Our beautiful baby has arrived! Orian (Or-ee-yan) Yonatan Granot was born on November 24, 2009. Weighing in at 3.2 Kilos, 6.9 ish Lbs, and healthy as a...healthy person. He was and is a beautiful baby and from day one was lifting his head and looking around.

We are VERY lucky to have been in the hands of such a wonderful and experienced medical team as everything that could go wrong with the birth process, did. I spent Two weeks in progressing contractions...as he became two weeks overdue, but I wasnt dilating above half a centimenter. Finally at 42 weeks, we checked into the hospital, where they gave me my first induction. Nada. The next day I received a second induction and spent the day in some pretty painful contractions (though I am sure it doesn't come close to what most women go through). Still no dilation above half a cent. Then, they found a problem in his monitor and sent us down to the birthing room for constant observation. Turns out his heat rate was becoming semi-erratic, going from normal (120-160) down to 50-80, then right back up again. Though it happened a few times throughout the night, they sent me back up to the waiting rooms at 3:30 AM.

The next day, they put me on Oxy toxin (I think that is what its called) to really jump start the labour, which was progressing to...nowhere. I was confined to the bed and IV for about five hours and beginning to get frustrated with the whole thing. I was in pain and again checked for dilation and YES, Progress! I almost hit one centimeter, as any mother can imagine, I began to tear up, why wasn't I dilating??!!

Finally, at 5 PM, I really, really had to pee, so I broke down, swallowed my pride, kicked Idan out of the room, and used the bedpan. Just as I finished, the Dr. rushed into the room, took one look at his heart rate and said, that's it, your going for emergency surgery. I tried to explain to her that I had just peed, and it must have been the reason that the monitor jumped, but she said she didn't care, and had the nurses prep me immediately. Idan who had just left the room got a call from me telling him that he really needed to get back in here as Im going into surgery, managed to make it back just in time for getting in the elevator to go down to the surgery floor.

I, throughout this process, continued to calmy insist that I had just peed, that was it, and there was no need for the panic that the Medical staff was experiencing. I also explained to them that they need to be calm so that I could stay calm. It was oddly surreal. In order for me to stay calm, I just made sure to take slow deep breaths.

We got down to surgery and Idan had to wait outside, poor guy was scared and clueless, with no explanation of what was happening. The second Dr. (who we know and lives on our Kibbutz) rushed past Idan with a simple, I'll update you.

I, on the other hand, while being prepped for surgery, was still insiting that I just had to pee and still calm, watched everybody rushing and stressing to get me under. Then I was told Laila Tov, Good night, and I went under.

Waking up was the most painful experience I and ever gone through and was crying immediately until they morphined me, I was then in la-la land for the next 2 hours or so, constantly being reminded to breathe, by the machine that beeps when my heart rate goes down too low...All I wanted to do was see the baby, but they said I had to wait a few hours. That was the only thing that kept me from asking for another dose of pain relief, I had to see our baby! So I spent two hours high and literally watching the minutes tick by on the two clocks the wall.

My mother in Law, bless her, heard about the surgery and took the next ride she could get to the hospital, where she came in to me and held my hand and spoke to me for a few precious minutes while I waited to see baby. I also got to see Idan for a minute and he seemed so calm.

Finally, they let me go up to my room, and to meet our baby!When I got up there, Idan brought the baby in, and nothing could have prepared me for the surge of emotion that came with watching the baby being brought to me...I burst into tears , having experienced true love at first sight. Orian was absolutely gorgeous! Holding him was the most natural experience in the world, and so well worth the wait, and the 2 and a half week labour!

Idan told me that the Dr.s had informed him that if they had waited five more minutes, Orian would not have survived. He had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, which I guess was what caused the lowered heart rates. As for me, it seems that I can only give birth vis C-section, so at least we know now, and will be better prepared for the next child. AND we can have it born on time :) He also said that I was the calm one in the operating room :)

Idan was above and beyond everything I could have ever expected throughout the entire period.He took care of me every step of the way, and was always running to work, home, the hospital day in and day out for the entire week we were there! He brought me overpriced Chai Lattes everyday, because he knew how muh I craved them; He took the punches from wherever they came so that I wouldnt have to deal with petty issues, he kept everything going smoothly for me, and he did it with a smile on his face (even though it was clear that he was more exhausted than I). I am the luckiest woman alive to have a man like him!

From day one, Idan was picking Orian up (though maybe not by choice in the beginning- I couldnt pick him up because of the Cesarean), and he has been such an amazing father from the beginning. Just the other night, he gave Orian his first bath, and didnt even tell me, he just figured it out on his own and went with it! What a wonderful man! And boy, can he make the child smile!

So now, Orian is eight weeks old and gaining approximately half a pound a week. I have finally found pure happiness and contentment. I have never been content in my life, always working towards greater goals and pushing to make things better in the world, but now...wow.

At five weeks he had a really goofy smile...at eight weeks, he's just goofy! (He's still trying to figure out the notion of "Say cheeze!)

