Oliver's BIRTHday

Yesterday, Sunday Aug 28th we celebrated Oliver's BIRTH-day.

It was the genius idea of a dear friend. Everyone was there including:Grandma & Grandpa Reedy, Grandma & Grandpa Boeshaar, Aunt Robin and (adopted) Aunt Donna. Uncle Justin and Auntie Caiti couldn't make it. Caiti had to work. Uncle Travers had to work, too.

Every BIRTH-day needs a cake. Even if the guest of honor can't eat any.


Aunt Donna

Daddy Richard & Oliver

Mommy Josephine has been very adamant about NOT having her picture taken.

This is the best I could do

One day old

A friend of Josephine's, a very good photographer, went to the hosp and took pictures for Josephine. Very good pictures! Enjoy!
We also had a Happy BIRTH-day party for Oliver yesterday. I will try to post those pictures tonight. My internet connect isn't always the best.
Oliver is a good baby. A blessed, wonderful gift in so many ways! He cries when he's wet, hungry or has a messy diaper. Otherwise he sleeps, or lays there.

Oliver's Entrance to the World

Josephine was at 6 cm this afternoon but couldn't make it any farther. The pain was too much. The dr offered to try for one more hour but after that, she recommended a c-section. Richard and a very tired Josephine immediately agreed to a c-section. He was 8 lbs 12 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. Healthy, the belief is that Oliver's been trying to be born for several days. His head has been wedged up aginst Jo's pelvis and he couldn't move. Below is a photo of a very happy uncle and a very tired mommy.
Trust me, Bill is over-the-edge happier than he looks in this picture. He's listening to Richard talk about Oliver, focusing on each word.

Cute baby. He doesn't sleep this beautifully all the time! I have wittnesses to prove he has good, working lungs! Shhhh don't tell him, he gets circumcised tomorrow. What he doesn't know won't hurt him-yet!

A yawn! He's wondering why he ever left the comfortable confines of Josephine's belly,

There's brown hair hiding under that hat!

Good Night!

More update

Today about 8 a.m. local Jo's water was broke. At 9 a.m. local Jo was at 4 cm and had an epideral. She's in pain. More than she imagined. He is dropping. Dr was afraid he'd be too big for birth canal. He's not. It will be a vaginal delivery unless something comes up.

Friday Induction Update

Just a few words.
Induction has begun with a pill. Every 4 hrs she will get another pill. When she's dialated to 3-4 cm, pitocin will be introduced. No idea how long that will take.
It took the nurses 4 pokes to get an IV started. Like a child, she told me, "it hurt."
I tried to give my 26 yo little girl the right words.
Their friends, Cati & Justin, will go up for awhile and play spades. We'll stay at the camper and watch the dogs. Tomorrow, Travers will be here. He'll help with the dogs, bringing his own as well. I would like to be up there about 8 a.m. We'll call first and see what's happening. It's probably better to play it by ear. I WANT to be there but it's not just about me. There's a hubby and another set of parents. I don't wany my dear daughter to feel over-whelmed or closed in by people. That does happen sometimes.

25 Aug 11

It's Thursday night about 10 p.m. central time. We are settled into the Lubbock KOA for the night. How I love our small travel trailer! Despite the price of gas, it's still cheaper than a week at a motel. Despite the drought, we can grill steaks outside on the grill. Even better, I know who walked across the floors and slept between the sheets. :)

Josephine is doing okay. We arrived about 3 p.m. She and Richard met us at the KOA so she could see Hunnie (our dog of about 12+ years). Bill was nice, not once did a "quack quack" come from his smiling lips as Josephine waddled from the car to camper. Bill didn't have to say a word. We found out Richard is lovingly calling her a "penquin."

Josephine is a bundle of very normal emotions. She openly admits to nervousness, excitement, concern, and happiness all mingled with faith and a little bit of fear. Tomorrow night she will be admitted and induction will begun. She has already asked a couple friends over to play spades with her and Richard at the hospital. After all, what else can she do?

Induction will begin with a pill every 4 hours, After 12 hours, pitocin will begin. If there is no delivery by Saturday night, the dr will do a c-section.

I don't know what Bill and I will be doing. Until she's admitted, I think our primary purpose is to serve as a distraction. We'll walk the mall, laugh, and talk about the baby. She'll visit Hunnie again and keep trying to keep food down. Yes, that continues to be an issue.

She wants a last meal as a family before she's admitted to the hosp. Sounds morbid, doesn't it? Richard's family will be there. A few close friends. It will be a nice distraction and maybe a welcome party for Oliver.

Travers will be traveling back and forth from Clovis a few times. He enjoys his job and doesn't want to miss it. At the same time, he insists on being here for Oliver's birth-day. After all, he's going to be Uncle Travers.

An interesting bit of info. When Josephine first went to the dr a very long time ago, she was given a due date of Aug 27. After the first ultrasound, it was changed to Sept 3rd. Looks like the original was/is the correct date after all.

That's it for today. After we get her settled in at the hosp tomorrow night, and get her dogs taken care of, I'll update you.

Your continued prayers will be appreciated. Please remember Travers as he travels back and forth.

Our Plans

Yes, his father's feet. Maybe his Uncle's. Josephine will be admitted this Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Not sure when actual induction will begin. I think we may go over early Friday morning. Josephine is a mixture of excitement, apprehension, nerves and a little scared. All normal. We'll spend some time with her & Richard Friday, trying to take their mind off things.

Travers is excited! He still has committments at work this week-end. He's taking a half shift off and one full night shift. It will be a couple trips back and forth but he's fine with making the drive. He was concerned today because he hasn't "done anything" for Oliver, yet. We discussed a few ideas. I think he has a direction.

