The Thunder Down Under: Updated

As I write this, Amy, beloved sister and blogger at Matron Down Under, has gone into the hospital to have her baby girl. Or, as they say down there, she's "gone into hospital." (I think when Australia was a prison colony, the definite article was in short supply, so they got used to going without.) Through some elven magic, it is midnight Tuesday night there, and she was checking in late in the evening to begin induction. She's only a few days past her due date, but she went in to her OB's office yesterday and told him that if he didn't induce her, she was going to go outside and jump up and down on the hood of his car. So he was blinded by her American sunshine and gave in.

I feel like she's been pregnant forever. Seriously, I think it's been 11 months. I must have heard the good news before the cells began dividing. And as I've told you before, I am blamed for having spilled the beans to our mother before Amy could, simply by asking, "Have you talked to Amy lately?" And then there was the time she refused to get really drunk with me at Thanksgiving, "because of the baby." So you can see that this pregnancy has been full of ups and downs for me.

Here she is with Nate right before leaving home.

She said they do labor and childbirth a little differently down there--they don't go straight to an epidural for pain relief, but they have a progression of other things they try first. I said, "Amy, just tell them that an epidural is an important part of your culture," but she is a more natural girl. Here's hoping for an uncomplicated delivery and a healthy baby Grace. As much as we in the developed world are lucky enough to be "used to" childbirth as a normal thing that women do, it never seems really routine. Whenever a woman gets ready to have her baby, it's like she's going on a journey, and she has to travel beyond the safe places of our everyday world, and go on a dangerous crossing, all by herself. Sure, we can love her and try to help her, but we're really just waving and calling from the shore. So come on, Amy! We are here waiting for you and for that baby. Be strong, girl!

I will update y'all in case you somehow manage to escape the Twitter/Facebook/total media storm that my brother-in-law Jason will unleash.

And here she is! Grace Elaine:

She just arrived, 5lbs 13 ozs. Mother and baby are fine!