from kevin's baby book---Mother's Notes
(Written when you were 5 months of age)
Yours was a most eventful beginning in Life, little Kevin, starting even before your birth. At your mother's very first visit to the doctor she was told there was just a 50-50 chance of keeping the baby; and even those odds would be lower if she didn't go to bed at least four times a day and be very very careful. That was just a little difficult, since she was just beginning her year of heading the P.T.A. (as president) at San Jose School, where your twin brothers were in the second grade. Of course, Daddy and I wanted you very much, so we made up our minds to do everything possible to give our baby a chance to be born. Everything went along quite well until the end of the 3rd month. I'll probably always remember the date, (Nov. 19) for I was conducting the regular monthly P.T.A. meeting, and just as I adjourned the meeting and invited those present to stay for pie and coffee, I knew something bad started to happen. I dashed for a back door to get to our car, and before I could get home I knew my worst fears had happened- I was hemorraging badly and had every indication I was having a miscarriage and was going to lose the baby. As soon as I arrived home I went to bed and Daddy got in touch with the doctor. She told me to stay in bed for a few days unless I had any pain, then I was to go to the hospital. As it turned out I was in bed 3 months. During that time there were many discouraging moments, for twice I went to the hospital with pains and we were sure all our hopes were lost. In all, I had 5 blood transfusions, many many shots, and for a long time was taking 13 pills a day. Our doctor was pretty sure our chances of making the grade were very slim,- and she had several consultations with other doctors on the hospital staff as to what would be the wisest course. Finally at the end of the 5th month a specialist came out here, so one doctor asked me to go to the hospital for an examination and consultation with him. Dr. Carter asked me if I would consent to follow his advice. The specialist asked me many questions and finally said, "I think this young woman is determined enough to do this thing. Her baby will be born premature, but we'll hope it won't be too soon." One more month passed, and then just one day after we'd passed the 6th month I started having pains again, so Daddy took me to the hospital. When we arrived there the doctor said this time it was going to happen. Even though there was just a bare chance of your being born alive she gave orders to have the incubator made ready. I remember so well what one of the nurses, a lab technician, said to me just before I went into the delivery room. She was there to get a blood transfusion ready in case I needed it. She said, "I'm going to say a prayer for you, LaVerne. It's out of our hands now, and in the Hands of The Man Upstairs." Soon, you were born and I heard you cry, and I began to hope. However, I kept my eyes closed for I was still afraid to look at you, and then find out later you hadn't lived. After they took you out of the delivery room I asked the doctor what the baby was and she replied, "It's a boy, LaVerne, but don't get your hopes up, he's terribly tiny, probably not over a pound." However, you, too, were very determined and when, on the third day, you were still alive the doctor decided to weigh you. We were really happy to learn you were heavier than we thought- a big 1lb. 15 3/4oz. I felt funny going home from the hospital without you, but knew you were getting excellent care and besides for the next 80 days while you remained there Daddy visited you every morning and every night to take the milk that I was "manufacturing". Finally, on Mother's Day (May 9) you weighed 5lbs. 4oz. and we asked the Doctor if we couldn't bring you home. What an excited little family we were driving to the hospital to get our wee son and brother! We were so thrilled to get to hold you for the first time. Needless to say, we were afraid to take our eyes off you for several days.
You are now beginning to outgrow the colic and just the other day started smiling at us whenever we talk to you. Starting to coo and take a great interest in people and surroundings. The red clock in the kitchen and the big thermometer in the bedroom seem to be most interesting. Davie and Dickie think you are positively wonderful - even though you didn't turn out to be the girl they were hoping for. Yesterday, you were 5 months old, so Daddy weighed you and you've advanced to 10lbs. 2oz. You are now taking goat's milk formula and we're trying to get whole-grain cereal, banana, orange juice, and meat down you, but you don't like it very well.
I didn't steal this picture! 
these are just a few of the zucchini we picked on saturday.
as soon as kyra and brad arrived sunday night, 
I admit it--I'm a thief. I stole this picture from Kyra's blog on tumblr. 
he's dressed in his bath towel--so happy to be clean!
first time rolling from back to front!
dad holding baby lori, clem, my brother-in-law 
This picture was taken on Cody's birthday last year, Nov 1
little bit late for flashback friday
danny was ready to go to work the first time in a tie! he looked so handsome i had to take a picture. of course, austin horned in on it. oh well. (2004)
Its not too late for flashback friday. look how cute we are! kevin is holding baby mitchell, cody, kathleen. standing: danny, kyra, mandi and mike. notice how everyone is smiling but cody. well, our photographer (our neighbor, joseph) noticed that cody was making goofy faces so kevin told him to straighten up or he would get it (something to that effect. it was too long ago. i don't remember his exact words). 
one of the games we played involved measuring out a length of yarn (blue, of course!) to the measurement of Kyra's baby belly. here's one of the ladies measuring her yarn to see who's closest to kyra's girth
opening presents
we went shopping at forever 21 to see if we could find any maternity clothes but it didn't work out. kyra didn't find anything, except this sweater which wasn't maternity. too tight!
last sunday we took a drive up highway 1.
i thought that point of land was ragged point but kevin said no
it was a really beautiful day--not as warm as the week before.
i gave kevin the camera---
if you didn't know by now, i love to take scenery pictures
there was no way i was walking down there!
at ragged point, there is a nice inn and restaurant with a graveled walking path
i think "gorda" is the funniest name for a town....
we drove north of gorda to lucia where we took the nacimiento-ferguson road.
the clouds
the sun in the clouds
Richard is my nephew, son of my oldest brother, Mike. He called me about a week ago to invite us to dinner at McLintock's to celebrate his birthday with other family members. Kevin, Kyra and Brad couldn't make it and I would have to go late, after work. When I got there, everyone was eating. Lana asked their server to bring a chair. The server brought one from the kitchen and then gave me a menu. Before I looked at the menu, she said, "I want to tell you about our special first." She related the special--some kind of steak. I said "I'll take it!" And I'm not kidding you but I had my dinner in about 2 minutes!! She said "I stole it from someone else, don't tell anyone." It was delicious! Lana had the server bring out the cake she bought and they all sang happy birthday, McLintock style, and took Richard's picture.
yesterday was Austin's birthday. he's 9 years old! so here's a funny story. I bought his card a couple of weeks ago and had it in the cupboard. on tuesday, i was planning on mailing it and i even thought "i need to mail austin's card". got to work that day and remembered i hadn't mailed it! put it in the mailbox on wednesday. when i checked the mail that night after work, it was still there, along with our mail for the day! i left it there to be picked up yesterday and when i went to work yesterday, i decided to drop it off at the post office. sorry to be late, Austin! at work yesterday, i decided i needed to call austin to wish him happy birthday. when i called, i told his mother that i wanted to talk to austin. "hello, austin! just called to wish you happy birthday! do you know who this is?" he kept talking over my question--"we're going to chili's for dinner" "oh, grandma! its you!" he thought i was one of his friends.
i thought i remembered seeing these heart earrings in an earring box.
yesterday morning i snapped this shot. you may ask why i was up so early---well, let me tell you, i was doing laundry. in case you haven't noticed, i love sunrises and sunsets.
Remember this? Well, I caught the children leaving their clothes just now! Here's what happened--I was going downstairs a few minutes ago and happened to glance out the east window. That's when I saw a person running across the eastern fence of our property. So I went downstairs and outside to look in that direction and there were three children leaving their clothes and shoes at the corner. So, I yelled at them "hey. take your clothes and go leave them somewhere else. this is private property". They picked up their belongings and left.
