Bootie Call!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

FOUR THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS

Annie and Jake Archibald

Sawyer Storey

The resources & energy to still make a Thanksgiving feast--so much for a picnic at the beach!

Introducing Sawyer Daniel Storey!!!

"You only just tell a boy you won't ever have anybody but him, ever ever ever, and then you kiss and that's all. Anybody can do it"

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Becky to Tom, Chapter 7)

YESSIR! That's just what we want to do is just kiss this little boy forever and ever and ever! Sawyer arrived this morning at 6:41am after a VERY brief labor of 3 1/2 hours. He is 1 day shy of 37 weeks which makes him 1 day shy of official "full term". Chelsea's labor was so fast and she transitioned so quickly that she never had the epidural. At the time she didn't think it was such a great idea, but recovery is so much quicker that by tonight she's thinking, aside from all the screaming, maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. He is 6lbs. 5 oz., 17 1/2 inches long, has lots of brown hair that I think will be curly like his dad's and has the sweetest little face. He was alert and checking out his world but is now settling in on being comfy. Chelsea was amazing and I'm just so proud of her. I came home for a few minutes to send out some more emails, write this, and pick up a turkey at Trader Joe's. Because when all is said and done, how can we be more grateful than having this little baby join us today and celebrate my most favorite holiday with us on Thursday which will now include the traditional feast. Mommy and baby will be home on Wednesday. I'm going back shortly to spend the night. We are all happy and thankful and thank everyone for all their kind words and loving support over the past months.

All is well, all is well!

What Do You Need?

Dana Point Harbor

The other day Chelsea and I went down to the harbor. It was a really clear and beautiful afternoon as you can see. One of those days that makes you so happy to live in California.

In spite of all the crazy stuff that goes on in this state, there's nothing like the peace that comes from looking at boats and dreaming about all the wonderful adventures you could have as you sail away. I especially like to read the names of the boats. I asked Chelsea what she would name her boat if she had one. She said Chelsea Drugstore from the Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want." I've listened and sung to that song since 1969, 7 years before she was born, and yet she knew every word of the lyrics, and all I knew was "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need."

It's a good question to ask myself as to what do I really want, especially in this season of Thanksgiving. World peace like in "Groundhog Day"? Yeah, that would be nice but I don't see it happening for awhile. A room of my own other than in Chelsea's apt? I'm okay for now. Good health? I've got that. Love from and for my children and family? Got that. A car that's paid for? Check that off. Hmmmm, how about a boat?

I'd name it Napa Dog Road from a dream I had one time. And I'd love a boat sometime. But I still don't really need one. I have so many blessings this is hard.

I'm thinking, I'm thinking.....Do you know what you might want but might not get ?

Today when we were back at the harbor and it was cold and foggy Chelsea looked over into the water and said, "What's that? Is that a man in the water?" I looked over and hey, it was a dolphin! It was jumping up and then diving back in and was about 15 feet from us. That was really cool. And what a treat! But I didn't need to see a dolphin; it was just a little extra gift from the day.

Okay, I've got it!

I want SUGAR! I decided to cut way back on my sugar intake last Thursday, today is day 3, and whenever I do this to myself day 3 is always the hardest. Grrrrrr!! That's what I want. And not having it makes me scream, "I can't get no satisfaction!" So in order to get what I need I'm going to go into the kitchen and eat a cracker with cheese. This probably sounds stupid with Thanksgiving just around the corner and the year's greatest all-time feast. But since it's just the two of us this year (or three if Sawyer shows up) we're taking it easy on Thursday. If the sun comes back by then we'll enjoy a picnic down by the beach and, according to the old grade school joke, eat the sand which is there.

They Say It's Your Birthday!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Now the Curtain Opens on a Portrait of Today

Way back in July it was hard to imagine what November 18th would hold in store for us. When Chelsea's perinatologist told her to go on strict bed rest at 4 months along followed by two hospital stays for pre-term labor, we didn't know if little Sawyer would make it all the way, much less make it at all. But due to her incredible ability to follow all the rules, and I don't say this lightly, but not exactly one of her strong personality traits, she has successfully brought her pregnant self to 36 WEEKS!

