My wife Tantri who was pregnant 35-36 weeks recently had a terrible ill. She suffered from terrible feverish, bad headache, and felt like to throw-up at the same time. I recalled that was the 2nd time she had fallen sick, and suddenly all the bad experiences I had was crossing my mind: the restless nights, all the worries and hospital rushing I experienced like haunting sceneries played in my mind.

Tantri was planned to give birth in late April or early May. I often made joke that I wish our baby boy’s (we knew this from the 3D baby scanning) birthday to be in early May, so it will be near or overlapping hers, so we can save some amount for the “merged” birthday parties to carry.

This time the sick was actually not as bad as the first one, but who would expect that in the night, just after I managed to get a prescription from my mom, a medical doctor who lives in Pekanbaru, Sumatra (more than 1,000 miles from where we live in Bali), and my wife had just taken the 2nd antibiotic capsules and started to feel better, my wife had fetal-membrane opening, her water broke and must give birth immediately!

It was Sunday, April 13 2008, 1:30 am in the morning, we suddenly found ourselves rushing to “Harapan Bunda” maternity hospital, which we had already chosen sometimes earlier to be “the place” for giving birth. The maternity doctor consulted by the nurse over the phone, after learning the situation advised to do a caesar surgery, which I could deeply understand, given the high risk we were facing: mother was sick, amniotic fluid was flowing out rapidly and the baby had been stressed out due to mom’s illness, and we’re about 8-12 hours before actual delivery time.

The caesar surgery went out fine, and at about 5.10 am our baby boy, Maxi, was born. Maxi weighed at 2,900 grams and 52 cms length and like other babies do already crying out loud saying “hello” to the world. Maxi had been born at least 2-3 weeks early. Though that’s not really matter from wellness point of view (baby has actually developed completely and he’s there just to gain some fat, weight and practice some “survival” skills), still, it explained his lack of weight.

Welcome to the world my astronaut (I used to say Maxi was an astronaut being buoying in mom’s amniotic fluid with head upside-down, just like an astronaut at no gravity zone), you are the love of my life. We love you very much.

Tantri is getting better, she is being treated for her sickness. A right antibiotic apparently needed at this situation, it’s just our baby had pressed the “cockpit eject” button, launching his ship to the world, our world. Welcome to the world son, we’re lovin’ you instantly.