The Twins - Day Five

You know part of my camera story - the part where I wrecked it on the lava rocks as I crashed into the ocean on our first day in Hawaii. I used DC's camera for the next few days until I was able to make it into W*l-M*rt to replace mine. I was happy with my new camera - until it quit working. We took it back - but somehow the cord had dropped from the box into my suitcase, so they wouldn't take it back. We took it to our store when we got home and they gave me a refund that was more than I paid in Hawaii. Hard to believe.

I didn't replace it there, but went to B*st Buy, where DC thought I'd get better quality service. I found one I really liked, but wanted it in red instead of black. You can only get red if you order it on-line. I did so as soon as I got home, and paid even less than for the first one. It took 9 days for it to get here.

The first day I had it, I forgot it at home, so could not take pictures of the girls. Yesterday I finally was able to take a few. Today, when Kate was out of her isolette and being held by Kristen and M, the battery died! I cannot believe it. This battery has to be recharged with my computer, but I haven't figured out how. Evidently the batteries that come in the cameras are not in the best condition.

Enough about my camera drama.

This afternoon Kristen came home. She is very happy to be out of the hospital. But of course, it was very hard to leave the little ones behind. She'll be pumping milk and heading up there often and for as long as possible each day. The kids are very happy to have her home. Care Bear wrote in her journal at school: "I don't want any more sleep-overs!" It didn't even hurt Grandma's feelings!

The other really good news - Kate and Emma got to move up to Level 2. I forgot to ask how many levels there are. But Level 2 means that they have their own little spots in the NICU - a place where their sisters and brother can draw pictures for them and they can be hung up. Where they can have little toys in their beds. They really don't like the paraphernalia they are attached to. Kate pulled the tube out of her nose while I was there. They let her keep it out for awhile, because she needs it for feeding and could go without it until then. They've each had a little bit of Kristen's milk, to start getting them used to something in their tummies.

It's Friday, so I won't be going to work, which is close to the hospital, until Monday . We'll see if we can get up there and take some pictures at some point in the week-end.

This morning, as I was reading in Job, I found this underlined verse that I had discovered on 9/13/07, the day we learned that Emma and Kate were just fine - no chromosomal abnormality for Kate, and Feisty the Sequel, otherwise known as Emma, was thriving, though tiny. Job 10:11-12 (The Message):

Oh, that marvel of conception as you stirred together semen and ovum --

What a miracle of skin and bone, muscle and brain!

You gave me life itself, and incredible love,

You watched and guarded every breath I took.

Amen and Amen!

The Twins - Day Four

We are all getting pretty weary. The kiddoes have been great, but it's getting old - I don't know how much they understand about how long it will be before the girls get to come home. Kristen's pain is still more than she's comfortable with. The insurance company is allowing her to stay one more day - nice of them. Remember when C-section patients stayed in the hospital for 10 days??


But - all of that is minor compared to the wonderful miracle of these little girls. The nurse (in the picture below) told us today just how much of a miracle they are. She indicated that the hospital staff was really concerned about their health before they were born. But God knew their condition all along! She told us that they are so excited about how well they are both doing. Mommy and Daddy "played" with Emma for over an hour last night - wish I'd been there to see that!

Kristen, Her Husband, and One of the Awesome Nurses

These little darlings definitely have minds of their own. They are still under the blue lights for jaundice. I described Kate yesterday with her little black shades - here is Emma with them today. The "glove" on top of Emma is to keep her in a certain position.

Kate refused to keep the little shades on, so they had to put a headgear on her to keep her eyes covered. It's pretty hard to see how gorgeous she is !

The diaper on the left is called "Wee Pee" and fits the girls - the one on the right is Preemie size.

Do you want to hear about another miracle? If you've been reading Kristen lately, you know that her employer was treating her very badly. I finally wrote an e-mail to the higher-ups in HR. After being forwarded several times, it landed in the right place. Of course, they couldn't discuss the situation with me, but I gave them Kristen's number in the hospital and she talked to this lady today. She is pretty much out of sick and annual leave, and short term disability doesn't kick in for 30 days. There is a Sick Leave Bank that employees can contribute to. So she'll be applying for that and hopefully cover the difference.

Also, her supervisor had honored her request to go back to part-time. (Unfortunately, they weren't working with her on the schedule). But she had not worked on day of part-time yet when she went onto bedrest. Unfortunately, since she was officially part-time, this meant her disability pay would be based on that half time salary. The HR person who called Kristen informed her that she was able to keep her in full-time status for purposes of disability pay. Praise God!

Thanks once more for your prayer for all of us!

