the hospital when you were born. She got to meet you when you were just a few minutes old. Her first great grandchild.

Your Great Grandparents

Your First Stroll

The days at Savanna are easy and slow, sleeping, eating and getting to know each other. We visit Maria and make runs to Publix, but the rest of our time is pretty much dedicated to your rhythms.

On your 12th day you took your first stroll around the neighborhood. This being the rainy season here in Florida we had to wait for sunny skies that looked as if they would last long enough to make the whole strapping in exercise worth the while. Uncle Randy was in the driver's position and very proud of his responsibilities. He refused to give up control of the stroller until we returned to the house.

We took the long circle, completely around the area of Marshes II, passing in and out of the shade and greeting our constant companions, the ducks from the nearby canal.

You seem to have enjoyed the outing. At first you were a bit skeptical about the whole thing, but you arrived back at the house peacefully asleep.

We may do this again.

June 15-17

Thanksgiving -

We have so much to be thankful for. In the last few days we have reencountered old friends, we have been supported and loved by many good friends and family members, and most of all - we now have you, Emma. So on Saturday night we had a true Thanksgiving dinner.

We ate turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, broccoli, salad, gravy - the whole works. Maria brought an extra table and chairs ( and wine glasses, cups and plastic silverware), Tia Hilda brought pastries for dessert and a friend of your Mom's, Ruth, had sent an edible bouquet, which we also used for dessert. Tico brought the wine. We ate off plastic plates and used paper napkins, but there was nothing disposable about our joy and thanks.

It was so wonderful to have Aloha "Lady", Tico and Mariela here, and Maria, Israelito, Victor, Juan, Andreina, Yohana, Yenny, along with your Mom's friend since grade school, Enrique, Tia Hilda, Mauricio, and of course, Uncle Randy, Grandpa, Grandma and Mom.

We gathered together in the house in Savanna and visited, cooked, ate and drank, and everyone gave thanks for your arrival. We looked at all your pictures, admired all your new outfits and gifts, held you and fed you. I was busy cooking, but your Grandpa managed to get a few pictures for our album.

You must know how loved and welcome you are. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

We give thanks.

June 13-14

More Firsts -

This being your first week, I guess it's only to be expected that it's full of firsts. We had your first bath, and now your first doctor visit and your first restaurant, all in one day. On Thursday you went to visit Dr. De Diego. He came highly recommended by Tia Hilda, who made the appointment for you, and he lived up to his advance promotion. He is a very nice mixture of old-fashioned and state of the art. Just two weeks ago he was out in Norman, OK receiving an award from Oklahoma University - there is an Oklahoma Univ. football helmet in his front office. He's a grandfather himself and said your Mom reminded him of his daughter. He found you to be beautiful and just fine. No special instructions, but we will be going back next Thursday for another weigh-in.

While we waited to see the doctor you had your lunch and by the time we were finished your Mom was starving. Your Grandpa and Uncle Randy were waiting ouside in the parking lot, so we all headed off to find lunch. You behaved very well in Chili's, your first restaurant. Your Mom got a good meal and you were good until we got back to Weston. Traveling about seems to suit you.

Your Name

Well, Emma, my love, it's now official, on the birth certificate and everyhing. For the past few months I kept from posting your name. My old-fashioned mind was never 100% sure that the doctors had it right. We went ahead and stocked up on everything pink and girlish, but just in case I waited to publish your name. Once it was in writing, in the public realm, it would be a bit sticky to explain if you had been a boy.

Your Mom had a bit more confidence in modern science, and we all thought a girl was the very best of ideas. So she went ahead and ordered pink and green M&M's with your name on them to make up favors for those who come to visit and welcome you. By now you must know that your colors are pink, green and brown. So we mixed in some plain brown M&M's and filled little baskets, wrapped with pink, green and brown ribbons and an "It's a girl" charm. It was one of those tasks with which we filled those last endless days before your arrival.

Yoana Carruyo, Israel's daughter, made a beautiful drawing of your name, Emma Victoria. We have it hanging up on the stairway, just inside the front door for all to see. Later it will be in your room.

The nurses all exclaimed over your name - a beautiful name for a beautiful baby.

By now it fits you so well that I cannot imagine ever considering calling you anything else.

June 8

I really won't keep up daily posts forever - but everything is still so new.

