The story so far ...
relayed by Grandad

2001

January

A LATE ARRIVAL

Olivia Capetti was born on Friday 26th January 2001 at 4.30 pm. in Trowbridge Hospital. This was some eight days after the predicted date. She weighed 9lbs 15ozs.

WORRYING DAYS

Both she and Nadine had a difficult time during the birth - and it wasn't much fun for Vic either. As a result, Olivia was a bit poorly so they were both taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath. Olivia was put in the Intensive Care Unit for monitoring and for a series of tests to be carried out. Nadine had the advantage of a private room altghough it was rather bleak and lacking in facilities: however, it had the advantage that she could rest quietly and begin to recuperate from the strain of the previous eleven hours. An added discomfort was the large number of stitches in awkward places.

Many of you will know that it had not been easy for Nadine to get pregnant but eventually it happened naturally and the pregnancy was straightforward. As she had hoped, the birth was also natural but Olivia's delicate health afterwards was a real worry. The doctors and nurses gave excellent care and were also very good at keeping Nadine and Vic fully informed - but this meant that the "worst case" scenarios were put to them and so, inevitably, she worried about all the things that might happen. Hospital food did nothing to cheer her up so Vic ferried in emergency rations!

Olivia was by now having some medication which made her relaxed and sleepy so she looked lovely but could not be bothered to respond to the billing and cooing of parents and grandparents.

Spare another thought for Vic. Not only did he share the same worries as Nadine but was driving backwards and forwards to home and work and doing all sorts of jobs in between - so, not much sleep or rest for several days. As usual, he did not complain but just got on with it.

Fortunately the test results started coming back in a day or two and all were positive so the tension slowly began to ease. She came out of the incubator on Tuesday, medication ceased on Friday and by Saturday (3rd February) she was starting to feed normally. Her weight had dropped a little, to 9 lbs 2 ozs. We saw her again on Sunday and were able to hold her - free of tubes. The unanimous verdict is that she is "gorgeous". We were told that she is likely to be able to go home during the coming week.

A HAPPY DAY

A cheerful day for everybody when both Nadine and Olivia were allowed to go home on Wednesday 7th February. Olivia was still a little below her birth weight but was regaining it and feeding well - a touch of her Dad there, I think! It was so nice to be home. There was a mountain of cards and presents from a lot of kind people to be enjoyed. Nadine will reply to everybody but it may take her a little while. It was now time to start adjusting to a new - and busy - routine.

SETTLING IN

We saw them again on Friday and Saturday - Vic had to go to work for part of the time and Nadine was giving Olivia full time attention so we provided some company and some domestic back-up. Olivia had settled in, the Health Visitor and midwife called and were very satisfied with her progress. Olivia was very contented during the day, hardly ever crying, but more wakeful at night!! Nadine is coping like a professional, with full support from Vic. He will now have some time off and loads of people want to come and see them so we left on Sunday morning - content and proud. Progress was steady in the following weeks with everybody settling into new routines and relaxing. Olivia began to gain weight steadily, Nadine regained her energy and most of her figure (Vic kept his throughout!). Friends visited and outings were undertaken when the weather permitted.

March

On Sunday 18th March they all went to Somerton - first to the Medleys to meet their family and some old school friends, then on to the grandparents: here were gathering all the family from Devon, Janet all the way from Surrey plus various local friends. She was handled by many enthusiastic hands, many compliments were passed - and Olivia seemed to enjoy it all for she hardly cried all day but smiled frequently.

July

The last four months have flown by. Vic returned to his old routine of continuous hard work and only a little relaxation (of course that's not sexist!) while Nadine revelled in Olivia: there were regular visits to the medics for checks on her progress, occasional coffee mornings, visits from friends and the resumption of shopping expeditions (no, that's not sexist either!).
Olivia is remarkably contented and always ready to smile. She has made steady progress, has gained weight at the right rate, is now on to baby food and starting to look at the television and wine bottles with interest. In short, she is just like any other normal baby - thank goodness.