The Twins - Day Three

I know, I know. If I were Kristen, I could change this to pink and have the right names. But I'm not and I wanted a visual. This is pathetic - my new camera arrived on Monday from Best Buy on line - and I forgot to take it with me today so that I could take new pix after work. What kind of Grandma does that??? I guess a Grandma who is still trying to play catch-up at work, get the house in order, finally go to the grocery store, do laundry, and visit the babies and their mommy! I haven't had time to visit any of you, but thank you for coming by for the updates.


I will definitely be taking pictures tomorrow - I have the camera in the car already. Today when I got there, I found that little Kate was under the blue light - they both have a bit of jaundice - there she lay on her side, with tiny little shades over her tiny little eyes - with her tiny little hand kind of resting on the shades - she looked like a celebrity at the beach. Emma's turn was next, but when I went over to visit with her, she opened her tiny little eyes and gave me a good once-over.


Kristen is doing better, but still experiencing discomfort and pain when she moves around. We're trusting that they do NOT release her tomorrow. She's not quite ready to make the transition to real life yet. I have a feeling those bigger little girls will think she's back to normal once she arrives at home.


It is uncanny - Kate looks like Care Bear and Emma looks like Feisty - just as it should be. I must get a picture of the "big" girls with their babies.


Kristen's MIL has been wonderful. She has more energy than any 3 of the rest of us, and has a heart bigger than she is. She's a teacher in North Dakota and is taking leave without pay to stay around and help us this week. What a blessing it has been to have 2 extra hands.


Tonight at choir practice we were singing an old song from 1969-70 called "A Day of Miracles." The words are something like this:

Some folks say that miracles

Are not for today.

They say that it's old-fashioned

To trust and to pray.

But I believe that miracles

Still happen today

To those who trust and believe.

There's much more, of course, but that is the part that sticks in my mind - we have been blessed with miracles this week, and it has been a joy to share those with all of the docs and nurses in the NICU. Many of them agree!

It is truly a small world. When Diane, my dear friend, found out where Kristen was in the hospital, she told me that she has a good friend who is a NICU nurse in that hospital. I met her today. She is wonderful. Isn't God good?? Also, Care Bear's kindergarten teacher has a sister who is a nurse there as well. It truly is a small world.

There is an organization called "Parents of Multiples Club" - I had looked them up months ago and put it in my Favorites. I decided I'd better get serious about contacting them last week. The young woman who is the chairperson called me, e-mailed me, and was ready to do anything to help. They have two garage sales each year, where new parents of multiples can pick up equipment and clothes, and things get recycled efficiently, but we missed the last one. The next one's in March. So she put out a call to the membership for things they need - like the double stroller that accommodates two car seats. We've been trying to figure out how you carry two babies in those heavy carseats to the kindergarten room to pick up Care Bear - you are required to meet her at the door. I've been thinking how wonderful it would be to have one of those strollers. Thank the Lord, somebody has one they are willing to GIVE us. What a blessing!

Now - does anyone know of a gently used minivan for sale cheap??? In about a month or less, there will not be enough room in their little Saturn for all of these little darlings!

Well, I'd better hush for now. I hope Kristen is able to post again one of these days. She's pretty busy resting up, pumping, visiting the NICU, watching her soap opera. I have told her to cherish EVERY SINGLE MOMENT of solitude. It is about to come to a screeching halt.

We are so grateful to all of you for your prayer and care.

The Twins - Day Two

No new pictures - I didn't have a camera with me today when I went to visit the little darlings (my new camera came in the mail yesterday, but I didn't even have time to open it until this evening). They were very snuggled up in their little isolettes, covered with quilted padding to keep them nice, cozy, and dark. Emma decided she didn't want to have that oxygen dispenser in her nose any more, so she pulled it out - they didn't put it back in, as far as I know. Feisty the Sequel for sure!!

They had nice little warm spongebaths and their hair was so fluffy and pretty. But it would have been hard to get very good pictures today.

Kristen has been uncomfortable today, and feeling quite fuzzy and spacey from all the pain meds. She's also itching quite a bit. But she's going to be fine, I'm certain of that.

In the mid-afternoon, both girls had a bit of up and down blood pressure, which of course made their mommy nervous. I tried to encourage her that there will probably be lots of these ups and downs with their tininess. From what I gathered from the docs and nurses yesterday, they'll probably be in NICU for about four weeks.

The staff is wonderful - so kind and so very professional. We are blessed to have such good care for both Kristen and the babies.

This evening, about now in fact, they'll be doing the PKU test on each of them. This is a test that is required by law to be done on all newborns (see http://children.webmd.com/phenylketonuria-pku-test for info on this test).

We are so thankful for these miracle babies. All of you had a part in this miracle. And speaking of miracles, remember Micah?