You woke up snuggled inside your horse shoe pillow on Mom's bed.

Today you were back on the road again, travelling back to the hospital with your Mom and Dad to sign your birth certificate because the administrative offices don't function normally on Sundays. Again you were a good traveller. Just ask your Mom about changing you in the car during a downpour in front of Walgreen's while they waited for her prescriptions to be filled.

That little adventure required a good cleaning up when you got home. So you had your first sponge bath since the hospital. You seemed to enjoy it, although you weren't quite sure what to make of that baby in the mirror who was having a bath next to you.

Once you were clean and dressed you tried out your own little rocker - much more modern than grandma's, with music and vibrations.

Tia Hilda and Ena visited bringing roses and hair bows and Sophia slept over with us.

Another happy day.

June 08

Grandma's Rocker

At some point during your first night home you had a little fussy spell. You had just eaten, Mom was exhausted and you couldn't sleep. I walked you a bit and then remembered that the rocking chair was down at the foot of the steps. It hadn't yet made it up to the bedroom. Down we went and just as soon as I sat down and relaxed my back against the chair you were asleep, but I stayed there for a while with you - rocking. Rocking chairs were made for babies. The arm rests are at just the right height for nursing and the rythmic motion quiets both Mom and child. It always amazes me how I automatically start to rock and how long I can keep it up without tiring.

This chair belonged to my grandmother, your great-great grandmother, Jane. I remember it in the corner of her bedroom surrounded by windows that looked out onto the large yard with the apple trees. I used to love to sit there and read her magazines and MaryKnoll tracts, or listen to my radio (it was a transitor radio - you'll have no idea what that is). She always had lilac water and talc on her dresser.

I guess she realized how much I enjoyed it because she left it to me. My mother went over to her house an rescued it for me after she died. I never took it with me to Venezuela. It stayed in my mother's room in Barnegat Light. I always wanted your mother to have it for her babies, and now she does.

So we sat and rocked for almost an hour you and I, in a hundred year old chair, in communion with great-great grandma Jane, great grandma Catherine and your mother.

Nothing relaxes like a rocking chair.

Now it's up in the bedroom where your Mom can use it to nurse and rock you. Blessings on you from all those who have rocked before.

P.S. The afghan over the back of the chair is one my mother made. I have several of her afghans waiting to be handed down.

Coming Home

June 7th - your Great Aunt Marjie's birthday and your homecoming day.

After passing all the myriad tests required for release, and a good long conversation between you and me as to what to expect, we gathered up all of our things ready to go. Your Grandpa had to make a few trips down to the car to get us all organized. Hospital regulations ruled the whole procedure. You had to be 48 hours old, yet we had to get out before 9:00p.m. or stay another night. Your Mom had papers to sign, your ID bracelets were checked, your leg alarm removed, and then you were strapped into your carseat. Your Mom had to travel down to the car in a wheel chair with you in your seat on her lap. Her favorite nurse and focal point wheeled her down to the car to check that we had the carseat base installed in the back seat, center, facing the rear of the car. Fortunately we pased inspection, and so we were off.
You proved to be a great traveller - a fortunate trait in our family - and didn't even whimper all the way home. Just like your Mom you're happiest when you're moving.
We arrived home in Savanna, you got "comfy" in your pj's, and so to bed - for a while anyway.

June 07

Day 1

We moved into room 254 in the postpartum section late last night. You settled right in. We managed to get a few hours sleep - you weren't the only one disturbing our slumber. Seems the nurses come to an agreement so that each one comes in at a different time all through the night. You were a joy. Hardly any crying.

During the day we had many visitors - your great grandma, Nina, Tia China, Tio Luis, grandpa, Uncle Randy, Tia Hilda, Maria, Israel, Juan, Andreina, and Ena. Fortunately (and wisely) we were assigned to a double room which had one of the beds removed, so we had loads of space, which we filled up nicely, thank you. Don't know what we would have done if we had to share a double room - besides drive our roommate crazy.

You were oblivious to all the comings and goings. Asleep most of the time and quite alert at others.

Your Mom and I were runing on pure adrenaline - or euphoria. Everything was "excellent" as our nurse, Olga, would say.

Your first day went by without any problems - except for that reclining chair I slept in and couldn't get to fold up again. But besides that, all was well.

