A New year and a New Grandbaby :)

We left Wagga Wagga on the 2nd January and travelled as far as Coonabarabran.  It was a full day - leaving Wagga at 9.30am and making Coonabarabran by 630pm.  We set up under some shady trees and settled in for the night at the CaravanPark.  We were up and on our way by 8,30 NSW time the next morning.  We reached Goondiwindi at 1.30pm NSW or 12.30 QLD time and decided to push on as far as possible.
We managed to get to Jimboomba just on 5pm QLD time and surprised Beckie and the family as they weren't expecting us until the next day :)
We spent several days with the family and celebrated Matt's birthday with a BBQ lunch on the 5th.  His birthday was the 4th but his brother had to work - so the celebrations were postponed a little.  We had a lovely day with everyone there to wish him a good birthday.
Miss Gemma was due back from her father's the next afternoon so we stayed until she returned.  We had a short time with Gemma until we said goodbye and headed back to our home.
We were lovingly greeted by my Cousin Ronnie and Graeme and it was good to see them.
We settled into home for the night and then spent the next day getting all the washing etc out of the van.  We had only just begun when we got a call to say that Beckie's waters had broken and that she was heading into the hospital. We freshened up and headed on in.
We were at the hospital for a couple of hours when labour started and at 6pm we all thought that it would not be long and we would greet the little person - gender unknown :D
Well - when they inserted an intravenous canula and took bloods to check levels - EVERY ground to a halt.  YEP - no action what so ever!!!!  At 9.30 the decision was made to transfer Beckie back to the ward and to await action overnight.  If nothing happened then she would be augmented at 6am.
We travelled home and set the alarm for 5am (thinking that we would be called in overnight) but the alarm went off and we were up and showered and on our way in by 5 to 6.  We stopped and got Matt some breakfast and then met Beckie and Matt on the ward.
AT 6.45am we were transferred to Birth Suites with Toni (the midwife) and Hayley (the student midwife) and the process began.  A tracing of the babies heart was commenced and then the Syntocinon infusion was begun.  Good strong and contractions started not long after and official labour began at 10.30am.  Everything was looking really promising and we thought that the baby would be born before lunch - but that wasn't to be.  The little bugger was keeping itself nice and high and not pressing on the cervix to make it dilate.  The Syntocinon was increased slightly and even though she desperately felt the need to push - we had to make Beckie breathe through the contractions.  At 11.30 she was examined and it was found that the baby was STILL "way up there" and didn't seem to be moving down.  We did know that the baby had its back to Beckies back - which explained why the labour was not progressing like her last two labours :(
We tried different positions to try and encourage the baby to move but nothing seemed to work.  Beckie was tiring quickly and the pain was becoming unbearable.  Her blood tests had come back and her platelets (that were low) had come up to normal levels.  She was demanding an epidural to help her cope and so that she could get some rest - and her wish was granted.  At 2.30 the epidural went in and Beckie was coping great with the contractions again. At 5pm she was examined and the baby was still high - so intervention methods were discussed with her and Matt.
At 6.15 the Midwives that had been looking after Beckie all day were advised that after 12 hours they MUST take a 4 hour break.  Two of Toni's team joined us and Di was looking after Beckie now.  An examination was attended and Beckie was finally fully dilated and she was asked to push.  Initially nothing seemed to be happening and then SUDDENLY everything was happening.  From a little bit of 'hair on view' to the whole baby born in less than an few minutes .  YAY  IT is a BOY!!!!!
At 6.33pm Luke Paul Beckett was born.
Am having trouble with the programme - trying to add photos but having no luck.  Will keep trying.

Everything went very well and then at 8pm he was weighed and his vital statistics recorded.
4170gm or 9lb 3 oz, 53.5 cm long (21 inches approx.) and 38 cm (14 3/4 inch) head.  A big boy - much bigger than we had expected :)
Matt's family was contacted and they were bringing in the other children and Darryl was bought in from the waiting room :) and we all got to check Luke out.
Darryl and I left at 10pm and went home for a well deserved sleep.  Both of us had shore backs and legs from our long days :)
We went back into hospital and visited Beckie and Luke the next morning - catching up with lots of lovely friends and Nanna's.  We left at 2.30pm just before the grandchildren were due to arrive and also the excited Uncle Ben.
Since then we have taken everything out of the caravan and will try and get it weighed whilst empty to confirm if the compliance plate is correct or not and then take it to the Gold Coast for some insurance work on the side of the van.
Friday saw Darryl and I go to the Gold Coast and visit with our dear friends Doreen and Ken who were holidaying with their daughter and her family.  We spent a lovely 4 hours with them and it was sad to say goodbye.