This is our beautiful Isham family newcomer, Eleanor Mary. She weighed 3.94kg (!), and arrived on the afternoon of Tuesday, 17th February, after a rather intense (moreso than the last two!) labour. We're all besotted with the darling girl, and she's being inundated with cuddles and kisses from each of us.

Given that our first two babies slept minimally and screamed fairly constantly, we've been earnestly hoping and praying for a placid, settled baby who will obligingly adjust to our oft-chaotic lifestyle and the demands of a rigorous chemo schedule. So far (at day 9), these prayers have been answered; she is settled, feeds well, and screams minimally... Encouragingly, I'm not feeling as bone tired from the regular night feeds as I did at this stage previously.

In other news, my parents have taken unpaid leave and returned from their missionary work in Congo for a few months to be around and to help with the juggle. Whilst we wholeheartedly acknowledge the importance of their work and their invaluable contribution to theological training and audiology in Congo, we're so thankful that they have taken this time away so we can have them at present, and we've all been very excited to see them again.

Edward Isham