This Path

May 6-9: Friends & Happy Stuff

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Wed, 21 May 2008 00:50:37 GMT

I put 6-9 because I'm not entirely sure what days everything happened. I pretty much lost track from Monday (mom's accident) until Friday. It was all quite fuzzy and veil-like. I mentioned once in a reply how my mom always seemed to have significant dates in her life. Her accident was the Cinco de Mayo and she died on Mother's day. She was born right before Christmas. Married my dad on Friday the 13th. (I was never quite sure how that happened). Come to think of it, I was born around Memorial Day, Lyz was the day before Papa's birthday (mom's dad), and I don't think Tina's is a holiday but one of my uncles always called it Soldier Day (“March 4th!”). Anyway, the days in between fuzz together, but the big ones stick out fairly well.

I'd pretty much parked myself at the hospital from the moment I got there Monday. Family started arriving Wednesday, I think, though most of them didn't get there until Friday. I was very glad to have my dear friend Tracy at my side that first full day (Tuesday?). Tina's boyfriend Adam's parents came up right away from Gastonia, and they were really helping her a lot. Lyz couldn't really stand to be at the hospital at first, and she was mostly with her boyfriend Bano. I was so glad someone came just to be there for me. Poor Josh seemed so far away with the kids. They were coming up every day to visit, go eat lunch at a park, that kind of thing. They weren't allowed up in Neuro Trauma, and we tried to keep them away from the hospital after our first cafeteria excursion created havoc on Josh for the rest of the night.

I also had a wonderful chaplain friend from church come to visit me. Jen is the person helping me coordinate the Reiki Share I'm starting at church – today (5/20) in fact! She came just to hug me first, but she came back the next day and brought two great big bags of food – one for me and one for the girls. She also took me out for Starbucks, which had become life sustaining sustenance after trying to subsist on hospital coffee. Then while we were there, and she was just being so great and letting me vent, Jen offered me a healing attunement.

She's a Master of the Usui school, and I didn't realize there were actually different types of attunements. I was feeling way too stressed and worried about my family, and I really felt like her attunement really marked the start of things getting better. It was interesting, because that was the day after I'd tried (without luck) to go drown my sorrows. I'd bummed a cigarette at one point, and I completely started tasting it again when Jennifer did the healing. I could literally feel and taste it coming back up and out of me, and the clean feeling it left in it's place. It was actually a really cool experience. I'm pretty sensitive with energy anyway, and the week was already crazy intense. I hadn't eaten for a week and had little sleep, and I felt like I was straddling the veil anyway. Jen's attunement felt really powerful, and I did start feeling much better.

It helped that I also had some internet friends coming to visit! Two dear friends had planned to come to the wedding, and I was excited to find out that both would still make a point of coming to Asheville if I felt up for a visit. I really needed those bright spots.

First – Thursday, I think – I met my good buddy Beth and her boyfriend, who I'd met through my favorite writing forum. Beth and I used to do flash challenges every weekend when I still had the internet. We'd always be on at crazy wee hours and would act as muses for each other when we got stuck. She's the genius who taught me that dead hookers solve every plot problem. (Try it, it's eerie.)

I've tried to remember how long I've known her online now. Two years, maybe three? I could check if I logged on to LH, I'm sure. At any rate, she and her lovely other half treated me to lunch at Barley's Taproom. She was very cool, though I knew I wasn't the best company. Next time we'll have much more fun getting smashed together, I'm sure.

At some point I got a call from my long time cohort lessthan90sheep, who surprised the absolute hell out of me by calling and saying, “We're just outside Knoxville. Did you still want to try to meet?” I'd forgotten that they'd also planned to visit other friends in Knoxville anyway, and I was beyond stoked when I found out that they had still made the trip. I've “known” Steph for somewhere around 8 or 10 years now and have always wanted to actually meet her. We made plans to meet Friday before my Grandma flew in at 2.