September

Progress continues. She is getting used to going out and about: car rides are enjoyed, shopping trips are stimulating and a first visit to a swimming pool created some uncertainty but no worse. Her weight is up to 18lbs, one tooth has appeared and she is trying hard to crawl.
Nadine is going back to School for part of one day a week: this has two advantages - she can keep up to date with developments and Olivia will begin to mix with one or two other children for a few hours.

October

Olivia is on the move! She now crawls confidently and at high speed wherever she can for there is now so much more to explore. So a gate has been installed, some things have been moved out of reach and there is never a dull moment. Oh, and she has discovered mud and how it can be spread around - isn't that fun!
A minor panic when she fell out of her push chair one day on to her head - Nadine feared the worst and rushed into hospital. The nurses said there was nothing wrong with Olivia but Nadine needed a cup of tea and the attentions of a nurse to calm her down. It was all good for a laugh afterwards and she was right to make sure.
It was Debbie's birthday at the end of the month so we all met up for the weekend. Good food and a good time was had by all with Olivia being the star turn - and enjoying every moment of it.

November

Latest news is that she is trying very hard to stand and to walk.

December

Christmas was spent with the grandparents plus Debbie, Francesca & Sophia. Naturally, she was the centre of attention - and revelled in it. A bit too young to fully appreciate Christmas but she enjoyed her many presents. Mum and Dad bought her a baby walker and as soon as it was assembled she grasped it and shot across the room. It cannot be long before she takes her first steps unaided.

So, the year ended happily and we all look forward to the New Year.

2002

Various milestones were passed during the early months of this year. The most significant was on 22nd February when she walked her first steps. Progress has been steady since then. She adores her Wendy House and spends much time there. Of course, walking means that she can move further and faster so Nadine and Vic really do need quick reactions and eyes in the back of their heads. She has been swimming and had a summer holiday in Cornwall. She found waves a bit overpowering but enjoyed all the other activities.
Fortunately there have been no crises although Mum and Dad thought long and hard about the MMR vaccine in view of Olivia's troubled early days.
Her horizons widened when she started a session at a playgroup: she took to it readily and enjoys the company and stimulation. This enabled Nadine to return to scool occasionally so as to keep her hand in and up to date with developments in teaching.
She started to talk about this time and rapidly progressed: as we near Christmas there is no stopping her and she has already discovered that, with the right word and a smile or cute expression, she can get away with quite a lot!

2003

We can see her progressing now almost on a daily basis. Talking is (almost) non stop and she is starting to count. Walking has stretched to running and climbing. Christmas was great fun with loads and loads of toys and her second birthday was also great with lots more toys, and friends to tea.

The big news at the beginning of the year is that Olivia will be joined by a little brother or sister in the summer - 22nd July is the calculated date. Everybody is pleased - Vic has a smile of satisfaction and Nadine is planning for all the new things that need to be bought or, if it's in the house already, then it will be be repainted! She is having a good pregnancy so far but feels the strain at times when Olivia has been particularly active.

Nadine continues to spend much time with Olivia and she is learning quickly but the downside of that is that she is becoming rather demanding and a little bossy. However this will be rectified when the baby arrives and Olivia ceases to be No. 1.

So, the months pass; all the medical tests are satisfactory - Nadine & Vic have decided not to find out what sex it is but the forecast is for another big baby.

July

The heatwave early in the month is a trial but otherwise Nadine feels fine. Because of the problems she had with Olivia she will not be allowed to go much over time and will have to go to the RUH at Bath rather than Trowbridge. The 24th arrives, a telphone call to check with the hospital, and she and Vic are off. The waters are broken then it is discovered that one of the baby's hands is up alongside his head and the cord is mixed up so - suddenly - it is all action. Vic is urgently pushed aside, Nadine gets an injection and is wheeled away. Six minutes later a healthy baby boy is delivered by Caesarean operation. Gianluca weighs 4540 grammes - a little over 10 lbs - and is every inch a boy.

We were able to see them that afternoon. The baby was fine and so was Nadine: obviously sore from the operation but much less tired than after Olivia was born and without the worry this time. They were transferred to Trowbridge Hospital on the Friday and came home on the Sunday. Robert and Sue drove up from Devon to see them so there was a happy, full house to welcome them.