Welcome, Fiona Kathleen!

It has truly been Crazy Town for Roger and I lately!

Our 25th grandchild and 13th granddaughter, Fiona Kathleen, 

was born at 8:20 PM, November 20, weighing 8 lbs. 2 oz.

Here is a big Birthday Shout Out

to our only child, spouse or grandchild born in November!

Mindy looks so serene in the pic, 

 but the mood of the day leading up to the birth

was far from serene!

Long story short(er), Mindy was scheduled to be induced on Thursday, November 20, 

a week early from her second set due date, cancelled it, with the concern that the baby 

might not be quite ready to be born, 

then actually went into labor on that date. 

Roger and I had planned to go up north the following Tuesday to Rick and Jodie's, 

where they agreed to host Thanksgiving this year. 

It was our turn to have all of our kids, spouses and grandkids 

come to St. George for Thanksgiving.  

That wasn't going to work this year, with Mindy's due date being on Thanksgiving. 

We have tried, when each of our grandkids are born, to help them for a week or so after the birth. 

Mindy and Jeff have three other little ones, the oldest in first grade.  

Roger (I, as usual, wasn't near my cell phone) got a call from Mindy while at a luncheon, came rushing home, burst through the door, announcing, "Mindy's in labor!"

Mindy, with her past three, has invited me to be with her when she delivers, 

which has been such a special experience.  

Luckily, we had wrapped all of the Christmas presents for the kids

("Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus" hand out our gifts when we are all together for Thanksgiving), 

and we had gathered up most of the long list of things we needed to bring with us 

for our Thanksgiving get-together.

We hurriedly threw our clothes together. 

We needed clothes for two weeks, because we stayed with Mindy's kids after she delivered, 

went to Rick and Jodie's a couple days before Thanksgiving to help prepare, 

then went back to Mindy and Jeff's Sunday night for a couple more days to help. 

Back to the drama, Jeff sent us texted progress reports along the way.

At Beaver, she was checked into the hospital.

At Nephi, she was dilated to a 6+.

Roger and I said to each other, 

"There is no way we are going to make the birth!"

She was administered an epidural.

When we rushed into her hospital room, she was dilated to 8,

and 45 minutes later, with one and a half pushes, 

and Jeff assisting, Fiona was born. 

Mindy invited her Dad to stay to witness the birth, too,

and it was like a spiritual experience, with tears all around. 

Mindy stayed in the hospital a couple of days, and Roger and I took care of Jack, Addie and Charlie. 

We drove the kids over to the hospital to visit, but Charlie threw up on the way over, so I stayed in the car 

with Charlie, and Roger took the kids into the room to visit their mommy and new baby sister! 

.

When Mindy came home, because Charlie threw up for the next 24 hours, 

she quarantined herself and the baby in her bedroom. 

O boy, that was tricky keeping the kids at arms distance away from their new little sister!

Unfortunately, all of the rest of us were banned from holding the baby, too - 

the funnest part of helping when a new baby is born! 

But we had fun with the kids.

Addie and I made mini-cupcakes for a tea party.

We made cinnamon streusel cupcakes.

Addie loves cinnamon.

Addie was most excited about putting on the sprinkles.

Mindy had a baby photographer come over for Fiona's first photo shoot.

Mindy says this is her last baby, and she is doing it up big!

 Finally, when we came back to help after Thanksgiving, 

we got to hold Fiona!

They named this sweet little baby to honor Ireland, where Jeff served his mission, 

and also after a special woman who helped Jeff and many other missionaries in Ireland (Kathleen).

Two beautiful sisters!

Grandpa gave lots of ding dongs and foot rides during our stay!

One last hug before we left for home.

We were home just one day before we left for Mesa for Peter's Eagle Court of Honor 

and Ben's performance in "A Christmas Carol."
Crazy Town!

Next post, I'll share highlights of our Thanksgiving - all together.