Christmas Eve this year was in fact very peaceful and wonderful after all. Stephen would have to go to work on Christmas morning and Claudia and He did not want to get up early to open presents. Christmas Eve was our time for exchanging gifts this year, and oh what a blessed occasion! We first had family prayer--my turn. I then read the story of the Savior's birth, as found in Luke, chapter 2. I read it from a Christmas story and music book we have. Interspersed with the story were Christmas Carols, which I would begin singing and everyone else would join in. After Claudia read the story of the Three Wise Men, we began opening our presents to each other. For Gabriel's presents from Santa, we had to wait until this morning.
In my nuclear family we wrapped all the gifts--even those from Santa. In Claudia's family, they never wrapped gifts from Santa--only those they gave to each other. So if I want Santa's gifts wrapped around here, I have to do it myself--she refuses. So Gabriel's gifts from Santa went unwrapped--again.
Our little guy loved all of his gifts, wrapped or not. He didn't even care about that part. We had a fun day with our two sons.
Our little granddaughter now weighs over 6 lbs!! She has been at home for several weeks, but is not allowed to go out anywhere. She still struggles with how to nurse and she has to get burped really good or she will stop breathing. Carolyn really enjoys her little darling and is loathe to give her up when Grandma Tigner wants to hold her only granddaughter.
Grandpa? An afterthought. I have been able to hold my granddaughter only once so far.
Oh what a wonderful event that was, though!
What more can I say--Everyone have a Happy New Year!!!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
How Blessed and Peaceful!
I sang Christmas songs about the birth of Baby Jesus this evening and Gabriel kept wanting more. He eventually fell asleep. How blessed we are in our home. I am so thankful for the love of that tiny holy child!!
Everyone please have a wonderful Christmas!!!
Everyone please have a wonderful Christmas!!!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
T-Day and Family
Well, we had a good Thanksgiving. Carolyn, Samuel, and Neil, Sam's friend, came for supper and Stephen was here, as well (of course, he lives here). I took pics of Gabriel and Carolyn uploaded pics of Lilly from her camera. We had a great meal (my expert cooking while Claudia rested much of the day). I baked pumpkin pies made with almond milk and Splenda (Carolyn can't have milk and Claudia can't have the sugar), and lemon meringue pies with Splenda. I whipped up some potatoes (Claudia & I cleaned and peeled) and made the gravy with corn starch so Claudia could have some. I made the turkey so juicy throughout that even when we went to put it away it was still full of juices instead of dry.
What a day!! But it was fun having everyone over. Just one person missing--Lilly. She is still in the hospital acting like a premie and trying to figure out how to breathe when she eats. She just wasn't ready to come to dinner yet.
The pics are of Carolyn holding Lilly while in at the hospital and of Stephen and Gabe this evening.
Oh well. Enjoy the pics!!
What a day!! But it was fun having everyone over. Just one person missing--Lilly. She is still in the hospital acting like a premie and trying to figure out how to breathe when she eats. She just wasn't ready to come to dinner yet.
The pics are of Carolyn holding Lilly while in at the hospital and of Stephen and Gabe this evening.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
A Month?! Big Deal! How about several months lag?! Yup! That's Me!
I just realized this post is more than one month behind the last post. Gabe is really blossoming and growing now. He is talking to us all the time and we can understand him some. I am growing more comfortable with addressing him as "Son" like I did Stephen. Gabe has called Claudia and I "Mom" and "Dad" for a long time. He still misuses a lot of words and slurs a bunch of them, just massacring them over and over, but conversations are fairly good and fast moving and he understands a lot more now. He gets a lot of services and he is also in a big growth spurt!! I think he is at least a head taller than when we got him.
He just charms us over and over again daily. He gets lots of hugs and kisses from Dad here. And, yes, he still tries to tackle anyone he can!!
Potty training? Well, that is another subject. He still makes his share of wet and messy pull-ups. At the same time, we are finding ways to help him be more interested in pottying himself.
What can we say more. We just love our little guy. If only he could just sit down for his teachers!
Oh well--all in good (or bad?) time.
He just charms us over and over again daily. He gets lots of hugs and kisses from Dad here. And, yes, he still tries to tackle anyone he can!!
Potty training? Well, that is another subject. He still makes his share of wet and messy pull-ups. At the same time, we are finding ways to help him be more interested in pottying himself.
What can we say more. We just love our little guy. If only he could just sit down for his teachers!
Oh well--all in good (or bad?) time.
Well--What a Blizzard!!
