Baby Levi Home From NICU; Caleb's Visit; Church Every Week Now; the Goldens Meet Levi

The day finally came when baby Levi could come home from the hospital. For being born 5 weeks early, it was a blessing he spent only 9 days in the NICU; so not very many days Ben and Haley were making runs to the hospital to visit him. What a blessing!!

Levi weighed 5 lbs. 4 ozs.--2 ozs. heavier than his birth weight--when he was released to go home. 

One of these days he's going to be big enough to fill his car seat. For now, we'll just enjoy the teeny tininess of this precious little baby.

Ben and Haley invited us to their home that evening so we could meet our 18th grandchild.

Kade was pretty pleased with himself as the big brother helper.

I have always thought it a special moment at birth when parents see their newborn child for the first time. I likewise have always thought it a special moment when a child meets his newborn sibling for the first time. So sweet. So special.

After more than four years, my childhood friends (Tammy Bruin Gentry, Kelley Carruth Martin and Shellie Bolingbroke Anderson) and I got together to catch up on each others' lives. We got take-out from Costa Vida and brought it to our home so we could eat and chat for hours. 

There was a mix-up in our communication with Pam and she ended up not being able to meet that day. We all felt very sad about that. 

My nephew Caleb had asked if he could drive down from Rexburg to spend the night with us so he could be in town the following morning to spend time with some people from his mission. He is a delightful person and we were happy to host him that evening.

I was very happy I had leftovers to feed him a late dinner as he said he was definitely hungry. I had baked some cookies for him and sent some home with him the next day. I showed him the hot pad he had helped his mother make for a gift for me many years ago. Little Caleb is all grown up now!

Well look at us going to church on Sundays now after all those months of doing home sacrament meetings. Not a fan of the need to wear masks during our Sabbath worship service, but such is our life right now during these Covid-19 times.

We invited Ben's family over for Sunday dinner. They felt it would be fine to have the Goldens over as well since they consider we have all been sharing germs with each other these days.

The Golden children admired the new baby from a distance and then joined in with the Sunday popcorn popping.

Dallas and Rebecca each had a turn holding the baby. Newborns are so sweet and such a gift straight from heaven.

Two days later, we watched Kade while Ben and Haley took Levi to his pediatrician's visit.

That was the day I have my weekly Relief Society Zoom meeting, so Glen watched Kade the first hour he was here. 

It didn't take Kade long to get all the popcorn fixings out of the cupboard and look at Glen with his expectant eyes. It was a great snack for him until his parents got home and we could have a late lunch.

I enjoyed taking Kade outside for a while as the weather was so beautiful. 

The report on Levi was good. He had gained a pound. He is healthy and doing well. 

Glen took some time one afternoon to take apart the basketball toss that we have had in our basement for many, many years. Parts of it were broken and it was easy for little people to pull it over. I was very worried about it hurting a little someone, so he got it disassembled and out in the trash for pick-up the next day. 

That part of the basement looks so bare now with nothing there. It's a little bit sad when a little part of the past goes away. We have some great memories of our children, their friends and the grandchildren throwing the little basketballs into the hoop over and over again as fast as they could.

Jared and Lexie Skabelund Hopkins came over to introduce us to their baby Henry. I am calling him our first mission grandbaby as he was born to two of our missionaries who married each other.

I continue to enjoy my morning walks, although it has gotten very cold in the mornings! There are lots of outdoor Halloween decorations to look at along my route.

At one house, there is a new skeleton scene every few days. I didn't get a photo of the day they had two skeletons in a bed. This day the skeletons were sitting on a bench (one with binoculars, the other with a camera) with their skeleton creatures all around. 

Today there was a skeleton party going on. The skeletons were wearing party hats and had party blower noisemakers in their mouths. Two of them were playing with a piñata while the other three were playing limbo. 

Looks like Kade is getting into the Halloween spirit of things with his vampire teeth.

Quotes of the Week

 As you accept the responsibility to seek after truth with an open mind and a humble heart, you will become more tolerant of others, more open to listen, more prepared to understand, more inclined to build up instead of tearing down and you will be more willing to go where God wants you to go.

--Dieter F. Uchtdorf

To be a righteous woman during the winding up scenes on this earth, before the second coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman's strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times.

--Spencer W. Kimball

Perhaps recent events can be a spiritual alarm clock focusing us on those things that matter most. One day, we will look back on this as a foundational time of preparation and not just something we had to endure.

--Quentin L. Cook

Baby Levi Updates; General Conference Weekend; Uncle Joe Passed Away; Golden Girls Win Prizes

We watched the presidential debate. It was very disappointing. I had hoped to see two men, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, speaking and acting presidential and instead, there were two men acting very immature. It was a very cringey hour and a half.

Let's think about something less cringey--something like Sarah's boys who continue to be homeschooled every day (much to their mother's distress because it is so much work for her).

The three school-age boys are "going to" (I use those words loosely since they don't really go into the physical school building for school) a charter school that has uniforms.

The boys donned their uniforms for a few minutes one day when they went to the school for a quick school photo and then it was back home to finish up homeschool for the day. 

