from August 25, 2007 - Saturday
From Logan: I was born on a convenient date to remember (7/11). I weighed in at 8lbs. 14oz. and was 20" long. I started slimming for a while, but now I'm over 9lbs. and 6 oz. and I've grown 2". Daddy says Logan is a good Gaelic name that he and Mama both liked when they tried it out many moons ago. Alexander is the last name of a great author of stories adapted from Welsh legends. But Dad realized while talking to Grampa H. after I was born that both names are significant in Arkansas: Logan Springs Cave is a protected habitat of endangered species near my hometown, and Alexander Cave is one of the largest in the state, well known to spelunkers, and the first wild cave Daddy ever explored, back in college days. Some of my remarkable features: big barrel chest and round shoulders, Mama's pretty eyes, Daddy's nose, rich dark chocolate hair with 2 crowns at the back, a dimple on my chin (rather dashing), detached earlobes, and an outie.
We spent this summer getting ready for Logan: putting the nursery furniture together (crib, dresser/changer, toybox, wall borders); getting the house and 1 acre in order (fixing mowers, weeding garden, stump removing, repairing car upholstery, removing mold in shed and on eaves and replacing a windowscreen, etc.). We feel like we're finally settled in after 4 years. Our new furniture makes it much easier and more fun to host friends and family. Jerusha spent her spring break making the place have the feel of an old English manor with some accents and furnishings she and my Mom picked out.
Mandy was induced on July 9 due to high blood pressure and yet her water broke on its own and her contractions were doing just fine by themselves. Logan was strong and experienced no difficulties; he wasn't troubled too much by the pushing as many babies are; his heart rate remained even. The only complication was that he came down the pike at a slight slant (not breach), which made the final pushing hard for Mandy, lasting 3 hours out of 30 for the labor. Even with the epidural, the pain was excruciating for Mandy, but she was brave and tough! She had to breathe oxygen toward the end, and Dr. Crownover used forceps so expertly that it hardly left a mark. Of course, Logan had the "conehead" that most babies get, but it was nearly gone the next day. The doctor offered to let me cut the umbilical cord, which I had planned to avoid, but it was so neatly pinned on both sides and the doc so laid back about it that I couldn't refuse. A pretty painless and clean set of snips, actually, was all it amounted to. Vivian helped the whole time, getting ice chips and helping Mandy through each contraction by stabilizing her legs with me as I breathed with Mandy and counted. Quite an ordeal, but we all got through it with lots of prayer, and God answered every single one. The Allens (Holly and Leonard) dropped in to see us in the hospital, as did Lori Johnson and Becca Weitemeyer.
Vivian stayed with us the next 3 weeks, and Logan certainly kept us all on our toes. We soon had many joyful rounds of visitors: Uncle Wood & Cousin Patty; Merl, Ross, and Jerusha; Mom & Dad (Jean, Glenn) and Toni; Jerusha again for more household assistance; Nathan & Joanna; Sonya Sawyer. Dad was able to stay at a rehab center, which made it possible for him and mom to come: lo and behold, one of my graduated English majors was on call there for her summer job, and she took good care of Dad. Many local friends from JBU and church brought us meals or groceries: Robbie Castleman, Ed & Julie Ericson, Karla & Brent Swearingen, Ben & Becca, Patty Gambill, Galen & Lori Johnson, Ann Jones, Susan Vila, Judy & Don Balla.
Our home computer crashed the day after Logan was born, so it took a few weeks of troubleshooting, ordering parts, and going to a local tech shop to get it repaired. In the meantime I printed birth announcements at Walmart, and eventually I was able to get a little editing done on the C.S. Lewis book, but sleep deprivation definitely took its toll this summer. It's all been worth it, however, as God has forced us to slow down and drop everything for others. Pampering (feeding, cleaning, burping, bathing, dressing) Logan has been good for me: learning to be patient and trust that God will provide, no matter how many setbacks we face. I like nothing better than to be interrupted nowadays. What a joy to see that little chubby face with bright eyes being brought in to see Daddy! I have been attempting to carry over this attitude and work ethic into my job, and I already feel more at ease in spite of the usual stresses.
Mandy has been amazing. No one could have done a better job in these challenging phases of Logan's life. She has faced a protracted recuperation, blocked milk ducts, less sleep than ever in her life, and constant nursings around the clock, both night and day. Her fortitude and patience have been a great example as we all learn to cope with new routines. God has truly blessed us this summer, giving us strength each day, and with many answered prayers we're able to attend church again and get to work (Mandy in the morning and me in the afternoons), where we enjoy teaching our delightful college students at JBU. The days surrounding Logan's arrival were filled with blackberry picking and cobbler baking, movie watching, reading, writing, and gardening. It's been the most challenging and most fulfilling summer of our lives, and it has come to an end.
I will post Logan's developmental details in the next blog, so stay tuned. . .
