We have a new baby

Ruth had Lucy this morning around 6. Both mom and baby are doing well. Lucy weighs 7 lb 3 oz. I haen't seen them yet but will go later this afternoon. That makes 8 grandkids for me, 3 boys and 5 girls. I'm glad that this difficult pregancy is over and am anxious to see how Sophia reacts.

Birthday week

This is birthday week for me. My son Mark was born on Monday and is now 31. My daughter was born on Tuesday and is now 28. I seem to get more joy out of my kids birthdays than I do my own. I spend the time remembering the day of their births, and thinking about how much I love them. I remember how they were when they were little.

Mark was my first and only boy. He was born in a snowstorm. I was in labor so went to the hospital. Gary went to work and left me stranded. I misunderstood the nurse who told me to go home. She really just wanted me to go walk around for a few hours. Having no car or ride, I ran walked home a couple of miles. It did the trick I guess and Mark was born later that evening.
Mark is my thinker. He loves a debate. Others get uncomfortable thinking there is a fight coming on, but it's just Mark getting his words out. He is in the best of moods after he gets a good debate. He can argue anything and make you believe. He started this as a young child and it just keeps getting more intense. Mark grew up in a family of sisters and they often made him dress up. He was good to let them have their fun at his expense. Mark is an artist. I used to love when he'd make a picture for me. By the way Mark, if you're reading this, I haven't gotten one in ten years. Doesn't need to be wonderful and time consuming to be special to me. Mark is so bright. He has a high IQ (not sure exactly what score). He is also a peacemaker. He has always been easy going and tries to help soothe things over. Today he is hoping to have a new baby girl Lucy born. She will come soon. Mark makes me think of one of my favorite books I'll Love YOu Forever by Robert Munsch. I love you Mark

Kathy was born during Ronald Reagan's Inaugeration (sp). I was due on Cristmas, but she wasn't ready. On Marks 3rd birthday after going to the doctor and celebrating with Gary, and Mark and Pam, I took caster oil and Kathy was born on the next morning during all the national hubbub. She was 9 lbs. 5 oz. The doctor said my she is a little over done. Well I guess! Kathy is my tender one. She is also a deep thinker. When she was newborn we couldn't get her to respond to us in any way. She wouldn't turn to us or startle at loud noise or anything. We were worried. Then when she was 4 months old she started responding all at once. It was generel conference, so we decided to go for a family walk between sessions. We bundled our Kathy up and just left her little face showing so she could look around. When we got back we noticed she had a terrible sunburn on her face. I felt like a failure. We took her to the doctor everyday for 2 weeks. I thought she would have a scar for life, but I'm happy to say it went away. I still have a scar in my soul for it though. Kathy is a dancer. She's really good at it and brought me so much joy from her talents. She is a friendly person. I wish I was more like her in this way. She can and has made friends anywhere. Kathy is very bright also. I always wanted to put her in private school but didn't have the money. She turned out all right in public. I am so proud of everything she has done with her life. I remember when Kathy was in Jr High. She was head cheerleader of the 7th grade team. The other girls were mean and jealous. They hit her as they passed her in the hall. It got so bad we had to get help from the principal just so she could go to school. I being the mom got so I didn't like any of those girls. When spring came the other girls knew they needed help to learn cheerleading so they could make the team. They came to Kathy and asked her to work with them. Kathy forgave them immediately. She spent many hours helping them with the routine. Each of those girls then made the 8th grade squad, and that was the end of the hate war. Kathy is very forgiving. I don't think I could have done it. Kathy was very friendly with adults as well as kids her age. I still have adults stop me to ask how wonderful Kathy is doing. Two just recently--- Debbie Holley and Mr Smith. Kathy was grounded for life so many times that I'm not quite sure how she got away and now lives in Canada. She never did anything horrible, she just ran on her own clock. We had a family rule-be home by 10, or call by 9:59, no exceptions. I thought that was a pretty good rule, but Kathy couldn't do it. I spent many hours worried where in the world was she. Thus the grounding. But kathy was just so sweet she'd always worked her way out of it. I wonder, if I impose another life grounding will that mean she has to come home again. I don't see her much as she is so far away. I miss her. When Kathy was in second grade she wanted to join orchestra and play the violin. She was already so busy with her dance classes that I didn't know what to do. Then that week she fell on the playground and broke both of her arms. Kathy always did things in a big way. To me it was an answer from heaven that she had enough going on so there could be no violin. Meanwhile I challenge any of you to keep a little girl with two broken arms happy. She couldn't even feed herself.
I also remember when Kathy was just about 2. She got really sick. The doctors were running lots of tests to see what was wrong. They suspected luekemia. We got Kathy a Priesthood blessing. The next day when they ran the tests again they were normal. Kathy was well.
Another time years later Kathy was sick with the flu at a national dance competition. She had lots of dances to perform and was so sick she layed on the floor in the hall between dances. We got her another priesthood blessing and that helped her have the strength to go on. It was a big deal to Kathy, and Heavenly Father knew it, and gave her the help she needed. For many years Kathy has bouyed up my spirits. She calls me and tells me how great I am. It helps me stay on track to hear her loving words. (I have to admit though that now a lot of times she calls while driving through the drive through for a minute, or Barry is talking in the background to hurry and get off the phone. We don't get to talk much
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BOTH OF YOU