June 06

Your Birthday

Your Mom and I woke up in the delivery room early on Friday, June 5th. She was confined to bed because of her blood pressure. Every time she sat up her pressure would rise and the nurse would make her lie down on her side again. As per you Mom's request (insistance) there are no pictures of the goings on during the day.

Your Dad arrived in the afternoon and Tia Hilda came from the office. Your Mom was a real trooper. We worked with 4 different teams of midwives and nurses while we were there. They were all great, but I must say that we had the best team for the final push. Your Mom did great. I was so proud of her, and she was amazed at herself. She was so elated when she heard that you were about to arrive that she pushed as if she had done this several times before. We didn't start the pushing phase until after the shift change at 7:00 - we met Julia and the nurse who became your Mom's focal point, and got down to business. They were nice enough to let three of us accompany your Mom and witness your arrival. Your Dad, Tia Hilda and I each had our stations and it was as exhilirating as it was exhausting.


At 8:37 you arrived - pink and beautiful, with a full head of dark hair, wide awake and taking it all in. Finally I was allowed to take pictures. Yesterday the midwife was correct - 7 pounds 8 ounces, 20 1/4 inches long. You were like Mary Poppins "practically perfect in every way."


They cleaned you up, took your footprints and gave you to your Mom to nurse - which you did like an old pro. By this time it was after 9:00 and visiting hours were officially over, but Julia had pity on us and allowed all your visitors to come in - your Grandpa, Uncle Randy, Nina, Tia China, Tio Luis, Sophia, Aquiles, Harold - all came into the delivery room to greet you. Israel, Maria, Juan and Andreina got left out in the parking lot because they hadn't gotten into the waiting room by 9. The nurse said she'd never seen so many people waiting for a baby to be born.


You are loved, my dear. May the Lord bless you and keep you. You are already a blessing to us all.

Emma's Birthday

The Final Stretch

We were three days past your supposed due date. Your Mom was a bit discouraged and very uncomfortable. When we set out from the house in the morning for an appointment with the doctor little did we know that we wouldn't be returning home without you.

Just like last week, your Mom's blood pressure was high and her feet and legs were quite swollen. The doctor sent us from her office back to the hospital for another monitoring session. We stopped by Panera at about noon and your Mom had some mushroom soup and half a sandwhich - her last meal for more than 36 hours.

When we got to the hospital it seemed just like last week. Your Mom's pressure was down again - when she was laying flat on the bed. All her labs were good. They did a sonogram, which was a bit scary. The technician kept saying what a large baby you were - more than 9 pounds - and your head was so large that you had to be more than 41 weeks. Thank God for the midwife who said there was no way you were that large. She estimated between 7 and 8 pounds. Nothing like experience.

Anyway - we thought we would be heading home to return on Monday the 8th, when the midwife came back and said she was going to admit you and induce labor. She was worried about your Mom's blood pressure and didn't want her coming back in a couple of days in labor with higher, more critical pressure.


So we were off to your delivery room. We spent the rest of June 4th there as your Mom started into labor - your Tia Hilda, your Mom and I. It was a very comfortable room.
We had TV, a rocking chair, a pull out sofa bed, a table and chairs, and of course all the necessary equipment to care for your Mom and welcome you into the world.


I bunked down on the sofa bed. Tia Hilda went home to return the next day. Your Mom and I managed to get a few hours sleep as we began the marathon of your arrival. Your Grandpa and Uncle Randy and your Great Grandma, Nina, had been circling the hospital all day waiting for news. They headed back up to Weston to sleep so they could return to wait for your arrival tomorrow.

The Waiting Game

Well - today is the day you were supposed to arrive - June 1st - and we are still waiting. Everything is ready. I've been here with your Mom for a month now, since the baby shower.
We are settled into Maria and Israel's house in Savanna, Weston. We have gathered and assembled everything we think you might possibly need. Your grandfather and uncle and your great-grandmother, Nina, are all here with us and your great aunt and uncle are in Orlando, on call. Your Uncle Randy has practised with the stroller and is now fully certified to take you out for a walk. Can't think of much we might have missed.

Your mother is doing fine - just more than ready to get to know you. Her suitcase has been travelling around with us for the past week or two. All systems are go - any time you're ready....

As Dr. Seuss says - all we can do is to sit, sit, sit, sit. And we do not like it, not one little bit.