A brief note...

Taking a quick break to add a new photo. Spencer is over 4 pounds now and progressing very well. Minimal oxygen support and Kate gets to hold him more and more as time goes by. My Kate is really special, isn't she? Spencer is a fortunate little boy to have such a strong mom. God works in mysterious ways, yes?

Thanks to everyone for their ongoing prayers, good thoughts and support. You've made such a difference to our family! More info soon.

Lovely

There is no sight as beautiful as a mom and her baby!

Look at Spencer

Happy Monday.  I have lots  of things to write about, but those will wait until later. Look at this photo of Spencer! What a boy! The last weight I heard was 3 lbs. 7 oz.--getting up there! And this is the first time I've seen him in actual clothing. Kate has been amazing through this experience, and Spencer's steady improvements are evidence of what a good mom he has!

On the way to spring break...

First of all, I must report that Spencer is doing well. His feedings have been increased and supplemented with fortifier and he is progressing, growing and showing us that he means business. The last weight I heard was 3 lbs, 3 ozs. What a miracle...that precious baby has made it clear that he intends to stay around for a long time. 

Spring is beginning to show its face everywhere. Here is an iris from my front garden--my favorite flower.  They appear to be so fragile and delicate yet they are deceptively tough. In fact, that is why I named my little rescue girl Iris, and she is living up to the expectation!
Thankfully, this weekend will bring the change to daylight savings time. I'm looking forward to more daylight at the end of my workday. And next week will be spring break here at the university. I'll be working but only part-time and from home. If the weather cooperates, there should be plenty of outdoor time for gardening, the pups and Logan! My hope is to have at least a small to moderate vegetable/herb garden by the end of next week. Time will tell.

An important event will occur on Sunday, March 14. My beautiful border collie, Zeke, will be joining a new family. As any of my regular followers know, I adore that dog, and we've had many wonderful times together. With the changes in our family and more time needed with the grandsons, I just don't have enough time to keep Zeke engaged the way he deserves. This decision was made with a heavy heart...he is such a buddy to me. But--it made me sad to look out to the back yard on my hectic days and watch him running patterns around the yard looking for a job. I love him too much to see him without regular structured activity. He is going to join a lovely family in Mobile, Alabama. They are kind and soft spoken with multiple generations to welcome Zeke into their family. His primary caretaker will be a young man who is physically active and on the go. Zeke will adore being by this gentleman's side. We will meet Sunday, and if all goes well, Zeke will go home with them. This special family has promised to stay in touch and let me know how Zeke is doing, and I will pass it on here for those of you interested. 

For years, Mark always loved to sit cross-legged in the middle of the bed and rub my back at night till l fell asleep. I think it made him happy to realize I had finally relaxed for the day. Since his passing, whenever I dream of him, he is sitting in that same position on the bed and talking to me. One night, I went to bed particularly sad about giving up Zeke. He said to me, "Katherine, please understand that this is how it is supposed to be. You were chosen as Zeke's caretaker to prepare him for his transition to this new family. They are now ready and able to care for him, so please try to feel happy that he is going to such a good place." I awoke with chills because it felt so real. Even better, it created a calm within me and relieved a lot of apparent guilt I was carrying around. Zeke is a magnificent border collie, and I know this family will instantly fall in love with him and continue to cherish him and celebrate his presence in their lives.

Well, lunch is over. Time to close. More soon, I'm sure. Thanks for listening.

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all.  ~Emily Dickinson

Sunday, February 28

It appears that Spencer is gaining strength. Kate just sent a message that he has grown from 13 inches to 15 1/4 in length and his head has grown from 9 1/4 to 10 inches in circumference. Last weight I heard was 2 lbs, 13ozs. It appears that he is busy growing...after all, he has places to go and people to see, yes? Thanks to everyone for all of the good wishes, prayers, phone calls, e-mails and notes. Those things make such a difference.

Between work, helping with Logan and the usual life stuff, I've not had time to write much lately. I have been working out in the yard to prepare for the spring growth and noticed that bluebonnets have re-seeded from last year. Mark always set such store in having bluebonnets, and that must have affected me. I was so happy to see the re-seeded plants--made this feel more like home, and that's a good thing.

Also been spending time with the pups. Caleb is now almost 90 pounds at 7 months of age. This should be interesting, don't you think? I'm so grateful for their companionship. It seems that they help me stay grounded and somewhat sane.
 

To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace.  ~Milan Kundera

Monday, February 22

Our Spencer is hanging on and fighting...just what we hoped he would do. If I understand correctly, he has two infections in his throat, one is staph, and I can't pronounce the other! The docs are hoping that the subsequent x-rays will show that the pneumonia is subsiding, too. Evidently, there is a lag time between healing and proof on film. Time will tell, I suppose. Spencer is also being treated for a fungal infection. So, you see, his little body is working overtime. Other than telling you that we are optimistic and praying for him, there isn't much else to tell today. So many of ya'll are so thoughtful about checking in that I thought it only right to give you a bit of an update.

Tomorrow, I'll have the pleasure of Logan's company. I'll pick him up from school and he'll stay overnight with me. The pups will be ecstatic to see him. And, if the schedule holds, he will also be with me Friday night and most of the day Saturday. What a lucky Lulu am I. :)

The weather was wonderfully mild this past weekend. I spent most of it outdoors--mowing the yard, pulling weeds, cleaning the deck, working on the vegetable garden area, and the list goes on. I was tired in the back this morning but it was oh, so worth it! And I have bluebonnets that have reseeded from last year. That was a great surprise.  Now that the bluebonnets are settled, I can safely call this home. Seriously though--Mark loved having bluebonnets, and it makes me smile to have them. Keeps his memory a bit closer.

Wonder if we will indeed have ice and/or snow tomorrow?

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.  For me they are the role model for being alive.  ~Gilda Radner

Fat Tuesday!

There isn't a lot to tell about Spencer right now except that he is doing well. He is on an antibiotic to fight what they believe is a mild infection, and he is responding as expected. I believe that little boy is as strong as they come! Here are a couple of photos.

Yesterday was Mark's 60th birthday. Those days are bittersweet for me. While I certainly celebrate his birth and existence, I miss his presence. Of course, I'm grateful for the 37 years we shared, yet I crave his company. At times like this I need to be certain that I stay physically and mentally busy. Not only do I accomplish things, staying occupied helps to ease through the tougher days. In the words he wrote to have read at his memorial service, Mark said, "Mary Kay, I love you now and forever." That expresses how I feel about him as well.

Logan spent Saturday night at my house, and we had a lot of fun. He is always a big help in caring for the dogs and making certain they are fed and loved. While we were running errands, we stopped at Zinger's Hardware. I bought a Radio Flyer scooter that Logan rode at the store and, after we got it home, all over the house and front driveway. The scooter will remain at my place so all of the boys can enjoy it. Doesn't that sound funny? All of the boys? I have 3 grandsons, wow! Well, of course, Jonah is still in incubation, but he will be here in June. Life is wonderful, isn't it?

There are only two ways to live your life. One as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.   

 ~Albert Einstein