OH HAPPY DAY

Laurel and Tucker

The new family George, Laurel and Tucker

Tucker James Laurel & George
Tucker and George


George holding Tucker shortly after birth

We got the call at 10:30 am Monday January 5th, 2008. George and Laurel on their way to the hospital. Their time had come. Laurel had been to the doctor, it was time to induce labor. Her body was ready. We waited for news. A call from George in mid afternoon with an update and sincere empathy for Laurel who was uncomfortably in labor. In the evening, while on the Internet Michelle and I connected. It was perfect. We were both anxiously awaiting the latest tid bit of news as to how things were going. George's brothers, Jason and Ben, were on their way to the hospital to offer moral support and companionship to their youngest brother. Then a burst of activity around 8pm, cervix dilating nicely, things looked favorable, anticipation that they were going to have a baby within the hour. One hour passed, Michelle and I ticking messages and conversations back and forth. Tending to household duties while listening for phone calls, text messages and keeping up with the Internet magic. All the while Laurel very hard at work laboring...and laboring....and laboring. Then the text message...."she's pushing now"! Oh the excitement and anticipation were so energizing. One more hour...no word. Laurel working very hard still. One more hour...now a tad bit of concern dampens the excitement, and the silence was hard as Laurel labored and labored and labored. Michelle and I felt such empathy for her. We knew and remembered our own laboring experiences. It is now January 6th, 2008. Everyone is exhausted. Jason, Ben, Michelle and I....and we weren't doing the hard work at hand. Then George went to talk with his brothers. Baby stalled in birth canal. Options had been discussed and the decision was made to go ahead with a C-Section. It would be at least 1 1/2 more hours before the baby would be born. George called me and Jason and Ben called their respective wives. Oh my what a night. Off to bed we all went while George donned surgical scrubs to accompany Laurel into the surgical suite for the C Section.

Shortly after 3:30am January 6, 2008 - the call came...baby boy, healthy 7#14oz, 21 inches ... "a beautiful baby boy" Tucker James has joined our family. What a blessing! What a miracle! George is exhausted, yet thrilled and proud...very proud of Laurel for how well she did for the entire day, evening and night....and a very proud daddy!

CONGRATULATIONS GEORGE AND LAUREL!!

TUCKER JAMES

no greater joy nor blessing!

grace and peace...a very proud and happy grammie!

Happy Anniversary Celebration - Zoo Lights!!

The Denver Zoo - 23rd St. A great place to spend an evening and celebrate our anniversary...early

Cool light show for the holidays

low flying geese...TAKE COVER!! wandering peacock entertained as we waited for the gates to open

Welcome to "ZOO LIGHTS!"

Happy Anniversay to me and Jack...a bit early Inside it was warm, and somewhat stinky

Giraffe place

after sunset the lights were brilliant and fun HO HO! Flamingos! Just what Peter could use on his front lawn!! Lots of lighted displays of animals, many were animated

everywhere you looked

the sea side exhibit was amazing, all the trees were decorated with thousands of blue lights making it look like an underwater scene

For our anniversary this year Jack and I decided to celebrate by attending the gala presentation of "ZOO LIGHTS", the annual Holiday event presented by the Denver Zoo... of all places!

We arrived an hour before the gates opened and met some nice people while standing in line. A peacock came strolling along to delight us all. When we entered the Zoo gates it was still daylight, though sunset was in the making. A very large flock of geese flew at rather low altitude above us, honking so loud we couldn't hear ourselves think..remember the blog from the Denver City Park with all the geese, the Zoo is right next to the City Park! Apparently at sunset they fly off somewhere to return and stay in the middle of the lake. Many of us ran for cover...with that many geese, we just didn't dare take a chance.

As night fall came the lights grew brighter and it was so much fun. Several of the regular Zoo exhibits were open, initially it was light enough for the animals to still be awake. As darkness came they moved into their habitat homes and we were allowed to go inside to see a few of them there. Zoo Keepers reminded all visitors,"inside voices and no flash photography". The inside places provided some warmth as with night fall the temps dropped to quite chilly. Though warm, they were a bit on the animal odor overpower side, especially the elephant/rhino/hippo place. One of the elephants began banging loudly with her trunk on the door to the outside area. The zoo keeper told us "she wants to go out and play since she is still awake." Outside the Zoo Lights dazzled and sparkled and delighted. It was fun watching all the small children enjoy the animated light shows, which we enjoyed as well. The carousel was turning giving old fashioned rides to kids of all ages and the Zoo train ran it route on the Zoo Train Track. Toward the end of our stay the long walk and cool temps made us hurry back to our car and home for hot chocolate and a warm blanket. It was a very fun evening.

Happy Anniversary to us....

Grace and Peace to You!