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!

15 days old -- Proud owner of US Passport!

Joshua is now the proud owner of a U.S. passport at age 15 days!  Thank God for the speed of this processing!  Jenn thought that yesterday was Joshua's 2 week doctor appointment so we hauled the whole family down to the doctor's office only to find out she had the wrong date.  Fortunately, the trip was not wasted.  We took a jaunt across the street to the Botanic Gardens for a few pictures, and then learned Josh's passport was ready for pick-up at the U.S. embassy next door.  For about half a day we entertained ideas of going home early, but then we found out the next document won't be complete until February 8th.  So we are sticking with the original plan of heading home on February 11th. 

A passport for Joshua

Our newest family photo!

Mommy with her boys!

15 days wit Bethany Joy

 Thoughts of Bethany

I didn't remember right away on the morning of Joshua's 15th day.  Dave reminded me.  We had 15 sweet and painful days with Bethany before she went to Jesus.  I haven't been able to help remembering some of the events of those 15 days and contrast them with the last 15 days we've had with our very healthy boy.  Now our hearts and our hours are full of joy and gratitude for Jonathan and Joshua ....except for that one missing piece that is Bethany ....the piece that will be found again when we are reunited in heaven someday.  On the days when Jonathan is driving me crazy and Joshua is struggling with gas bubbles in his tummy, it's nice to know I have one child who is perfect in heaven!   Bethany's website is still up. 

Singing to Joshua

Looks like I finally am able to upload this video!  Josh was 3 days old at the time!  Hope it gives you a chuckle!

Side by Side

I couldn't resist ....
Jonathan on the left at 2 days old.  Joshua on the right at 8 days old. 

The boys together -- sort of

I'm wanting so badly to get some pictures of the boys together!  Today we tried it with Daddy helping.  Jonathan wouldn't sit still, so we resorted to pulling out some new library books that Sister Gene brought home last night.  This is a lovely photo....too bad the top of Dave's head got cut off! 

 

Such a cool book about diggers and earth movers!  Jonathan's attention was quite captured by the pictures, and Joshua was just happy as a clam to be included.  

I suppose we always wonder what other people think of us.  Lately I've been thinking that YOU'VE been thinking...."That poor kid Jonathan needs a haircut!"  It's true.  He just refused the last couple of times, and then it just got so cute I couldn't bear to cut it.  But today was the day -- the perfect combination of willingness on Jonathan's part and pity on my part (his head must be so hot!).  It's not professional, you know, just a running over the head as fast as possible with the clippers.  Here's the post haircut proof picture!  Feels like I have a different kid!

Our first week with Joshua

So amazing to think that exactly a week ago, we were in the delivery room!

We've had happy moments, wow moments, "ah-hah" moments, and quite a lot of confused and grumpy ones too.  After seeing the "first family photo" on our e-newsletter this week, one friend wrote and said Jonathan looked rather confused.  Poor guy, he really is.  I still don't have a photo of the boys together -- Jonathan doesn't really sit still for long enough and hasn't learned how to be gentle.  I've tried to hold the camera in one hand while protecting Joshua with the other ....all is blurs.

One big plus of this week is Jonathan has been spending a ton of time with his Daddy.  They go to the playground each morning for over an hour.  They went to church all on their own yesterday ....walked to the bus-stop without a stroller!  We've discovered the community pool is only a 19 minute walk away, so Dave is excited about taking Jonathan there as often as he can.  Only $2 (SGD) for both of them to swim, and 4 pools to choose from!   Jonathan has needed a lot of limit-enforcement this week, and I'm so thankful Dave is here to help.   He is a great daddy and a wonderful and patient husband!

Joshua is as sweet as can be, in his first few weeks of newborn perfection before colic and other stuff set in.  One thing we learned with Jonathan is overstimulation = not a good thing.   So Joshua is already going to bed when Jonathan does, and our evenings have thus far been quite peaceful. 

A few pics from our week: 

This little bamboo chair (which I refused to sit in while pregnant) is the perfect baby lounger!  It only weighs about 2 pounds and can be moved anywhere in the home! 

This photo is to answer that question "What color are his hair and eyes?"  His hair is darker than Jonathan's was, I think and his eyes are kind of a muddy hazel (not newborn baby blue.)  My hunch is that Joshua might be our brown haired, brown eyed boy.  We'll know for sure in about a year. 

Just throwing this one in because it's cute!

Gotta show off the whole package, especially those cute toes!

"Show me your teeth" did not produce a smile this time.  Here is Jonathan yesterday carefully arranging his cars for a photo.

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!