Don't fain anyone--I'm posting again!! Our new granddaughter was born a couple of weeks ago and we are anxious to see her leave the hospital. Her mom says she is out of the isolette now but still on a feeding tube. We have been to see our little Lilly a few times but I have not been able to get Claudia to go with me for a week now, and I feel out-of-place going to see the little one by myself.
I have pics, but they were of the first day and Lilly has all kinds of gadgets attached to her--you really can't see her very well.
Anyway, I do hope we go again soon--or that I can go with someone instead of by myself. Claudia is always too tired in the evening when I can go.
Ohhhh--the blizzard. Sorry--off-topic. Wow!! The TV news crews are calling it the Blizzard of 2010. It was a surprise early snow storm. It actually began over the weekend, but worsened to very bad blizzard conditions over the past two days. All public schools that were scheduled to be in session were cancelled for the week. I didn't have to go to work at all this week.
We got some groceries today and are getting ready for the big feast on Thursday. But all the roads were closed north of Idaho Falls today. Some were closed yesterday already. I have shoveled the driveway twice today, and now it is too cold to go out there and do it again. Temps are supposed to go to single digits or minuses tonight and lasting until 11 am tomorrow.
Brrrr!! But that's Idaho. Winter is without doubt here now!
I have pics, but they were of the first day and Lilly has all kinds of gadgets attached to her--you really can't see her very well.
Anyway, I do hope we go again soon--or that I can go with someone instead of by myself. Claudia is always too tired in the evening when I can go.
Ohhhh--the blizzard. Sorry--off-topic. Wow!! The TV news crews are calling it the Blizzard of 2010. It was a surprise early snow storm. It actually began over the weekend, but worsened to very bad blizzard conditions over the past two days. All public schools that were scheduled to be in session were cancelled for the week. I didn't have to go to work at all this week.
We got some groceries today and are getting ready for the big feast on Thursday. But all the roads were closed north of Idaho Falls today. Some were closed yesterday already. I have shoveled the driveway twice today, and now it is too cold to go out there and do it again. Temps are supposed to go to single digits or minuses tonight and lasting until 11 am tomorrow.
Brrrr!! But that's Idaho. Winter is without doubt here now!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Finally--Grandparents!!!
When: About 3:45 this afternoon (Saturday, November 6, 2010)
What: A wee little baby girl
Where: Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Weight: weighing no more than 4 lbs 4 oz.
How Born: Caesarean Section
Currently Carolyn Tigner Shaffer is in good medical condition after the surgery and is resting at the hospital.
Lily Shaffer is in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and will remain there until she grows to term (probably 2 or more weeks) or begins eating healthily and gaining enough weight. Carolyn is expected to be in the hospital for another 3 or more days. Samuel is there with Carolyn and the baby and is a happy father right now.
We are happy new, first-time grandparents.
The story as Claudia and I know it:
Last night Carolyn and Sam came over to the house. They had been worried about the baby because it seemed to have dropped a little over a week ago and Carolyn was not feeling very well. During the day the lay midwife had ordered an ultra sound to examine the condition of the baby and Carolyn. The imaging showed a low level of amniotic fluid--less than half. Carolyn is only 35 weeks along and this was a concern. Visits were scheduled with the midwife and Dr. Isbell (Ob Gyn) on Monday, but no one would see Carolyn until then.
At our house last night I was the only person who had observed a mother in labor. I was concerned and thought they ought to probably contact a doctor right away. To me she looked and acted as though she were in labor. Carolyn was grouchy about the inference. They decided not to contact the doctor. Home they went.
This morning Claudia received a call while I was out reading with a friend's son. Sam and Carolyn were going to the hospital because some "things" had occurred during the night and the midwife had told them they should go there immediately.
They went at about 9:30 am and were there the rest of the day. The hospital was apparently about ready to send them home until about 3 pm, when Carolyn's body started into full labor. A C Section was scheduled for 4 pm. Claudia called me as soon as she found out. I headed home withing about 5 minutes. We arrived at the hospital at 3:50 pm and the baby had already been born and was in the NICU. We were told everything was going to be just fine. We stayed awhile, saw our new granddaughter, retrieved some supper for Sam and us and some flowers for Carolyn's room (Carolyn is on a clear liquid diet until they know she can take in solid food). We then wished them both well and left the hospital for home.
We were both pleasantly surprised to discover that the baby had been born and that both were physically doing well.
What more can we say--she is perfect!!!
What: A wee little baby girl
Where: Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Weight: weighing no more than 4 lbs 4 oz.
How Born: Caesarean Section
Currently Carolyn Tigner Shaffer is in good medical condition after the surgery and is resting at the hospital.
