26 August Thursday

Another exciting day at the hospital, at least for the grandparents. For the parents, exciting is not necessarily a good thing. Peace, tranquility, reflection and other low key activities are most in order. The excitement can be left at the birthing table.

Emma and her mother are achieving a state of togetherness with some skin on skin time.

Grandparents on the other hand have just spent time away from the hospital and are keyed up for some holding time. Fred has the ability to make the visits short and sweet but perhaps that is just what the doctor ordered. Short and sweet visits make for the quiet peacefulness that parents crave. I suppose the first night home will be exciting and remain that way until some semblance of schedule takes over. Then the little family will learn to get to know each other in new and meaningful ways.

Fred and Joe and I went out for some food, especially for Joe. That gave Emmas grandmother a little bonding time and it also gave Fred some time away from the hospital, something that he grows weary of very quickly. I don't think Fred is ready for peacefulness and tranquility ... he needs elevator buttons to push and storage tubs to thump. A ride in the parking lot shuttle ain't too shabby either. When Fred and his grandparents left the hospital, a shuttle was waiting to assist. We could actually see the car in the first row across from the main entrance but Cliff, the driver encouraged us to take the ride since it was a good time especially for Fred. He was all ears and eyes.

Ellen is wonderfully bonding with Emma. Emma has Ellens mouth and her hands. The nurses did exclaim when Fred arrived on the scene last evening ... boy, is that Emma's brother or what?

25 August Wednesday

As they say at NASA ... the eagle has landed. In this case it's more that a little angel has landed. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. On the 237th day of 2010 little Emma Marlene was born at 5:51pm. She weighed in at 8lb 6oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. We are thankful for the safe delivery and will continue to pray that Emma grows and flourishes in the care of Ellen and Joe.

25 August Wednesday

Well, the four of them left me here at 7:30 am with Fred. So I guess I'll just need to make the best of it. We'll do some errands and such. Car needs washing. Those four will be doing all the work and Fred and I will be having all the fun.

We are certainly having a wonderful time of it while the other four are working very hard albeit for a wonderful reason. Fred helped me play the Rivers of Texas on the autoharp.

Fred and I went to Target this morning for some formula that was quickly bottoming out. Then we went and got gas and got the dirty filthy car washed. I don't think Fred has ever been through a car wash before. I think his parents usually take him to a car wash where you need to exit the car. Then we stopped at the Chase ATM machine. Needed money for some of those good Texas things.

We were running low on time before lunch so we stopped at Rudy's for some good Texas barbeque brisket, baby potatoes and some good eatin' baked beans. Fred and I had a Good Time. When I asked Fred if he would like beans ... he thought I said bee, his favorite storytime character.

We continue to get updates from the hospital throughout the day. The last update Marlene gave me was that Ellen will stay in the hospital until Emma is on the scene. How's that for good news? The doctor says it may be awhile but it appears that everything has been set into motion and we all know what the end result will in fact be ... a welcoming for dear darling little Emma.

24 August Tuesday

Well, today we all went out for breakfast after Fred had his baabaa (bottle). We visited a French bakery. What would ever possess us to want to visit a French bakery. Delicious croissant with ham and cheese. Bought some bread (bagette) to take home that was difficult to stop cutting into once dinner arrived. Afterwards Joe and Ellen went to get the car greased and oiled. We went with Fred to the grocery and maybe something else but I can't remember. Fred had lunch. Then we all went for a swim. Started out in the indoors pool where we had a wonderful time with Fred's ball. Then we graduated to the outdoors and despite the heat (106), it was really rather pleasant once you were in the water. Went back to the apartment and put Fred down for some quiet time.

Marlene and I went for a little treat at the Oasis so Joe and Ellen could have some quiet time. After leaving the Oasis and heading home Ellen called and asked if we could fix a little supper. We had grilled chicken with aioli sauce. Also black rice and grilled asparagus. Tasty.

Later on we went to the deli close to the complex and found some seven layer bars just like Marlene used to make.

All in all it was quite a pleasant day. Marlene and Joe and Fred and Honey all went for a moonlight walk before Fred disappeared into his bed.

23 August Monday

Monday arrived and not much on the birthing scene was happening. Got Fred some of his favorite breakfast items and made eggs for ourselves. Joe went to work but came home at noon. Had lunch for Fred, Joe and Ellen. Marlene and I went to the Oasis for a little snack ... some lettuce wraps and a splendid view. More errands to the store and what have you. For dinner Ellen made spaghetti and I made a salad to go along with it.

Read the Austin American Statesman, watched a little food TV, and bedded down for the evening.

22 August Sunday

Got up and listened to Bonnie Bierma (WBLU) streaming on the network. She has a most wonderful program (Choral Traditions) on sunday mornings from Blue Lake, Michigan. Joe set up the computer so we could stream the program. Went to church with Ellen and Joe. Beautiful service. Sermon was on stewardship. Had wonderful sandwiches for lunch. Settled down for a nap or two. Ordered takeout from Rudy's for dinner. Beautiful weather and a great day. Marlene and I scouted out a little marina on Lake Travis. Very european.

All in all it was a relaxing day and just what the doctor had ordered.

21 August Saturday

I'm writing this on Tuesday and I'm already beginning to forget what happened on the preceding days. Got up at about 8:30 and helped Fred to get up. We were happy to see each other after a few months time. Ellen came in looking quite chipper. Fred looks pretty chipper too.

Had a good breakfast with blueberries, eggs and such. Had a lunch on the patio. Honey was well behaved. Did some errands and went out for supper to a great little Italian restaurant. Very family friendly. Delicious food. I had spaghetti carbonara. I would definitely visit this one again. Being that Fred is the age he is, the restaurant treats him to a very large helping of gelato. Mmmm!

Friday 20 August

Friday was an exciting day. We left 459 at 3:30 am and headed out. It was a beautiful day and the cornfields in Illinois were beginning to dry out and the further we got the browner they became. Crossed the Mississippi and entered Mo. Just before we got to Memphis we got a call from Austin. Ellen was wondering where we were. We were about half way. This was about 2pm and she was going in for a visit with her doctor. We had planned on staying in Texarkana and would reconnect about that time. At 6:15pm (in the city limits of Texarkana) we got another call and they were anticipating a visit to the hospital. This is where I get a little fuzzy on the details but we scrapped our plans to stay the night and headed for Austin. Marlene had her lead foot on and we screamed down I30 towards I35. Lots of communications going on and we pulled into town about 12:15am. Found how to get to the hospital and we arrived just after they did. She got a room and we went up. Then things quieted down. Without going into details we left the hospital and relieved the nanny and bedded down for the night at about 1:30. Joe and Ellen came home about 3am and they bedded down too. It was good to lay our heads down after a long ride.