When Olive smiles...it takes me miles...

Could you just die of happiness after watching this?
Olive has already shown us her happy little personality, and believe me we are all wrapped around her little fingers!
wait....I need to watch it again.....HA!  I love this little girl!

All I can say is "YAY" for grandbabies!

Olive Wren Hawkes

What a difference a week makes!!!   Last week we had quite a surprise....Jeff called to say that Claire was in the hospital ready to have an emergency C-section! Five weeks early!   Here is the story from Jeff:

"Friday we had our weekly check up at the McChord Air Force Base clinic. Part of the check up involves using a dopler to listen to the babies heart beat. While we were listening I noticed that the heart rate was much faster then it should be. The dopler said that her heart rate was 140 but I thought it sounded much faster. After checking several times we found her heart rate was closer to 260 bpm (beats per minute) even though the dopler still showed it being 140. The nurse sent us to Madigan Army Hospital saying "Im sure its nothing" and off we went..... What we found was that Olive was experiencing Atrial Flutter. Meaning her atria was beating super fast while the rest of her heart was beating normally which leads to poor perfusion of the body. It also means there is a risk of blood pooling in the lungs and around the heart. So the decision was made to preform a C-section right away.
(quick note- Olive had never had these symptoms previously and we believe we caught it the day it began. )

So off goes Claire and I am standing there peeing myself.

Once Claire was in the O.R. (about an hour after the initial appointment!) and had received her anesthesia I was able to come in and sit with her. She was amazing. Our entire birth plan and months of planning and practice had been smashed but she was brave and strong. After several minutes a little Olive Wren came out of her belly and we got a brief glimpse of her before she was rushed to the NICU.
...... Since then there have been numerous interventions preformed to try and maintain normal vital signs, everything from new vents and different drugs to body placement and central lines into her umbilical cord. Despite the occasional setback we seem to be moving forward. ........ It seems like everyday things are looking a little bit better. Quite literally baby steps. Claire has been doing good... just recovering, aside from any bruising and soreness she is fine. Seriously though we are so grateful for the prayers and fasting on our behalf. It has meant the world to us. We have felt peace and comfort from the prayers and fasting and angels you have sent our way."

Isn't she Beautiful!!

This is the first time I got to see my "Livey Lovey"!

She is doing so well.  Everyday she is doing a bit better, and I have to say the doctors and nurses they have working on Olive are really fantastic!   Claire and Jeff have not been able to hold her yet, and as you can imagine they are going crazy with that!  All of us want to get our hands on this kid...she is just so adorable....

Welcome Olive!  We are so glad you are here!

Thirty years

                                                     ....And though we are as nothing

                                                     To the stars that shine above
                                                     You are my universe
                                                     You are my love

                                                     Here we are
                                                     Like children forever
                                                     Taking care of one another
                                                    While the world goes on without us
                                                    All around us....

J.T.

Foodie

Alright....so here's what I didn't tell you about our week with the La-la's....

It was all about FOOD baby!...all about FOOD.

 Kindle is some-what of a Foodie, herself, and has been reading this blog called "Alice Q. Foodie" that is awesome.  She has a whole section about the different restaurants and hang-outs that she loves in San Fran...so, after a little arm twisting...(She had to twist my arm for a full second before I said "let's Go!")
we went to see what Alice Q was talking about!  Take a look at some of her favorites....

Kindle got Heavenly macaroons at a little place in the Ferry Building called "Miette".  Plus, they had the cutest shop...very colorful and "French delicious" looking.













Also at the Ferry Building, they had the freshest looking oysters....so of course the Dread Pirate and his trusty side-kick Ben had to give it a try.

Next on the schedule is Dynamo Donuts...I know...right? I had to break down and have a few bites...
They all looked Outrageously delicious...and the most amazing flavors...

this one is "maple apple with smoked bacon"...
Yes, I said Bacon.....YUMMO!

and this is the end of Kindle's "Lemon Pistachio"

And finally, we visited the famed "Tartine"....(pictures are worth a thousand words here...)

Everything at Tartine looked so wonderful, but I liked the sandwiches the very best.  Very savory, and the artisan bread was really good.

The girls who sat across from us were darling and had ordered the most beautiful food.
We took turns taking pictures of each other, and chatting....

The whole experience was down-right Dizzy-ing!


This week?  Getting back on track....alright?
(it was worth it....)

la-la land

Sissy La-la came for a visit last week. Oooo La-la!  What a great time we've had! First we had to kiss on cheeks and squeeze on the chub....

Then it was time to hit the beach.  La-la is quite a little fashion-ista, and looked fabulous in her cruise wear.

We went all over San Fran seeing the sights....

On Saturday, they were having a huge Scottish festival.  So after we visited the farmers market we got our Scottish on and went to celebrate.

We have had such a great time....Rob and I are still in La-la land.  Just can't get enough of that girl.

See what I mean?