Last Singapore blog entry

Wow!  It's February 10th already and we are leaving Singapore tomorrow after spending 2 months here!

It has felt like a long stay, and we are very eager to get home but we have made some fun memories here!

Joshua is a month old today!  He's doing very well and weighs over 4.5 kg already -- that's  almost 10 pounds for you Americans.

We're in the frenzy of packing and last minute preparations but I want to upload some pictures before we leave.  Just FYI, we'll be off line for a while after we get home.  We decided to change internet providers, so it will be a week or more before the new service is up and running.

Again, our dearest thanks to Sister Gene who shared her home with us, and her love. Here she is at the hospital holding Joshua.

 Here we are at my post-natal check-up with the very glamorous and proficient Dr. Irene, the doctor who delivered Joshua.

While we were in Singapore, the country celebrated 3 of the biggest holidays of the year -- Christmas, New Year, and Chinese New Year.  On Chinese New Year, our friend Jojo took Jonathan for the day to go visiting people and spread joy and good cheer to all according to her report.  It's Chinese tradition to give little red envelopes of cash to children at New Years.  Here is Jonathan's collection (a few were for Joshua.)

Dave took Jonathan to the nearby local public swimming pool quite a few times.  The entrance was less than $2 Singapore for both of them, so definitely affordable fun!  Here is Jonathan in his suit waiting for Daddy to get ready to go.  He is sitting in the front door.  Most Singapore flats have a big metal "gate" with big locks like this one at the front entrance.

 Here are Dave and Jonathan hanging out in the kiddy pool on a hot afternoon.

 I could never have done these last 2 months without my wonderful husband, AKA Superdad!  He's helped out so much with household chores and hanging out with Jonathan so I could rest, heal, recover, and care for Joshua.  Here's a another shot of Dave and Jonathan having fun at the pool.  I went with them twice.

We did make it out to one of the many Singapore malls a few times for treats.  Here we are at Wendys -- in honor of Dave's dad.

 Finally, he is learning to cheese it up for the camara!

This photo was taken on a day when Dave had to go out on business and I took Jonathan outside for his playtime.  Here he is with one of his playground friends, Freida.  It's the first time I had met her, although Dave had told me of meeting her and her Daddy several times.  This time she was with her mom and grandma.  Upon meeting Joshua, who was 3 weeks old that day, Freida's mom shared with me that she had recently had an abortion for an early pregnancy because her husband didn't want a third child.  This family is from mainland China, where I think such occurrences are quite common.  She said she was doing "okay" but I wished I could have visited with her more times to get to know her better and be a blessing to her.

Just some more playground pictures......so much fun, we have to share!

First Pictures: Joshua Jason

Introducing Joshua Jason Patrow!  3.225 kg (7lbs 2 oz) 50 cm (19.7 inches) long. Born at Gleneagles hospital, Singapore, January 10, 2012 at 1138 am!

We like him quite a lot!

As always God provided perfectly in all ways.  This labor was a little different than with our other babies, but it was exactly what it needed to be!  We had a good night's sleep and started our breakfast routine at 6:30 am.  At 7 am I was noticing some increasing regularity and strength to my braxton-hicks and thought maybe it was the real thing.  We made it to the hospital by 9 am.  I had to have an hour long antibiotic infusion prior to delivery.   By laying very still on my left side in bed and by prayer and worship music was able to delay progression until that was all taken care of.  Finally, Dave helped me up and with a bit of walking, swaying and then a bit of moaning and screaming, I dilated from 5 cm to 10 cm in the space of about 10 minutes!  Shortly thereafter, Joshua was born, safe and sound!

Our first family photo!  Jonathan was cared for by our friend Jojo, who went above and beyond the call of duty.   Jojo, thank you.  Jonathan's first meeting with his brother consisted on a quick climb up on the bed, a brief glance, and the words "baby brother."  Then he was completely distracted by the buttons on the hospital bed, the remotes, the cameras and gadgets on the bedside table, eating a banana and then exploring the entire room!  In this photo, he looks a little spaced.  That's because we were finally able to get him to sit still by turning on some cartoons! 

Yesterday was the day after Joshua's birth, and here is Dave holding the actual Singaporean birth certificate in his hands.  We had heard it was possible, but thought it was too good to be true.  By comparison, in Oklahoma there is a 30 day wait for a birth certificate with no option to expedite.  All that was required was $40 and a 2 hour wait.  We also were able to get Josh's passport photos taken in the hospital the morning after his birth.  After discharge this morning, we took a short taxi ride across the street to the US Embassy where we applied for the special consular letter of birth abroad AND the passport, which the lady told us will be here in 1-2 weeks!  That's faster than you can get a passport in the US!  After that, the last step is the visa.  We have airline tickets to leave Singapore on February 11, and so far things are looking good! 

We praise and thank God for his faithfulness and provision!  It's been difficult to be separated from family at this time, as you can imagine.  We miss you, grandmas and grandpas!  Yet we are amazed at how God is giving us the help we need.  We are especially thankful who has helped with Jonathan these last 3 days....amazing!  I am also grateful for the 2 night (standard) stay in the hospital where Josh and I could rest and heal and get to know each other a bit without distraction.  It was needed!

Well, we are caring for a 2 year old and a newborn now!  Until the next update!