Waiting for the arrival of The Spaniard
In the course of 2011, my most joyful times have been seeing our first grandchild – the beautiful baby Catrin. If you’re a regular reader of NightHawk, you’ll know about Catrin. If not, try putting her name into the search box on the right.
Meanwhile my most anxious moments have been reading the blog postings of a new, but now dear, friend who is expecting her first child. The problem is that Ellie is 47 and the pregnancy has proved immensely challenging.
When I first met Ellie in late July, she was only 14 weeks pregnant and very worried about whether things would work out. The conception was the result of IVF treatment in Spain, so she calls the baby The Spaniard. As a professional in the IT field, she has created a private blog in which she writes eloquently about the development of the pregnancy, so that she can share her experiences with her friends.
Just reading the regular blog postings has been an emotional experience with highs and lows and much in between. In the weeks since our meeting, there has been a massive amount of medical support and intervention and lots of worries and scares. I have been in awe of Ellie’s bravery and fortitude.
The last couple of weeks have been especially traumatic as The Spaniard stopping moving even though other vital signs were normal. In the last couple of days, some movement has returned and we are all breathing a sigh of relief.
Ellie is now 35 weeks pregnant and, if all goes according to plan, she will have a caesarian in mid January.