What a week

Sitting here on Sunday night, I am just in awe of all that has happened in our lives this past week. 

Last Saturday night, Jack and I were in Winter Park FL having a lovely dinner with his dad and brother. When we got back to the hotel, we facetimed with Sally. We showed her our hotel room and the view. We could see the fireworks at Epcot in the distance and down below our balcony, we could hear folks laughing and celebrating. It was a lighthearted, let's kill some time kinda conversation.

The next morning we received that milestone phone call from Sally (see previous post if you haven't already read it). Wow. And from that phone call and up to and including this very moment, all Jack or I can say is "Wow" followed by the other person saying "I know". 

Ellie is still in the NICU. Not that she is "sick", but Ellie is not yet ready to come home. She needs to be able to take all of her nourishment orally and not through an ng tube. We are all so thankful that Ellie is doing so well and we know that it could be so so much more worse and challenging and all of that, but our reality is that it has been a difficult week. And especially so for Matt and Sally. I don't know that it has been stressful for Ellie, because she has had amazing care in the NICU. If it was allowed, Ellie would have had a cast of thousands visiting her. So many people love this girl and have not been able to meet her yet. To put it into perspective, Jack and I have only seen Ellie three times: an hour after she was born, the night she was born and then three days later on Friday evening. As Sally has said, we have to reconcile how we envisioned this birth experience vs the reality of this birth experience. 

Matt and Sally have been making four round trips a day to the NICU. Sally has been pumping eight times each day (and doing well with that too I should mention). Sally is five days postpartum and they just had their first baby. One month early.

That is quite a lot on their plate. 

Through it all, we have watched them place their trust in God. 

That is what it is all about. 

We love our sweet little Ellie and cannot wait to be a part of her life!

Baby time!

I wrote this post over the course of the last several days.

Sunday, August 23, 8 pm 

Waiting.

Waiting for our first grandchild to be born. 

Jack and I woke up in Florida this morning. We were there to visit with Jack's dad and brother and had planned to stay four nights, arriving Friday and returning home on Tuesday. 

Then this morning I woke up to Jack's voice saying, "Your water broke?! Wow!" I bolted out of bed. Oh my gosh! He was talking to Sally! My baby's water broke a month early! And I was a thousand miles away. And Matt was out of town, but only about 2 hours away. Sally had already called her doctor who said to come in to the hospital. She wondered if she should drive herself. No!! She called Beth and I called Jenny. Beth lives 5 minutes from Sally, so she picked her up and Jenny met them at the hospital. Jenny stayed until Matt got to the hospital around noon. 

Next mission? Get me home to my girl!! I told Jack we had to get on the next plane   He said it was not quite that simple, but he sure got the job done with his travel expertise and problem solving skills. Within minutes we were booked on a 1:30 flight AND upgraded to first class! 

We showered and checked out of the hotel by 9:15 and headed over to Bucky's to see him again.  We felt so bad leaving early, but he understood. 

We had an awesome flight home. We were surrounded by little kids and Jack did his thing and entertained them. So sweet. Our flight arrived a few minutes early. And God bless Jenny, she picked us up from the airport. She was working overtime for us today.

I can count on my sister for anything!!!!! 

Jack and I went to the hospital around 5 and met Matt's mom and dad in the parking lot. Perfect timing. We stayed about an hour and left to let Matt and Sally have some privacy. 

We have been getting text updates and it sounds like labor is progressing. Matt's going to let us know when she gets ready to push and we will head over there. Who knows what time that'll be? Doesn't matter!!! We just want a healthy baby! Because the baby is a month early, he/she will go to the NICU no matter what. 

5:30 am Monday August 24

The last update from Matt was at 12:24 am. They were cutting down on the pitocin and were getting ready for the epidural. Matt said the baby's arrival wasn't expected anytime soon. I woke up at 4:30am and showered and I am just about ready to head over to the hospital and hold a vigil for this baby!!! Praying hard. 