Grandma and Grandpa came to Israel to meet Orian for the first time-- So much fun to have them here!

Its getting close!

We are getting really close to due date, so in answering demands for pregnancy pics, I am uploading what I hope are the last ones before baby is born! If you look closely, you may be able to notice that baby has dropped, and things are becoming pretty real now...and I am becoming a waddling duck!

Now that I am back from the President's Conference in Jerusalem, I am ready for him to join us in the ouside world :) I am also very thankful that he let me have those three days to enjoy meeting so many amazing people and being part of such an impactful event on Israel and the world...Plus, I got to see a guy prostrating himself before Dr. Ruth...yes, THE Dr. Ruth, sex therapist, definitely a highlight :) (seeing the cute boss fro Ugly Betty was alo pretty fun) Idan made fun of me that with all of the important politicians and nobel prize winners, these are the people that excite me, but, I guess I am just used to the politicians, and pretty bored by seeing them all the time. Now that I think about it...thats a bad sign :) But the Ugly Betty guy was so cute, and I love Dr. Ruth!!!

So, here are some pics...I hope next time we post, it will be to show you our beautiful baby!

We had a great short hike today, which nearly beat me...for the first time in my life, I almost thought that I might not make it to the top. But I did, huffing and puffing and Idan barely started to breathe heavily.

I have wanted to walk (or in my non-pregnant days, to run) up this hill for years...it has always called to me; so today, as Idan and I were on our way to some prehistoric caves, I offered to him to walk up the hill with me and skip the caves. I was pretty sure that he wouldn't take the bait, as he keeps remndng me that I am one foot out the door of the hospital and he thinks I am taking ths pregnancy thing too lightly (we were actually right in the middle of that exact discussion). But then, all of a sudden, he pulled the car over at the hill. The bastard called my bluff!

Of course, as stubborn as I am, there was no way that I intended to pass up this opportunity! So up we went, Idan practically skipping his way up and me huffing and puffing with frequent breaks, wondering why I had to get myself into this one...

Once we got to the top, I couldn't even stand anymore and just plopped down right where I was. But what a great feeling! finally did something that I had wanted to do for five years, and it was well worth it!

The hike lasted less than 15 minutes each way and within a half hour, we were back in the car and on our way home. Idan got what he wanted, I got what I wanted, and we go a couple of heifer shots along the way. How fun!

So for all of your viewing pleasure...Safra the heifer, Eight and a half months...I don't promise

beauty, but at least you get a tummy!

I promised some pictures when Idan back from reserves, and hallelujah, Idan is back from reserves! I am so happy to finally have him back...

The view from Idan's base...beautiful!

Today we went a a tiyul (outing) to a park in Haifa with Moran, Miki, Gabi (Idans dad) and the kids. The park had a few suspension bridges and it was pretty fun. It was a short walk, but I was pretty exhausted by the end and Idan is not having an easy time learning how to walk really, really slowly so that I can keep up. I told him that today it was great that we had to walk as slowly as the two year old, so that it wasn't me holding us back half of the time :)

After that Idan and I went to lunch at an Arabic restaurant. The food was great and I am still stuffed from the salads, hummus and lamb, and pita...oh, I love thayt food!

So anyways, here are the pictures...

There's nothing hotter than white trash and a beer belly! (Beginning of 6th month)

Seven and a half months and feeling more and more like a heifer...

The view fom one of the bridges and Idan practicing parenting...

Summer is way, way too hot during pregnancy. I didn't believe my mother in law when she told me tht I would not enjoy the summer months. I thought to myself, I've never had a problem during the summer, so what if I get a bit hotter than normal.

Noooooo...this summer, I have gotten heat stroke 3 times, all on my way back from Jerusalem and spent the first months of summer lying on the couch, with 2 ice packs and the a/c, that didn't really work, on top speed.

Now we have moved to a new home back up North on the kibbutz that I swore I would never, ever go back to, and we have a great AC. I am happy. At least now when I get hit with heat stroke, I can get the frigid AC upon arrival home.

It has been really nice back here on kibbutz and I guess you could say that three times a charm. I am still having a bt of a time dealing with all of the when are you do, belly patting and congratulations (I don't take too well to this kind of attention...put me on a stage anywhere and I will come out on top, but this personal attention, not my thing..I guess I hide behind causes...). But more or less, people have left me alone, which I really need right right now. And having Idan's family around hass been suc a blessing (who would've thought?) My mother in law and I have really bonded over the past month and I really look forward to a good relationship with her!

Idan has been in reserves for the past 3 weeks, but Ive had him home for about a week of that, so it hasn't been too bad. If anything, we have both really enjoyed this time apart. I had time to work and settle the house, Idan had a break from prego, nagging Safra. A win-win situation. Now one more week and he will be back in reality, needng to find work and back to surviving mode.

I dont know why we ever came up with economics and finances...what a waste of life trying to make it from month to month, only to try to get more and more and then acheive "financial security", which in itself is an oxymoron, as any newly poor rich man would attest to. But we do, so Idan needs to find a job, and I need to keep working.

