Baby J’s first!!!

Look at this picture... it narrates a thousand stories. It speaks about the journey this autism family has covered in the last one year. Avani’s smile and Jay’s comfort around her tells you how this little angel’s arrival has made a difference in our lives. 

Jay is one today and I can’t thank God enough for sending him to us. We needed him, almost desperately. 

I needed him to see another side of my maternal instincts. A mother who is not always struggling to be heard, a mother who is not always counting milestones, a mother who is not always looking at her child through a certain diagnosis. 

Aiyappa needed him. He knows Jay is a reflection of him in character not looks 😋

And Avani needed her baby brother to learn and unlearn so many things! She has to share her parents, her toys, her space and even her privacy (this boy goes to the toilet exactly at the time when she is there)! The bond has only started to develop. The layers of a relationship are only getting built one by one. Right now, he’s perhaps just a little toy for her to play with occasionally. Sometimes he’s fun but mostly annoying. 

But this little bundle of naughtiness is here and it’s amazing how quickly he’s become our lifeline. 

And by the way, I still sometimes press his nose to check for a nasal bone :)

Jay

I was particularly anxious on the night of 22nd November. Baby 2’s due date was still a  good three weeks away but my mind was not at peace. I checked out all of Avani’s Baby pics, consoled myself that I’ve already given birth to a beautiful baby and I should not be worried about anything! I slept pretty late and woke up to send Avani to school. Just as I was resting at about 8 in morning, my water broke! I made a hurried call to the husband who had gone to drop Avani and as soon as he was back, we left for hospital. After monitoring the baby’s vitals and checking my progress, they decided to wait for another 24 hours before scheduling a C-Sec. 23rd November went by in constant anticipation of what lies ahead. When they tie the baby monitor machine on you, they also ask you to count the kicks. At one point, the monitor went blank, husband and I jumped out of our seats only to realise that the machine had moved from its place! Phew!!! 

On the morning of 24th November, am being prepared for the operation. The filling of consent forms, checking of vitals, changing of dress, the questions, the gynaecologists, the nurses, the anaesthetist… it was so overwhelming! I just wanted everything to get over as quickly as possible but it would drag on… at least it felt like that. 

At precisely half past eight, my doctor walks in the OT, am semi conscious now, husband is sitting by my side looking like a ward boy, behaving like a doctor but actually all nerves!

At 8:53 AM, she says, “congratulations! Its a boy!” And I immediately turn towards my right, where the pead is cleaning him, I swear, the first thing I told myself, “he has a nose”…

Doctors got busy to stitch me up, husband got busy conveying the news and I slept. When I woke up, my lower half was still under the influence of anaesthesia. I asked for husband and when he came, the look of ‘all is well’ was good enough. The baby was ready to come to the room even before I was. 

It’s been three months now, touchwood all is well. I am a paranoid mother and like an idiot keep looking for signs if something is amiss. But Baby 2 is handling himself well :)

The focus needs to shift back on Avani. Poor kid has had a tremendous year too! From adapting to a new house to sharing her parents with a newborn to leaving her school and classmates of three years!!! It’s been a tough one for Avani. Am going to ask you all to remember her specially in your prayers once again. She is fascinated by baby 2 as much as we are. His arrival on the same day as my father’s 33rd death anniversary is truly a blessing. We’ve named him Jay - it also means blessing :)