Many of you have prayed for him over the last year as well. If you want another blessing, go here and read the latest update!

http://www.pray4micah.com/

You'll find a January 1, 2008 posting that will knock your socks off. What a mighty God we serve!

Happy Birthday, Kate and Emma!!

It has been a long day. I am tired! I now have 5 grandchildren! They are both adorable. Little tiny people.

Kate weighs 3 lbs. 5 ounces and Emma weighs 2 lbs. 15.5 ounces. Kate is 15 3/4 inches long and Emma is 15 inches long.

The whole clan was there -

There was a bit of confusion - the head OR nurse had a bit of an attitude. One person told us they could all stay out in the hall and watched the babies be whisked to the ICU when they were born. The very young, very bossy nurse informed them that they could not - they had to go to the waiting room.

Mike and I had lovely outfits on - too bad I didn't get any pictures! We were placed at Kristen's head.

There was such a huge team in the OR. They were ready for any emergency - there were none, praise God!

I was able to catch a shot of Kate being whisked away, but not Emma.

I accompanied them to the NICU and Mike stayed behind with Kristen. The rest were in the waiting room, entertaining the other kids and wondering what was happening. I was in there for over an hour as they inserted lines for nutrition, x-rayed their lungs. Emma has oxygen, but Kate is breathing all on her own. I could see Emma's little heart beating. Absolutely amazing. She's Feisty The Sequel, as Kristen called her.

The nurse said to Kate, "You don't know that you're a preemie, do you?"

I spent time just looking at them, talking to them, and got to touch their little tiny hands.


Kevin held Kate's tiny little hand - what a comparison.

Katherine Hope (who was supposed to have a chromosomal abnormality).

wgi

Emma Faith (who was not supposed to survive because she was too small!)

The kids are here - they're flying high after being cooped up in the hospital waiting room all day. They have school tomorrow. I need to go try to get some control going!

God's Hand

The little girls have been here a lot lately, having what they like to call "sleepovers." They've done so well with all the upheaval in their lives lately. Friday night was another sleepover, along with their brother as well.

Their M.O. is to get ready for bed, get into their little sleeping bags on the family room floor, be sure I'm on the couch right above their heads, watch a movie for a little while, then drift off to sleep, after prayers and good-nights.

This worked really well last week. Friday night not so much for Feisty. I soon realized that her sudden fear of the darkness stemmed from the fact that we'd had the Christmas lights on every night last week when they were falling asleep. In fact, I left them on all night. (BTW, if there was ever any doubt that we need a new couch, it was dispelled after this long stretch of sleeping on it!).

Feisty wanted to sleep with someone. I reminded her that Care Bear was right beside her on the floor. But she wanted to sleep "with a grown-up." I told her that there wasn't enough room on the couch for both of us. She then wanted to hold someone's hand. I reminded her that Care Bear was right beside her on the floor, and would be glad to hold her hand. Only problem - Care Bear was already asleep and facing the other direction. So I moved my body to have my head on the other end of the couch and reached down to hold her sweet little soft hand.

When I thought her breathing had reached deep sleep sounds, I carefully slipped my hand out of hers, remembered to remove Care Bear's glasses, and tried to settle down for the remainder of the night. Feisty woke up with a start and said, "Grandma, I don't have your hand any more!" I quickly clasped her hand again, and she was soon sound asleep.

I lay there awake for quite awhile after that thinking of the parallel with our lives - how much we want God to reach down and hold our hands, to help us through fear, through trauma, through trials. Many songs began to go through my head.

Hold To God's Unchanging Hand

Time is filled with swift transition

Naught of earth unmoved can stand

Build your hopes on things eternal

Hold to God's unchanging hand

Precious Lord Take My Hand

Words & Music by Thomas A. Dorsey

Precious Lord, take my hand

Lead me on, let me stand

I'm tired, I'm weak, I'm lone

Through the storm, through the night

Lead me on to the light

Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home.

He Leadeth Me

He leadeth me, he leadeth me,

By his own hand he leadeth me:

His faithful follower I would be,

For by his hand he leadeth me.

The Touch of His Hand on Mine

Oh, the touch of His hand on mine,

Oh, the touch of His hand on mine.

There is grace and power, in the trying hour,

In the touch of His hand on mine.

And then - today's choir song:

Strong in the strength of someone else,

Trusting a hand that never has failed.

Living a life of spiritual wealth,

Strong in the strength of someone else.

The fact that the touch of my hand could soothe little Feisty into sweet rest gave me the most wonderful feeling in my soul that God is indeed keeping us and those little babies in His hand, and will be with all of us every step of the way - as He has been since these babies were conceived, and as He will be throughout the rest of our lives.

