Well, I just wanted to check in and report. I've been all tied up lately as my little girl was born this week.
I am sorry that I had to take off so suddenly at the last Joshin, but my wife went into labor on Sunday. Well, actually, early contractions which kept up all day. We checked into the hospital once at about 9pm, but they sent my wife back home because the contractions were still not strong enough. Of course, those contractions kept my wife up all night, and on Monday morning the contractions were strong enough to check in. Still, it took all of Monday and all night Monday for her contractions to become stronger and for her to dilate enough. And even then the contractions weren't coming strong enough for birth, so after 60 some hours of contractions for my wife, no sleep for two nights (and my wife actually woke up 4am Sunday morning with some slight contractions), Dad managing along with 4 hours, some medication, and heck of a lot of pain and effort by my wife, finally our little girl came into this world 12:50pm Tuesday.
She was, of course, worth the wait. Her name is Lorraine June O'Brien and she'll be registered with the Japanese name オブライエン絢(ジュン).
That's my hobby report other than buying a book on Napoleonic Polish infantry and doing a dab of work on my next regiment of French. Tomorrow Mom and the baby move into the house.