Thursdays are for....

Jr. high basketball.  What would we do if we weren't watching that?  :)

Preston's team traveled to Osawatomie last night.  For as upset as Preston was last week about his performance, he did a great job this week!  He had several points, multiple steals, a bunch of assists, and a lot of rebounds.  I think he was actually happy about the game.  The win was also nice!  I enjoyed watching!  (Preston is number 2 in blue).

In addition to basketball watching, we also do a lot of baby gazing.  I am happy to report that Ms. Evie weighs 4 pounds now!  One of the requirements for getting out of the NICU is to weigh 4 pounds - since that is the minimum weight for a car seat.  Of course, she has a few other hurdles to jump over, but we are celebrating small victories!  She is still having a few issues with her digestion.  I know they are running a lot of tests, which at this point have been normal/negative.  It is hard for all of us to wait, and be patient, and not know if the problems are some sort of disorder, or if they are a result of an immature digestive system.  We have to leave it in God's hands, as we have no control here.  We will just continue to pray, wait and pray some more.  Loving her is easy, waiting for her to come home is hard!

A friend of ours took some video of the game last night and sent me these highlights.  It really was a fun game.  

A Sunday of probable bad ideas

A friend of ours offered the girls a mini pig.  Probably against our better judgement, Jim and I decided we would let them have it.  Jim made a last minute amendment to saying yes by adding “no pigs shall enter the human’s house!”  Who would think adding a rule like that would be necessary?  Well...it absolutely was!   This pig was indeed in the house.  The pig seems very, very happy out under the heat lamp with the baby goats.  They were playing together and munching on some carrot sticks.  Saige wants to use her as her 4-H pet project.  They named her Tina Tiffany.  In the future, pigs riding on the front floorboard of the van will not happen.  The guy said she would lay right down and sleep.  And she did. But not before defiling my van.  Luckily, we had put down some towels and her blanket.   Everything we do is an adventure to say the least.  Landrie was with us.  I asked her if she ever knew what she would be doing when she came over, and she laughed and said nope that’s why I keep coming back!  

When we got back, Colin was here. He had taken the hood off his derby car and was planning to take the kids sledding behind his truck.  Jim and I were hesitant, as this is probably dangerous, however we both had fond childhood memories of doing exactly the same thing!   So, against our better judgement, they all had a wonderfully fun afternoon sledding and playing in the snow!  

Ms Evelyn update- she is up to 3 pounds 15 ounces and is taking 20 cc’s of milk per feeding.  I was noticing she is looking a little bigger in the pictures they are sending.  We love you little baby and can’t wait until you are here playing with us!  

Snowy Saturday

The rain of yesterday turned into snow.  I think there is about 6 inches out there. It’s a wet, heavy snow that stuck to everything.  Luckily we didn’t lose power.  I was happy we had no place important to be today.  Preston wanted to go to a birthday party and Quincy wanted to have Landrie come over,  but neither thing was critical.  We were able to get out to get those things done for them.  I got the house cleaned and Jim and I went out and got groceries.  The roads are clear, and we had no trouble getting around.  

I also enjoyed watching lots of birds come eat out of the bird feeder.  I even bought more bird food when we went grocery shopping.   Jim only gave me a moderate amount crap over my new hobby.  As hobbies go, this one is fairly harmless.  Not like that time I talked him into starting a goat farm.  ;) 

Jim would never admit it, but he is just as smitten with these cute babies as the rest of us!  Seriously, they are the cutest little things.  And sweet too! 

The girls and I are now holed up under blankets watching America’s got talent.  We had to rewind the lady who dances with her border collie.  We tried to get our dogs to watch it....neither one was impressed.  I am guessing that smelling really bad and chewing up shoes won’t get them a spot on the show!  

Speaking of cute babies, our sweet Evelyn is doing good!   She got to meet her Aunt Pam and cousin Sarah today.  We never get enough looking at her sweet face.  Counting the days until we get to hold her and play with her!   

Basketball and baby pictures

Preston’s team had a game tonight at Prairie View.  PV is too far away and isn’t a very fun place to get to. I drove the bus.  I actually don’t mind the drive during the daylight hours, but the roads are too narrow and winding for night driving.   We made it anyway.  Preston had a good game. He played on the varsity team, and he even got to start.  He does a good job.  He didn’t have any points tonight, but he did a great job in there. He had a few steals and a ton of assists.  I enjoyed watching them.  Preston’s team won too!  (Preston is #2 in blue). 

Last week, I told Madison she should take Evie’s picture with her wedding ring to illustrate how small she is.  She finally did it today.  I think it will be a neat picture to show her when she’s older.  

Madison said they like the new hospital. They are running some tests to determine how to best help with Evie’s feeding issues.  The lack of tubes gives us a glance at her whole face.  She sure is a cute little thing.  I just love her!  She is up to 3 pounds 10 ounces, so she is growing!   I can’t wait to get her here.  To quote Tom Petty, the waiting is the hardest part!  

Home

Leaving Arizona yesterday was in the top 10 of things I have done that were terrible.  I am not sure when I have ever cried so much. I hated leaving all of them.  Madison, Andrew and Evelyn.  I am sure the people on the plane just loved me.  I know they are all capable adults and the baby is getting good care but I hate being so far away.  I just love them all so much and wish there was something I could do to make life a little easier for them.  

Tonight they transferred Evie to a children’s hospital. The hope is that she will be able to get a little more care with her feedings and IV’s.  I am praying it is a good move for them all.  The only thing that matters is getting that little girl the best care.  

The good news is that I made it  home.  I missed these folks here.   They were happy to see me too.  Quincy informed me she hates cooking and laundry so she is glad I’m back.  Hummmmmm I wonder if it is time to change up the chore chart?!?  In all honesty, Quincy is my outdoor working kid and we rely on her to do quite a few of the outside chores.  She is a master of goat feeding and chickens.  We all have our strengths.  I am just glad to be on the ground.  It has been 23 years since I flew and frankly I hope it is another 23 or more before I do it again.   Is it wrong to say I am happy to do laundry and cook?  I also had a board meeting and drove the bus today on very limited sleep.  I am going to bed early tonight!  

The babies here aren’t quite as cute as the one in Arizona, but still pretty sweet!  Four does have kidded with 7 on the ground.  We have 6 left!  Quincy is an amazing goat nurse.