36 WEEKS...the magic words, 36 WEEKS--no more meds, 36 WEEKS--no more bed rest, 36 WEEKS--"Go dancing!" Dr. Posner said. At 36 weeks she could get her hair done again, get a manicure and pedicure, eat out at restaurants, go to movies, go shopping, and do all those things without feeling guilty. And so she did. Today the nail salon and Olive Garden, tomorrow the world! She actually got her hair done 3 days ago and we went shopping yesterday. But still...

Tomorrow is Chelsea's 32nd birthday. So we'll be eating out again, at Salt Creek Grille, on my brother, John's, recommendation. We celebrate together. She for doing so well and having survived. Me for holding down the fort for her and knowing I, too, will now get some of my life back. I remember well the day she was born. It truly was a Chelsea Morning!

"There was milk and toast and honey and a bowl of oranges, too. And the sun poured in like butterscotch and stuck to all my senses."

When the docs first told her what the last 4 months would require she was thinking, "Man, that's for the birds!" But take a look at this picture I took on my iphone last Saturday. Gives the expression a whole new meaning. I think the only thing these guys are thinking about are their endless possibilities.

"And the streets are paved with passersby and the pigeons fly and the papers lie waiting to blow away"

Life's a beach, then you fly!

California Dreamin'

It's a world of contrasts and opposition. This past week Southern California has been in the news with all the protests over the passage of Proposition 8 and then the rampant wildfires in Santa Barbara County, north LA County and parts of Orange County. Freeways have been shut down. Thousands of people have been evacuated. Hundreds of homes have burned to the ground. And several people have died or been severely burned. Winds have been up to 70 miles per hour and the temperature over the weekend hit 100 degrees in some areas...except here.

Here it's felt like Hawaii without the humidity. It's been hot but not too hot, clear, fresh, and glorious.

I can't help but wonder how I can live so close to such terrible disasters and yet my biggest inconvenience was trying to get to a performance of the LA Philharmonic Symphony at the spectacular Disney Concert Hall Friday night and dealing with 2 1/2 hours of traffic, which had nothing to do with any of the news items, but was just a typical Friday night on the I-5 parking lot.

AND...I've been able to play with my new camera. In preparation for the birth of my first grandchild in 2004 I finally switched from my film camera to digital. It's been 4 years and I knew it was time to upgrade even though I really like that old Sony for ease and size. But with the impending arrival of Chelsea's little boy and the massive changes in technology I knew it was time to upgrade again, which I'd been trying to hold back on---but I just couldn't any longer. The problem, of course, at least for me, is the learning curve on anything new and improved. Today around 4:30 Chelsea and I went for a quick ride up the PCH to Laguna Beach. I knew the optimum time lately for sunsets around here is 5:15. The day before we'd also been for a drive to keep her from getting punchy when we discovered a place that looked like a super location to practice on my camera. Because Chelsea is only moderately coming off bed rest until Tuesday and because the window of opportunity was limited I only got to play around for 20 minutes or so. But it sure was fun to start to discover what this new camera can do. Unfortunately, it's now 1:50 am and I'm barely figuring out how to transfer the images to my computer w/ all the new software. But it's coming around, slowly but surely.

Do you see the people in the kayak?

I zoomed in on them on some of the shots but I'm not going to bore you with all of them.

This is one of my favorites, I like the star in the upper left hand corner

This one surprised me the most, it was dark out but the lens really opened up

This is going to be great sport! It might take me another 4 years to figure out most of the stuff. I wish I was one of those people who's intuitive about technology, etc. I tend to need to read all the instruction manuals instead of just playing around and see what happens. Maybe I should apply that learning style to how I live my life. I'm trying, I really am.

My Favorite Veteran

Major Anthony DeVoe Woolf

(thanks Jay & Jeremy for this slide)

My dad, who will be 94 in January, served in World War II shortly after completing his LDS mission in Germany. The older he gets the more he shares with us his army experiences. We're hoping he's able to complete his autobiography that he's currently working on so that we will have all these stories saved for future generations. He is my favorite vet and I pay tribute to him and all those who have served and are serving in the armed forces. His younger brother, Wilford, also served in the war as a pilot in the Air Force. Uncle Wilford died a few months ago. Below is a picture they had taken for their parents

Wilford Woolf and Tony Woolf

I'm extremely grateful for the brave sacrifices my dad and uncle made for our freedom and our country and for the families they left at home who loved them, worried about them, and prayed for them. I love you, Dad!