6:45am

We got a text from Sally about 1/2 hour ago. There hasn't been much progress with the labor, but the baby is good and Sally is comfortable. She got an epidural around 1am. Jack and I are heading  over to the hospital to get the lay of the land. 

It's a beautiful morning! 60 degrees and sunny so far. 

10:30am 

Jack and I went to the hospital and got to see Sally and Matt. The doctor who is delivering babies today has a hands off approach and wants to see how labor progresses without going right to a c-section. He is trying some other medication to get the labor moving along. 

Sally is getting a bit antsy but is calm and cool. They just want a healthy baby. 

I am thankful that I am not scheduled to work today or tomorrow because we were supposed to be in Florida. I am not sure how I could concentrate on anything!!!

9:05 pm 

 It's 36 hours after Sally's water broke and the baby still hasn't arrived yet. Sally and Matt are being remarkably patient. It appears there has been some progress in dilation even though she's been without pitocin for about 12 hours. The doc doing deliveries has had her on cervadil and maybe it's working!? Next check by the doctor will be at 10:30

Tuesday, August 25th 3am

Sally texted at 10:45 pm last night and said she was at 4cm and 100% effaced.   Matt texted at 12:47am that things were moving quickly and it looked like maybe it would be in the wee hours of the morning. An hour later, 1:47am Matt texted "pushing". Jack and I are sitting in the waiting area, praying for a safe delivery and healthy baby.

Jack and I entering the hospital at 2:45am

 Praying hard. It's a very profound time. Our grandchild is about to enter this world. 
Thursday, August 27th 8pm
Elizabeth Alice arrived at 2:55am on 8/25, pretty much as I was writing the last post, weighing in at 6 lbs 11 oz, 20 inches long. Matt and Sally are going to call her Ellie...I love this name as I do her full name. Love love love. 
Ellie was taken right to the NICU because of being preterm. She was given an IV, a feeding tube and was attached to all sorts of monitors. We got to meet her about an hour after she was born. Pure joy!! What a miracle! I was able to hold Ellie that evening. That is heaven right here on earth, a dream come true.
Sally was discharged from the hospital today, but Ellie stayed so she can get to be a better eater. This has not been easy. I have often heard women say how hard it is to leave the hospital without your baby, but Sally has the right perspective and it is sad but knows how blessed she is to have a baby that just needs to want to eat as much as she wants to sleep! 
God is so good!

Sally, Matt and the doctor

Sally and Matt with Maria who was OUTSTANDING!

first glimpse at our girl. NICU nurses rock

Already in love with Ellie

Matt is such a natural

mother and child 

Sally's baby shower!

Saturday was such a fun day! Mary (Matt's mom), Cassie (Matt's sister), Julie and I hosted a baby shower for Sally. It was a blast. Such a great committee to work with and we held the event at the Hyatt Lodge, the same place where Matt and Sally had their wedding reception two years ago. It was even in the same room! It was a fun group of attendees and a very generous group as well. Sally and Matt were blown away.

the grandmas and baby and Sally

a book about my son-in-law!

celebrating Sally and Baby B

just part of the haul

In the past I have been a big fan of having wedding and baby showers in the home, as opposed to having them at a restaurant or other outside venue. I have changed my tune in the last two years. Home showers are cozy, but if that's not possible, just book your event at the Hyatt Lodge. They will make you feel like you are part of the family. As I walked in on Saturday morning carrying the present, at least three staff members asked if they could help me. The staff totally shared in our joy and they remembered and loved the fact that Matt and Sally had their wedding reception there too. The folks working the shower smiled almost as much as we did as they watched the presents being opened and listened to the banter of the guests. Such nice people who work hard and enjoy being part of the celebration.

Captain Kelly in the middle

And as exciting as all of this hoopla is, the best part of it is that the newest member of our family is arriving in the next 7 weeks (7 weeks max!) God is so good!