NOTE: Kristen DID change my look from her hospital room with that laptop they provided so kindly - and her own as well. She's amazing!

Yet Another Update

I hope someday to have a non-Christmas-y look on this site. Unfortunately, my technical guru is in the hospital, awaiting the birth of twins.

And back to that subject - Kristen now has more details. Emma and Kate will begin their arrivals at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, January 7. This is a change of plans, for which I am grateful. I know it sounds crazy, but I have a very full day on Sunday with the mission program of our church. I've arranged for missionaries from Ethiopia to be here, and I need to take them to lunch after church. That evening, the children who went on the Navajo project delivery trip are going to give their presentation.

Now, I know - I would have missed those things in a heartbeat for these new babies and their mommy, but this way it is the best of all schedules. Not only that, I will be privileged to be in the OR with Kristen and her husband. One of us will head to the NICU with the firstborn and the other will stay with Kristen.

The ultrasound today resulted in these stats: Big Squirt (more than likely to be Kate) weighs 3 pounds 15 ounces. Little Squirt (most likely Emma) weighs 2 pounds 15 ounces. Big Squirt weighs enough to be born "normally" but LS doesn't. Almost 4 and almost 3 pounds is not bad.

Stay tuned - more to come! Thanks for your continued care and prayer!

P.S. I need to clarify that the only reason I'll be in the OR is that there have to be 2 people in there - one of us will go to NICU with the firstborn, and the other will stay in with Kristen. That's what I understand at this point. It will be my privilege to be one of those two - her husband the other, naturally! DC said it so well yesterday: "How can you love someone so much that you've never even seen?" How indeed?

EMMA AND KATE ARE COMING!

Imminently. Sunday. Sunday's children. Both of my kids were born on Sunday. Care Bear was born on Saturday and Feisty on Monday. As the old nursery rhyme goes (brought back to my memory by Linds yesterday), "Sunday's child is full of grace." I pray this is true for both Emma Faith and Katherine Hope.

Feisty has always said Emma is her baby and Kate is Care Bear's. She has named every stuffed animal and doll in her large supply of toys with the name Emma. She is anxious to be Mommy's helper. She will be a wonderful one. It will be interesting to see the dynamics ahead. Care Bear has been a bit on edge - she is very perceptive and I believe she knows that her life is about to change drastically.

It has been a difficult pregnancy. It has been an extremely difficult two weeks. It is a bit frightening to come to the end and finally know for certain that these two precious babies are okay. It is also terrifically daunting.

I know you will all continue to pray for Kristen and her family, and for the two little additions who will soon be here.

Thank you!

New Year Meme

Update - Kristen is still in the hospital. Her cousin's gift of the knitting kit has become a life saver. She's become a knitting maniac - a different kind of knitting than I ever did, but very productive. She's finished a hat for each of the girls, and is starting now on scarves.

The hospital personnel continue to do ultrasounds every other day and no-stress tests the opposite days. Emma and Kate seem to be doing great. So are the older ones. They've stayed with us for 3 nights, and are doing remarkably well, actually.

I've seen this meme around and think it sounds intriguing - copy the first sentence from the first post of each month. So here is a look back on 2007 for Grandma Dawn.

January 4, 2007 (right after the Christmas blizzards and the early deadline for MSW applications - the same place I will be tomorrow!)

I am buried in a blizzard of a different variety - mail!

February 1, 2007 (the post following the first addition of the "Story of Deliverance" (see sidebar) that Kevin and I began on January 30 a year ago - hardly seems possible!)

While we wait for the next addition of Kevin's story, I'll write something with a bit less emotion attached.

March 1, 2007 (after a Wordless Wednesday)

First of all, thank you so much for your comments on DC's photography yesterday.

April 2, 2007 (quoted five days before Easter)

"IT'S FRIDAY, BUT SUNDAY'S A-COMIN' "

May 2, 2007 (second in a series about our Georgia vacation)

Eugenia Price was a writer of Christian non-fiction for years.

June 3, 2007

It has been another tough week in the family.

July 4, 2007 (the week the skunks came to visit)

A few days ago I was enjoying a peaceful afternoon of aloneness, sitting on my patio reading a good book.

August 1, 2007 (a recap of the flood at Colorado State University 10 years before)

A year ago yesterday I posted "A Flood of Memories" .

September 1, 2007 (Part 2 of the Job Saga)

Where was I?

October 3, 2007

First of all, I want to thank Maine Mom for the "You Make Me Smile" award.

November 2, 2007

This is my first time to do a "Friday Show and Tell," though I've been wanting to tell this story for quite some time.

