Dawn and Charlotte
Well, I've finally found 10 minutes to tell the World the news, and if I haven't told you yet my apologies!

I'm now a dad, and Dawn is a mum, to Charlotte Rose Riley, born at 16:16, weighing 5lb 2oz, 35wks and 4 days (so a couple of weeks off full term). Yesterday was a pretty hectic scary and exciting day so I'll give you a quick rundown.

After arriving home on Sunday evening after a weekend in Carlisle Dawn was taken ill, vomiting with severe stomach pain about 1.30am. We phoned the hospital and they told us to come in. 2am we were there, and after a few tests and a few hours it was confirmed Dawn was suffering from pre-eclampsia. This is a pretty serious condition so she was placed in a high dependency unit and monitored closely. The consultant in the morning said the best thing to do was to leave baby inside as long as it was safe for Dawn (it affects Dawn and not baby you see). However by the afternoon Dawn's blood tests were showing the condition was worsening quite quickly and so the decision was taken to get Charlotte out. So whilst Dawn had the epidural to numb her (so she was still awake) I got into some scrubs! I went into the theatre and within 5 minutes Charlotte was born! It was the most magical moment, and there were a few tears! After that both baby and Dawn went back to the high dependency unit for further monitoring to make sure the toxemia went away and that baby was OK. Having been up for 22 hours straight we were both shattered, so we were very happy to have the chance for some sleep last night!

Today I'm pleased to report that both Dawn and Charlotte are doing fine, now on the normal ward. Charlotte is feeding well, alert with eyes open and very content, I've hardly heard her cry! Dawn is a little sore but on the whole coping well and the consultant says he hopes she'll be able to come home on Thursday, I can't wait!

That about wraps it up for now, suffice to say I don't think it has really sunk in yet, despite having changed 3 nappies so far! There are a few more photos in the photos section, or on Flickr. Oh and Dawn and I are overwhelmed with all the kind messages you've been sending, it means a lot to both of us to know we have so many thinking of us, thank you.