"How Sweet to Hold a Newborn Baby"

"How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy he gives,
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He lives."
 (taken from "Because He Lives" by Bill Gaither)

Things got really busy for me on Sunday!  My next door neighbor was expecting her 4th baby.  They were at a nearby laundromat, when her water broke.  So, they took off for home, as she was having a home birth, and called me and asked if I could run into town to pick up their daughter and their clothes.  I got the daughter back home, and 1/2 hour later, they called to tell me they had a daughter.  I brought over a package of diapers and wipes for them, as well as loaned them my baby scale, as they didn't know how much the baby weighed, and my scale is very accurate.  They had a beautiful 8 pound baby girl.  Then, about 4 hours later, they called and asked if I would help them out, as the mother's placenta still had not delivered.  She was hemorrhaging, and having seizures.  I ran over there, and sat and talked with the neighbor.  Told her I had been through almost the same thing, just no seizures.  Her husband had decided they would go to the hospital, but they were going to have me help get her into their vehicle, and transport her themselves.  I told them both I thought it was more important to call for an ambulance, as we needed to get her stable as soon as possible.  I said I wasn't going to push them either way, and whatever they decided, I would help them out.  I left them alone for a bit, and they decided to call the ambulance.  So, the mom asked me if I would clothe her baby.  What an honor!!!!!  So, I got to pick up this precious newborn baby, and clothe her.  What a sweetie!!!  The mom went off to the hospital, and got things taken care of, and she is now discharged, and at home, and enjoying the precious family.

So, what does a mom of many do??  Ha!  Aside from school, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc., I have been trying to do some extra cleaning. Oh, and moving bedroom furniture around!  Becca got a beautiful daybed, and so we had to move some beds around.

The past few Saturdays, we have been cleaning up the outside things, and getting ready for winter.  This last Saturday, we took the old trampoline frame apart, and hauled into the truck, so we can take it to the recycling center.  We also moved both the gas and charcoal grills into the shed.  Dan mowed our lawn--hopefully for the last time.  :)  We mowed it about a month ago, but then we got some really warm weather.  We took down a motion light that we just bought and installed.  It had quit working, so we took it back.  Moved the patio swing into the garage.  Pushed both picnic tables up against the house, and the new glass patio table into the shed.  Then, I also washed almost all of the windows, inside and out (left 4).  And, I cut Dan, Andrew and my hubby's hair.  Is that enough for one day??  I also studied my Sunday School lesson.

Today, aside from school, cooking, etc., I finished up the four windows I didn't get done on Saturday.  I was also able to clean up the rest of Sam's "decorating".  He had decorated various things with a blue permanent marker.  Yikes!!  I had cleaned up most of it, soon after it happened, but had run out of Sol-U-Mel.  That stuff works wonders!!!!  I had ordered another bottle, and it came in last week, and I used it to get the blue permanent marker marks off Rachel's harp, and an antique sewing desk.  And, I also made up 3 spreadsheets for Becca, Dan, and Andrew to keep track of their school hours.  Now, I am ready to put my feet up.

Last night, hubby and I went to a Gideon's Pastor Appreciation Banquet.  Had a nice meal, of a salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied carrot buttons, turkey with stuffing, and cheesecake.  We heard a nice story of a lady, who had come from an atheist family.  She "stole" a Gideon Bible from a motel when she was 14.  She ends up becoming gloriously saved.  The attendance this year was a lot less than former years.

Last week, my dad had surgery on his back, again.  He is in a lot of pain.  He had a ruptured disk, and that is what the doctor repaired.  But, that was just a small portion of his back problems.  The doctor told him that he has a very bad back.

Well, I guess that catches us all up to date.  :)  I will try to do better.