December 1, 2007

The Countdown to Kona has slipped below a week!

So there you have it - the year in review. It has gone amazingly fast. There have been ups and downs, many good memories. Your friendships mean so much to me.

Have a wonderful 2008!

Update

Another quick update - Kristen's trip to Denver went well on Friday. The specialist feels certain they can hold off on bringing the babies into this world for another two weeks. They have been tested for everything possible, and have passed their tests with flying colors. She is being forced to rest by virtue of being in the hospital. She's bored and missing the kids, but I am happy she's there. Just on the off chance that it might be remotely possible, I asked the "concierge" at the hospital (did you ever hear of such a position?) if there were such a thing as a loaner laptop while Kristen was "incarcerated." Lo and behold, she got right on it, and had one in Kristen's room already today. So hopefully she'll be able to post her own take on the situation soon. (I just checked - and she did - so hop over there and read her take on the subject.)


More to come on Hawaii - I'm having a hard time locating some of my pictures. But I have many more things to share.

The Kona Adventure, Part 6 - The Big Box Store-y

An update, then a store-y. Kristen's ob/gyn (see yesterday's post, if you haven't) admitted her to the hospital yesterday afternoon. Supposedly she'll be going to Denver today - the doctor down there cancelled her appointment because of road conditions yesterday. The snow has stopped, but the radio says the roads are very icy down there. So we'll see what develops. She told me last night that she'll be making her home in her hospital bed for the duration of this pregnancy - days, weeks. She's already tired of t.v.! Only the Lord knows what is ahead. Thank you for your prayers. We cherish them.

Today is our actual anniversary. We will go out tonight and probably talk about the early celebration in Paradise. No fabulous pictures today - just a quick story to get my mind on something amusing. It is so cold and has been so stressful since we returned that I often have to go back to Hawaii in my mind. I will indeed be sharing more pictures, though, as the days go by.

The play on words is because the setting for this story is in W*l-M*rt, which I call a Big Box Store. Ten years ago when we were in Kona, W*l-M*rt and McD were the only evidence of big business on the island. This time we were pretty sad to see not only WM, but L0we's, C0stco, Super K-M*art, and every form of fast food. The good news is that they situate the big box stores so that you have to know where they are to find them. They are well hidden up on hills, behind foliage. But they are busy!

So - back to the store-y. I had fallen into the ocean (just barely), wrenched my knee and ankle, had blood and mud all over my pants and shirt (from a lava rock-slit finger), and was of course soaking wet. My shoes and socks were squishing. We stayed several miles above town in the mountains, so didn't want to make a trip back up there mid-day. I told DC I needed to go to WM to buy something to wear.

I hobbled into the shoe department, where there was hardly anything but flip-flops (called thongs in a previous generation!), which I cannot tolerate between my toes. I finally found a pair of simple sandals. I picked up a couple of pairs of capris (or pedal pushers or clam diggers or whatever you call them), a t-shirt, and headed to the little room with the mirrors that make you look even worse than you already do. I really hate shopping and trying on clothes. Add sprained ankles and knees and it was a really delightful experience.

Woe is me, the first pair didn't fit. Yikes, how could it be possible that this size didn't fit?? I stuck my nose out the door and asked the young woman in charge to please page DC for me. She spoke very poor English, and managed to mangle his name on the PA system. Turns out he was standing right there, but I didn't see him. He brought me some more clothes with which to torture my self-esteem.

Finally I found a passable fit with both top and bottom. I wadded up all the soiled and soaked clothes and shoes, headed out the door of the fitting room with the new clothes on, tags and all, and said, "Okay, here's the deal. I hurt myself badly, my clothes are soaked, I need to wear these things out of the store, so can you help me work that out?" Just then I realized that at least six women were standing there in a semi-circle, holding clothes over their arms, waiting for a vacant spot to torture themselves with the "trying on clothes" process.

There were lots of funny little smiles on their faces as the young woman finally located someone to take me to a check-out spot. Fortunately for me, she took me to someone close by and I didn't have to struggle all the way to the front and stand in line with hundreds of people looking on. I still had quite an audience, though, as she cut off the price tags, scanned them, bagged up my wet clothes, took my money, and sent me on my limping way.

I don't have a picture of myself - Dwight did take a video of me sitting on a rock in this pathetic condition. My camera was ruined. A very well hidden blessing!

I want to thank you all again for your prayers for me at this embarrassing, frustrating, painful time. He truly did touch me during that night and I was able to enjoy the rest of the time there, though moving slowly and carefully.

TO BE CONTINUED . . .

UPDATE ON KRISTEN

It's snowing. Beautiful, but icy underneath, so not great to be out and about. I'm here in the office, pretty much on my own (which is good, since I am still so far behind).