Eli, Carson and Lincoln were looking picture-perfect that day!

Photos would not be complete without the little Jonah pre-schooler in one of the photos.

Speaking of little ones--here's some photos and update on Ben and Haley's little preemie baby. Levi has been progressing nicely. He no longer needs supplemental oxygen. Next thing to go was the IV attached to the top of his head.

He developed jaundice, so he donned protective eyewear while he was under the lights.

He continued to have the feeding tube in his nose because he wasn't able to get enough milk on his own. It would tire him out too much.

It has been hard on Haley to have her baby in the hospital. We have been trying to help them out with some meals while Haley is recovering from childbirth and dealing with hospital runs. 

Kade definitely missed his mom when she was in the hospital. It was so cute watching him watching his mother and being so happy she was home again with him. 

Here's a close-up of his cute little happy face.

Sarah was determined she was going to keep her boys occupied with art projects all through general conference weekend so she and Jeff would be able to listen and concentrate on the conference talks.

Her plan worked perfectly!! They started with the traditional general conference weekend ebelskiver breakfast. 

They had such a great time doing their diamond painting artwork and it kept them so busy she did not need to use the rest of the arsenal she had on hand to pull out if needed. 

We had the traditional general conference weekend ebelskivers breakfast here as well. Rebecca was doing such a great job keeping three pans of the little round puff balls from burning...

...while Glen was busy cooking (and burning) bacon.

Ben and Haley made a quiet escape to go visit Levi in the hospital while Kade was busy playing with his cousins. He got so tired he fell asleep while Glen was rocking him. 

This is how it looked around our house while everyone was listening to conference.

I love general conference weekend. All the talks are so uplifting and comforting and help us feel like we can keep on going, despite the struggles we may be experiencing.

Ben was in a cleaning mood the next day and invited me to his house to help him clean out their garage. With Ben and Haley gone to New York for 5 weeks and then only having 2 days at home before Levi was born, Haley hadn't gotten the chance to act on her nesting desires. 

So Ben was doing his part to help out and make more space in the garage. 

Haley was taking it easy in the chair as she gave directions on what stuff to get rid of and what to keep. Kade was happy sitting by her for a while. I was surprised he didn't get upset when she got in the car and drove off to go to the hospital. He loves being buddies with his daddy.

Kade gets nervous when he thinks both parents are leaving him. He was a little apprehensive with me in the car with him when I took Ben to the shop so he could pick up his car. 

I was happy I had been able to help them out that day and I know they appreciated me bringing home lots of broken down boxes to put in our recycle bin as theirs was overflowing.

It had been good to have a project to do that day as I had received word from Dad that his brother Joe had passed away that morning from Covid-19. How sad!!

At the first mention of the coronavirus and how easily it is spread and how deadly it can be had me so nervous about when it would make someone we know sick or die. Now it had happened. 

I was so very sad at the loss of my uncle. I was so very sad Dad lost his brother. I was so very sad Aunt Della is now alone. I was so very sad thinking about Uncle Joe's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren mourning his loss. 

My cousin Brett re-posted this photo of the aunts and uncles on the Ward side of the family, which includes Uncle Joe with his horse hoof cane.

I read this Facebook post by my cousin Loralee and was very touched by her tribute to her father.

Ben was so good to come and mow our lawn. Glen kept saying he could do it and just not do the edges, but Ben came to the rescue so Glen didn't have to do any of it. Just a few more mows until the end of the mowing season.

Haley was able to have a little nap while I kept a watchful eye on Kade as he kept a watchful eye on a grasshopper.

My ministering sisters, Tiffany Foutz and Carol Pope came by to drop off a beautiful picture and a fall-colored plant as they expressed their concern for me with a grandson in the NICU and my Uncle Joe passing away. It was such a sweet, kind and loving gesture for them as they helped lift my spirits that day.

We now have great news from the NICU. Little Levi no longer has a feeding tube in his nose. He is now able to do all his feedings on his own. It won't be too much longer until he is able to leave the hospital bubble and come home to be with his family. HURRAH!!!!

We have some celebrities in the family! Both Rebecca and Caroline are prize winners! Caroline is a double prize winner!

North Salt Lake City held a writing/photography contest. Caroline won first place in photography for her age group and fifth place for her essay. 

Rebecca won second place for her essay. 

Way to go Golden girls!!!!

Quotes of the Week

 Brethren and sisters, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage brethren and sisters, and on, on to the victory! Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

--Joseph Smith

I was asked how I hear the voice of the Lord in my life. One of the ways I "Hear Him" is through studying the scriptures. The scriptures are the pre-recorded voice of the Lord. It is not hearing an audible voice...It is hearing the scriptures in a feeling. A feeling in your heart.

--David A. Bednar

All around the world and across all faith traditions, a movement of prayer can and will change hearts, improve dialogue, increase understanding, and lead us all to better love and serve one another. It is time again to unite to pray for our countries, for our leaders, for our people, and for our families. Good women and good men, united in prayer and faith-filled effort, can change the history of the world.

--Russell M Ballard