Friday (the 9th), I started regaining some sense of time. Steph and her husband met me early and also whisked me away to Starbucks. Her husband Scott showed me the drum they had made and taught me a bit about making them. I can't wait to try that. He also had the coolest flute. We weren't entirely sure where to go, so they suggested pagany tourist shopping. I lean more hippy myself, but I hope I didn't let them down too much. I took them to my favorite shop where I get all my ceremony supplies. Josh called and celebrated the fact that Tracy came and took the kids for the night (it had started getting rough for him to handle them alone, and me & Josh really needed some time together since it was supposed to be our wedding day). Josh agreed to meet us up at Silver Armadillo, the very cool earthy shop.

We browsed while we waited for Josh. I got three hematite healing necklaces for me and my sister, and a card and stone for my mom. Josh and I were still kicking around the idea of getting married when everyone got there, so I bought a bag of rose quartz to give as favors, just in case. Josh showed up and introductions went round.

I went over to Earth Fare (whole foods organic store) to use the restroom, and the sidewalk musician busted into Eyes of the World as I walked by. I think I started crying. It was so weird that some random dready guy would start singing me that song. Besides the lyrics (“wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world....”), I used to sing that song to Eden in the mornings after she was first born. I was extremely moved, and dude was really breaking it down.

We then went to walk around downtown and check out some of those shops. We found a little tree place to get some pictures. I was really glad to finally get to meet her and just chill for a few hours.

Afterwards, it was Friday so Josh and I figured we'd go get the marriage license just in case. Funny enough, Tina called right as we were getting into the car afterwards. Tina says, “We all talked about it, and we want you guys to get married. Today, the day you were supposed to do it.” I had called K'Sitew that morning, just in case. I'd called Chad too, but didn't have luck reaching him. So we told them we'd have to get some things ready, which meant I missed Grandma and the rest of them coming into town. I had been there when everyone saw mom for the first time, and I felt so bad that I wasn't there for Grandma. But we didn't have the rings on us or anything, so we headed back to the house to try to get things in order.

I think about it as the 'marriage', with the 'wedding' to follow. I'll write that up later, but there's the highlights of my week leading up to it.

The Long and Winding Road (announcement)

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:28:36 GMT

It's funny how Beatles songs were playing every time we left my mom after visiting hours. This was the first of like two dozen. Several people commented on it. Usually they were ones she (&/or we) loved, and most we remember her singing. She was such an awesome singer.

I'm going to be writing the whole story. Not so much her story, as my story with her. A lot of this is likely to be emotional and locked away. I'm sure I'll be creating a special Christy filter. I know I have several wonderful new people who have been checking in through friends or communities. If you're interested in continuing the Christy(Amanda) story with me, just please add me first and let me know. I'll be honored and delighted to give you access.

Thank you guys so much for all the support. I was very close to my mom, and this has really been the hardest thing I've ever done. I'm so grateful for all the loving energy. I honestly might have turned feral without it.

Obituary

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:43:42 GMT

Christy

Arden - Carol Christine Christy McDivitt, 50, of Arden, died Sunday, May 11, 2008, from injuries sustained in an auto accident on Long Shoals Road.

A native of Sterling, Ill., she was a daughter of Emma Ivey McDivitt and the late Everett McDivitt, of Morrison, Ill. A graduate of the American Institute of Holistic Theology, she had resided in the Asheville area for the past 20 years and was a grower for Van Wingerden Greenhouses of Horseshoe, N.C.

Christy loved horticulture, natural healing, naturalism, spirituality and great music - especially the blues.

Surviving in addition to her mother are daughters, Amanda Trancoso (Josh) Mack, of Leicester, Tina Marie (Adam Bazzle) Trancoso and Elizabeth Kate McDivitt, both of Arden; brothers, Ron (Linda) McDivitt, Mike (Linda) McDivitt, both of Morrison, Ill., Terry (Carolyn) McDivitt, of South Beloit, Ill., Pat (Patty) McDivitt, of Milan Ill., and Tom (Luann) McDivitt, of Prophetstown, Ill.; sister Bonnie (Chris) Schnaiter, of Mendota, Ill.; granddaughters, Eden and Ivy Mack.

Services were held Monday at the Unity Center in Fletcher, N.C. and other services will be held later in Illinois.

Christy had a beautiful smile and a great spiritual presence. She touched the lives of everyone she knew. A beloved daughter, sister, mother and boo-boo, she is cherished in both life and spirit.

Asheville Mortuary Services is caring for the McDivitt family.