Kristen's bed rest situation was not as successful as it should have been. It was a very difficult week. She went back to her ob/gyn yesterday, who sent her to the hospital for a shot to improve the lung function of the babies. She needs another one today, in order for it to be the most effective. That means a snowy, icy trip up here to this hospital for the shot, then down to Denver on icy interstate highway to her neonatal specialist. Her ob/gyn is predicting a birth experience sooner than later. We're hoping and praying later!

Not only is it better for the babies to be later, but we are not physically or mentally prepared for them to be here yet. Of course, they'll be in the hospital for who knows how long, if they are born soon. That will make things even more difficult.

Well, lots of prayer requests imbedded in this short message. I know we can count on you, our wonderful prayer partners!

Post-Paradise Pandemonium and Poinsettias

Keeping in the Hawaiian mode, my desk looked like a volcano ready to erupt when I walked in to my office Tuesday morning. Fortunately, we have a student working for us this week, so she saved my sanity by opening all the mail and setting up application packets for me. This is the early deadline, so apps are pouring in (Barb's son-in-law was in this mode a year ago. I think he likes this year better!) By the time I answered all of my e-mails and voice mails, the work study student had my snail mail all in order. What a blessing.

Then we found out that Kristen had to go on bed rest. It means just what it says - she needs to be lying down or reclining unless she's taking a shower (short) or eating a meal (quick). Since her house is full of steps, and her little ones cannot quite understand that Mommy can't run for them as they are used to, she will be spending a lot of the time down here at my house (just 3 doors down). The kids can't figure out why they have to be here in the afternoon when her car is at their house. Here at my house, she'll be able to be on one level for all the necessities, and I might even let her use my computer to keep in touch with the world! She will be in this mode for at least two weeks, when they will re-evaluate the growth of the girls and decide what is next. In a test taken today, it was determined that the babies are in no distress, so that is really great news. To be in no distress, and to be so tiny, they can create a bit of stress for the rest of the world! Little Squirt, as she's called, was so active that it took over 3 hours to get the test accomplished.

Feisty will probably grow up to be a doctor or nurse. Besides her incredibly soft heart, she is a natural. Today she was making sure her mommy was covered and comfortable. Kristen thanked her and she said, "It's my pleasure to serve you!"

Christmas will be interesting this year. Kristen was supposed to sing with the band for the Christmas Eve service. We're trying to figure out where and when to meet for all of the various family gatherings. I really need to get something bought and wrapped, but I always have the kids with me when I'm not at work, and I don't think I want them with me when I'm shopping for them!

Well, back to a bit of paradise. I have so much more I want to share. I'll start with this - one of the most amazing sights on the island at this time of year:

Poinsettias grow in profusion and are just glorious. They are a bit different from the ones we get for our homes at Christmastime.

"Most Christmas greenery reflects European traditions. But one colorful plant, which looks like a flaming star, the poinsettia, is a native to the American continent. It was named after Dr. Joel Robert Poinset, an ambassador to Mexico who first introduced it to the United States in 1828. The people of Mexico and Central America call the brilliant tropical plant the "Flower of the Holy Night." The poinsettia is a many-pointed star that has become a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem." (Dennis Bratcher).

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with the lack of PCness on the island. Everywhere we went, we saw signs of the real, true Christmas. One store had a lovely painting of the wisemen coming to greet Jesus. The faces of the wise men were very Asian in appearance - appropriate, don't you think?? Several other business has "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" signs displayed. Mele Kalekemaka!

Believe it or not, when I got back to work, I was pleasantly surprised to find two large, beautiful poinsettia plants in our main office - at least a bit of Christmas. White, of course.

Twelve Random Christmas Things About Myself

We're back from Paradise. It has been a very hard re-entry! Today was the first day back at work - I managed to get through my e-mails, half my voice mails, and none of the volcanic-sized pile of snail mail on my desk. It probably wasn't the best time of the school year to be gone, but being gone was glorious!

PRAYER REQUEST: Kristen's doctor has ordered her on bed rest for at least two weeks. The babies aren't growing as much as he would like to see. She's had an incredibly stressful four days, because the powers that be at her place of employment were, shamefully, not sympathetic, empathetic, or even willing to do what the doctor said. It has been an unbelievably frustrating experience. The doctor wrote letters, and finally called her supervisor. Her attitude changed dramatically very quickly after that. At the end of two weeks, they'll re-evaluate the situation and decide whether or not she can go back to work - very part-time. She'll be on short-term disability, I guess. I'm not sure what that means financially. I'll continue to take the kids in the afternoon, or stay there and help her in whatever she needs.

