31st July 2010 (Evening Update)

This afternoon, Sue and I drove to Lincoln with Lucas to meet the newest member of the family,  baby Ellis David, and spend a couple of precious hours with the proud (and thoroughly exhausted) parents.

Despite the gruelling ordeal of childbirth, Charlotte looked radiant, a far cry from how we remember her after Lucas’s arrival. She honestly looked as though she’d just stepped off the set of a baby magazine photo shoot. Closer inspection, of course, revealed the more sobering reality: she was hooked up to a drip and running on painkillers.

In conversation with the nurses and Suraj, we came to understand just how nightmarish the entire labour had been. Words like back-to-back, complications, and emergency caesarean were thrown about, and while I won’t pretend to grasp the full medical intricacies, it’s clear Charlotte went through a tough and painful ordeal. And yet, there she was, smiling, pleased to see us, brave as ever. We couldn’t be prouder of our daughter.

Both Charlotte and Suraj looked visibly relieved to see Lucas, who brought a welcome bit of normality and joy into the room. His little face seemed to lift their spirits more than anything else could; children have a way of doing that, even if they later throw up in your car (we’ll come to that).

Tiny Ellis, meanwhile, spent the entire visit blissfully asleep, utterly unfazed by the comings and goings around him. Even when Sue fed him a bottle, he drank the lot without ever opening his eyes, clearly already taking after his dad. I was absolutely delighted (and quite moved) when Suraj and Charlotte told me they’ve chosen David as his middle name. I tried to maintain composure, but inside I was glowing.

Naturally, we took a ridiculous number of photos, most of them of Ellis doing absolutely nothing except sleeping. Still, he’s a handsome little lad, and it’s already obvious he’s going to look just like his father.

We set off for home around 5.30 pm, but our journey hit a small bump, or rather, a back-seat explosion. Lucas, having indulged in one too many hospital sweets, redecorated the back of the car in spectacular style. Let’s just say, it wasn’t the triumphant return journey we’d imagined.

As we drove south, Sarah and Jamie were heading in the opposite direction to Lincoln to visit their new nephew. Sarah had just finished her first day at Savers and was eager to meet Ellis. I do hope Charlotte wasn’t too worn out by the evening visiting hours; she truly deserves a proper rest (as does Suraj).