From Logan: I was born on a convenient date to remember (7/11). I weighed in at 8lbs. 14oz. and was 20" long. I started slimming for a while, but now I'm over 9lbs. and 6 oz. and I've grown 2". Daddy says Logan is a good Gaelic name that he and Mama both liked when they tried it out many moons ago. Alexander is the last name of a great author of stories adapted from Welsh legends. But Dad realized while talking to Grampa H. after I was born that both names are significant in Arkansas: Logan Springs Cave is a protected habitat of endangered species near my hometown, and Alexander Cave is one of the largest in the state, well known to spelunkers, and the first wild cave Daddy ever explored, back in college days. Some of my remarkable features: big barrel chest and round shoulders, Mama's pretty eyes, Daddy's nose, rich dark chocolate hair with 2 crowns at the back, a dimple on my chin (rather dashing), detached earlobes, and an outie.
We spent this summer getting ready for Logan: putting the nursery furniture together (crib, dresser/changer, toybox, wall borders); getting the house and 1 acre in order (fixing mowers, weeding garden, stump removing, repairing car upholstery, removing mold in shed and on eaves and replacing a windowscreen, etc.). We feel like we're finally settled in after 4 years. Our new furniture makes it much easier and more fun to host friends and family. Jerusha spent her spring break making the place have the feel of an old English manor with some accents and furnishings she and my Mom picked out.
Mandy was induced on July 9 due to high blood pressure and yet her water broke on its own and her contractions were doing just fine by themselves. Logan was strong and experienced no difficulties; he wasn't troubled too much by the pushing as many babies are; his heart rate remained even. The only complication was that he came down the pike at a slight slant (not breach), which made the final pushing hard for Mandy, lasting 3 hours out of 30 for the labor. Even with the epidural, the pain was excruciating for Mandy, but she was brave and tough! She had to breathe oxygen toward the end, and Dr. Crownover used forceps so expertly that it hardly left a mark. Of course, Logan had the "conehead" that most babies get, but it was nearly gone the next day. The doctor offered to let me cut the umbilical cord, which I had planned to avoid, but it was so neatly pinned on both sides and the doc so laid back about it that I couldn't refuse. A pretty painless and clean set of snips, actually, was all it amounted to. Vivian helped the whole time, getting ice chips and helping Mandy through each contraction by stabilizing her legs with me as I breathed with Mandy and counted. Quite an ordeal, but we all got through it with lots of prayer, and God answered every single one. The Allens (Holly and Leonard) dropped in to see us in the hospital, as did Lori Johnson and Becca Weitemeyer.
Vivian stayed with us the next 3 weeks, and Logan certainly kept us all on our toes. We soon had many joyful rounds of visitors: Uncle Wood & Cousin Patty; Merl, Ross, and Jerusha; Mom & Dad (Jean, Glenn) and Toni; Jerusha again for more household assistance; Nathan & Joanna; Sonya Sawyer. Dad was able to stay at a rehab center, which made it possible for him and mom to come: lo and behold, one of my graduated English majors was on call there for her summer job, and she took good care of Dad. Many local friends from JBU and church brought us meals or groceries: Robbie Castleman, Ed & Julie Ericson, Karla & Brent Swearingen, Ben & Becca, Patty Gambill, Galen & Lori Johnson, Ann Jones, Susan Vila, Judy & Don Balla.
Our home computer crashed the day after Logan was born, so it took a few weeks of troubleshooting, ordering parts, and going to a local tech shop to get it repaired. In the meantime I printed birth announcements at Walmart, and eventually I was able to get a little editing done on the C.S. Lewis book, but sleep deprivation definitely took its toll this summer. It's all been worth it, however, as God has forced us to slow down and drop everything for others. Pampering (feeding, cleaning, burping, bathing, dressing) Logan has been good for me: learning to be patient and trust that God will provide, no matter how many setbacks we face. I like nothing better than to be interrupted nowadays. What a joy to see that little chubby face with bright eyes being brought in to see Daddy! I have been attempting to carry over this attitude and work ethic into my job, and I already feel more at ease in spite of the usual stresses.
Mandy has been amazing. No one could have done a better job in these challenging phases of Logan's life. She has faced a protracted recuperation, blocked milk ducts, less sleep than ever in her life, and constant nursings around the clock, both night and day. Her fortitude and patience have been a great example as we all learn to cope with new routines. God has truly blessed us this summer, giving us strength each day, and with many answered prayers we're able to attend church again and get to work (Mandy in the morning and me in the afternoons), where we enjoy teaching our delightful college students at JBU. The days surrounding Logan's arrival were filled with blackberry picking and cobbler baking, movie watching, reading, writing, and gardening. It's been the most challenging and most fulfilling summer of our lives, and it has come to an end.
I will post Logan's developmental details in the next blog, so stay tuned. . .
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