HOME AT LAST!

After a verrrry long labor, one would think it would be easy from then on--but not for Craig, Cassie, and Baby Riley.  When he was just barely 16 hours old, they noticed that he was throwing-up that wasn't normal.  So, they had to take little Riley into the Special Care Nursery for about 48 hours to be on antibiotics, monitors, and a tube down his throat which he didn't like one little bit.  But, they feel he is all better now--probably some sort of infection which they feel is cleared up.  And Craig, Cassie, and Baby Riley are now home as a new little family!  We are so glad! 

INTRODUCING: Riley Chet Copeland

He's here!  After 25 1/2 hours of being in the hospital, a very exhausted mommy and daddy (and two grandmas and one grandpa) welcomed little Riley Chet Copeland into this world on January 29, 2010.

Craig as a baby.  8 lbs. 12 oz. 21 inches long.                     Riley.  8 lbs. 9 oz. 20 1/2 inches long.

Isn't the resemblance amazing?  So, you do you think little Riley will end up 6'4", too????

We turned the lights down, and both mommy and baby went to sleep.  So much work to get here for both of them!

And Daddy said, "I'm whipped and I didn't even do anything!"  The emotional part of 25 1/2 hours in the hospital was draining for everyone!

The proud new daddy!

Grandma Laura

And don't forget how proud the grandmas were!  Those tiny little couches in a busy foyer where we two grandmas "tried" to get some sleep from midnight until 5:00 a.m. the next morning didn't work very well.  The hospital was extremely busy with 10 babies delivered and four more in labor while we were there and  new mothers were brought in hourly.  But Riley's delivery made it all worth it!

 

Grandma Gloria

George had driven home (1 1/2 hours) at 8:00 p.m., but drove back over the next morning to meet little Riley in person.

The miracle of birth--how sweet it is.  Thank you, Craig and Cassie, for letting us participate in such a spiritual  experience with your new little family.  We love you all!

TIMBER!!!

So today, the weather forecast said "thundershowers."  I took my umbrella and went off to school totally  prepared.  But about 1:00, the skies started looking so black and the rain was starting to come down in blasts.  I knew this was going to be a big one.  Little did I know! 

After scurrying all my students inside the inner office because of tornado warnings, we waited there until it calmed down a little and there were no more warnings.  Then I took a young lady home (which I try never to do), but she was going to try to walk home about 20 minutes away in that terribly dangerous weather. 

I was finally on my way home.  As I started into our subdivision, I saw trees down and limbs everywhere!  It looked like the hurricane damage from a couple years back.  I called George to start describing to him what all I was seeing along our road, when all of a sudden, I was speechless and could only say, "Oh, my gosh!  Oh, my gosh!"  George said, "Tell me.  What's wrong?" 

There in our own yard was our biggest tree, totally uprooted, toppled over across our yard, across the yard and driveway of our neighbor next door, and landing with inches of their house!  What a blessing that it didn't hit their house (for both of us!)  Luckily, they are on vacation! 

Almost immediately a "Tree Surgeon" was knocking on our door and for a tidy sum--I don't even want to print it--his crew will have it all cleaned up in the morning.  Wow!  Enough excitement for one day!  Here I was worried about what was happening at my school 16 miles away, and the tornado was going right down my own street!

It's Nice to be Loved!

I forgot to show you the cutest e-mail we got while we were on the cruise!  It is so nice to be loved!