Now - back to Christmas. Kristen tagged me for this "hoopla," named by one of her blog friends, who does not like the word "meme."

1. My sister and I are only 11 months and two weeks apart in age, so we always got the same things for Christmas from our relatives. We began sitting with our backs to each other and opened gifts from the same people at the same time so we wouldn't know what we were getting.
   
2. I talked about the Christmas I had mono in this post, and about how disappointed I was to miss out on playing piano for my 9th grade Christmas program.
   
3. Every four years our missionary cousins would come home from Africa and we had the best time at our Grandma and Grandpa's house. Both sets of grandparents lived a mile apart, so we had to divide our time between them.
   
4. I'll never forget the year my dad was on a leave of absence from the pastorate and selling for Sears (because of health problems). He was a top salesman and we had the biggest Christmas in terms of gifts that we had ever had. My sister and I each got a very large suitcase, full of clothes.
   
5. Then there was the year we came home from college (3 of us at the same college at the same time) and found that the folks had decided to use the aluminum tree with the colored wheel instead of a real one. We all nixed that the moment we walked in the door and went out to buy a tree.
   
6. DC and I got married 3 days after Christmas in 1972. That Christmas celebation was memorable, because it kind of took a back seat as we looked ahead to our wedding.
   
7. Our first Christmas together, we planned to drive to Colorado Springs to be with my parents. The weather was not good, but we headed out anyway. We got 20 miles down the road and stopped at a truck stop because it was so icy. A trucker told us we'd better not go any further because it was getting worse in the direction we were going. We took his advice and went back home, where we had nothing to eat because we'd planned to be gone all week-end. Of course, nothing was open either. We invited ourselves over to somebody's house and made the best of it. We went down for our anniversary instead and spent our first anniversary in a sleeping bag on my parents' living room floor.
   
8. I spent many years directing the children's Christmas musicals at our church. It was something I wanted my children to experience and nobody else was doing it. I think I did it for about 6 years. Every year I swore I'd never do it again, but it's kind of like the pain of childbirth - you forget how bad it was and do it all over again! There is nothing like the joy of watching the children come through with a wonderful performance.
   
9. I love the sights and sounds of Christmas. I love to sit in the family room, playing good music, with just the tree's lights on, and take off my glasses, letting my eyes go out of focus, causing the lights to blur together. Now is that weird or what??
   
10. My family of origin always opened gifts on Christmas Eve. We did the same with our kids. I was fortunate that my husband's family did the same, so we didn't have a lot of adjustment to make with Christmas traditions. Must be the Swedishness. Since all the kids in the family on both sides are grown and have other families to consider, the Carlson side meets on Christmas Eve, and they go to their in-laws' on Christmas Day. We're fortunate that everyone is close.
    
11. I love playing Christmas music at work, from the Monday after Thanksgiving until Christmas break. I love to decorate my little office to reflect the real Reason for this Season. I wear a pin every day to testify to that fact.
    
12. I haven't bought one thing yet - there is nothing under either of my trees. And I'm not stressed about that for some reason. I used to bake at least 15 kinds of goodies, but when I began working full time, I had to drop something, and baking was it. I wonder if I'll start again when I retire during this next year. I wonder.

May your celebration of Christ's coming be the most meaningful ever.

Christmas Tour of Homes

Memories, Ornaments, and Other Decorations

We interrupt our regularly scheduled travelogue to participate in some Christmas fun. I am re-posting last year’s Christmas Tour of Homes, and will rejoin the travelogue in progress (if you guys think I should – is anyone tired of it yet? There’s so much more to say and show and I don’t want to belabor the point if it’s too long – please let me know!) Add a year to everything that is date sensitive in this old post.

New memories are being formed every day as I care for the kiddoes. Care Bear is really aware of what Christmas is about, thanks to Sunday school, Christian preschool, and reinforcement at home and at Grandma's. She was excited about seeing Santa today at the mall, but yesterday it was all about Jesus. She and Feisty were playing Mary and Joseph yesterday. Feisty wanted to be Baby Jesus, but Care Bear informed her that she couldn't be Baby Jesus, because he had not been born yet - she had to be the donkey that Mary rode on to Bethlehem. Pretty good for a 4-year-old! Care Bear has also been very concerned this week about King Herod's ordering all of the baby boys to be killed. It was a great learning moment for us.


Last year I bought the Fisher Price Little People (known as Things That Go Guys to Care Bear - another story I'll let Kristen tell) nativity set, because my traditional set was showing the wear and tear of being rearranged by little hands - several animal ears have fallen victim. When you push on the angel on top of the stable, it plays "Away in a Manger." They arrange, rearrange, lose, find, the characters many times a day.

