Saying Goodbye...

...is a process. When your heart is lodged in a community that has become home, "goodbye" isn't easy. We're traveling that process right now and each day holds tears for this mama. It's sweet to have such wonderful memories. It's bittersweet to relive them as this chapter closes.

This is Noodle with his four closest friends from our church family. One last sleepover while we live here and one FUN game of flag football...

We did a "walk down memory lane" treasure hunt with the kids on Saturday to revisit some of our favorite "hometown" spots and talk about the times we had there... Here we are on my favorite in-town hiking trail and our favorite sledding spot, too.

Mmm. One of the kids' favorite play spots! You haven't lived unless you've hung off a metal merry-go-round. Doubt this one would pass any safety inspections in this century. :)

And an update on our 13-day-old... He gets cuter each day, our little Lanman.

More photo updates to come. Tonight is the long-awaited Kids Carnival at church. I'm bringing my camera...
and Kleenex.

Ahhh... It is SO good to be on this side of things! I have left updates up to Jake, and he's done well considering it was his first "behind- the-scenes" blog exposure! We get wireless in very spotty locations and times here at the hospital... so I am glad we'll be home soon for this reason- Happy to be hunkered down here for others!

Last night they checked Landon's bili ruben (sp? BR!) numbers and they were slightly high, so they did a blood test to get more accurate numbers. They weren't quite as high, but for that the cause for the jauntice was a blood incompatibility between my blood and his. My O+ was sending out antibodies against his A+ which is trying to be established. Layman's terms for "just another way jauntice can occur." He spent the night under the lights (It's football season- "Friday Night Lights" seemed appropriate!) and his BR #'s are already down, which they weren't expecting yet- so all looks like it will be well.

He's a passionate nurser (ouch), he's sweet as can be and doing great. We're going to hang out here for another day and see what tonight's blood test brings and Lord willing will be able to head home after that.

God is good.

We are so thankful.

Things went so well for us yesterday. With the uncomplicated delivery, the fun family and friend visitors in the afternoon, and the quite night with just the three of us, the day was memorable. Thank you all for your prayers, concern, and friendship. We're truly blessed.

Landon Jon Mason Dahl is here!

Here are the stats on our third son! He was born on October 11 at 1:30 in the afternoon.

8 pounds 10 ounces

21 1/2 inches long

Everything went very smoothly for us and we're all really excited that he's here.

Impromptu "Rainy Day" Party

With our days in our adopted "hometown" drawing to a close, I am taking each chance I can to make memories with friends. Seeing the forecast called for rain and knowing the love for horses most 5 and 6 year old girls have, we came up with a last minute excuse to invite Bella's friends over for the afternoon last week.




Ahh, Memories...

Rambling thoughts on my last few days of our Grand Finale pregnancy

Well, the week we have long been waiting for has arrived!

Lord willing, Thursday at this time I will be holding our little Grand Finale externally rather than internally. He's a ball of energy at the moment, I think he knows I'm typing about him.

It was much easier for everyone tonight to say "goodbye" to Daddy- not for a whole week, but for three days. We'll get him home for 2 1/2 weeks as of Wednesday night!

The plan is that both Jake and my Mom will arrive Wed. night. Jake and I will sneak off to a big ol' Perkins breakfast at the crack of dawn and then off to the "Hospital to the South." Bella was induced as well- they just broke my water- and she was born at 1:18pm, so I have hopes of having him by mid-afternoon. My doctor is going to check us upon arrival and if we are at 3cm, will just break my water, but if not- the nasty pitocin will have to be started. Ya know? At this point I'm just excited the time is here. :)

Landon Jon Mason Dahl. There. I typed his little name. :)

Bella is still praying it's a sister. I guess it could be. She would just be wearing boy clothes for the rest of her infanthood. The Doctor did say "It looks like a boy" not that it IS a boy... She's holding out hope.
Noah announced at supper that he couldn't wait until we had the NEXT baby... as in #5. I laughed out loud. I don't think they "got it" when I said, "No, Mommy is giving Daddy a ten foot pole when this baby comes out." At least until necessary procedures are completed.

Ahhh... My hour-long nap is backfiring as I should be in bed, but am not sleepy. We are due to have thunderstorms tonight- Praise the Lord- as the temps have been in the mid eighties and very humid this weekend. You know you're in Wisconsin when you have summer weather on the weekend and a high of 45 expected by Wednesday. Fall is on it's way! :)

I will update you all Thursday if all goes as planned. :) Of course he COULD come on his own before then...

But don't hold your breath.