US Delegation Arrives (Grandma-Pam)

Amy and Aliena are doing well -- turns out they will stay at the hospital a little longer to keep an eye on Aliena since she has elevated anti-body levels - Amy's water broke the night before (at the time it seemed like a really big pee...but who questions that at 4am??) which increases a risk of infection (it goes by some technical term that basically means a risk of inhaling some of your first poop). This means we are all doing laps back and forth to the hospital, Amy is starting to go a bit stir-crazy (although the room is getting very clean and organized), and Adrien gets to run outside around the hopsital grounds to get excess energy out.
Papi and Bonne Maman got to spend some good awake time with Aliena on Saturday while Adrien and Alexis when to welcome Grandma-Pam at the airport. Grandma-Pam got in a good visit with her newest grandchild while Alexis and Adrien ran around the hospital grounds (again....but now there is a major castle under constuction that invloves shoving sticks into the ground). Everyone re-convened at the hospital...adopting their usual roles...Papi carrying champagne, Bonne Maman a 'croustade' (a local tart), Pam holding the little baby, and we had the first official toast to Aliena's arrival.

Like all parents, we were a bit worried that Adrien would feel displaced or jealous - but so far that seems not to be the case. He gives his sister lots of kisses and cuddles (under supervision to prevent a squished baby) and tells everyone in the hospital halls about his little sister (and his is a 'big sister'...no no Adrien, you are the big brother). Yesterday morning Amy saw us coming from the parking lot and made a special point to put down Aliena to be there to give Adrien a big hug and keep jealousy at bay. Adrien ran towards her with a big smile, then at the last minute he faked left, spun right, and went straight to the bed to give his sister a kiss. Guess he is doing fine.

On a final note for the day, Aliena is already quite exceptional (in our completely unbiased and scientific opinion). She smiles (is it really just gas?), cries, flails her arms around, fills diapers like nobody's business, and looks just fine in pink. Pretty amazing for the first few days in the big wild world! We hope to get her home on Monday along with her mommy.