The Prayers Worked!

Gracie is going home! She improved so much in a day's time they decided she could leave the hospital. A great birthday present for her mom! Thank You, Jesus!

Prayers Are Appreciated

My almost-5 granddaughter, Gracie, was admitted to the hospital yesterday. Because she was an extreme preemie (1 pound 12 ounces, 25 weeks), and had to spend so much time on a ventilator, she has problems with her windpipe. If a cold settles there, she could have real breathing issues, which was the case yesterday. She's in ICU and seems to be improving, but our hearts are always in our throats when this happens. Life seems to be suspended until we get the news that she's going home.

Pray that going home will be soon!

He's 40 Today

Today is my firstborn's birthday. He came into the world screaming, much to the surprise of the doctor. I had been admitted to the hospital four days before with a crushing pain in my chest which turned out to be Toxemia. I went into eclampsia and the Dr. was sure that we had lost the baby, so instead of doing a Ceasarian he just induced. He didn't factor in the power of prayer!

A cousin said he looked like a baby bird right out of the egg-no feathers!

Jim weighed in at 3 pounds 2 ounces and was healthy as a horse. He had no problems breathing or eating. In those days we counted months not weeks, but in today's terms he was a 35-weeker.

We didn't have an NICU in Montana, just Isolettes. They still didn't understand completely how to care for preemies and they lost some. Many survived even without the doodads and intervention methods they have now. The biggest thing back then was Hyaline Membrane Disease, which is totally preventable now if the baby's lungs are sprayed with a surfactant. Jim was far enough along not to have Hyaline as an issue.

In about two weeks time, there were six preemies born at Bozeman Deaconess-two singles and two sets of twins. The singles survived, but one of each of the twins didn't. They ran out of Isolettes so Jim got demoted to a crib a week or two early. I remember going in to see Jim and they had oxygen tents set up in the nursery. (Young people, ask your parents what an oxygen tent is!) He did fine, though, and probably could have come home sooner, but in 1969 preemies had to weigh 5 pounds before they could go home.

He was a happy baby-cute as a button!

40 years later, he's a dad to four kids, married to a super lady, has a great job, and would rather fish than anything. He was always a good kid, smart as a whip (actually because of a little dislexia they tested him and he scored at "genius" level). I'm just thrilled that we have had the privilege of knowing Jim and watching him grow up.

Happy birthday, son! Mom and Dad love you!

Second or third grade.

Last Halloween-Larry the Cable Guy!

Spring

There really are signs of spring, if you look hard enough. Stan and I took these pictures of the Dark-eyed Junco today. They've been hanging around our bird feeder this week cleaning up dropped suet and sunflower seeds.

I don't know how long they'll stay around but we'll enjoy them while they're here.

The Munchkins Were Here

We had to sit on two of the grandkids today-the four and five year old-Sam and Grace. They are pure entertainment-we've had these tiny farm animals for a while, and the kids just discovered them. Sam decided to move animals the easy way-no stock rack here!



Gracie had to get into the act, too, especially after I got out the camera.

What did we do for entertainment before we had grandkids?

BTW, Gracie LOVES her green sweater! Her mom took her shopping for an Easter dress, and when she showed her the one I had found, she exclaimed excitedly, "That one will match the sweater Grandma made PERFECTLY!" Gotta love them!

Finished Object

I finished the shawl. It really was fun to knit, and as I went along I got more comfortable with the circular needles. I think there might be more of these in the near future.

The edging is a crocheted cathedral edging pattern I found on the web. I wanted to have something pretty, but would go with the feathers and fans pattern. I think this worked OK!?!

Come Visit My Shop!

I have now opened a shop on Etsy! I'm so excited! Please come and see what I have-I hope to have a constantly updated inventory of fun stuff. I started out with the baby bonnets, and will list my wallets and bags soon.