Arden is Here

Arden missed her due date by 6 days, but when she was ready to be born she arrived in a hurry ! I received a phone call from Clarke around 6:15 on Sunday morning, November 15th. "Jennifer's in labor!" he told me.

Truitt and I prayed, then I dashed to the kids house. When I arrived sweet Jennifer was in intense labor, even vomiting once, but never, ever screaming or even moaning loudly. Most astoundingly, she didn't rush Clarke who had decided to take a shower. Both mother and father calmly left the house, only to realize that Jennifer was having the urge to push even as they drove in the hospital parking lot. Our sweet, beautiful, healthy Arden was born just 25 minutes later! She rated a 10 on the Apgar scale, something the hospital had seen only twice in 7 years!

We all thanked God for His incredible provision and I took Huston up to the hospital to see his little sister. He was fascinated with the elevators and enamored with the coke machine, but paid little heed to Arden. That is what we thought....then when we got into the car on the way home, he said "Baby Arden say whaaaaa at the hospital." As he "quoted" his sister he waved his arms back in forth in the perfect imitation of her baby movements. The little guy had taken in much more than we had thought.

Truitt, Emily and Christopher arrived at the hospital later, all rejoicing in the newest member of our family. Then we all took Huston out to lunch at Johnny Carinos. Later we went to the park with the "big slide" where Granny and Papaw joined us on their way home from the hospital. Huston was very excited that he was able to go up and down the big slide and said, "Papaw do it too?"

Believe it or not, my 83 year old Dad climbed up the ladderand all over the playground equipment. Then down he went on the big slide! Huston, you have great pull!

I enjoyed staying with Huston that night at the kids house and being there when Arden came home the next day in the arms of her beaming Mom and Dad. Truitt couldn't get enough of holding the beautiful pink bundle that was our new little Arden nand he and I had a blast taking Huston to the clock store for a fun outing later in the week.

I stayed one more night and helped the kids off and on through out the week. It was a joy being with them, cooking for them and watching "Barney with the clock in it" with Huston.

We are grateful for our children. We are grateful for our grandchildren. We are blessed.