Man Charged in Fatal Crash

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:40:46 GMT

Green was released under a written promise to appear in court.

Voice Post

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:02:56 GMT

Update

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:04:49 GMT

Mom's blood pressure is dropping, and they're concerned about it. She also has high levels of sodium and is kind of going downhill. They're giving her what they can to combat that. She's getting kind of dehydrated, so I hope this hormone they gave her works and they get her stable. Just please keep us in your prayers.

Rumi in 4-part Harmony

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:53:51 GMT

(Or, Rumi as Therapy) x-posted from dailyrumi

Ah, my friends. Forgive me for the unconventional post. I sit awake here at the hospital, in a bit of a bad place with my mom. Lo, it's Wednesday, and I see no better place to turn than my favorite spiritual well-spring. So I have been on a bit of a Rumi scavenger hunt, gathering the bits and pieces from the corners and letting the current take me. It's my version of a spiritual 'treasure map', or ecstatic prayer ties, I think.

If I hold you with my emotions,
you'll become a wished-for companion.
If I hold you with my eyes,
you'll grow old and die.
So I hold you where we
both mix with the infinite.

I.

Go, rest your head on a pillow, leave me alone;
leave me ruined, exhausted from the journey of this night,
writhing in a wave of passion till the dawn.
Either stay and be forgiving,
or, if you like, be cruel and leave.
Flee from me, away from trouble;
take the path of safety, far from this danger.
We have crept into this corner of grief,
turning the water wheel with a flow of tears.
While a tyrant with a heart of flint slays,
and no one says, "Prepare to pay the blood money."
Faith in the king comes easily in lovely times,
but be faithful now and endure, pale lover.
No cure exists for this pain but to die,
So why should I say, "Cure this pain"?
In a dream last night I saw
an ancient one in the garden of love,
beckoning with his hand, saying, "Come here."
On this path, Love is the emerald,
the beautiful green that wards off dragonsnough, I am losing myself.
If you are a man of learning,
read something classic,
a history of the human struggle
and don't settle for mediocre verse.

On the Deathbed, Kulliyat-i-Shams 2039

II.

Our death is our wedding with eternity.
What is the secret? "God is One."
The sunlight splits when entering the windows of the house.
This multiplicity exists in the cluster of grapes;
It is not in the juice made from the grapes.
For he who is living in the Light of God,
The death of the carnal soul is a blessing.
Regarding him, say neither bad nor good,
For he is gone beyond the good and the bad.
Fix your eyes on God and do not talk about what is invisible,
So that he may place another look in your eyes.
It is in the vision of the physical eyes
That no invisible or secret thing exists.
But when the eye is turned toward the Light of God
What thing could remain hidden under such a Light?
Although all lights emanate from the Divine Light
Don't call all these lights "the Light of God";
It is the eternal light which is the Light of God,
The ephemeral light is an attribute of the body and the flesh.
...Oh God who gives the grace of vision!
The bird of vision is flying towards You with the wings of desire.

Our Death is Our Wedding, Mystic Odes 833

III.

God has given us a dark wine so potent that,
drinking it, we leave the two worlds.

God has put into the form of hashish a power
to deliver the taster from self-consciousness.

God has made sleep so
that it erases every thought.

God made Majnun love Layla so much that
just her dog would cause confusion in him.

There are thousands of wines
that can take over our minds.

Don't think all ecstacies
are the same!

The Many Wines, excerpt

IV.

if the heavens don't go round
to my heart's desire
i'll crush its wheels and
pull out its roots

you have set up
a colorful table
calling it life and
asked me to your feast
but punish me if
i enjoy myself

what tyranny is this

excerpt of untitled?

V.

come on sweetheart
let's adore one another
before there is no more
of you and me

a mirror tells the truth
look at your grim face
brighten up and cast away
your bitter smile

a generous friend
gives life for a friend
let's rise above this
animalistic behavior
and be kind to one another

spite darkens friendships
why not cast away
malice from our heart

once you think of me
dead and gone
you will make up with me
you will miss me
you may even adore me

why be a worshiper of the dead
think of me as a goner
come and make up now

since you will come
and throw kisses
at my tombstone later
why not give them to me now
this is me
that same person

i may talk too much
but my heart is silence
what else can i do
i am condemned to live this life

?

