Another Look

We're just about half way there! The ultrasound picture is a profile. Other features are visible, too: a leg on the upper left side, the spine at the bottom, an arm in front and a hand above and behind the face.

We didn't find out the gender, although Hannah and Stacey both think it "looks like a girl." I think it "looks like a baby."



We also got to see the heart and measure the head, belly and leg. Everything looks fine; although we may have to go back again since the baby wouldn't turn over to get a good look at the spine.

20 more weeks!

Ike Hits Syracuse

Overnight Sunday into Monday the remnants of Ike passed over Central New York. The storm had long since dropped the 100 MPH winds that ravaged Galveston but was still strong enough to tear branches from our old Weeping Willow.



We woke to find the entire back yard covered in branches and the trampoline and a few chairs toppled.



Somehow, the stubborn dead branch that had snapped in an early spring storm refused to let go.



With the rainy weather Monday, we didn't get a chance to clean up until Tuesday evening. I told Hannah that "if we all work together, we can get it done before it gets dark."

She soon figured out that it was "no fun at all;" so Stacey told her to sing a song. "We're working in the yard work and not having any fun at all," was how her song started. We did get her to pick up a few branches and somehow kept Ben from poking anyone in the eye.



We did finish before dark after more than doubling the size of our brush pile. Not bad for an evening's work.



I'm still looking forward to the day when I can say "I'd like you kids to have the back yard cleaned up by the time I get home from work." For now, it was still nice to have the kids around, even if they only "helped" to pass the time more quickly.

Foreign Objects

For those of you who have not heard about our latest and greatest drama, sit down, because you're in for a good laugh.

Last Friday the Ear Nose and Throat Doctor's Office called with an opening for Hannah in the afternoon, we took it. We went there hoping to find the source of her unusual bad breath and nasal problems. The doctor found it alright, in the form of a sticker that has been in her nose for nine months. We did not see this coming. We were ready to have adenoids out, take her to a gastroentonologist, whatever, but a sticker in the nose! Hannah even remembers putting it in there during a naptime, probably last December, and forgetting to take it out. I'm still learning to never be suprised. But, we are thankful that the problem was not serious and she's already recovered from her former symptoms.

We're hoping to get some new pictures up soon, we're still figuring out our new computer.

Old MacDonald Has a Farm

About an hour north or so, Old MacDonald really does has a farm, a pretty fun one in fact. We went with the MEET group from church and Groompa, and spent the morning feeding goats, going on a hayride to see pigs and pasture cows, riding a trolley through the cow barns, jumping in the bouncy house, and playing putt-putt.

This is in "Goat Land", where about thirty goats ranging from newborn to old roam free.


On our hayride we fed some cows hay and cornstalks, apparently it tastes like dessert to them. I didn't get any pictures of the pigs, I was busy plugging my nose.


Yes, it's a goat on the roof.


Ben finally felt brave enough at the end of the morning to feed a goat some popcorn.


Hannah could just barely reach Magic the horse to give him a gentle pat.


The newest verse: "Old MacDonald has a reindeer, EIEIO". This poor reindeer named Poinsettia lives in a special Christmas barn and listens to Christmas music year round. It's antlers are velvety smooth and it was very nice.



We all had a good time visiting the farm and learned some new things. We got to see some new things too, a newborn baby cow (born that very morning), an alpaca, the reindeer, ponies, and more. Ben had his first head-butt in the rear experience, from the Little Orhpan Lamby. We guess it thought Ben was the perfect size to play, but he didn't like it too much! "Old MacDonald has a farm, and now it's time to go".