WAIT! Not yet!!!

I received a phone call from Nate yesterday. 

Sara was having contractions. 

Wait! Not yet. 

Not due till February 10!

Then he called an hour later. 

Baby in distress and labor not stopping. 

They are doing a stat C-section. 

My son sounded so alone. My heart was breaking. 

A short time later...

The little warrior princess was born 

Initially she was breathing with a little

Bi-pap. 

During the night she had to be intubated. 

They did a couple of doses of surfactant. 

Grandpa and I decided to brave the horrible roads and drive the 4 hours to be there for a moment with our son and other grands. 

Beside it was Kendrix's birthday. 

We stole the two boys to stay with us in the hotel. 

That was fun. 

Then this morning got to see the little warrior princess. 

Princess Leighton Zella Egan. 

Fight on baby girl. 

Fight on. 

'TIS THE SEASON

Time for moments staring at the tree. 

Time for dipping the chocolates. 

I'm not quite done yet. 

Added a new treat to the arsenal. 

Salted caramels. 

It's a lot of work. 

I'll go back to staring at the tree. 

THEY'LL NEVER KNOW

As I go from room to room.

They will never know. 

As I joke with the ax vs hand injury...

He won't know that the lady in the next room died. 

As I give Motrin for the 3 year old's fever...

They'll never know that in the room a few doors down,

we just gave a mom and dad the worst news they could hear. 

Your child has a brain tumor. 

As I walk out the door after nearly 13 hours of chaos...

They'll never know how hard it is to face it again the next day. 

Happy Thanksgiving.  

THE BIONIC MAN

Here we go again.

Right shoulder repair. 

He's trying so hard to wake up from anesthesia. 

It's a little comical. 

He is such a lightweight. 

Home after just a few hours. 

Still trying to wake up. 

Unsuccessfully. 

Oh. There you are...... Asleep again. 

NIGHTLY RITUALS

While in Denver, it was reassuring to me that Lexi insisted on her nightly rituals.

During the 2 1/2 years she lived with us it was horsey rides on grandpa's back. 

Every. Night. 

Now there are rituals of "head knocker", "jack and the beanstalk" and 3 or 4 others that I couldn't remember. 

The important thing is the ritual. 

She rules the roost, this child. 

And she continues try other delay tactics. 

But after prayer and story, 

there is finally 

this. 

And it is sweet. 

ME AND MY SHADOW

I flew to Denver on Friday to be able to spend the weekend with the Conders.

Lexi was singing in Primary and I just couldn't miss that!

Besides, Howie has been in Minnesota for two weeks and I hate being alone. 

I love the area they live in. 

Most of all, I love hanging out with my shadow. 

I have missed her something fierce. 

Tonight we wrote stories. 

She writes some pretty fantastic tales. 

She would write a few paragraphs then I would write a few paragraphs. The plot involves some zombies, mashed potatoes and gravy and some other twists and turns. 

We aren't sure of the ending but it should be interesting. 

We have just enjoyed each other's company. 

I hate to go home. 

SMALL HUMANS

I'm babysitting for a few days while mom is gone and dad is working. 

Handsome Officer Egan. 

It's a tough job. 

But someone gets to do it!

And I'm having a blast. 

I love these small humans. 

My tribe. 

They live in my heart. 

TWINS THREE YEARS APART!

These two little brothers are 3 years (and some change) apart.

It's so amazing to see the likeness.

This guy loves grandpa!

Oh the squishy cheeks!

Yup. Twins.