Coming Home from Hospital

Rika and Hanna came home from hospital today.


When I arrived at Rikas room to pick them up, Hanna was sleeping on Rika's chest.


It was just a 15min ride home by taxi. Hanna is wrapped up in a sling and has fallen asleep.

Like this...

Rika's mum, Atsuko, and sister, Yasuyo, were waiting at our apartment.

Minimi and Sasuke were also waiting outside on the terrace. They had both turned 5-years old while Rika was in hospital. I have been putting them out for the last few days so that they will get used to it before Hanna came back.

This is Yasuyo holding Hanna for the first time.


This is Hanna's first feed at home. Note Minimi watching from the stairs.

At first Minimi didn't know what to make of this new cat-sized addition to the family. You can clearly see his worried look as he observes Rika feeding Hanna - watching intently with his head forward and ears back.

After that Minimi got quite clingy and demanded to sit in my lap. I had to give him lots of love to show he is still my 'top-cat' - even if he's no longer the top 'cat-sized-person' - until he fell asleep on my chest.

This photo shows Minimi sitting on my lap watching Rika, Hanna and Atsuko.

Hanna seems to have adjusted will to the change of scenery. But she has been crying a lot.

Fortunately she settles quickly when she is put in a sling. Here Yasuyo is calming Hanna, using Rika's sling.

We also bought a sling for me so we don't need to adjust Rika's all the time, and so I don't need to wear pink floral patterns. This sling is actually from a New Zealand company called 'Natures Sway', so it's nice and big and available in masculine beige canvas.

Here is the 'dads-eye' view of Hanna, fast asleep in the sling...

... and the dads-eye view of Minimi demanding not to be left-out.

We don't have a cot so for now we plan to change nappys and also sleep on a baby-futon on the floor...

while the cats are safely out on the terrace.

You can see Minimi has taken the 'power seat' on top of the cage, while Sasuke is patrolling. The cardboard boxes have cat beds in them and cork tile flooring so they should be quite comfortable, even when its no longer 25 degrees at night.

Bath Time

One of the last things we did before we left the Red Cross hospital, was to have a lesson in bathing our baby.

This isn't Hannas first bath but its one of the first and she clearly finds it strange.

Portraits of Hanna (8 days)

I took this eseries of photos of Hanna this afternoon at the Red Cross Hospital just after she woke up.

Family Visitors

Rika's Mum came up to Tokyo from Ikadaba last Tuesday and has been a massive help to us both. I have been trying to learn her 'Granny Magic' for calming Hanna.



Rika's friend Kyoko

Rika's sister Naomi

Three generations of S.'s.

Hanna's cousin Masumi

Hanna enjoyed the attention (but didn't let it go to her head)

Uncle Takashi

Lovely flowers from Mum and Dad. Somehow coordinated nicely with the blankets! Rika really appreciated the thought.

Proud Parents

Two proud and happy parents have been enjoying Hannas 2nd and 3rd day in the world together.

Hanna and Rika are busy learning the ancient Japanese art of 'Opaido' (the way of the breast). It starts like this....

And ends like this....

Hanna has a tendency to fall asleep on the job.

Like every new parent Im struck by how small she is. Tiny hands...

...tiny body that seems almost weightless...

and cute, tiny feet..

Rika, on the other hand, is shocked by how big she still is.

Im enjoying holding Hanna, especially wnhen she sleeps in my arms.

This is the 'Dads eye' view

Since Rika isn't very mobile yet, Im picking up Hanna and cuddling her when she is upset. Hanna often likes being held like this, but she still seems disappointed that I don't have a nipple on my neck.