VI.

What was in that candle's light
that opened and consumed me so quickly?
Come back, my friend.
The form of our love is not a created form.
Nothing can help me but that beauty.
There was a dawn I remember when my soul
heard something from your soul.
I drank water from your spring,
and felt the current take me.

Water from your spring

VII.

Someone who goes with half a loaf of bread
to a small place that fits like a nest around him,
someone who wants no more, who’s not himself
longed for by anyone else,

He is a letter to everyone. You open it.
It says, Live.

?

VIII.

Your grief for what you’ve lost holds a mirror
up to where you're bravely working.

Expecting the worst, you look and instead,
here's the joyful face you’ve been wanting to see.

Your hand opens and closes and opens and closes.
If it were always a fist or always stretched open,
you would be paralyzed.

Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expand
the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated
as birdwings.

Your grief

IX.

Life freezes if it doesn't get a taste
of this almond cake.
The stars come up spinning
every night, bewildered in love.
They'd grow tired with that revolving, if they weren't.
They'd say, "How long do we have to Do this!"

God picks up the reed-flute world and blows.
Each note is a need coming through one of us,
a passion, a longing-pain.

Remember the lips
where the wind-breath originated,
and let your note be clear.
Don't try to end it .
BE Your Note.
I'll show you how it's enough.

Go up on the roof at night
in the city of the soul.

Let Everyone climb on their roofs
and sing their notes!

Sing loud!

Each Note, excerpt

X.

In your light I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems.

You dance inside my chest,
where no one sees you,

but sometimes I do,
and that sight becomes this art.

?

XI.

'Spirit, go a journey,'
Love's voice said:
'Lo, a home of travail
I have made.'

Much, much I cried:
'I will not go';
Yea, and rent my raiment
And made great woe.

Even as now I shrink
To be gone from here,
Even so thence
To part I did fear.

'Spirit, go thy way,'
Love called again,
'And I shall be ever nigh thee
As they neck's vein.'

Much did love enchant me
And made much guile;
Love's guile and enchantment
Capture me the while.

In ignorance and folly
When my wings I spread,
From palace unto prison
I was swiftly sped.

Now I would tell
How thither thou mayst come;
But ah, my pen is broke
And I am dumb.

Descent, excerpt

XII.

you mustn't be afraid of death
you're a deathless soul
you can't be kept in a dark grave
you're filled with God's glow

be happy with your beloved
you can't find any better
the world will shimmer
because of the diamond you hold

when your heart is immersed
in this blissful love
you can easily endure
any bitter face around

in the absence of malice
there is nothing but
happiness and good times
don't dwell in sorrow my friend

Translated by Nader Khalili "Rumi, Fountain of Fire"
Cal-Earth Press, 1994

XIII.

Why cling to one life
till it is soiled and ragged?

The sun dies and dies
squandering a hundred lives
every instant

God has decreed life for you
and He will give
another and another and another

Why cling

XIV.

When someone asks what it means
to "die for love," point
here.

If someone asks how tall I am, frown
and measure with your fingers the space
between the creases on your forehead.

This tall.

The soul sometimes leaves the body, then returns.
When someone doesn’t believe that,
walk back into my house.

Like This, excerpt

XV.

I swear, since seeing Your face,
the whole world is fraud and fantasy
The garden is bewildered as to what is leaf
or blossom. The distracted birds
can't distinguish the birdseed from the snare.

A house of love with no limits,
a presence more beautiful than venus or the moon,
a beauty whose image fills the mirror of the heart.

The Divani Shamsi Tabriz XV

XVI.

Love is reckless; not reason.
Reason seeks a profit.
Love comes on strong,
consuming herself, unabashed.

Yet, in the midst of suffering,
Love proceeds like a millstone,
hard surfaced and straightforward.

Having died of self-interest,
she risks everything and asks for nothing.
Love gambles away every gift God bestows.

Without cause God gave us Being;
without cause, give it back again.

Mathnawi VI, 1967-1974

Last night you left me and slept
your own deep sleep. Tonight you turn
and turn. I say,
"You and I will be together
till the universe dissolves."

