Photo A Day Challenge | Day 13 | A Sign

A bus roll of our life in the USA.

Los Angeles to New York.

East vs West

When we decided to have another baby, the fact that we were on the opposite side of the country did not factor into our decision. Besides the obvious obstacles of finding a new Ob/Gyn and delivering at a new hospital, we did not think much more about the East vs West Coasts differences.

However, after our first appointment with our new Ob/Gyn it became obvious that there were some significant differences. Gone were the plush Beverly Hills offices of my Ob/Gyn in LA, with large exam rooms, offices with views up to the Hollywood Hills and sonogram machines in triplicate. Instead I found myself struggling to fit myself and the stroller holding my 18 month old into the tiny exam room and even smaller doctors office of my East Village Doctor. There was no sonogram machine to be seen and the view was the pavement and street-scape of 1st Ave.

That said, the real difference was not evident until we toured the hospital where our baby was to be born, Beth Israel Medical Centre. It was on this tour that we were taken into the delivery suites in the Labor and Delivery ward. When this had occurred in LA, at Cedars Sinai Medical Centre in Beverly Hills, we were told, "You are permitted up to 17 people to be in your Labor Suite with you during labor and birth." This was said with a deadpan serious face by our tour guide. Nathan and I were hiccuping trying not to laugh at the ludicrous suggestion that we would want or need 17 people in the room with us. I mean, if I had my way I myself would not be there. The question had to be asked, "Who has 17 people with them when they are giving birth?" This question was met with some disdain. "We have a lot of celebrity clients here at Cedars Sinai, and many come with their own camera crews." Of course! Only in LA!

In New York when we entered the Labor suite we were told, "You are permitted a maximum of 2 people with you in your L&D room." My response, "Two!? That could be pushing it if we also want a doctor in this room." The room was tiny and there was hardly enough room for the bed and the warmer, let alone anyone else. You certainly would not want to be claustrophobic.

In LA our Labor and Delivery suite had 180 degree views out to the Hollywood sign. In New York, no Labor and Delivery suite had no windows. In LA all rooms came with baths and showers, labor balls and inbuilt sound systems. In New York less than half the rooms had a shower and there were no baths or sound systems and labor balls were scarce. In LA all post-partum rooms were private with private bathrooms. In New York most rooms were shared with several semi-private rooms which share bathrooms, and only 2 truly private rooms for which you have to pay $300-500 per night extra.

On the upside for New York, we had a wonderful British trained Labor and Delivery nurse who was also a midwife. Juliet was with us throughout the labor and stayed past her shift to be with us for the birth. In LA we had 3 nurses and saw them only sporadically. In New York my Ob/Gyn stayed with me for much of the day suggesting position changes, getting out of bed, walking in the halls. In LA my Ob/Gyn was pretty much only with me for the delivery - Nathan described him as swooping in like "a rock star" for the good part.

Ultimately though, in both cities we came away with beautiful, healthy little boys and could not feel more blessed.

48 hours in transit

After 48 hours in transit, with a 5 month old, we got our first glimpse on Manhattan from the ground before sliding underground into the Midtown Tunnel. The husky hues of sunset were the perfect backdrop to a city coming to light. The pinks and purples faded into oranges
and yellows before being washed out into blues and grays. Lights began to twinkle in the windows of the city that never sleeps.

We emerged onto Manhattan under the Empire State Building. Iconic and encapsulating all we looked forward to in our new life here.

But it is not all so romantic. 48 hours ago we left behind our families in Sydney. Our son's grandparents only just stopped short of kidnapping him but did not manage to hide how sad they were to say goodbye. So sad in fact we had our smallest farewell party at the airport in our 2 years of living in the US. Too hard to come to the airport again and say goodbye.

Then 24 hours ago we farewelled our Los Angeles friends (and tried to convince them to move to New York with us)!

In between all the farewells were two mammoth plane rides. Mammoth both in time spent travelling and because we had our robust (as my husband describes him) and adorable 5 month old son with us. The adorability is the harder trait when travelling we have discovered, for even when he is asleep hostesses and other passengers stop and coo and cluck - and none too quietly -often waking the poor little guy up, who of course just flashes a big smile at all the inquisitive faces above him. My husband and I however were all scowls knowing we have little chance of getting him back to sleep for at least another couple of hours!

"Yes he is cute"
"He's 5 months old"
"His name is Noah. Yes adorable"
"It's a Phil and Teds cocoon. It comes with our stroller. Yes it's great."

These are just some of our conversations whilst in transit.

But I guess we shouldn't really complain. We were flying business class and on the Sydney-Los Angeles leg of the journey we had 4 seats to ourselves. Noah is already used to the luxury and space. He may get a rude shock when we head home in November and only in Premium Economy!

A couple of other travel and transitting whinges to end with. We are srrugglung to understand why, when forced to switch planes in Los Angeles on our way to New York, our baggage allowance dropped. Does United Airlines expect us to drop 20 pounds out of each of our suitcases as we pass between terminals? At least the staff were so smitten with our "Mr Adorable" son they helped us repack at the check-in counter.

Some highlights from our travels to New York:
Noah timed perfectly his once-a-week poo to arrive 15 minutes prior to boarding (we got called over the airport paging system for the first time ever as a result)!
Being able to go into the American queue at customs due to Noah's birthright (not that we did as it seemed longer only to be pulled out 10 people from the front of the visitors line and sent to the back of the American line)!
Bring able to sit at our favourite cafe in Los Angeles, Joans on Third, one last time for hours with our friends.

Good-bye Los Angeles. Good-bye Sydney

Hello New York.