gma irene and children

This picture is near and dear to me, and I have been amiss for not posting it yet. This was taken at my great grandma Van's 100th birthday celebration and family farewell. My grandparents (Gma Irene is pictured in the middle) had 7 children. Here they are listed in order as show in the picture with the order of birth noted: Kris (7), Susan Irene (5), Vaughn (1, my dad), Larry (2), Marcie (3), Chuck (4), and Valene (6).

isaiah is hot stuff

Check out the majesty, the beauty, the Icy (Isaiah, that is).

A bit of an update: Amy is doing well, and the pain meds are working fine (she's not having to take but two pills a day - unless she's a lot more active for whatever reason). Isaiah got circumcised today (the Dr. said he slept through most of it - he also had his first bit of sugar at the time). Aidan and Kate are now sleeping in the same room (as of Sunday night after we brought Isaiah home for the first time). It has been a challenge to make sure that Aidan and Kate are getting enough sleep, since they love each other and love to interact. They were completely and utterly exhausted tonight, so hopefully they'll sleep well and wake up tomorrow refreshed. We've had people over helping us a ton (THANKS!) including Mike & Francy (agoo & zsa-ji), Grandma Irene (Meema), Ben & Amanda Fagerlie, and now Melissa Hundley (she's going to be spending the next few nights with us while her townhouse has some work done). Amy might not say much, or ask for much, but she is extremely grateful for all everyone is doing (and so am I - especially as I started teaching summer school today and need all the help around the house I can get). JoAnn Blackford has put together a list of ladies who've volunteered to bring us meals over the next two weeks. THANK YOU ALL!!!!

another kate update

Kate is not coming home for at least another 24-48 hours, the doctors said this morning.  We're hoping that will mean tomorrow, but we'll see how Kate progresses.  This is because Kate lost another 3rd of an ounce from yesterday to this morning, even though she did so well eating from the bottle (though still not sucking).  Kate ate 24 ounces of liquid today in three meals, and was going to get one more feeding of 6 more ounces before sleeping for the night.  In between dinner and the last feeding, Kate got an "NG" tube put in her nose down into her stomach.  This is because, even though she ate so well yesterday, she still did not get enough calories in order to gain any weight.  This feeding tube will allow a long term, slow feeding over 10 hours while Kate sleeps (that is, if she leaves the tube alone).  Kate, within the first 3 minutes of having the tube in her nose, took it out.  She's amazingly resourceful, I have to say.  While it was good that she ate more yesterday, and even more than that today, it was a more emotional day today as our nerves are starting to come to the surface and we're becoming more edgy with each other.  We felt that she had done so well yesterday and that she should have been coming home today, but that wasn't the case.  We put our faith in that instead of the knowledge that the LORD knows best and has His glory in mind, and that's what we need to be all about.  There are so many things grabbing for my attention right now (choir concert Sunday night, barbershop practice for a performance on the 30th, college and career at ncc, all on top of what's going on with Kate).  Amy's been quite the trooper through all of this, I have to say.  This will be good for us, as the LORD trains us through this and we also learn physical care for a baby not eating well.  I'm wondering how the LORD is going to allow us to use this knowledge to help others in the future....  As a last note for tonight, I got to see Aidan again!  WOOHOO!  I love my little buddy.  He smiled when he saw me and we played and laughed for a while before I put him down for a nap while I ate with the Ogles and then woke him up and brought him home.  I very much appreciate the Ogles taking care of our little man for the past four days, but I really needed to see and touch my son.  He hugged and kissed me.  My heart needed it after this week's excitement.  Quite a blessing from the LORD, truly.  It's on to church tomorrow for Aidan and me (which was supposed to be our baby dedication day for Kate before the congregation at ncc), and then we'll see what the doctors say about when we can bring Kate home.  Pray that it'll be tomorrow and that Kate would have gained weight.  Pray that the LORD would be glorified in it all.

kate in hospital

Tuesday nights are always CCC (the Christian Club on Campus) for Deer Valley. I sponsor this club as a ministry and help shepherd and disciple the student leaders of the group. But not tonight...

Katelyn has been having a rough day today. Amy took her in for a follow-up visit from our last week's excursion. Last week we took her in just because we're concerned about her weight loss. She's not been eating as well as she should have been. She had been sick, so she stopped eating as much, but more than that, she's not been taking in the amount of formula she needs because she will not drink from any type of bottle, no matter the nipple or sippy cup form or size. Is she just picky? Is she having a hard time swallowing? She eats baby food, and swallows it, for that matter, without pause. Since we found out Amy's been pregnant, she's physically been unable to breast-feed, otherwise we'd still be doing that (well, she'd still be doing that). With that background laid for you, Amy took her in to see the doctor for the follow-up, but she had lost 3 more oz. in the last week, so he suggested the hospital for her. Amy came by school and got me after school was out. Amy had already taken Aidan to the Ogles', where he is spending the night, and we then proceeded to the Phoenix Children's Hospital at 19th St and Thomas in downtown Phoenix. We got her in there around 3:30-4:00. We got a room and they took her vitals. The doctor for the night shift (a very personable and understanding man) was great and asked us the same questions we'd answered at least twice before, but we obliged. He told us that nothing more would happen tonight but that we'd get at it in the morning and run tests and the like. I came home so I could sleep and then teach tomorrow, and Amy stayed with Kate. It was hard for me to leave, but I have teaching to do, also. Amy is holding up well, and Kate is doing fine. Strangest thing about it: she is "healthy," happy, coos, smiles, interacts, lifts herself up, and is overall doing fine (not to mention that she's gorgeous).

One of the great things that happened tonight, though, is that my Grandma Irene called and came to the hospital to be with us. It was great to see her again, catch up a bit, and have her around in a time of need. She is a great care giver, and we appreciated very much that she was willing to come and help us out. Love you, Grandma.

We'll see what happens tomorrow. If I have to leave work, I will leave work. Family first. But there is no need for me to just be there and wait (not to mention that there is really only one chair in the room for others besides patients). Amy is great. I appreciate her very much for stepping up and being there and allowing me to work in the meantime. I'll be getting back there as soon as I can after school tomorrow. I'll try to keep you all posted on what's going on. But for now, please pray for our little girl.

great grandma's play day

Look, Grandma! I have magnetic letters!

We're havin' fun down on the tile.

We just laughed and laughed together.

Alright! Grandma even helps me with my walker fun!