Buds and Blossoms

It's been a while since I sat to chronicle the happenings in our life. And there are a few things to mention...

First of all, Donovan has been well, and we are always happy to mention that. He's been working hard since his checkup two weeks ago...exercising, taking his meds and eating!!! The only trial he has experienced has been his weight loss. His blood sugars tend to trend downward rather drastically after his morning exercise session and we think that his metabolism is revving too high, burning far too many calories and resulting in weight loss. He can't seem to keep up with his body's need for fuel to be stored for later...just the opposite of my problem!!! He has lost a few pounds since the IV treatment of his fungus and the effect it had on his appetite..so we'd like to see this turn around. We are awaiting an appointment with a diabetic specialist and will hopefully sort this out.

And...we are very happy to announce we are now grandparents to Elijah Kurtis Drader, son of our daughter Katie and her husband Kurtis, born February 18,2009 at 6:10 pm, weighing in at 7lbs 9oz. He is off the charts on the cuteness scale but we are a little biased. He has a full head of dark brown hair, and large eyes, wide open from birth as if to say, "what's all the fuss about?" There was a little floor-pacing on the part of a certain Grandma during the whole birthing process...which was over 24 hrs. from start to finish, but he arrived none the worse for wear, which is more than can be said for that certain grandparent. What an exhausting process!

Katie & Kurtis took their little boy home less than a day after birth, and he's been ruling the roost since. They're both a little on the tired side, but did manage to go to church just 3 days later, so I think they're doing all right. Elijah's arrival gives us one very good reason to make the trek to Edmonton a little more frequently!!! What a tremendous blessing, for which we are so thankful. Uncle Donovan was on hand, camera flashing constantly to take in the first hours of the little guy's life. We managed to get in a few days of cuddling before having to return home for less exciting things like work and school. Thank goodness once again for the technology of Skype, which will hopefully keep us closely connected between in-the-flesh visits! We have another appointment with the transplant docs on March 10, so we hope to make a few days visit and take in some baby cuddling again.

This has certainly been a season of extreme emotions for us. Marveling at baby Elijah's perfect fingers and tiny toes, his round, pink cheeks, the velvet of his newborn skin with its intoxicating scent brings home the knowledge that he is God's masterpeice, as are we all.

The tears flow freely with gratitude that Donovan is alive to meet his little nephew and see the circle of life complete in this next generation. Our double-lung miracle will be revisited each time a milestone occurs in our lives, the welcoming of a new family member, the blowing out of next birthday's candles, greeting each season in its turn...for these things we utter a prayer of thanksgiving and realize the sanctity and preciousness of life, the privilege of an unbroken family tree, gratitude for a new little bud.

Winter is blowing hard once again just outside the front door tonite. Perhaps this is its last frosty breath, one final foray into the -30 range. We welcome early mornings now with a dim glow of daylight instead of the pitch black that makes cold so much colder. Supper is eaten before the sun winks below the horizon in a scarlet blaze...the lengthening daytime gives us all a little more energy, time to plan for a summer we will try to make the most of...bikerides by the river, fishing (for sure!),watching buds blossom in our flowerbeds,and lots of walks through the park with our faithful Scout!

We are dreaming of summer to come on this cold, cold day, but grateful never-the-less for these hours, these days and weeks together, for the miracle of new life, for the miracle of each breath!

Wishing summer in your heart this winter night,

Beth