Kallie Shipley May 30, 2008

Hi Everyone,
What a day for our family! After Steve called and talked to Keanna and me last night they still had lots of work to do with Nikki so Steve held Kallie for hours until he finally drove home at 1:30 in the morning. Nikki and Kallie did not get lots of sleep but Nikki came through it all in very good condition. The baby is wonderful, has a strong cry, has beautiful hair, deep blue eyes and a nose like her mommy. Keanna and I rose at 7:30 this morning, had breakfast and then drove to get our first glimpse of her little highness. We picked up a balloon on the way, brought all the camera equipment, Keanna's toys our curiosity. We were so delighted with getting our first look at her. Perfectly formed, snuggled up in her blanket and in a little glass bed right in the room with Nikki. In fact when we got there Nikki was holding her, what a beautiful sight. Steve was home and would come back later after he got some rest. Jason had called to let us know they were on their way and they arrived just a few minutes after Keanna and I did. Timothy seemed intrigued by this little bundle and lots of photos were taken, many of them with better quality than the ones my old camera produces. Jo's mom Juli came too and enjoyed seeing Kallie just like the rest of us. Since everyone was hungry we went to the local UNO's for lunch. That gave Nikki a break from all of us. Nikki was up and around moving easily and feeling pretty good for the ordeal of 12 hours before. Keanna was so entranced by her sister and finally persuaded her mom and day that she needed to hold the baby so Nikki, Keanna and baby spent some time together. Very precious. As we left to go eat Nikki motioned for me to bring the baby to her, in that moment it struck me, I should not have been the one to be doing this, normally it would have been Nan doing it and it nearly broke my heart to have her miss this vitally important day. As it was Stephanie stayed with Nikki and Steve last night all through the delivery and she did not go home until all was over and things had calmed down. What a precious friend. The people from Nikki's work have been great, calling and calling to see how things were going along. I think they hardly got any work done on Friday for all the times they checked up on Nikki. Steves's friends have been great too about calling and standing by him. I enjoyed reading the many warm and most welcome messages to the blog this morning. Thank you every one.
When we all completed lunch we came back and Steve and Nikki had finished their special catered meal from the hospital cafe. They managed to lose Nikki's menu requests which was a bummer but their intention was good.
We all took pictures, I did quite a bit of video as well. Finally Keanna was tired of being good and holding still. It was also time Jason and Jo had to head home since they had a big event tonight with the Junior Class, Jason is one of the sponsors and the only one in town this weekend. So we all loaded up and left the threesome to get some rest and have peace and quiet. It was so nice to see the entire family including Julie there all at once. We really enjoyed each others company! It was a great day thanks to Kallie.
On the way home Nikki had some energy left to burn up so we stopped at McDonalds in Brentwood where they have a wonderful indoor play area and Keanna played for over an hour. We arrived home late, I made pasta and green beans and we enjoyed fresh strawberries we had found on the way home, Keanna had me go back to get them and they were locally grown, picked today. Wow are they ever good. Keanna ate many of them before I could even get dinner cooked. Then we fed the ducks and geese with stale bread and Starr managed to NOT fall in this time. Then Keanna wanted and needed a bath, feed were black from playing at McDonalds without shoes, running around here without shoes and the hospital room as well. We got her cleaned up and she told me she needed lotion so I found some of Nan's Jergens or something like that we put lotion on her arms and legs. I think it is safe to say she is fast asleep now. I started to pray and she took over thanking Jesus for Kallie, her mommy and daddy, the nurses and on and on, so cute.
I am totally beat and ready to sleep tonight. It has been a wonderful family day rich with God's blessings and bitter sweet for the lack of Nan.
Good night my friends.
Love and blessings on you,
Tim
ps
I have included a few words directly from Carol and Roger, our North Carolina friends.
Yes, Roger is home and very glad to be home. His Hgb was 8.4 this morning and they sent him home to "resume regular activity." That is what he told me anyway. I don't argue with him.... He is on an assortment of medications and goes in once a week for blood tests for awhile to be sure it is holding. Right now it's a "wait and see what happens" status. Yes, there will be choir practice Tuesday night and probably keep the choir appointment next week.

Thank you for all your support and prayers.

Carol