Lucy Jean Wilkins

It took me much longer to get to this than I thought it would.  Little Lucy decided that waiting until Monday was just too long.  Sarah went into labor Thursday and Lucy was born that afternoon.  There was no time to try and turn her a C-Section was a must.  The cord was wrapped around her neck so it could have been dangerous. I was on the phone with her when they were deciding if it was time to go to the hospital (hard contractions 2-3 minutes apart "yes"!) At the hospital, right before the c-section and afterward a few times.  This is just an example of the many levels of my life woven together.  All this started just as I was arriving home from class and continued through getting kids home from school, parent teacher conferences, a wrestling tournament and a cub scout space derby. My sister suggested that I drop everything for the baby.  That would have been nice, but sitting by the phone waiting for the next call isn't my style and some of these other things were a big deal for the child involved.  It has all worked out very nicely.

 I wasn't there for the birth, but I did get there the night before their discharge.  I stayed in the hospital and Jace went home to one last  good night's sleep.  Between the two of us (Sarah and I) we did alright.  I slept while she was nursing and held the baby so she could sleep. She is a sweet baby and only cries when there is really something wrong.  She started out having a little trouble nursing, but is doing better all the time. They say C-section babies are the prettiest and they thing they are right.  She wasn't beat up during the birth, instead mommy is.  Sarah is doing really well.  She is up and moving around just about as well as if she had a normal delivery.  She is starting to wean herself off of the pain meds and that is improving her mood.  She feels more like herself. Smiles are coming more easily.

 There are some perks to being in Utah.  They came to the hospital room with the sacrament.  I don't think I have ever appreciated it more.  It was lovely and they left a message about the importance of these little ones so soon from our Father; how they bless our lives. I don't often cry during the sacrament. I sure did that day.

It dawned on me while I was making dinner last night that I have accumulated quite a bit of experience and knowledge about babies, nursing and running a house hold. I've never thought much about it.  Most women have children, many nurse, everyone has to maintain their home.  It may not seem important, but it sure is to the family who benefits from that knowledge.  I didn't have my Mom handy, she was an ocean away and phone calls were prohibitively expensive.  I read everything I could.  It doesn't matter how you learn.  More than anything,  I think it is just the desire that is important.  Do your best and the Lord will make up the rest. 

New Boots

It snowed. Not enough to cause many problems with the streets, just enough to play in.  Of course, Lydia wanted to go out. I had bought some boots for her at the end of the season last year and stored them in the garage.  I found them and cut the tags off, then put them on Lydia. She stumbled around the kitchen then complained "Mom, I can't walk in these boots!"  Silly me, I had forgotten to take the tissue paper out of the toes.

Love me

Lydia found a stuffed toy that sings "Jesus Loves Me" when you press a button in the hand.  We have had it for a while, but like most things it has been forgotten for a time and then rediscovered. During lunch I had the song running through my head so I decided to ask Lydia if Jesus loves her. With no hesitation she answered "yes". I decided to keep going and asked if her Daddy loved her, "yes", and Ryan "yes".  Then she interrupted, "And you love me!"  "That's right I love you so much!" I thought that would be the end of the conversation. Then Lydia said. "And I love me!" I wish always I felt so secure in the arms of love.

John the Scientist

John is 6 years old and wants to be an inventor when he grows up.  He's not waiting.  His first invention that has "worked" is a network of shoe laces that he uses to connect the pull string from the ceiling fan to the string on the light in his closet to turn on the lights in his bedroom.

Saturday, Ryan came home with 9 extra large helium balloons.  Sunday, John decided to use them to do an experiment.  He knew he could tie them to toys to make them float, but in true "Up" style he decide to try to make a person float.  Who was the likely candidate?  Lydia, the smallest person in the house.  He took her to the stairs where the ceiling is the highest and gave her all the balloons.  Mom is very grateful that the experiment didn't work.  He told me it was OK because he was ready to grab her feet once she lifted off.

This week he brought home a small toy snake that he had received as a reward for good behavior.  What could John do with this?  Hmmmm, water makes plants grow.  Would soaking it in water make it grow?  He decided to find out.  He filled a cereal bowl with water placed it on the kitchen counter and put the snake in it.  Nothing happen to the snake, but dad was startled when he came home from work.  For a split second he thought it was real.  If the success of an experiment is measured in emotional response from his parents he is right on every time!

Grandma

I am heading off to Utah this next week.  Sarah is scheduled to have a C-section, her baby is breach, and she wants me there. Her husband is leaving town 3 days later for a job interview and both of them want me there for her then. I'm just not sure how useful I will be in the days in between. I wasn't even sure if I could get away, but everything has fallen into place. I have a wonderful proffessor who is understanding and will work with me so this doesn't destroy my grade. A classmate in my other class will help me stay caught up and turn in my work for me. The kids are out of school for fall break so I don't need babysitters. The final piece to the puzzle is that we were able to change the plane reservations.  Instead of being gone during Thanksgiving week, I will be missing Halloween.  That's an acceptable trade.  I leave the day after Neal's 18th birthday, come home the morning of Lydia's 3rd birthday all to be there for my granddaughter's birthday. One week and one day and I'll be a grandma!