Rishma's Diaries: Rishma is born and has her cradle ceremony memorialized

As we wiled away time at St Peters Hospital on the midnight of May 13 2009 watching Jay Leno, it brought to retrospect our stint here in the delivery room across, just over 3 years ago when Nishka was born. - May 13 2009 11:30 PM

Cleaning ritual and bundling up Rishma moments after birth at St. Peters Hospital, New Brunswick - May 14 2009 4:23 AM

Rishma in her St Peters dress just after being weighed in at 7 lbs 1oz - May 14 2009 4:30 AM

Rishma weighs in at a substantial 7 lbs 1 oz - May 14 2009 4:30 AM

Rishma still getting used to the luster of the outer world as she snuggles up with her mom - May 14 2009 5 AM

Rishma with her parents in the labor room, just before being whisked away by neonatal nurses for her antibiotic drops, Vitamin K shots, general checkup and her first bath - May 14 2009 5 AM

Rishma with her mom and nurse Amy half an hour after birth - May 14 2009 5 AM

After receiving her Vitamin K shot and antibiotic eye drops, Rishma gets transferred to Nim's recovery room on the morning of May 14 2009

Rishma gathers "This feels much better than the bright lights, syringes, eye drops and all the weird suction tubes they thrust into my mouth earlier" - May 14 2009 9 AM

Sound asleep 4 hours after birth after being released from the nursery to Nim's recovery room - May 14 2009 9 AM

Rishma sleeping in her crib in Nim's recovery room. This was her last picture before she was transferred to NICU later in the day due to slightly inconsistent body temperatures - May 14 2009

Not wanting to be left behind Nishka in her NICU experience, Rishma manages to gain entry to St. Peters NICU by flauting trivial body temperature anomalies slightly below normal and thereby gets her share of probes and sensors running all over her body similar to Nishka during Nishka's birth on Marc 15 2006. Nishka's picture from Mar 15 2006 is the right - May 15 2009

Just for comparison, Nishka's picture from her day after birth on Mar 16 2006 at St. Peters NICU, like Rishma's on the left. The two look pretty similar.

In the warmth of the NICU crib, Rishma has no problems sleeping 24 hours a day even without her body suit - May 15 2009

In the regulated heat of the NICU crib, Rishma has no problems sleeping 24 hours a day even without her body suit - May 15 2009

While other moms' had their newborns by their bedside, Nim & I had to endure a voyage diagonally across the hospital, an elevator ride down to 3rd floor, an extensive hand wash and a hospital cloakwear in order to see the VIP Rishma - May 15 2009

Cute picture of Rishma drinking milk at the NICU on the 2nd day of her life - May 15 2009

For the last 2 days, Rishma has been the spotlight of our lives, but she cant get enough of it and wants more. So she gets a dose of blue light as well from the hospital NICU (to mitigate her mild jaundice of 11) - May 17 2009 - 4PM

For the last 2 days, Rishma has been the spotlight of our lives, but she cant get enough of it and wants more. So she gets a dose of blue light as well from the hospital NICU (to mitigate mild neonatal jaundice of 11 ) - May 17 2009 - 4PM

"Cool eye shades. As long as they provide me these I dont mind staying here at the NICU" , Rishma ponders as she gets a dose of white light and blue light to treat neonatal jaundice - May 17 2009

"Cool eye shades . As long as they provide me these I dont mind staying here at the NICU" , Rishma ponders

With 8 lamps radiating over her crib and a blue light streaming around her bed and eye-shades for protection from the glimmer, Rishma appears to be sunbathing in an exotic tropical island. - May 17 2009

"These eye shades are even better than the ones given in-flight !" Rishma ponders - May 17 2009

As Rishma slumbers with eye-shades in the radiance of her photo-therapy session , her crib card with her last name and her doctor's name identifies her in the penumbra outside her crib

3 day young Rishma snoozes in the warmth of her photo-therapy, as does another newborn in the neighboring crib, without photo-light of course - May 17 2009

Before her general evening checkup, Rishma just receives the blue end of the light-spectrum for light-therapy - May 17 2009

