Extreme Excitement

You've heard of extreme sports, extreme makeovers...
Could a week contain more extreme events and emotions? I doubt it.

Sunday we celebrated our oldest grandchild's 21st birthday! We so enjoy getting together as a family!
Kayla's meal request was our famous fondue meal. I was so busy acting the hostess role that I seriously neglected my photography. I managed only one picture, and that was part way through the dinner.

Thankfully Mike got a few during the birthday song, but not soon enough to catch the cluster of candles lighting the cake. Oh, well...

We were all very aware that our new baby could arrive any day. No one more so than Kristie, however!

Monday the call came, "My water broke. It's time!" I was privileged to witness this delivery, an all-natural water birth. All went beautifully. Kristie said it was the easiest and best so far (this was number four).
 

"Welcome, baby!"

"You are so beautiful!"

"I love you so much!"

"Are you my mother?"

Delighted Daddy

Big brother Malachi

Middle brother Elijah

Tuesday Grandma Debby, my consuegra, and I took the siblings to the hospital for a second visit. Little brother Zion had his turn to welcome baby brother Jude.

It was so sweet and we were so happy about the bonding moment that we didn't worry about the kisses and touching. However, Wednesday, when Zion woke up with a fever we became concerned. I had spent the night with them, taking over for the other grandma. By afternoon he was worse, so Daddy came home and took him to the doctor. Whatever it was, it passed and by evening it was good to see him moving around, even climbing up on his brother's bunk.

Even though it was past bedtime, no one missed baby's homecoming that night.

Jude River

"Welcome home, Jude!"

 

Thursday was a quiet day at home for me. Visiting missionary friends stopped by for a few minutes.

Tuggys

Friday was a strangely eventful day.  Mike and I went to Elijah's school for grandparents' day.
Right after I took a picture of him with his teacher, he fainted. Of course, everyone was concerned.The nurse, principal, assistant superintendent were there and in the end they called the EMTs. Daddy Sam came as soon as he could.

The next photo is funny and embarrassing. I began to feel light headed so they had us both lying down. Probably sympathetic symptoms.

By afternoon his temperature had gone up and he had a bad headache. Perhaps the same mysterious illness that Zion had earlier in the week. I was just fine, though.

Saturday we took SIL Diane to the Mississinewa1812 , which claims to be America's most exciting Living History Weekend. It truly lives up to that reputation and thousands attend this festival.

Very close to where we were watching the reenactment of the Battle of 1812, we saw one of the first go down. His mother was next to me taking pictures enjoying the event. Diane, on the other hand, didn't care for the loud cannons and wondered what they were going to do with the dead.

It takes the musketeers a year to learn their skills. The horses that enter the battle scene take much longer to train.

 We enjoy this Potawotomi story teller every time.

I have many more photos, but these will have to do for one post.