Luckily, I have the absolute best work in the world for me right now, so at least I get to live out the brilliant quote "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do".

My belly is really bulging, and bigfoot kicks like crazy. The doc was shocked when he saw baby's foot and wanted to make sure it was a boy, cuz "That is one big foot!" :). I can't really hide it any more, as I managed to fo the first 6 months, my cover up shirts now bulge out and show some sexy underbelly...oh well. I do love putting my hands on my tummy and connecting with bigfoot, though. It makes me really happy knowing he's swimming around in there.

I really want to upload some pics, but Idan left that camera in the reserves, so it will have to wait another week. Just imagine a blonde cow...

OK, so thats the news from lake Wobegon, not to exciting, but my life, and really nice...

Time to Share the Excitement

I have been putting this off for long enough, and I have run out of excuses why not to do this...I am also completely jetlagged and bored at one thirty in the morning, so we are pleased to announce to the world, that we have a little baby boy on the way!

We are just beginning our 18th week, he has passed all of his tests with flying colors and has even flown to the States in my belly, for his great Grandmother's funeral and survived a severe virus that Mommy caught. I am finally at a place where I think that everything will be alright!

Personally, I have relished in being pregnant. The exhaustion, nausea and headaches of the first trimester let me know on a minute to minute basis that baby is alive and well, and there is no better feeling than knowing that! Idan has been such a strong support, always there for me, learning patience overnight (I used to be really laid back and easy to deal with...then comes baby) and offering to help in anything, whether cooking (all the time), cleaning (his most hated chore in the whole wide world) or getting whatever it is that I am craving at the moment. I am so lucky to have him!

Now that we are mid second trimester, I am completely content. I love watching my belly grow and feel so sexy all the time! It was well worth the first three months for this!

I think it also came at the perfect time, as my Grandmother just passed away, but we were able to share the news with her and give her the pleasure of knowing that she has a great Grandchild.

So, seeing as my computer has gotten a mind of its own and wont let me add punctuation at the right places, below I have added a few pics that my Mother took at 16 weeks:

Trip to the Dead Sea

To both of our amazement, we were actually pretty busy over Pesach and had a lot of fun! The Seder was still a bummer for me, ending in record time of about half an hour, but the rest of the Chag was really fun.

We visited a few old friends that we hadn't seen in a while, one in Ashdod near Gaza, who is a friend of Idan's way back from his army days. We also met up with our old neighbors, who had just moved into a house that we had considered a few months back...it is the weirdest thing with us, we are always interested in the same homes! They almost took the one we live in now, we almost took the one they just moved into, we both wanted the same house two years ago (before we met--the owner was obnoxious and the deal fell through) and we were next dor neighbors in the same apartment/house that we just moved out of...I wonder if the universe is telling us something?

Last week we went to the Dead Sea area for hiking and camping. The hiking lasted all of one short hike (mabye a kilometer each way) up to Mt. Sodom. We had intended to visit the Flour Caves, but just our luck, it was closed due to a collapse!

So we did the hike and Kiri, our oldest dog, spent the entire way down walking rrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllyyyyyy slowly and limping a bit, so we used the excuse not to hike anymore (well more I went along with Idan for the benefit of the dog, but still...)

It was a beautiful hike, as all hikes are, but there is something special about the desert. Plus, the last time I was there, I had gotten in trouble for something and was not allowed to join my classmates on the hike, so I made up for a missed opportunity...

In the background of the photo, you can see the Dead Sea. Idan and I both gasped with disbelief at how much of the Dead Sea was gone due to over harvesting...ever since I remember, there were actually 2 Deas Seas (separated in the pasy few decades due to man's rediculous notion of money being more important that the Earth that sustains us), but this time, it was really scary. The gap between the seas was huge!

After the hike we drove down to Maktesh Katan (the Little Crater, or as the sign says, the little Maktesh :) where we decided not to camp.

So, we drove back up to the Dead Sea, stopped to check out what happens when one doesn't heed God's warnings...see if you can guess who this is...

...and found the PERFECT spot to camp. I spent the first hour a bit freaked that it would flood right where we were, as two rivers convereged there when it rains, but the forecast only called for rain the next morning, so I chilled and enjoyed the beauty!

We built a lovely fire (more Idan built and I enjoyed the warmth)

...and Mica spent the night on guard for bad guys, who might dare to attack.

I doubt anyone would be that stupid with a dog like Mica guarding us.

Kiri, on the other hand, was out like shout...she barely moved the rest of the trip. Someones's getting old!

The next morning we watched the sun rise over Jordan...

Then hauled it before the rains came and flash floods hit...

Overall, we had a lot of fun, didn't get eaten by any scorpions, and agreed that we have to do this more often!

So, we had a really fun Pesach break, and now, it is taking all of my willpower to get back on schedule and work...Thank goodness I love my job, or this would be impossible! Se la vie...