Voice Post - Christy Update

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:15:42 GMT

'Devastating' Head Trauma

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Tue, 06 May 2008 08:23:59 GMT

Prayers and Reiki are earnestly requested for my mom, Christy. I'll probably f-lock this post later, but for now I just want to be sure as many people are praying for her as possible.

Mom was in a pretty serious car accident today. I guess it was yesterday by now – I'm at the hospital now, still a bit too keyed up to sleep. It's bad. She's had massive brain injury and was in surgery for hours. They honestly don't expect her to make it. They are forward with us about it, but really, they say it far too often (and in front of her) for my comfort. I appreciate the honesty, but I also believe in the thought/word/deed method of creation and I'm doing my very best to hold the positive and vibrant image that is my mom. I really need and appreciate anyone who'd be willing to hold that image of health and wholeness for us.

So we believe it happened sometime around noonish, after she had taken Lyz to school and was returning to work. The police were waiting at the house when Tina got there at 3, and she didn't learn much and went straight to the hospital.

She was hit from the rear. One of the nurses later said they were told it was a semi. Honestly – I think it was probably a dump truck. Josh and I actually drove out there and looked at it. It's the one place on the road where it looks like an accident has happened recently. There's a lot of road work going on up off the main road, and I think it was probably a dump truck. The way the skid marks of the tires are...a semi would have jack-knifed, or at least knocked some mailboxes as it slung off the road (and it did). It looks as if a large truck was traveling too fast down the straight-away hill to stop when someone pulled out in front of it. The marks start in the other lane as if he slung around to miss someone up the road, and then they actually zig-zag down the road (trying to slow, I imagine) for about 50 yards. A long way. That bothers me, as it means she probably both saw and heard it coming. Maybe I shouldn't have went and looked, I don't know, but I had to.

And, to be honest, I also believe it was one of the dump trucks because of an incredibly odd twist of fate: We were returning on a similar road from visiting lahermite (which was pretty far away), and they were doing road work, and a giant dump truck swerved into our lane and nearly killed us all. I do not exaggerate the least. He didn't notice he was even in our lane until Josh started honking like crazy, and he swerved back just in time to miss us. Not one full minute later I get a 911 page from Tina. We reached the top of the mountain and I got just enough service on my cell to see her text to get to the hospital. All this happened within two, maybe three, minutes.

If it couldn't get any more surreal, I was wandering (lost) trying to find the waiting room where my sisters were, and they literally wheeled mom out right in front of me. I was about to cross a hall and they wheel this gurney out, and her head was all bandaged up and I couldn't tell at first. But everything quite literally turned to slow motion, and I just kind of gaped down as she passed thinking That's her nose and cheeks. Freckled shoulder. and I cry, “Is that my mom? That's my mom!” The nurse helping look for everybody tried to get me away, but I looked back and saw her hair peeking out of the bandages and was all, “Wait, that's my mom! What's the name? Is it [last name]?” and the guy pushing it just shrugged and shook his head and hurried her away. I've been really sick all weekend and haven't eaten, see, and I almost fell out right there in the hallway. And I'd done so good with centering myself before I went in. ha. The nurse was like, “Your family's this way,” but I just wanted to touch her. They wouldn't let me. Apparently they didn't know who she was yet. The police hadn't been able find her purse.

So this is by far the absolute craziest day of my life. I still can't believe they just 'happened' to wheel her out right literally under my nose. It's grim. But we've got her on prayer lists, and I've been doing what I can by way of energy and talking to her and stuff. If you have your own prayer or healing lists, please pass on loving words for Christy in NC. We likely won't know anything for sure for days. The wedding is of course postponed.

I really love and appreciate you if you read this far. Thanks for any good energies. Feel free to share her name and affirm her wholeness anywhere you see fit. I suppose I'll be around at some point, and if not, I have wonderful friends who've previously agreed to emergency post for me and I may actually end up using them. Thanks to you as well, by the way.

Starting to come together...

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:47:46 GMT

Just a quick note, as I'm headed for work at the moment...

I finally have a block of rooms reserved for our wedding, and the hotel asks that guests reserve their rooms by April 28 to get the discount rate.

