Kaitlin's First Car Ride Home!

Well, (Friday) was the day for coming home. Pat and Kerri took class with the lactation specialist, and today they celebrated because Kaitlin "got Milk!" (I understand that they way they could tell this was so was because when they looked at her she had the "milk mustache";)

About 3 this afternoon they got the okay to go home. Below are some photos of the preparations for the first ride in the car seat. It took Pat and I a while to figure out how to adjust the harness to fit Kate securely without squashing her. but we figured it out.

After getting home the learning curve began in earnest. Kerri and Pat did well and we can tell they'll be good parents as they learn how to do what they need to do for their new daughter. Keep them in your prayers as they begin this journey together with Kaitlin.(Remember you can click on any photo and have it enlarged for better viewing.)

Dee and I hung out at the local Prime Outlet mall for part of the day and then drove to Leesburg to see the historic section while we were waiting for Kerri and Pat to take their classes and get discharged from the hospital. They were in the Reston Hospital in Reston, VA.

Kaitlin after 24 hours

So here are some more photos of Kaitlin. She's due home from the hospital tomorrow. She's been doing very well and has passed the various tests they've given her to be sure she is healthy and all parts are working as they should. Kerri is doing well and adapting to the aspects of motherhood (changing diapers, learning the breastfeed, letting others hold Kaitlin, wrapping and unwrapping her between diapers).

We thank all of you for your prayers and support during these days of preparation.

Kaitlin Has Arrived !!

Here are a couple of pictures from the eventful day! Happy birthday Kaitlin Kennedy Julian, 8 pounds and 2 ounces, 21 1/4 inches!

Mother and baby and dad are doing well! As are the happy grandparents Paul and Dee Aiello!

Ring Ring Ring!

Patrick called at 8:50 a.m. this morning to let us know that Kerri is at 5 centimeters and that they are at the hospital. We'll be heading down there this morning. I'll keep you readers up to date and include some photos when I can.

Mild Weather Is Here but Rain on the Way... so they say

Sunday's trip to be with my mother went well. We took her out to the Ponderosa Restaurant in Belle Vernon. They had an Easter buffet that was quite good and reasonably priced. Mom seemed to like it with all the options to choose from. She tanked up on lots of food. It was good to see her eating so well.

Back at the house, we checked on things to make sure she is taking her meds and that all the bills were paid. We were with her about 4 hours in all. It was a nice visit.

Yesterday I went to the Bogmeister Men's Chorus to practice. It was good to see all the guys trying to sing without the sheet music, but we still have a long way to go. The practice was a good workout. The group is singing this Saturday at for a group at the Big Knob Grange in Rochester. (Actually close to Cranberry Twp.)

Today's Chamber Networking luncheon featured the interior design decorator we had over to help us. She did a nice job. I was able to connect with the Chairperson of the Chamber as he was at our meeting. We chatted and he wanted our Bogmeister Card. As we spoke I told him I was a retired Baptist Minister, and he indicated his father-in-law was a retired Lutheran Minister. Turns out that this guy is a Methodist at an area church. We had a nice chat and it was a good connection.

Dee talked with Kerri today - still no movement toward a birthing. Kerri sees the Dr. this afternoon to get an update on how things are going.

The weather here is very mild today and in the 50s. It's supposed to go to the 60s for the next several days. maybe I'll get some golf in. And Dee has indicated she'd like to take lessons, so we may get to that before too long as well.

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Easter! This year I decided to NOT go to the sunrise service. Last year I went and froze, so I chose not to go this year. (Last year I was newly retired and still had wanting to "attend everything" in my blood. This year I feel differently.) However, the sun is shining and it looks to be a beautiful, though chilly, day.

As I look out my window at the raccoon trap I see that Davey Crockett will get another hat. We moved the trap yesterday after catching two more birds, and that did the trick. I'll call "Davey" later this morning and let him know the news.

Yesterday Dee had a gal from Penney's Store come by the house to give her some ideas for window treatments for the front windows. After that we drove down to the Historic Strip District to have lunch and then go to the Heinz History Museum

We had some coupons for lunch but found that one place had rap music that just wasn't suitable for lunch time. And another one had only take out. We did find a place that we had not been to before called "Care On the Strip" that was very nice. They played Italian music and had free glasses of wine. Dee like the eggplant dish and I enjoyed the grilled chicken salad. After ward we walked back to the History Museum.

The Museum was very nice. It has five floors. We saw the old streetcars, the history of slavery in Pennsylvania, the clothes and costumes of the people of earlier days, the Lewis and Clark expedition story, and a whole floor devoted to sports in Western Pennsylvania from high school through professional. Just about every sport you could imagine was represented with memorabilia. We wee there about 2 hours and enjoyed it very much.On the way home we stopped at Brusters and used another coupon for an iced coffee latte.

Our neighbor stopped by with an Easter egg filled with chocolate for us. That was nice. That's also when we discussed moving the raccoon trap to a new location. He released the two captured birds and reset the trap for what was a successful night of waiting.

Dee and I watched the movie "Madagascar" and then went to bed. Today after church we're going down to Monongahela to be with my mother for the afternoon and to have dinner out with her.

A Trip to Zelienople

If you havent seen the photos of Kerri's pregnancy, click here and check them out. No baby yet, though. http://kerri.julian.googlepages.com/shower

Yesterday we went to Zelienople to check out a store run by someone from the "chamber networking" group I'm in on Tuesdays. We found a nice kitchen table there but we're not sure about the size. It may be a bit too large. What we have now is 36x36 and is expandable. It was 36x54 and expandable to 54x54. That may be just a bit too big even in the closed position. We like it's sturdiness and color and have been thinking of a change in that area.

We also had lunch at the Log Cabin Inn. We've been there before and enjoyed it the last time we were there for lunch. We thought of going to two other places in our coupon book, but it turns out one had burned down and the other was closed. Tra-la.

In the afternoon, I went golfing (60 degrees) at Treesdale. It was good to hit a few good shots although I lost several balls to the lakes and the woods. I played by myself, but it was a nice day out and I had a good time.

In the evening Dee and I went to church for the pot luck dinner (she took a 4 bean salad that got good reviews). We ate with the Campbells and the Pastor and his wife at our table. During the service I sang with a quartet an a cappella version of "Were You There". It seemed to go well. The whole service was nice and we did communion by intinction. The Pastor did a first person sermon as the Biblical person Thomas. He did a nice job.

While we were there the Sunday school Superintendent asked me to consider teaching the "New Testament 101" class. The people currently teaching it wanted a break since they've taught it the last couple of years. The class would start in September and go through May. It's something to think about. I enjoy teaching and they already have the course handouts from the curriculum used in the past. I could just build on it and tweak it to fit my style. The guy who asked me said that if I had preaching engagements, he's get someone to fill in for me teaching the class on the Sunday's I'd be away. Likely then, that would mean I'd not do any kind of local interim work, but supply preaching as I have been doing this past year. The class is designed for grade 12 students and any adults interested in taking it. It would force me to be more intentional once again about doing weekly preparations. That would be good.

Back at home we watched a little television. Dee had recorded the movie "The Mummy". We watched it for a while, and then finished it in fast forward to see the end. Weird stuff.

Today was also the day they buried the 3 police officers who were shot on April 4 in Pittsburgh. A sad day for the police department, those families and the City.