As nurse Maria checks on Rishma, the nurse just leaves the blue end of the light spectrum on for light therapy - May 17 2009 6 PM

As nurse Maria checks on Rishma, the nurse just leaves the blue end of the light spectrum on for light therapy taken with flash. - May 17 2009 6 PM

The day of Rishma's discharge from St. Peters Hospital NICU is finally here - May 18 2009 2 PM

" What are you looking at. Thats my milk " Rishma appears to snub

Nim with sweetie pie Rishma - May 18 2009

I am 4 days young. Dont expect me to smile at the camera

Rishma with her dad on the day of her release - May 18 2009

In deep sleep poor Rishma lies, oblivious of the Hepatitis B vaccine shot, the nurse in the backdrop is scheming just before Rishma's release from the NICU.

Is that dress for me or for a jumbo size me, Rishma ponders as we dress her up for her debut car ride home - May 18 2009 5 PM

Rishma all prepped up to get out of the hospital on May 18 2009 5 PM

Rishma gets a customary welcome from her grandparents and her ever inquisitive big sister Nishka who is getting to see Rishma for the 1st time since she was not to young to be permitted into the NICU .

Rishma making her grand entrance to her house as Nishka looks on - May 18 2009 6 PM

Rishma receives divine sanction as soon as she enters the house

Rish and her grandma

Such deep is Rishma's snoozing that she is incognizant of all that transpired between her receiving Hep B shots at the hospital to riding in the car back home and exhilarating her zealous grandparents and sibling

After spending the last 5 days at the NICU, Rishma probably feels weird without the chimes of electronic devices and monitors as she rests in her crib - May 19 2009.

Going by Nishka, it could be 3 weeks before Rishma loses the vestiges of her umbilical chord - May 19 2009

After spending the last 5 days at the NICU, Rishma probably feels weird without the chimes of electronic devices and monitors as she rests in her crib - May 19 2009.

I had taken a similar photo of Nishka wrapped in the same blanket upon her return from the hospital in March 19 2006

Rishma waiting in her car seat on the evening of May 22 for her pediatrician recommended 8th day bilirubin check at St. Peters Hospital.

Rishma's cradle ceremony sacrament commences on May 24 2009 at 5 PM with Nim's cousin Gita doing the arthi.

As guests prepare to circle Rishma around the tub that personifies a crib, Nishka tries to sneak up behind everybody trying to get a vantage point to view the proceedings from.

Its must be like a county fair thrill ride for 10 day young Rishma as she is heaved round the tub by the guests - May 24 2009

Cradle ceremony in progress.

Guests must be wishing they get served dinner soon for all the hard work they are doing - May 24 2009 5 PM

After the cradle ceremony, Rishma sleeps peacefully in the crib probably oblivious to all that happened the last few minutes

Rishma's cradle ceremony

Rishma resting in her bedecked crib.

Nim next Rina and Aryan

Nim, Shalini, Rina, Aryan.

Serving the guests

Sudhir, Krishna Prasad, Rina

Guests

Me with the guests

Guests enjoying dinner in the living room.

As visitors help themselves, ensuring Nishka doesnot skip dinner becomes her grandma's priority - May 24 2009 7 PM

Nishka with her grandparents

Nim finally gets a chance to dine.

Nishka with her uncle and cousins

Visitors on cradle ceremony day.

As visitors help themselves, ensuring Nishka doesnot skip dinner becomes her grandma's priority - May 24 2009 7 PM

Nishka and Sneha get a session on sharing toys from their moms - May 24 2009

Rishma with her grandma after most of the guests have left

Rishma in her blazing pink dress she wore for the cradle ceremony

A group photo with Nim's cousin Geeta's family and Srikanth - May 24 2009 9 PM

Geeta and family

Rishma with her grandparents

When we told Nishka we would be taking her picture, all her toys and trinkets started emerging and restricting her to just the teddy bear was the best we could do - May 25 2009

Nishka on the balcony on Memorial Day - May 25 2009

It was way easier getting 10 day young Rishma to pose for the picture than an over-ebullient Nishka. But we are sure 3 years from now, Rishma will be as vivacious and naughty as her big sister.