Info has been added to our wedding website, as well as the Best Man's info. ;) Now that I finally got a pic. Unfortunately, my digital camera broke, so lots of posts I've been working on (including the Asheville one I was trying to wrap up now that it's spring again) are now on the back burner.

If you're coming from out of town, please check it out and make your reservations. I'm just sorry it took so long for me to find a hotel that could hold us! lol

If you pop in at MackWedding.com, please take a moment to sign our guestbook. The kinks are apparently worked out, and our guestbook is mournfully bare.

You can also RSVP online, which would be very helpful if we haven't received your reply card yet.

Thank you!

I can't wait! We met with our two officiants today to hammer it out, and I'm quite excited that it's all coming together.

I'll do a real post one day, honest. It's pretty much all wedding at the moment, as I scramble to get everything together.

Peeking In

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 04:29:49 GMT

Long time no see, old friends. I've been so incredibly busy lately, I hardly have any web time anymore. My snatches of time seem to come late at night (yay for 24 hr coffee shops!), and I always play mad catch-up any more. I haven't even read my f-list in forever!

Thanks to everyone who's checked in to see how we're doing. Life is swell right now. Allow me to share a bit with you.

Wedding

I've gotten my first wave of wedding invitations mailed off, and we're already beginning to receive response cards back (lahermite's was first – woot!). I'm so excited! I have more to mail out, but I'm trying to collect the addresses I'm missing. Most of those are for out-of-town family that we don't really expect to make it.

We have a wedding website, which is slowly coming together. I got to have a little fun with it. Check out MackWedding.com, and don't forget to sign our guest book! My buddy David has told me that he may be able to come after all, so I'm very excited about that.

After informing my Reiki Master of our engagement, he offered to perform the ceremony for us. I was so touched! I'd already spoken with our preacher when we reserved the church, though, and had reserved him and his wife (who does the music) for our wedding. After much discussion, and checking with Chad (the preacher) to make sure that he doesn't mind, we've decided to do a joint ceremony with Chad and K'Sitew both participating as officiants. I'm SO VERY excited about this! I absolutely can't wait.

My dear friends and Chaplain coordinators have also agreed (in addition to Romella making sweets for Josh) to read a poem for us during the ceremony. I'm really glad about this, too. I found the poem in our chaplain book, Come Apart for a While, and immediately thought of Josh and the wedding. Having Ed & Romella read it will be quite meaningful for me.

Josh and I are doing so well. He's really being such a sweetie. I'm starting to get awfully excited. A lot of people say wedding stuff causes such stress, but Josh and I seem to just be getting closer and closer. It's awesome. I'm so glad I'm not freaking (knock on wood), and that I found the absolute perfect man for me. People have even told us that more than once lately. It's quite touching. Someone – and apparently I can't remember who – mentioned that I rarely speak of Josh. They said they know him from pictures, but don't really know him. I figure, with the exception of lahermite, that probably everyone on my f-list is in the same boat, so I'm working on a Josh post. I hope to actually finish it soon.

So if you haven't received an invite and want to, contact me privately and give me your address! I'd love to have anyone who's willing to make it out and share with us. I'm super-stoked that I should be meeting at least one lj friend for the first time, and possibly as many as six (?) so far!

Work

Switched to nights. Less hours, but now I'm home with the girls again most days, so it's worth it. Josh is going to seek another day job, as the one he thought he had didn't work out.

Homeschooling

I've started a better routine now that I'm home with the girls during the day again. They are both SO darn brilliant. We've been working on reading and writing. Eden has been enjoying more mindful school time, so we have study time and I'm even making up worksheets for her 'homework'. Even Ivy is trying to learn how to spell everyone's names – by her own request.

We've also instituted a daily story time, only instead of our usual made-up stories, we're trying an actual novel. Eden feels like quite the big girl about this. She's very excited. We're reading Little House in the Big Woods, one chapter per day. We may try to make a pioneering unit study out of it, except that I've already kind of started a space unit study (because I'm a space case at the moment). Eden is begging for a butter churn and pig bladder, though. Ah, kids.

