I'm going to keep this quite short because tomorrow is going to be a long day and it’s already very late. I just need to jot down a few lines to let the world know what is going on and how things are progressing.

Things are progressing bloody quickly!

This morning, Nicola had a routine scan because they have been monitoring her fluid levels. I take the customary 1 hour skive time off work to attend this appointment with her which allows me to faf about for an extra 20 minutes in the morning before going out. We get there, the consultant (Dimitri something was his name) invites us into his room and he, along with another consultant (a very nice lady called DR Crighton) and a medical student (don't know his name - I think I'll call him Jnr Dr Geoff), scan Nic's tummy for baby measurements and fluid levels. All is going well, everyone is in good spirits and they start discussing the results. Dr Crighton asks Dr Dimitri man how he thinks the levels are - above average, average or below average. They conclude that they are probably slightly below average. I agree with their diagnosis, nodding and chipping in with the occasional 'yeah'. They don't pay me any attention (their loss) and begin talking about maybe taking Nicola in to get things started. They say "I think the results of this suggest that we should probably take you in soon and get you started. Some time over the next few days". Dr Crighton chats about the procedure for inducing women while Dr Dimitri man goes off to try and find a day to book her in.

2 minutes later, Dr Dimtri man comes back and says "Tomorrow at 2pm". I think my next words were "Oh F***" although I don't recall actually saying that but Nic assures me I did.

So, the fluid levels are lower than average, which is not really that big a problem but can cause the baby distress as the pregnancy continues. Given that Nicola is now 39 weeks plus through her pregnancy, it’s all very safe and her and the unborn spawn of Charles are fine. A further soooo, tomorrow, things kick off and in the next few days, a poor child will have a chronic notresponsibleholic father, a very nice mother and a hairy Aunt (not my sister, the dog :-)).

I'll update this one final time following the birth.

This is f***ing nuts!

Petrified Mike