It is Hard to Bring Down a 100 Year Old

It had gotten too big for the space.  It was crowding the house.  Storms had caused it to loose some of  its members.  Many more were hanging precipitously.  It was now causing damage to the roof and sidewalk.  Sadly, it had to go.

 

 Jake Starkey, former student and now expert tree faller, took on the job with his assistant Brent.

 

He strapped on his climbing gear explaining to the kids what he was going to do.

 

 

Jake starts up the tree dropping limbs as he ascends up the 130 ft tree.

 

Near the top.  Readying to drop the tip.

 

Success.  Now the descent dropping sections to the ground.  All pieces were dropped in a small space in the front yard.  Only sawdust and a few small branches hit the house.

 

The cheering section.

 

He'd rather drive the Jeep.

Friend Justin (his wife was Kari's Maid of Honor) helps Brent load the smaller pieces into the trailer.

 

The bigger pieces were rolled into place for bucking up and splitting.

 

 

Jake will come down and fall the base on top of the debris that he dropped from above.

 

 

Jake and Brent cut up (buck up)  the larger pieces with their big saws.

 

Justin and I will later split these with axes, the old fashion way.

 

The kids celebrate.

 

Homecoming

Welcome home

 

Cousins and Auntie first meet

Interest

Jensen gets a chance to hold his cousin,

Then Jane

The cousins

Checking on Elizabeth asleep in the chair.

A fun day where family gathers to welcome Elizabeth into the fold.

Progress

We visited Kari, Eric, and Elizabeth after dinner.  Kari was in a stage of recovery,  Elizabeth was in a state of acclimation, and Eric was transforming into a DAD.

He had changed diapers. rarely left Kari's side and had evolved from coach to caretaker.

15 hours after birth Kari is recovering.  Elizabeth is relishing the parental contact.

Happy mom



Happy Grandmom



Miracles, ongoing...

Elizabeth Jean Kelly

Another miracle.  Each and every birth is such a blessing.  This blessing arrived at 5 a.m. today.

It was a long day and night. Kari and Eric went to the hospital around 6 a.m.  Barb, Cassie (Kari's maid of Honor), Bill and Patty arrived too early to wait out the delivery.  We arrived at 11:00 p.m.  Bill and Patty at 3 a.m.

Eric kept us informed, texting the progress to the five of us waiting in the nearby lounge but also to family in Oregon, Washington, and Georgia.

Grandmas  and Cassie checking texts.

I tried to sleep.

At 5:10 Eric texted us that the baby was born giving only that one detail.

About 15 minutes later he burst through the door.

We flocked around Eric hungry for details.  He gathered us in a circle then handed us an item which we were to hide in our hand, not looking as to what is was.  After we each had the object in our hand, he then said, "Look at it."  We opened our hands to review a cookie with pink sprinkles indicating a girl.  (Barb had baked cookies, some with blue, some with pink sprinkles to hand out after the birth.)

It had been an ordeal (aren't they all?) but all were healthy but very tired.  I am not so sure "labor" is the correct phrase for the process of having a baby.  "Labor" seems too kind.  Perhaps better words would be "agony" or "excruciation"  or even "torment".  But I guess since the outcome is such a fulfilling blessing, a kinder word, labor,  is more appropriate.

We went home and went to bed.  At noon we returned to the hospital.

Patty

Bill

Elizabeth already indicates a relaxed mood.  I remarked as I first held her, "Wow, what a comfortable baby.  I think my blood pressure just dropped 40 points."  Very special.

 

Eric, demonstrating how he was helping with the birth process, holding one of Kari's legs, while texting updates to us all.  :-)

June 20 - a day of celebration from here on.  Welcome Elizabeth Jean.

Father's Day not new Grandfather's Day

Father's Day.  My favorite day.  I spent so much effort in that endeavor and my children recognize it as so.  Ben called from Atlanta and he reminded me that he is and always will be #1.  Then he asked for dates that Barb and I will visit their lake house this fall, my favorite escape.    Nathan called from Bend Oregon.  They are on a family vacation.  There is no better news than your child, his wife and the grandchildren are having a family experience on this special day.  Kari and Eric dropped by for grilled steaks.  The topic of conversation was grandchild #4.  Fun.  Celebration of the present and the future.  I am so blessed.

Baby Watch

Each day now we await that phone call from Kari or Eric.  As of tonight, there are rumblings but no contractions.  It could be tomorrow or it could be a few weeks.  She is due June 20.

What a different perspective I have on the arrival of this grandchild.  The three miracles that Nathan announced to us as we sat in the waiting room were indeed some of the most joyous occasions of my life.  Certainly this blog edifies the joy of those announcements.

Barb releasing ladybugs in her garden to kill aphids.  Grayson is unafraid.  Jane and Jensen a bit apprehensive.

This time it is my daughter.  The baby will have a Kelly name.  But it is my daughter.  Somehow, I feel closer.

 

Alton, Cailyn’s father, said it best.  As Cailyn was going through delivery for Jane, the first born, we as grandparents in the waiting room decided to go down to the hospital cafeteria to get some coffee.  Alton related to me, “It is hard for me to relax.  I wonder what some doctor or nurse is doing to my daughter up there (the delivery room)."   Now I understand Alton.  Oh so true.  It is so more personal when the birthing agent is your daughter.  I have been her protector.

Baby Kelly will be here soon.   The child will be in next year’s Christmas photo.  I will love each grandchild with equal favor.

But, oh God, help my dear child, my daughter, Kari