Electric Dreams

Mum & dad grew up in the 1980's, at opposite ends of Australia. Mum was in Perth (the far left of the map) and dad was in Melbourne (the far right of the map). Even though they didn't meet until years later, then both liked the same film when they were 13.

Electric Dreams.

Here's the trailer...



Now, we're going to show you the film one day Oliver, so we won't tell you what happens. OK, maybe we'll just tell you about one part. Something sad happens to a boy and girl. They decide they don't want to be sad anymore, so they get in a car and drive somewhere that's nicer. As they drive, this song plays on the radio...



As we'd been in the hospital for SUCH a long time (over a week!) we were a bit sad and tired. But then... on Friday night, they said we could take you home! So Dad got the car ready, and once mum put you in the car, dad pressed play on his mp3 player, so a special song could play...

My, what a lovely birthday present!

Mum's birthday is 5 days before your, Oliver. And dad's - is 5 days after. Aren't we clever?

Anyway, Dad's special day is July 2nd, and this year, his present was the fact that you could come back to our room with us. Hooray!

This meant that instead of waking up and walking to ICU at 8.30 in the morning (& staying there till 10pm) we could have you in OUR room! You'd be there when we woke up - and there when we went to bed! This was very, very lovely. (Even if mum was noticing that sometimes she'd wake up early in the morning and hear TWO lots of snuffles coming from different parts of the room!)

The photo above shows you demonstrating your sleeping skills Oliver, and mum enjoying your enhanced portability, due to being very small.

Then, the next day, we got even better news...

So many visitors!

Over the next few days, you had a few people visiting you. Unfortunately, we could only have 2 people with you at a time, so some had to rest in the waiting room. Up above, you can see your grannie Florinda plus mum & dad...

And there's Auntie Margi holding you for the first time. This week you had many people coming to give you a cuddle. There was Megan and Justin and Trish....

And here's your Grandma Marlene, who'd flown in from Queensland. Yes - she normally lives in Melbourne but she'd gone 'up north' where it was a bit warmer.

Both your grannies (& grandpa Albert) were very nice, staying at our house and making sure that everything was OK.

Meanwhile, dad stayed on a little mattress in mum's room and made sure she was OK.

Making a splash!

In your first 3 days with you, we'd learnt how to feed you, dress you, burp you and a few other things...

But now it was time for dad to learn how to BATH you.

He was a bit nervous, as you were a bit of a wriggly jelly bean, but he carefully put the water in, checked it was warm, then put you in....

YOU LIKED IT!

You weren't totally sure about baths, but after a few days, you seemed to like it a bit more....

The "Incredibly Cute Unit"

For the next few days, mum and dad learnt how to feed and change you, Ollie. And of course, cuddle you as much as possible. We were hoping to take you home, but the doctors and nurses said that you were SO cute, they wanted you to stay in the 'Incredibly Cute Unit' for a few more days...

Unfortunately, that meant something that wasn't very nice. The nurses had to put a tube in your nose. I bet you remember. When they put it in, you screamed your little heart out. Mum and dad were very very sorry, and kissed you and hugged you... again and again and again.

Playing in the Cubbyhouse

Mum and dad went into the big room with all the doctors and nurses. The doctors put up a big tent (a bit like a cubby house) and hid behind it. Mum and dad waited. It was a bit like a magic show. After a while, the doctor walked around the tent, and gave us a present!

Yes - it's YOU Oliver! The doctor had wrapped you up in a little package, and we gave you your first kiss and cuddle. We're glad you didn't say anything too bad to us about our silly hats. Don't worry Oliver - mum and dad promise not to wear duck-egg blue hairnets ever again! Soon, it was time for mum to see the doctor, so I took you for a little ride in a trolley.

While mum was seeing the doctor, I got to spend about 10 minutes with you Ollie, and that was really lovely.

You opened your eyes, and looked around. I gave you a soft pat on the back, and told you how much I loved you. Soon, it was time to see mum - yay!

We went back to our room, and mum got to put you in bed with her for a BIG cuddle. Here's a photo of you holding mum's hand.
Usually, dad likes to sleep a lot, but this night he seemed to want to stay awake, so he could cuddle and kiss the two loveliest people he knows.
One was a medium-size person. And one was a cute little person. The cutest he'd EVER seen.

It's time to play dressups!

The doctor said "it's time for Oliver to come out", so mum and dad had to put on some special clothes.

We took a photo, then mum got back into bed, and we went to a special waiting room.

Dad was a bit nervous, so the nurses told him to sit down and put his head between his knees. They also gave him a glass of water to drink and said "Don't worry. If you fall over, we'll just step over you".

Soon, dad felt better, and together with mum, they went into a big room... it was time for Oliver to arrive!

What a yummy mummy!

Nine months is a long time for mum to carry something heavy in her tummy, even if it's a lovely baby like you, Oliver.

So, now that it was less than a week till you were due to arrive, we thought we should take some photos of mum to remember how she looked when she had her baby belly!

Don't tell anyone Oliver, but we sneakily looked up lots of nice 'belly' photos on the internet, then took our photos the same way! Sneaky!

There's mum hiding behind the kitchen door....

"Aw mum! Dad! Don't do that!"

I'm sorry Oliver (it's Dad typing) - but mum looked so lovely, and she'd worked so hard carrying you around, that I thought she deserved a kiss.

(And don't worry, I didn't forget you Ollie - I've got my hand on her belly, giving you a pat at the same time.)

Maybe next time you see mum, *you* could give her a kiss. She's a really lovely mum, and deserves many, many kisses and cuddles.

She really likes them too.

Two weeks left to go...

This is our favourite scan of all, Oliver! Why? Because it was taken just 2 weeks before you arrived! Woohoo!

Mind you, somebody little (who starts with 'O') was playing again while the lady was scanning! This meant that most of our photos didn't work. But the one you see above DID... and we got to admire your chubby cheeks!

Mmm, we could just eat you all up!

If sure someone has told you Oliver, that you look "good enough to eat!" Well, a few weeks before you arrived, it was true!

Mum was about to leave her work, so she had a morning tea with friends. A friend of mum 'n' dad (Giv) makes special cupcakes, and she made us some 'latte baby' cupcakes!

Mmmmmmmm, they were very very yum.

Dad was a bit sorry to eat them though, as they looked so good!

Luckily, he took lots of photos first, so that we would remember your amazing cupcakes.