I have decided a safer place for the set I made (with the help of a really crafty friend) many years ago is the top shelf of the entertainment center. On the shelves below is my growing collection of angels.

A few days ago I mentioned that I have two trees. It happened because I always wanted to put a tree in the living room window and the kids always wanted the tree down in the family room. I compromised - the tree full of memories continues to be in the family room, and I bought myself a tree which I have added to every year since. It has been a labor of love, but lots of work!

I made this crewel embroidery picture years ago and love to hang it every year. Now it serves as a reminder of how ambitious and creative I used to be - and patient.

I love this wooden Christmas Windmill. It is very special because my son bought it for me for my birthday a few years ago. It has 3 levels of the nativity scene, and of course twirls when the candles are lit. The grandkids love it as well.

I had a hard time narrowing down my favorite ornaments. Our first tree was full of blue satin balls from our flocked wedding trees the December before. That's all we had on our first tree. I wish I had a picture of it. Every year after that I would give away a box (we had 6 dozen of them) and replace it with a new set. We also decided to acquire a special ball each year. Most of them are dated. The very first one we picked out was crushed, along with many others, when one of those real trees with a lousy trunk tipped over while we were gone for the evening. That was sad.

When I was a young mom, we had a great time at Bible study. Sometimes we had a craft time. One year we went through this phase. The balls were styrofoam made to look quilted - lots of fun to make, but I haven't done one since I made so many that year. But this one has stayed on my tree ever since - I wonder how many of the gifts I gave are still "hanging around."

This was our 1979 ball, bought to commemorate the first year in our new house - we are in the same house 28 years later. I posted about that on July 1.

I made this for our 10th Christmas together - the only needlepoint project I ever did - I did lots of crewel embroidery, regular embroidery, and counted cross stitch, but only this one needlepoint. That makes it VERY special, as well as very sentimental.

For our 25th anniversary, 9 years ago, we went to the Big Island of Hawaii. We stayed outside of Kona at a Bed and Breakfast called The Dragonfly Ranch (Kim would love it!). It was so wonderful - no windows on our cabin so the birds and even roosters woke us up in the morning. We drove around the hills one of the first days and came upon a beautiful old very small Catholic church. They were having a craft sale that day and we bought this hand-made ornament as a memento. We also attended their Christmas program later that week. That was a blessed experience - seeing the Christmas story portrayed with hula was unbelievably moving and beautiful - I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it.

This is our 1995 ornament in honor of our little dachshund, Fritzie - I wrote about him a few weeks ago. This was one of the last pictures we took of him before he died.

Last, but not least, our 3 grandkids are gracing the tree with these adorable pictures.

This has been fun - I hope it's not too long for your to enjoy it as well. Merry Christmas!

Friday Show and Tell - The Kona Adventure - Part 5

One of the things we love about this island is its diversity. Not the diversity of population, but the diversity of the land. Driving around the island, you quickly change from one topographical type to another in a matter of minutes. In one afternoon, we left the tropical island beauty to the rugged black lava as far as the eye can see.

I call this Hawaiian Graffiti - many people use white rocks on black lava to express their undying love for their current special someone, or a memorial for someone who has died, or a celebration of their graduation. It's kind of a different version of the old water tower. This goes on for miles and miles.

The desolation of these lava fields is intense and immense. There is an occasional pathetic bush attempting to sustain life in its midst.

As the lava ages, it turns brown as more foliage survives and covers it with a bit more life.

Suddenly, the scene changes, and it's as if you'd arrived in Minnesota in the summertime.

There were cattle and horses grazing on the beautiful green grass.

The next bend in the road finds you between forests of trees.

King Kamehameha I (the Great) was honored in his birthplace town, Hawe.

The growth of the beauty from the lava rocks is amazing.

Suddenly, around another curve was the most panoramic beauty imaginable - bluffs, cliffs, ocean below - Pololu Valley Look-Out, with Maui visible in the distance.

We headed back toward Kailua-Kona and on the way decided to check out one of the top 10 beaches in the world - Hapuna Beach (judged by whom, I don't know). Since I was still walking very gingerly, and since I don't own a bathing suit that fits anyway, I spent the time sitting in a beach chair, people-watching, and reading a very good book. One family was having the greatest time together - the little guy arrived in a bathing suit and diaper. Before long he was having a great time in the all-together - for the rest of the day. I took an adorable picture, but decided it might be better not to put it out there in cyberspace. DC had a wonderful time exploring and frolicking in the water - wishing he had a boogy board to take advantage of the waves. We stayed long enough for this:

Good Night!!

TO BE CONTINUED . . .