Friday's child is loving and giving

Remember the Mother Goose poem? We had had big plans for Friday. Sarah was having her weekly pregnancy check-up. Then she was going to come by and we all would go and have our yearly flue shots and go for lunch. She also had plans for a pedicure and I don't know what else.

The doctor didn't like her blood pressure and sent her over to the hospital for monitoring. To make a long story short, decision was made to induce. By noon we knew that this was the day. Wade's parents were on the road at 1 pm.

James and I went with two cars. His car has Caleb's car seat. None of us knew how things would go and how we could help. We spent most afternoon keeping Sarah company. Doctors and nurses were wonderful. Sarah got excellent care. It must have been around 6 pm when we went outside into the sun to warm up a little and go into the cafeteria to find a little dinner.

Sarah was introduced to "the peanut" to help speed up the labor. It did help tremendously because soon she was rolled into the OR, a standard precaution for twins.

Colin Wade was born 7:03 pm. Michael Owen was born 7:08 pm. 09.09.2016

This picture was taken 7:46 pm. Wade had to find us in the waiting room because of bad phone reception in the hospital we never got the text.

 

 

 

The babes are not even an hour old in these pictures. We are all so happy that things worked out for Sarah and everybody is happy and healthy. Lots of prayers had been said and they have been heard. Thanks to the LORD!

 

 

The orange thing in the back is "the peanut".

 

 

Kathy and Mike, Wade's parents.

 

 

They had picked up Caleb from daycare and then later brought him to meet his "brobbers".

 

 

Sarah and Wade had prepared Caleb well all these months. He was really sweet. He had a curious look on his face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James and I left because the other grandparents are only here for the weekend. We decided to celebrate a little with cheese and crackers and a bottle of Schloß Biebrich Sekt. You have to wind down after an event like this.

 

 

Saturday

James had the church men's breakfast at 8 am which means the alarm rang. I communicated with Sarah. She had a steady stream of visitors and told me to come 1-ish. James and I had some errands to do. We went in two cars again.

I just arrived when Sarah and the babes were moved to the 4th floor and I could help with that. The extra baby takes an extra person.

The new room had a window which made Sarah happy. Papa is a pretty good rocker.

 

 

Later in the afternoon Carolyn came to visit. We always enjoy meeting her. She loves taking photos too like me, but she is better.

 

 

This is the picture she took. I "stole" it from Facebook. Precious.

 

 

I took these. It is easy when you have cute subjects.

Colin on the left (asleep) and Owen on the right (peaking a little at his brother).

 

 

 

But Owen didn't have his eyes open very much either. Well, that's what babies do.

 

 

They also burp and spit on you (thanks, Colin) and need their diaper changed (you're welcome, Colin). We left when the others arrived. At home we discussed how much they have already changed from the previous evening to this afternoon.

Oh yes, and thanks to our gadgets (FaceTime) Helen and William saw them in Nashville yesterday and Stephen and Jilly saw them this afternoon when they called to congratulate from England. We appreciate how everybody is happy with and for us.

 

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Labor Day

The weather is perfect. PERFECT! After very hot VIRGINIA August with almost no rain but plenty of humid air and a very cold Saturday due to Hurican Hermine we finally could open the house. Lovely. We had decided to do a walk this morning.

Besides the heat James went on walks all summer long. He just got up very early in the mornings. Sorry, I needed to turn over! Still, there were a good number of days where I could make my FitBit happy with an evening walk.

We decided that today was the perfect day for a walk along the river. Labor Day, and laboring I did trying to find my hiking poles. How can hiking poles disappear? No where to be found. Finally we gave up. James decided on an easier trail and we each used one of his poles.

We parked at Tredegar. What is it about rivers?

 

 

First we walked the Pipeline Trail.

 

 

You could spend a lot of time watching others.

 

 

 

Then we walked across the Mayo Bridge and the Slave Trail.

 

 

We saw several signs and they are all rather depressing. I can never understand it.

 

 

But the trail itself along the river is lovely. Here is a very strong smell of honeysuckle.

 

 

 

We are across the river from Rockett's Landing. I tried to zoom in because if you look carefully you can see a statue of a head and arms of a person at the bottom of the chimney.

 

 

We went to the end, turned around and went back. Then we continued through Manchester. It used to be mostly industrial, then empty warehouses. Now it is revitalized and the warehouses turned into apartments. Very interesting. Cafes and lunch places here and there. I loved this sign!

 

 

My my, just by chance our hike went passed the Legend Brewery restaurant just when it opened. Well, I really did need to find the girl's room too. Lovely sitting outside, view of Richmond on the other side of the James River. I had a grilled Mahi Mahi on a bun and James fish and chips.

I loved James' comment that his food was great because the fish was tasteless ... meaning that there was no fishy taste and the batter was delicious. He never was that keen on fish dinners.

 

 

 

Then back across Belle Isle and the bridge.

 

 

Lots of people were out and about. Lots of canoes and paddle boards. Now, why did the guy (second on right) do a headstand? Twice?

 

 

Back at the car we decided to head for REI. Got to have hiking poles again. They could look it up in the computer and I got exactly the same again. A costly mistake to lose the first set. Sigh.

At 6 o'clock we were invited by Julie to dinner. Look at those colorful roasted carrots! Besides delicious food (and wine) we always have a lively talk.

 

 

A glorious day alrogether. FitBits says 17438 steps.

 

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Overnight guest

Last Wednesday Caleb brought his suitcase to stay the night and his parents for dinner ... taco salad ... again!

 

 

 

 

Schatzi came to visit too and beat Caleb to the door.

 

 

Caleb helped Papa water the flowers. I was taking a video and was sure I would get wet! Ha--ha, you can check whether I did HERE.

 

 

Nothing like dessert after dinner.

 

 

His parents left, Caleb had a bath, read a couple of books with Papa and went to sleep. The blow-up child mattress works well.

Next day (September already, hard to believe) breakfast, some play with "Omi's train tracks" and then Papa went "to the other side of the river" to hand him over to Mommy. James didn't have to bring him to day care this time because they decided to meet at ... Mrs Yoder's doughnuts at the Great Big Greenhouse Thursdays 9am-1:30pm

Lucky he brought one back for me too.

 

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