Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Liu Baby




Hello everyone,

So baby Hannah has officially arrived. She came early Tuesday morning. Ailsa was up at 1am trying to figure out if the pain she was feeling was a contraction or something else (ask her about it – she’s hilarious). When she finally figured an hour of pain must be something related to her pregnancy, she woke me at 2am and I promptly started to time them. How did I know how to do that you ask? Well, the last month, I’ve been cramming, reading about labor and delivery b/c I can’t remember much about Caitlyn’s birth. After about 40 minutes, it was very clear that the contractions were coming closer and closer and pretty regularly. So we called the doctor and headed to the hospital.

I had directions to the hospital – although I’d never been there. But my father-in-law got up when we told them we were going to go and said he’d drive. He must have been nervous b/c he started out driving really fast. Ailsa had to tell him to slow down – b/c there was no rush but also maybe b/c she was scared.

When we got there the doctor said Ailsa was 7 cm dialated and said, “You toughed it out at home huh?” Her response was a blank face. “I didn’t even know I was having contractions.”

The pain came pretty often and violently so they offered Ailsa an epidural – which we accepted b/c you never know how long these things will take. But as the epidural was being given, wouldn’t you know it, Ailsa’s water breaks. The doctor comes in and checks and says, “Sorry, it’s time to push.” So w/o the benefit of pain relief, Ailsa gave 4 monumental blood-vessel-popping pushes and a beautiful slippery 7 pounds, 4 ounce wonder was born.

Hannah has been very calm and sleeps a lot. Quite a contrast to Caitlyn’s “let me out and give me what I want” infancy. Ailsa is resting and hospital staff have been nice.

Caitlyn has done great. Everything happened while she was sleeping so we didn’t have to worry about fighting with her while we went to the hospital. She had previously insisted that she would come with us to the hospital. Grandparents and auntie took great care of her and when she came to visit, she was thrilled to see her baby sister.

Thank you for your prayers and support. Please keep praying for Ailsa and baby Hannah.

Paul


Saturday, July 26, 2008

Ethan sleeping like an angel

Ethan sleeping like an angel during our vist, you know what that means, he will not be sleeping at night, so we tried to bother him to wake him up, but ah he was soooo tired and sleepy from staying up much of the night.




Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Ethan Yuan Dowdell

Thank heavens for a little baby boy Ethan!! He couldn't wait to meet us, so he came earlier than expected on July 16, weighing 6 lb 4 oz. We thank God for this gift of life, a bundle of joy, and pray for His blessings on his life.



Kevin will post more pictures on internet when he has a chance.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Miracle at Claridge

It has been a little over three weeks since grandparents moved into Claridge. It is a no small miracle -- Halmoni is eating well and her health has improved beyond our expectation. She is responding to physical therapy, walking outside to patio everyday and singing hymns while enjoying the fresh air, smiling and visiting with other neighbors by the elevator area, and SURPRISE, she even went to play Bingo with Halabugi this afternoon.

I took this picture right before I left them. Their room was shown to a visitor today as a model room.

On the first day she arrived, she was ushered into the dining room on a wheel chair, and she was too weak to feed by herself.

Another afternoon, she walked to patio, to North dining room, and was now ready to go back to their room.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Claridge Health Care Center -- Grandparents' New Home

Praise the Lord! Our parents moved in Claridge Health Care Center in Lake Bluff, IL on Thursday this week. We are very confident that God has orchestrated all the events and led us to this place that He had already prepared for them. We took Halabugi out to lunch at a Korean restaurant in next town on Saturday, and we were encouraged that he was in good spirit and told us to comfort each other, especially our brother. He said that he believes himself to be a person filled with abundant joy, and he is praying this Scripture verse, "according to your faith will it be done to you. Matthew 9:29b."


Our parents' new home, Room 318, where we gathered after Saturday lunch out. The picture in the background in Chinese writing that we brought from home says something like, a person of character is never lonely and has many friends.


Big outing to the patio area, the first time in many months for Halmoni. Well, she didn't go out so willingly and quietly, but she did enjoy being out in the fresh air.


In front of a Korean restaurant, where Halabugi bought us lunch with his revised outlook of life.