Lily Shaffer is in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and will remain there until she grows to term (probably 2 or more weeks) or begins eating healthily and gaining enough weight. Carolyn is expected to be in the hospital for another 3 or more days. Samuel is there with Carolyn and the baby and is a happy father right now.
The story as Claudia and I know it:
Last night Carolyn and Sam came over to the house. They had been worried about the baby because it seemed to have dropped a little over a week ago and Carolyn was not feeling very well. During the day the lay midwife had ordered an ultra sound to examine the condition of the baby and Carolyn. The imaging showed a low level of amniotic fluid--less than half. Carolyn is only 35 weeks along and this was a concern. Visits were scheduled with the midwife and Dr. Isbell (Ob Gyn) on Monday, but no one would see Carolyn until then.
At our house last night I was the only person who had observed a mother in labor. I was concerned and thought they ought to probably contact a doctor right away. To me she looked and acted as though she were in labor. Carolyn was grouchy about the inference. They decided not to contact the doctor. Home they went.
This morning Claudia received a call while I was out reading with a friend's son. Sam and Carolyn were going to the hospital because some "things" had occurred during the night and the midwife had told them they should go there immediately.
They went at about 9:30 am and were there the rest of the day. The hospital was apparently about ready to send them home until about 3 pm, when Carolyn's body started into full labor. A C Section was scheduled for 4 pm. Claudia called me as soon as she found out. I headed home withing about 5 minutes. We arrived at the hospital at 3:50 pm and the baby had already been born and was in the NICU. We were told everything was going to be just fine. We stayed awhile, saw our new granddaughter, retrieved some supper for Sam and us and some flowers for Carolyn's room (Carolyn is on a clear liquid diet until they know she can take in solid food). We then wished them both well and left the hospital for home.
We were both pleasantly surprised to discover that the baby had been born and that both were physically doing well.
What more can we say--she is perfect!!!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Well--Finally Another Post--Wow!!! It's been a month!!!
It is late at night--again. I have a lot of thoughts on my mind and I just discovered where to find your comments. Thanks to those of you who have commented and read my posts!!
Gabe is coming along well. We have just polished off one year of court-ordered guardianship by submitting a status report to the judge.
This evening when I came home I was welcomed by a little boy giving me a big hug and saying (not for the first time, btw) "Dad, I love you so much!!" He always says it several times when he says it.
He is back in preschool and loving it. He has several wonderful grown-ups surrounding him with love and therapies. Life is good.
I am also back in school--teaching instead of counseling. I am loving what I am doing and am having the usual challenges of teaching a new grade. My class is full of 32 wonderful kids!! Each one is unique and beautiful in her/his own way. I am the "low count" class. The other two classes have 34 students each. If any new 5th graders register at our school, guess who gets them. Yup, that would be me.
I also am working my IBI and PSR positions and loving that.
These all keep me very busy and the outside-of-school jobs (both professional positions) have so far kept me from catching up fully at my day job. But I plan to get all caught up this weekend--and perhaps get somewhat ahead in my planning.
The superintendent came by this week, observed, and gave me a helpful comment. The principal came by and observed, as well.
One thing a former principal said in my presence years ago--"Public education is never boring" still rings true.
I am so blessed to have what I have!! These students are wonderful!! I am getting back into the teaching part of education and enjoying being part of the faculty at Jefferson Elementary!!
Gabe is coming along well. We have just polished off one year of court-ordered guardianship by submitting a status report to the judge.
This evening when I came home I was welcomed by a little boy giving me a big hug and saying (not for the first time, btw) "Dad, I love you so much!!" He always says it several times when he says it.
He is back in preschool and loving it. He has several wonderful grown-ups surrounding him with love and therapies. Life is good.
I am also back in school--teaching instead of counseling. I am loving what I am doing and am having the usual challenges of teaching a new grade. My class is full of 32 wonderful kids!! Each one is unique and beautiful in her/his own way. I am the "low count" class. The other two classes have 34 students each. If any new 5th graders register at our school, guess who gets them. Yup, that would be me.
I also am working my IBI and PSR positions and loving that.
These all keep me very busy and the outside-of-school jobs (both professional positions) have so far kept me from catching up fully at my day job. But I plan to get all caught up this weekend--and perhaps get somewhat ahead in my planning.
The superintendent came by this week, observed, and gave me a helpful comment. The principal came by and observed, as well.
One thing a former principal said in my presence years ago--"Public education is never boring" still rings true.
I am so blessed to have what I have!! These students are wonderful!! I am getting back into the teaching part of education and enjoying being part of the faculty at Jefferson Elementary!!
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