Writing

Well, I'm no longer in my rpgs, so I haven't really been keeping up with my daily writing I'm used to. I'm trying to channel my creative energies into my own stuff, but I've been so busy that I'm not really writing – and not writing well when I try. So I'm mostly back in research phase, devouring all I can about space & generation ships. Bit by bit, information is being filed away, to one day be reborn as the NaNo Wonder Saga again. Hopefully I'll do better with some actual knowledge as background. Ha!

FLYing

Being home and getting all routiney again has had the added benefit of letting me get back into my FLYing. I am messy. It's horrid. I've even gotten so much better about releasing unnecessary clutter, but our house is so small and has so little storage space that it seems like it doesn't matter. I'm not letting it discourage me, though. I'm keeping up with the dishes and laundry most days now (days we're gone all day are still too frequent), and slowly but surely chiseling away the cluttered corners. I've given up on trying to Freecycle everything without the having internet, so I'm throwing away in faster quantities. My goal is to have the house cleaned – really clean, which it hasn't been since, like, Ivy's birth – before visitors start coming in May. I may even try to build my own book case, since I can't seem to cull my books enough to fit the shelf I have, despite having gone through them several times.

Exercise

Not going as well as I'd hoped by this time. With the Big Day beginning to loom, I'm trying to buckle down. I've cut back on my weaknesses of Starbucks and these stuffed, sprinkled cookie things that I can't stop buying, but I don't think the cut-back is as effective as actual moving might be. Have resolved to explore this more fully.

General

I've lost Josh to his mini-chopper mistress. I may have lost Ivy, as well. (She, like her father, enjoys sitting on it and yelling “Whee! I'm cool!”) Josh has helped less with the wedding since getting it, but he's waited about three years for this, so I can't complain. I'm glad to see him so giddy and childlike, although I did threaten dire consequences if he doesn't jump and clap and squee as much on our wedding day as he did on bike-day.

Oh, and one sad bit: our buddy Keia, who lost his home to the fire, found out that his cat was killed in the blaze. :( He and his mom are doing well, though, and appreciate all the thoughts and prayers.

Mercy Squee

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:48:35 GMT

I just pre-ordered Kushiel's Mercy. *happy dance* I can't wait until summer!

I know a lot of people don't care for the turn the storyline took in Kushiel's Justice, but I really loved the book (a lot more than Scion) and I...

think Imri and Sidonie are just absolutely perfect for each other. Their relationship is sweet. A lot of folks thought it was too contrived, but I just love Sidonie and think they're great together. She's hot, too, and I can't wait to see her top Imri.

I think most of us saw the Melisande thing coming from the end of Avatar, if not Scion itself. I'm interested (and slightly nervous) about seeing how Imri's involvement with that comes along. I really liked Ysandre in the first trilogy, and I think her stubborn refusal of Imri is mostly plot device. She seemed much fairer than that, and she actually liked Imri. So I don't know if I'll be pleased with the resolution (?) of Melisande's storyline. But then again, the Kushiel milieu is probably my favorite fandom, and I usually end up liking the majority of what happens. (I'll admit that I still mourn the later treatment of L'Envers).

Birthday Pictures!

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:27:20 GMT

It's a Chuck E. Cheese extravaganza. We spent *far* too many hours there at my beloved daughter's favorite place. They played hard.

Eden wanted her own little cake, which was supposed to be a cat. They forgot to make it at the bakery, though, so she had to make due with a dog. Poor thing. In addition to our lovely family, you will also get to see the beautiful lahermite and her equally beautiful younguns, and her buddy Jimmy.

Eden, Jimmy, Loke, Jiana, & Ivy

Josh & lahermite

My mom and sisters Tina & Lyz

Tina, Eden, & Jimmy. I love this pic of Eden and her 'Aunt Beande'

Ivy contemplating an atomic drop onto Loke and Jiana

Ivy saying “Chuck E. Cheese” with 'Boo Boo' and Uncle Adam

Eden crouching in the midst of a present explosion

Eden getting her puppy cake.

Obligatory cake pic. We got a big one to share with everyone. Eden picked it out.

Eden and Jiana with Chuck.

She really enjoys the dancing with Chuck E. Cheese part.

The end.

Happy 5th Birthday, Eden!

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:00:01 GMT

Wow, my eldest is five years old already. Five is one of those big-deal birthdays. Eden is now a Big Girl, although it actually came earlier than I expected when she lost her first tooth.

