24 Hours away from Cole

Hi: Reality has struck home! Back to the grind, washing clothes, grocery shopping and believe it or not taking down Christmas decorations! This month has been going by much too fast.

I miss Cole (and Lindsey & Greg too) so much. It was so hard for Lindsey and I to say goodbye! Fortunately, we will see them again in two months. Now, watch, the next two months will go by very slow, not like the last two months.

Update on all my kids, Jess, Derek and Caleb are trying to stay warm. I've missed Caleb a lot but get to see him on Thursday. J & D came up Sat. and shoveled our driveway for us so we didn't have to slosh through a foot of snow. THANK YOU! We really apppreciated it.

Lindsey & Greg are doing great with Cole! I love watching them take care of Cole! Cole is soooooo precious - he is holding his head up, hates to be changed, likes his bath if he is sitting up, but don't lay him down, likes to cuddle at times, and at times, just leave me alone. He is really a chowhound, that's for sure. Lindsey is doing great - you would never know by looking at her that she had a baby 3 weeks ago. She looks great. Greg is back to work and missing Lindsey and Cole - he can't wait to get home to help take care of him!

Amanda and Matt are fine. Snow is almost gone in the mountains. Her landline phone is not working so she is basically in communicado. We tried last night and had to call back 4 or 5 times just to have a conversation. Matt isn't being deployed so she won't becoming back to live which is great because Matt will be there for the birth of their child. Due June 30th. Hard to believe, that all my children will be parents and we will have 3 grandchildren soon. I'm getting old.

Brian is loving staying at home - he is kept pretty busy. I'm used to it by now and love having him home. Will end this now with a picture of our newest grandchild!

LAST DAY AT COLES!

Sad day today! Tomorrow Brian and I will be leaving Tampa and will have to say goodbye (but only for a few months) to Lindsey, Greg and Cole! Even though I have been sick, we have a had a good time in FL. You cannot describe the feelings you have when you hold a grandchild. As I said in my Christmas letter, as you watch your child take care of a baby, you realize that your child has fully matured as you watch them take care of a little one. It is with much joy in our hearts to see the journey they will be taking in raising this new little boy. Lindsey and Greg will be such wonderful parents as Jessica and Derek are! It's hard to believe that in 6 months, Brian and I will be in CA with a new grandson or granddaughter! Life is full of surprises, that's for sure.

Our other big news is that Matt is NOT being deployed! Prayers are answered! They will be able to come on vacation with us in March and Matt will be there for the birth of his child.

I just tried to get a current picture of Cole but was having problems. Technicality issues and couldn't do it. I'll put one up next week.

Our Bailey girl!

Everyone knows of our Bailey, the beagle, and how she makes us laugh and how she is always finding things to chew and eat. Well, she went a little bit too far this time.

Just before I took her to the Kennels last week (still in FL by the way - only 65 degrees outside sorry about that our northern friends), she threw up. Nothing gross, just choked a little bit. Late that night, the kennels called us and said she threw up again and this time there was blood in her stool, so they were going to take her to the vet the next day if it happened again.

Long and behold, 10 minutes before our plane was leaving, they called us and said it was really bad that they were taking her to the vet. Do we not get on the plane or do we when your dog is really sick. However, they said it was up to us but they wanted to make sure she was ok. So, we left and I called the kennels when we landed and as it turned out she had all kinds of tests, exrays, blood work done and she ate something she wasn't supposed to but we don't know what that was. She had pancreaitis (sp?) which can be fatal if not diagnosed soon. She ended up staying two nights at the vet, antibiotics, etc. They were going to pick her up the second day but bad weather set in so she stayed that second night. Oh my, poor poor Bailey.

We almost lost her but she is happy as a clam now which we're glad. Now, we just have to figure out what she ate!

New Grandson Update!

We are so thrilled to be in Florida for 12 days. Our grandson was born Dec. 28, Cole Gregory. There is such a special feeling when you see your daughter across the room holding her baby. Such warm fuzzies you get! Greg & Lindsey are making such good parents. It is so much fun watching them! Below is a picture of our new grandson.

I finally was able to hold him today - oh soooo precious! My cold is better so with my mask on, sanitizing my hands, I walked him during dinner (isn't that what you usually do with a newborn - they are always fussy during dinner) leaving Mom & Dad eat. I could have held him all night!

On another note, I hear we have had 6 to 10 inches of snow - sorry about that friends. Brian and I read our book out in the sunshine today for a couple of hours - oh so nice!