smitten!

I confess! I'm smitten. I can't wait to show you Caleb's little dimple on his right cheek, if I could just catch it on camera. Well, I guess he is only three days old; there's time yet ;o) He has already changed since this photo was taken (his eyes are less 'puffy'). He checks everything out now, and while I am feeding him, he tracks Karl's face with eyes. Pretty miraculous!

More to come!

more pics

Caleb is doing very well; we are on our way back to the hospital for an evening feeding. Wanted to show off some more pictures... wish we could call each of you with updates! We will be in touch soon...

He has mild jaundice and is receiving some phototherapy; here he catching his rays!

It's a boy!!!

It's a boy!!!

I guess that's not exactly a surprise. The surprise was when Dayna woke me up at 5:30am Thursday morning and told me, "I think we need to go to the hospital." My first thought (Dayna doesn't even know this yet) was "are you sure, he is five weeks early." Fortunately, I have learned from my first and only prenatal class that the first cardinal rule for deciding when to go to the hospital is whenever she wants to go. We arrived at the hospital at 7:00am. To make a long story very short, Dayna gave birth to Caleb Sing-Kwong Chu on July 26^th, 2007 at 8:55pm. He weighted in at 2,449 grams (5 lb 6 oz) and was 46cm (18 inches) long.

Despite being five weeks early, Caleb has been breathing on his own since birth. He was put under a temperature regulator but did need it anymore in a few hours. He is still getting half his nutrition through an I.V., but he is doing real good feeding as well. When he is able to feed normally, he will be taken of the I.V. and he will likely go home shortly after that. Dayna is also healing quite fast and well. We expect Dayna to be able to come home tomorrow (Saturday).

Caleb, a biblical name, has the meaning of faithful and bold. We want him to have the same faithfulness and courage as Caleb in the bible. Sing-Kwong (承光) means "to bear light" or "bearer of light". We want him to be a light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16).

Where to Start?!

I can hardly believe that it's been nearly a month since I blogged last. Karl has broken a record... two consecutive posts before I got back to it! I'm not even sure where to start; it's been a jam packed month, but full of all those "that's-what-summer-is-for" happenings. I bet pictures is the best place to start:

Forsyth's June visit: Zoo Trip

Forsyth's June visit: the guys took the kids to Science World so that my mom and Melissa and I could go do a birthday/girls' day. We had an awesome lunch at the Brava Bistro, and Melissa and I each got some cute 'birthday money' outfits. Mom was the fashion consultant ... and financier :)
My 31st birthday was on 07/07/07... crazy eh? Maybe I am extra lucky now? Too late; I already feel like the "luckiest" gal around :) great friends, great family, great husband, great baby on the way... and how about that Skor bar blizzard DQ ice cream cake?! YUM.I am done my CCUFairs position and spent last week hiring my replacement (she's fabulous); Karl assembled an armoire in our living room so that we can have a more accessible computer; my office is in the basement, and I was in the habit of using the laptop in the kitchen... but the laptop is not mine, and went to its new home with Julie :(

Next on the furniture assembly priority list: our new crib and baby-change-table-dresser! Maybe when the weather cools off a bit (they're upstairs and boy has it been toasty warm in these here parts!).
And last but not least in my summary of what feels like the busiest month ever (I didn't even get started on my uncle's wedding, and can you believe I missed pictures of the chocolate fondue and finger nail painting with my cousins (13 and 17 years old)?...

Tonight's Dinner: mmmmandarine chicken salad with cashews and pea pods and perfectly grilled-by-Karl chicken


It won't be as long of a break until next blog... I am working a couple of weeks full time at my church, then I am officially off on maternity leave. If baby waits long enough, I will have nearly a month off before he comes. All is going well with Baby Chu by the way! Six more weeks (sigh!). We had our first prenatal class on Thursday and that was already good for some laughs.

My Mom and Trent head off to Vegas in a couple of weeks; I am not jealous of the heat they will have there, but I am definitely jealous of their tickets to the Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil's "O".

I think I hear some left-over DQ ice cream cake calling my name... :)

Malt Beverage

Dayna and I went to the Calgary Co-op to pick up some grocery this afternoon. I saw this "Malta" drink and decided to give it a try... and now I can claim that I have given it a try...

It tastes like watered-down carbonated molasses with a slightly bitter Milo aftertaste. It is not that bad, but I had it with my supper. So in contrast with the mandarin chicken salad, the bitterness was very pronounced.

It is now about ten minutes after supper and I am just finishing the last bit of it. It is a bit more enjoyable but I probably won't have it again. Nevertheless, it was definitely a worthwhile adventure for the day.

My new favorite quote

If everything is under control, you are going too slow. - Mario Andretti