A New Entry to This World

My son Michael and his wife Amanda welcomed a new baby girl to their family early this morning. 

Iliandra weighed 7 lbs 6 oz  and was 21.75 inches long. (I think that's about 1/4 of her mother, Amanda.)

Iliandra's arrival at 3:30 a.m. came after some excitement and anxiety! Amanda was trying for a home birth, but the baby was breach so they ended up loading Amanda into an ambulance and taking her to the hospital. Doctors thought they would have to do a C-section. After admitting her, they wheeled her to the OR to prep her for surgery, but at the last minute she gave a heroic effort and got the baby out by herself!  It was an all natural birth, no drugs, brute force! 

Michael jokes that the pool in which Amanda was trying to have a water-birth in their home did not allow any "diving" so Iliandra came out butt-first - Cannonball style!!  I think that's the nickname I'm going to call her:  Cannonball! 

Iliandra is still in the neonatal care unit while they check her breathing and see that her hips are okay. They might have been dislocated during birth.

Oh - I couldn't help but notice that she arrived "Bare-Foot"!!  Good girl!

Ryan - Grandpa

My Christmas Wish to Prince William and Kate:

Still Here

Wow! Long Time Since I Expressed Myself!

I'm still running, barefoot of course! Nothing of great accomplishment to report. My runs tend to be about 6 or 7 miles each, at least two times a week, sometimes 3 times. 

Lately I've developed a pointed pain in my right knee. No swelling or heat from it. It does not hurt at all when I run - mostly when I've been sitting at my desk for awhile. I'm afraid it might be arthritis, so I'm starting to Hyaluronic Acid which is supposed to be good for joints. We'll see. 

I ran across a poem that I absolutely love. Its message is deep and has a lot of meaning to me: 

Forgiveness Flour

a poem by Marguerite Stewart

When I went to the door, at the whisper of knocking,
I saw Simeon Gantner’s daughter, Kathleen, standing
There, in her shawl and her shame, sent to ask
“Forgiveness Flour” for her bread. “Forgiveness Flour,”
We call it in our corner. If one has erred, one
Is sent to ask for flour of his neighbors. If they loan it
To him, that means he can stay, but if they refuse, he had
Best take himself off.

I looked at Kathleen . . .
What a jewel of a daughter, though not much like her
Father, more’s the pity. “I’ll give you flour,” I
Said, and went to measure it. Measuring was the rub.

If I gave too much, neighbors would think I made sin
Easy, but if I gave too little, they would label me
“Close.” While I stood measuring, Joel, my husband
Came in from the mill, a great bag of flour on his
Shoulder, and seeing her there, shrinking in the
Doorway, he tossed the bag at her feet. “Here, take
All of it.” And so she had flour enough for many loaves,
While I stood measuring.

  ~ ~ ~

Ryan

(Why does this site now only print in italics???)