6 Months Later, Welcome Isaac!

I'm really, really, really hoping that the adage "Better late than never" applies to this scenario. Our third son is turning 6 months old today. TODAY!! And unlike with his older brothers, I haven't yet written out his birth story. As with every birth story, this one has it's unique aspects. So here you go!

Due date: August 20, 2016

Because of airline restrictions when pregnant and undesirable medical care in our country, I needed to be done flying before I hit the 36 week mark. So our family had tickets to fly to Istanbul for Baby's birth (this one's nickname was Baby, since we were going without knowing the gender again) July 16. The morning of flying out, Matt and I each did one last e-mail check before waking up Michael and Samuel. We didn't really anticipate anything, but just as a precaution, figured it was a good move. Turned out this was correct, because one of the ladies on our update list had written asking if we had already gotten to Istanbul and if we were okay based on what was currently going on there.

WHAT?!?!

So a quick Google search showed that there was an attempted coup happening in Istanbul, with specific portions of it happening at the airport we were going to fly into. Eek! Needless to say we started making phone calls to various people who make calls on how to handle situations like this, partially just to verify that there in fact was a reason for concern.

There was. Happy 8 months pregnant to me, right? ;)

After 3 conversations which involved waking 2 people up in the middle of the night, we loaded the boys up and drove to the airport. Matt went inside to see what was going on, then came back out and we got the approval to not get on that flight but work on a re-route.

So we came back, let the boys watch a cartoon, then got a little more sleep before working on finding a different place to go and getting the tickets and easiest paperwork option required for a pregnant lady to fly on to a new place.

We were honestly really looking forward to being in Istanbul for a birth again. We knew the doctor. We knew the hospital. We had made friends with some people there that we were looking forward to hanging out with. We knew how to live in that city. Basically, we knew what to expect and we liked it. A lot.

We ended up flying through Dubai and having an almost 24 hour layover there on my birthday (hooray for yummy birthday food!), then flew on to Budapest. Now as a city, Budapest is much, much more our style than Istanbul. It's smaller, public transportation is easier, English felt a little more prevalent, and it's, well, European. The medical coordinators who lived there were on-the-ball with picking us up from the airport, getting us to a little place to stay, and taking a couple hours to show Matt around and get him set up for him to take care of us well there.

But the place they had us staying stressed me out. It was teensy. There was a bedroom with a queen bed, and the couch in the living room was laid down and made up into a bed. The little table for eating had to be moved around so we either had room to sit at it for a meal or walk in the living room. There were 2 burners in the kitchen, a mini-fridge, and enough counter space for a loaf of bread to sit on. People who live in Europe probably are used to close quarters and aren't thrown off by the lack of space. But thinking of living in these conditions for potentially 2 months, while also adding in a little baby, brought the tears. Lots and lots and lots of them.

Happy Belated Birthday to Cindy!

So after some more e-mails asking how we were supposed to make this work, we got approval to look around for other housing. We spent a few days looking at options and eventually found something that had a full kitchen and three bedrooms that would take us through the due date to the end of August, where we could look at that point for other options if we needed them.

Zoo time

We moved and got settled in this place and spent the days waiting for Baby's arrival. Matt took M&S out almost every day and did the grocery shopping and, frankly, most of the cooking. We tried to structure life so I could take is easy, not wanting to trigger Baby's arrival before my sister made it to us August 17. We didn't have any guarantee that someone could watch M&S when I went into labor, hence wanting to wait for her.

And ice cream time

In the meantime I got to meet my doctor and get a view of the "hospital" where I would deliver. Wowser!! Hospital is in quotes because it's set up more like a clinic, having regular business hours during the day but not being open 24/7. I was told it would take an hour or so to get the delivery team together if I went into labor at night.

We enjoyed good food and fun in Budapest until August 16. The downside of being there was the lack of community. We didn't meet anyone except the medical coordinators, and while they were superb, they didn't have time for socializing.

That night we put the boys to bed and were watching a show. During the show I started feeling something. You'd think that with this being my 3rd kid I'd recognize contractions, but still was unsure it was really happening. But since it would take an hour to get the delivery team together, we got the ball rolling to get to the hospital. And our medical coordinators came through with one of them staying at our place while M&S slept and the other taking us to (and staying at!) the hospital.

This hospital is swanky. Seriously. It apparently used to be a 5-star hotel, and they've done a wonderful job of keeping the luxury feel of the place for their clients. We got an apartment that hosted a queen bed for recovery. I never got poked once with a needle, but there was a way to quickly get me into surgery if that need arose (which is thankfully didn't).

Daddy got skin time

Bonding in the real bed (as opposed to hospital bed)

M&S are sleeping at home the whole time we're out having this little guy...crazy!

We called for the team to gather around 10:15 the night of August 15 (Matt's and my anniversary), were at the hospital by 11:30, and when the midwife checked me in, I was at 5cm. The doctor arrived about an hour later. There was also a pediatric nurse there for when Baby came. That was the delivery team. Oh, and there was NOT an anesthesiologist. That's the one part of this scenario that I wasn't pleased with. I had told everyone related to this pregnancy that I wanted an epidural if I made it to hospital early enough to get one. They all knew this. They had told it back to me. But he didn't show up. I didn't ask why. But I did scream and cry while pushing. So much for planning ahead with the epidural. :(

First holding by Sam

First holding by Michael

Anyway, yet again I had a pretty quick delivery. Baby was born at 2:05 am at 7 lbs. 6.7 oz. and 21 in. long. For what felt like several minutes (in reality, it was probably only 1 min.) we didn't know if Baby was a boy or a girl. They placed Baby on me wrapped in a towel and no one announced the gender. Matt kept trying to get a peak at where the goods would be, but it wasn't happening. Finally he saw what he needed to see and Isaac Devon Mitchell had a name. :)

Paperwork took a while since you have to get a Hungarian birth certificate in order to apply for a US CRBA and passport, so after 2 weeks we had what we needed and an appointment at the embassy was available.

Everyone loves a sleeping baby, right?

Breakfast was yummy, and lunch included sushi. Score!!

Slightly awake

Snuggles from Aunt Vicky!

The nice staff humored Michael's love for gloves. 

Love the joy!

Teaching Isaac the ropes of manhood 

'Sup?

In the meantime, my sister arrived the evening of August 16, which was just in time to give Matt extra hands with the older 2 boys and go on outings around town. She stayed with us for 2 weeks and we all LOVED having her around! So glad she had the time and resources to visit us for that time.

Love this picture of Aunt Vicky!

Obligatory nap time photo

Like father, like son.

My favorite picture to date. Melt my heart...

First bath at home.

"One order of food to go, please."

Not the hairiest kid I've seen, but definitely the most hair of our three boys.

Third kid goes on a lot more outings earlier in life than his brothers did.

More snuggles with Aunt Vicky

And our first family-of-5 photo...success!!

This one in particular is enamored with Isaac and a huge help to his parents.

So (belated) welcome Isaac, and happy 6 months! We love you and you are such an easy baby. You laugh and smile freely, especially at Mommy. You go to people readily, and you sleep and eat like a champ. I'm really looking forward to seeing what all you bring to our family as you continue to grow.