This hour 4 years ago .....

Four years at this time (2:50am), I was with my wife at the Damansara Specialist labour room. The doctor has stopped giving my wife steroids and the medication to delay labour (her water bag burst prematurely and medication has to be given to delay labour in order that the lung is more fully developed).

Four years ago, wife was screaming in pain and we were waiting for the doctor to come to administer her epidural injection and we were told that he was coming all the way from Ampang. She was in so much pain that they gave her laughing gas. Anything, anything to stop the pain.

I was so tensed and worried seeing her in such pain.

The doctor finally came and asked us to read the pamphlet about the risks associated with epidural. Honestly, we didn't bother. We just bloody signed the form and asked him to get on with it. He gave the first dose but the pain refused to go away. He frowned and GOD, that is the worst thing a doctor could do in front of his patient ... that frown.. So, what does it mean? Is there a problem? What? What? What is that frown supposed to mean? Damn it! Don't just frown....Talk to me!

"Emmmm....still painful?" he asked.
"Yes! Yes!" my wife almost screamed.
"Ok..I increase dosage and see ...." he calmly answered....

30 minutes on, he came back and asked "still pain?"
"Yes! Still very painful!" wife answered impatiently....

And he frowned AGAIN! And this time with a rather worried looking face! I just cannot described the stress level I was going through then. But nevertheless, have to put up a brave front for my wifey...

"I have already given you a large dosage...eeemmmm.....ok....I increased a bit more and see ..." he said matter of factly....

Thank God that final dosage helped and the pain finally subsided 30 minutes later. Wife finally got to catch some sleep and seeing her sleeping, I slipped back to our room in the hospital for some shut eye...

I woke up at 6:45 am and stumbled over to the labour room ...and what did I see? Dr Guna was already there and getting my wife ready to deliver...

"Get ready." he said..."he is coming"

I ran back to the room, grabbed my camera and video camera (because wife insisted that the incident be recorded, else she would rip my head off)

The moments spent in the labour room the next 15 minutes were intense and nerve wrecking. She huff and puff, screamed and pushed....

At 7:03am, baby Ryan arrived safely into our family .....

Thinking back, all these seemed like just yesterday but so much have happened within these four years. We have all come a long way. Ryan has came a long way. From a 2.2 kg pre-matured baby, he is now a 14.5kg super hyper active boy that seemed to have an endless supply of energy that super charged his legs and turbo charged his stamina, not to mention his brain and mouth that just would not stop talking, asking questions or getting him into trouble ....

Happy Birthday my dear son, for completing our lives with such happiness and joy, filling our hearts with your cheeky laughter, breaking our silence and tranquility with your constant screams and excitement. We love you and never stop being you..because we love you for who you are ...

Thank you mommy for bringing him into the world, the bravery and the courage that you have to muster (knowing how much you fear pain and blood), the long suffering you endured and the patience you shown in guiding and teaching him to be what he is today...a son that we are truly proud of ....