Goodbye Brutus-Part 1

Ram bought a new car in February-(another post on that later)-and we were too busy to try to advertise to sell Ram's old Blazer. We had it parked out front of the house and a lady in town talked to us about buying it for her grandson. The problem was that the car didn't start a few weeks ago. So we spent $850 to get the car repaired and then sold it for $1800. At least we didn't give the car away! We feel good that we sold it to her in good condition. Her grandson is 17 and he will have to work at a summer job to pay his grandma back. I can't imagine having a car at age 17, nor the responsibility of paying car insurance, gas, etc.
So on Thursday, we had to hurry to clean the car out of junk that accumulated in there since Ram got the car from his parents in 1998. We should have done it after we got the new car, but we've been so busy that our first chance was then. Ram cleaned it all out and vacuumed it and the buyer came over and took it for a test drive and paid us for it. On Friday we went to the license branch to do that paperwork and dropped the car insurance. We are glad to check those duties off of our to do list. We are glad to not have to pour any more money into the Blazer for repairs too.

Happy Baptism Birthday, Lamb 1!

Lamb 1 with his godparents and parents

Go, My children, with My blessing, Never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you: You are My own.
In My love's baptismal river I have made you Mine forever.
Go, My children, with My blessing-You are My own.
(LSB 922:1)

Concordia St. Paul choir

Tonight I took Lamb 3 and went to a concert at a church in our circuit about 45 minutes away. Lamb 3 wanted to walk around and explore so I wasn't able to hear the whole concert. But what I was able to hear was lovely. I especially appreciated the Latin texts. They are just beginning their tour and are headed to Sioux Falls, Omaha, Kansas City, Madison, etc. next week.

It wasn't until I was sitting at the concert that I realized how much I miss good concerts and choirs like tonight. Coming from a hometown of Fort Wayne, IN and then 4 years at Concordia, Mequon I took concerts for granted. I think tonight was the only concert in our circuit by a Concordia since we moved here 6 years ago.

After the concert when they were getting ready to go to their host's homes, it reminded me of being in wind ensemble and our tours. Good memories!

The director mentioned that the choir members pay a fee to go on tour. This surprised me. We didn't pay anything to go on tour with the CUW wind ensemble. We just brought spending money. We were just expected to represent the school well, try to recruit future students for CUW, and play our instruments well. I don't know how CUW does it now, but I'm thankful that I had the chance to go for "free" when I was there. I don't know if I would have been able to afford to be in wind ensemble in addition to all the other college costs if I would have had to pay to go on tour.

Lamb 3 Birthday Photos

I'm very proud to be posting these photos on the day of his birthday. I still haven't posted photos from Lamb 1's birthday almost a month ago.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa (Ram's parents) for the presents!
The play food the Lambs received for their play kitchen.

Lamb 3 drinking pretend OJ

All 3 Lambs ate eggs for their first birthday meal. Lamb 1 and 2 gobbled them right up. Lamb 3 wouldn't touch them. Lamb 1 decided to put them in Lamb 3's mouth. He closed his mouth tight and wouldn't try it. He ended up eating baby cereal and spinach instead of eggs. So I knew he was hungry, but not ready to eat eggs!

The Lambs all doing the Eric Carle puzzle with sounds-cool present after Mama figured out it needed batteries and didn't come with batteries. Ram told her it said that on the box. Who reads the outside of the box?

Lamb 3 didn't know what to think of the lit candle

Lamb 3 crumbled up his cupcake and took a few bites but didn't seem to care for it.

Lamb 3's birthday

Well, our whole family all went down to the local cafe this morning to watch Lamb 3 on TV along with many of our church members that were there for breakfast. Lamb 3 was the only birthday today on TV. I don't think it is posted on the Internet yet, but it should be here later today. Lamb 3 wasn't interested in breakfast. He just wanted to run around and show off what a good walker he is.

If you are looking at this today (4/2/09), take a look at Lamb 3's Lilypie ticker on my sidebar. I forgot to look at it on our anniversary, but I remembered to look at it for Lamb 1's birthday.

We opened presents this morning before we went to the cafe. The Lambs received lots of play food for their play kitchen. Lamb 1 has been cooking for me since we came home from the cafe. Lamb 3 enjoyed playing with the boxes more than the presents.

Ram has to go to Ladies Aid this afternoon and I'm not sure how else we will celebrate after he gets home. We did bake cupcakes on Tuesday so I'm sure we'll eat those!

Happy Birthday Lamb 3!

We love you!

(Hopefully I can post photos of his first birthday soon!)

Lamb 3's birth story

I am posting Lamb 3's birth story in honor of his birthday tomorrow. I went for an ultrasound on April 1, 2008 in the morning. The decision was made to induce that afternoon because Lamb 3 was small and I had only put on 10 lbs the entire pregnancy. The due date was April 9. I came home and prepared Lamb 1 and 2 for me to go to the hospital. Lamb 1 is very much into routine and needed to know what was going on. Ram and I went back to the hospital (about 45 minutes away) and the induction started at 4:30pm. At about 2:30am they checked me and I was 5 cm so they called the midwife and decided to fill the tub for a waterbirth. My water broke then and I did not push, but Lamb 3 just popped out! The midwife did not make it. They had not started to fill the tub with water. The nurses didn't have their gloves on yet. The nurse in charge of the newborn baby had gone to the bathroom. One nurse hurried to put a glove on and caught him. He was born at 3:07am. The nurses all came to meet me over the next couple of days as it is practically unheard of to go from 5cm to baby out in less than a 1/2 hour! It was a miracle that he was born 1 1/2 hours before the deadline (for inducing) to start pictocin or something stronger. It snowed on April 2 so I think the weather change helped us too. Lamb 3 was born healthy and 6 lbs 10oz and 21 inches. He is the only Lamb that I had out of the water (not a waterbirth).

Just like Lamb 1, Lamb 3 had a knot in his cord

Lamb 3 with Mama at the hospital the day he was born

Ram with Lamb 3 at the hospital on the day he was born

Lamb 3 was tiny but healthy!

Lamb 2 didn't like Mama being gone to the hospital and took a long time to adjust to Lamb 3, but he loved being a big brother

Lamb 3 was so tiny when we put him in the car seat to go home from the hospital

Lamb 1 loved helping with Lamb 3, especially at bath time

Lamb 3 at 2 months

He sucked his thumb for awhile, but doesn't suck his thumb now

We praise God that we were blessed with a healthy boy. We have enjoyed this past year with him.