DisGuysed and Dolls

As if things couldn't get even scarier what with Halloween and certain election results, this morning I'm sitting in the living room across from Chelsea when I hear this loud shriek explode from her mouth, "Oh My Gosh! When did my arm hairs grow so long? They're black and I look like Big Foot!"

What?!

I think it's time for little Sawyer to consider more seriously about making his entrance into this world. Chelsea's brain is fried. We saw her perinatologist on Tuesday who told her to stay on the meds and bedrest for 2 more weeks and then she can go dancing. We saw her regular OBGYN on Friday who said get off the meds and start back into her regular life, whatever that is. With conflicting medical direction what would you do? We really don't want little Sawyer to have to go to the NICU no matter how brief. Yet she also knows she needs to start building up her muscles again by sitting up for longer than 30 minutes or so. She's decided to compromise somewhere in between, meaning she can drive with me thru Starbucks or McDonald's or sit at the beach for an hour while I go for my walk but she can't load the dishes in the dishwasher. I think that's how it's playing out. No, seriously, I'm happy she's actually able to start getting around again. She's been a real trooper through this whole thing. I can't imagine what it would have been like to be on strict bedrest for the past 14 weeks. Wait, yes I can, I've been here. And with 2 stays in the hospital behind her, we're both very happy the time is drawing nigh.

She sent a photo of herself to some of her friends because they'd been asking her how she looks. Unfortunately she didn't get back the response she was hoping for. They all told her she looked huge. I think she looks great


34 weeks 3 days and counting

Because the one doc gave her the A-OK to get up and go she signed up for a breast-feeding class tomorrow at the hospital. They told her to bring a baby doll or stuffed animal with her, but if it's a stuffed animal it can't have a tail. Huh? The only doll around here is one I brought with me to sell on Ebay, Brittany's original Cabbage Patch doll which she "adopted" from the Cabbage Patch Hospital when we lived in Georgia. I tried to sell it at my garage sale for $5, but a very honest woman told me they're selling for over $100 on the internet so I took it out of the garage and brought it down on the truck. However, it's at least 24" long and looks 2 years old. As much as the La Leche League might think it's appropriate, Chelsea doesn't. We have a sock monkey that used to be Eli's, but it has a tail. We have a little teddy bear my sister, Marlene, gave Chelsea, but it's too small. Just preparing for this 2-hour class is giving me a headache thinking about it.

Chelsea is in her bedroom right now reading a book she ordered about breast-feeding. And I'm in my room writing this and thinking about dolls I've known and loved. Cheryl and I got matching dolls when I was 4. Mom painted our initials with red fingernail polish on the dollies' bottoms so we could tell them apart. When I was 8 I got my favorite baby doll I named Bonnie Kay. She's boxed up and in storage. I dearly loved my Little Red Riding Hood doll from Germany but she's gone AWOL. I received my first and only Barbie for Christmas, 1961. And then, of course, in 1974, 1976, and 1980 I got my 3 real live dolls. And 2004, 2006, and soon in 2008 has brought 3 more real live baby dolls into my life.

On the off-chance Marlene ever does decide to read my blog I'm including this video for her and anyone else whose wish came true when she found the doll of her dreams under the Christmas tree.

I Went to the Bonnie Hunt Show Yesterday and All I Got Was this Dumb Mask

After tonight this may be the last time you see this face

So I got this email asking if I wanted "VIP" tickets to the Bonnie Hunt Show and that they had "giveaways" as an enticement. I called my friend, Nancy Metcalf, to see if she wanted to join me again. The shooting was yesterday for today's airing. Along w/ lousy hot dogs and moderately cold root beer they gave us a duck whistle, a Christmas ideas book (didn't I just get rid of all this junk in my garage sale?) and a mask to wear expressing our candidate of choice. If I'd been smart I should have asked for an Obama mask also so I could bring it home to Chelsea as a souvenir. Then we could both be in the picture. Oh well.

The upside is that while I was trying to take my picture on the self-timer mode of my camera Chelsea came walking in the room from her bedroom and jumped about 3 feet high.

"What are you doing?" she screamed. "It freaked me out that some old man was sitting in the living room!"

The downside? It almost brought little Sawyer into our world 6 weeks early. Her perinatologist already delivered 3 little babies today on election day (Chelsea had an appointment today that had to be rescheduled). He didn't need to assist with another one.

I hope if your candidates and issues won tonight that you're happy, and if not, well, there's 2012 when we can do this all over again.