The birth of Shamus as told by his brother Reilly -

It started with mum having contractions, and it hurt. We rubbed her back and heated the wheat bag for her. We phoned the midwives because the baby was going to be born. We pulled the dresser out in mum and dads room for the plugs to be put in and put pads and stuff out for when the baby was being born.

When Luba and Deb arrived I showed them where the room was to put all their stuff in. Deb needed some scissors and I ran and got them for her. Then I got mum a water bottle because she was thirsty, and grandma and I had some stories while we were waiting..it wasn't very long.

Dad came and got grandma and I when it was time for the baby to be born. Mum was kneeling on the bed. I held mums arm and rubbed her back. When the baby was being born I stood with grandma at the end of the bed. Mum was making some noises so I came to check on her, I said "Hi mum" and I waved to her and mum smiled and said "Hi" back. When the head was coming I was very excited and I jumped up and down saying "Grandma, grandma its coming". I could see the head being born, I could see his hair and his ear and his nose.

Then I told Grandma "Grandma, grandma, we need a name for the baby!!"..but Grandma told me "We have to wait to see if its a girl or a boy". After his head came out a whole bunch of water came gushing out, then I stood by dad while the rest of the baby was being born. Dad told me "Reilly, its a boy, its a boy" and I said "Yeah, thats what I want!".

Luba put the baby on mums chest and I went over to have a look. Luba asked dad and I if we wanted to cut the cord, but I let dad do it and I watched. I ran and got my camera so I could take a picture of the baby. We all got to snuggle with Shamus for a long time and then Luba put the baby on the bed and checked his fingers and toes and then she put him in the scale. The scale looked like a hammock and I took a picture of him in there. Luba took out a tape measure to measure him. He weighed 9lbs and 9oz.

After he was done being weighed and measured I got to sit on the bed and hold him with mum. He was very heavy and wriggly, I really liked to hold him and I told him that I loved him. After that I had a bedtime snack and some stories then I got to hold him in the living room for a long time. I sat in the corner of the couch, it was really fun and I liked being his big brother. Then I went to bed.

In the morning Eli came and saw the baby in mum and dads room, then I came in too and told Eli "This is our new baby, Shamus". We had a pee and went back to bed to wait for Shamus to wake up, then Eli got up and played while I was in bed because I was tired from being up so late to help Shamus be born. Later in the morning Dad, Eli and I went to school to tell the kids about my baby brother. The kids thought it was pretty cool and Mrs Gronnestad said to tell mum that she beat her sheep having their babies!!

I like to tell Shamus that I love him and I like to call him Shamus.....

By Reilly Hogarth
21 jan 2001