Let's talk about my birthday some more

This is my blog, so let's talk more about my birthday, shall we?
Sure!
Since my post of August 2nd, I have had more birthday celebrations. I know you want to hear all about them.
On August 4th, the birthday club girls celebrated Mary K's and my birthday at Mary B's house. Jean and Mary B were the co hostesses and we had such a nice evening. We sat outside around the pool (some girls went swimming) and had appetizers and visited. All 12 of us were there, which hasn't happened in a while. It was so fun. We had dinner and cake and lots of laughs. The girls gave me a gorgeous new handbag...I love it. We only do gifts for the milestone birthdays and everyone contributes toward one gift. Such a great idea. I am so blessed to have these women in my life.

all 12 of us!

On Wednesday, August 5th, Lynn treated me to lunch at Nordstrom Cafe and them we shopped around together. Lynn is my oldest friend, meaning the friend I have known the longest as opposed to the friend who is oldest in years. Lynn and I met the first weekend of college when we were on the same dorm floor. We ended up being in the same major and went through undergrad and grad school together. I love Lynn and all the history we share.


On Saturday, August 8th, Teri and Chuck hosted a party for me. Yes, for me. How humbling is that? Sally helped Teri with guest list and some of the plans and then they told me about it. So it wasn't a surprise actually, but I did not know any of the details ahead of time. It was a blast!!! So fun. Here are some pictures since pictures are worth a thousand words.

p for Patty!

an important discussion with Mark

a very lovely toast by Teri

Steve, Christy, Caylen and Chuck

Brendan, Sam and Wayne

I feel I need to mention that the day after hosting this beautiful party for me, Teri took her mom, aunt and a friend to see a play, THEN hosted an ice cream social for incoming freshmen students at Benet. Did I say that my big accomplishment on Sunday was going to Abbie's 9th birthday party??? That's our Ter, so organized and productive and the quintessential hostess with the mostess.
Thanks to Teri and Chuck for an amazing party!

Making friends with August

I have always had a dislike of August. As soon as the calendar flips from July to August, I start mourning the end of summer. This year, though, I had an epiphany. Even though the school year starts in August, it really does not begin to heat up (no pun intended) until well into September. Truth be told, the August part of the school year is kinda fun. Institute Day, classroom set up, reuniting with returning students and parents and coworkers, meeting lots of new (future) friends. It's exciting!
I am having a change of attitude here.
And I am not even working all that many days in August.
And I REALLY like my job.
So hello, August! I am glad you are here.

My name is Patty and I am 60

It's official. I celebrated my 60th birthday on Thursday. I have been asked many times how I feel about being 60. I am thrilled. I mean that. I woke up on Thursday morning feeling so blessed. I really did.
I started my day as I do most days, with a walk with Jean. We have been walking together for over 20 years. That's just crazy. As I left my house, I received a sweet text from my niece Lauren. So thoughtful! Near the end of our daily walks, Jean and I   often stop in the neighborhood Starbucks for a coffee. Jean, for a surprise, had asked Teri to join us for a quick birthday hug and a cup of coffee.When we walked into Starbucks, Teri was waiting with a tall dark coffee with a big ribbon around it. It kinda brought tears to my eyes!

birthday coffee!

On my way home from the walk, Sally called and as I was finishing up with her, Wayne called. I love my kids so much!!! Made my day just to talk to them.

Lynn came over with a chocolate pecan pie from Bang Bang

The day was full of fun calls, texts, visits, flowers, Facebook posts and likes and comments. It was also our 32nd anniversary. Talk about being blessed. I truly am. Being married to Jack is pure joy, but the anniversary kinda took a back seat to my milestone birthday. It's all about me, don't you know?

Ruthanne stopped by with Daniel and Wilson

flowers from Lauren and Brendan (notice bracelet from Ruthanne)

One of the best birthday presents was having our air conditioning fixed. It went out on Wednesday and we were able to get a service call for the next day. Woohoo!

Sally took Jack and me out for our anniversary and my birthday. We went to one of our favorite fancy lunch spots, Gibson's. We sat outside and enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine. Delightful.

That was the best ice cream ever!

me and my honey

love my birthday hat from Jenny!

flowers from Bob and Mary

And it's not over yet!