Gonna have a GRAND baby

Josephine's dr called her this morning. Jo will be admitted to UMC this Friday afternoon/evening (Aug 26th). Induction will be started. If that doesn't work, C-section on Saturday.

Based on development, Oliver will complete 41 weeks this Saturday. According to the calender, Josephine will complete 39 weeks this Saturday. As of last Friday, Oliver was 8 lbs 7 oz.
Confusing, isn't it?

It's been a bit of a rollercoaster lately. Because of his size, the dr has been talking induction for a month. At one point, we were afraid the paternal grandparents would miss the birth because they were out of town.

Now it looks like we're coming to the final paragraphs in this chapter of the story. Oliver should be here this week-end sometime. God will begin helping them write the next chapter of their lives.

Please, continue praying: for Oliver, for Richard and for Josephine. God has started a wonderful work in all their lives. It will be exciting to see God at work in the days, weeks and even years ahead.

Oliver pic

This is Oliver. His face, anyway. Looking pretty cozy, and comfy in there. Why would he want to leave? Oliver's at 8 lbs 7 oz, based on his ultrasound today. There will probably be an induction next week. We will all be so glad when this waiting is over and we can being the chapter, "Living With Oliver."

Not yet

Jo went to the dr today. According to the ultrasound, Oliver is about 10 pounds. MUCH bigger than anyone expected. Another, better quality ultrasound is scheduled for this Friday at 3:30 p.m. If it confirms Oliver is a 10 pound bundle of joy, there will be a c-section either next week or the following week. The dr will not let Jo have a vaginal delivery of a 10 pound baby. If he is only 8 pounds, an induction will be scheduled for next week. The dr will let Josephine know on Monday. In the meantime, we pray.

not yet... More shower pics

We had been praying and hoping, maybe more hoping than praying, there would be an induction this week. Selfish, aren't we? We're tired of Josephine being the only one to cuddle our precious Oliver. Oh well, our time will come.

Josephine saw the dr today. Oliver is continuing to grow and do well. Dialation has started as well as effacment. The dr has decided to wait until next week and have another ultrasound. From there she will decide when and if necessary to perform the induction. In the meantime we wait and pray.... and pray and wait. Trusting in God's timing isn't easy but always best in the long-term.Now.... for more about the shower.

It truly was a shower of love and it's important to me, that I share it with you!

The shower was held at a ministry center in Clovis, Matt 25 Hope Center. As a teen, Josephine and Travers were heavily involved in the restoration.

This is a picture of Jo & Richard's shower cake. Not even close to what we ordered but the guest of honor didn't mind. In a few years, he can play with the plastic animals. Maybe have them forage in an imaginary desert or gather them around an oasis in his cereal bowl.
A quiet moment between Grandma Bonnie and Richard.

A few precious friends. Left to right: Donna Pharies with Little Kathryn, Doris Cogdill, our other photographer - Donna Borden and Brenda Melton.

Below is Terry Osborne. She went with Josephine and I when we were wedding dress shopping. Her own daughter, Meghan, is due Dec. 18th. So happy for Meghan, Kevin, and the whole family!

Future Great Grandma Bonnie. :-)

Our other shower hostess, Linda Teakell. At one time, she was Josephine's children's pastor. The impact she had on Josephine's life is constantly being revealed, like a plot unfolding in a good novel.

The happy couple.

They will be much happier when Oliver can be

handed off to dad for cuddling and loving.

God's timing.

I must be patient.

We must be patient.

OOPS! Almost forgot about Justin and Cati, from LBB.

They were married earlier this year.

Maybe Cati & Justin will be next?

In a wedding, you have to catch the bouquet to be the next bride.

For a baby you have to...??

Stay tuned for updates!

Showers of Blessings

I have wasted most of my day, or at least 4 hours of it, trying to get pictures rotated in this blog. I have NOT given up. Nope. Not me. I am getting pictures posted in a timely fashion. Later (I hope) to figure this out so it doesn't happen in the future! Now I understand why I don't blog more. GRRRRRRRR

On July 30th Richard, Josephine & Oliver were blessed with a Shower of Blessings! For Josephine, it was a surprise. Richard and Oliver already knew about it. In fact, they helped set it up as a surprise. Such schemers!

About 2 p.m. we offered to take Josephine & Richard to Leals for a late lunch. First, Bill wanted to take them to Matt 25 to look at some baby stuff someone had dropped off. Naturally, there was nothing there. I almost literally dragged her upstairs (since we were there anyway) to see Donna Pharises' Lifeskills classroom. We were walking down the hall and Josephine heard voices ahead of us. As best she could, she folded her body in half and peeked cautiously into the classroom. Richard was behind her, pushing her lovingly but forcefully into the room. There was a shriek of "Surprise" from the room as a wet-eyed Josephine went into the room. Making a quick recovery, she and Richard entered the room. Yes, I think it was her deordorant that was helping her remain cool, calm and collected.

Grandma Bonnie in the middle. Excuse me, Future GREAT Grandma Bonnie. Her sister is to the right and Richard on the other side. She was so proud and so happy to be there. I think she told each and every individual in the room this was going to be her first great grandchild. That's Aubry's back and Terry O! in the shadows.

Sarah Struthers, one of the hostesses. Wanda McCord and a good friend, Brenda Melton.

The cake!

Special; thanks to Cati & Justin (on the right) for driving over from Lubbock. Thank-you!

Precious Judy, in the middle. Keisha is to her left. Judy is full-time receptionist at Matt 25. Keisha is part time. Judy just became a great-grandma a few weeks ago!

Special thanks to our dear friend, Donna Borden, for taking these pics!