It's true that I also mostly shamelessly think of this as my Mommyversary. By this time in 2003 (8:15 am as I write this), I was just experiencing my water breaking. The countdown had just begun and the excitement was taking over. We wondered whether we would be greeting a boy or a girl. It was Eden's joining our family that led me down my birth path. Her arrival was actually on a Sunday, too. Now it's come full circle, and it's crazy to see how big, brilliant, and beautiful she's become. How did it happen so fast?

She's learning to write. She's getting an allowance now. She tries to have the dishes done and my coffee waiting when I come home from work. In true big-sister fashion, Eden protects her sister unless it's she who's picking on her. Everyone wows over how much she looks (and acts, really) just like her daddy, unless she and I are out alone together, in which case we suddenly get comments on how much she looks like me (??!!). She's hardly shy at all (mainly when told to apologize), and delights in talking the ear off of everyone. She waves at cars that pull up next to us, she wants to tell our 'coffee ladies' about every latest achievement, and God forbid we encounter a cute boy while we're out and about and I'm in a hurry. She gives great energy and loves 'magic power rocks'. She's a cat.

Happy Birthday, sweetie. We have Chuck E. Cheese planned for later this morning, so I hope to have pictures to share. Chuck's appears to be becoming a birthday tradition in our family. lahermite and her kids will be there again, having been with us since the inception of the tradition shortly after meeting them.

I had decided last time I was tagged for an 'about me' meme that I would start sharing about family instead (since said memes about me are legion). I was tagged like five or six months ago and never got around to it (by lanternlady maybe?). I know I just rattled off quite the list, but it's inspired me to go ahead and do it properly for the occasion.

1.Her favorite color is pink. It was red at first and for longest, but she informs me that now it's pink.

2.She started teething at two months! We have a picture of her in her swing with the oragel, even though she looked older than two months (she's always looked older). She had one tooth that kept coming up and going back down, and it didn't really stay up until several months later. It was weird, but I was just glad she wasn't born with them. Seriously, Josh was (they were pulled out to fix his jaw, and he's actually had three sets).

3.She's loathed shoes since birth. She would never, ever keep her shoes and socks on. I know most babies have a certain distaste for this, but her's was fervent and she was like Houdini with the things. When she was finally old enough to talk some, I asked her in exasperation one day, “Why on earth won't you ever keep your shoes on?” She laughed and told me, “Because they're happy toes.” I had trouble fighting her after that.

4.She also seems slightly ocd about labels. Honestly. Since she was old enough to have the skills for it, she's taken every scrap of label off of everything we've ever handed her. It started with Propels and the occasional Bug Juice. She'd take off as much as she could get, then scream and pitch a fit until we took every glued piece off. It took over crayons once we gave them to her. She likes to see what she's dealing with, I guess.

5.Eden is very strong and limber. Josh is an avid exerciser and has been training her body since birth. He's tried doing it with Ivy, but she just doesn't care for it as much. But Eden's always loved it. They do yoga together, and Eden can do full splits and poses I can't even try to get into. She has little three pound and five pound weights that she works out with. She (and now Ivy, too) enjoys walking the dog, and she's getting mighty good on the trampoline.

6.Her favorite song is Fire on the Mountain, and I believe she prefers the Keller version to the Dead version (although she likes both). We play so many different types of music, and we often get kid tapes from the library, but my kids just have impeccable taste in music. I'm really proud. lol Other favorites they break into include Bob Marley's “Sun is Shining” and various Beatles, with Ivy on a current “I Want to Hold Your Hand” kick, as well as the Firefly theme song and a delightfully mangled “You Remind Me of the Babe/Dance Magic Dance” performance.

7.I just asked her what she'd like to be when she grows up, and she said, “I just want to be a lovely lady who saves the world.” That's a lofty goal, but if anyone can do it, she can. She's halfway there already.

Many many thanks!

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:30:53 GMT

Thank you guys SO much for the awesome turn out on my distance healing request post for my Reiki II class! I'm very excited, and we'll definitely bathe everyone in Reiki. I really appreciate everyone's willingness to help out with this.

If you're interested in participating, check out this post. I'll check it one more time before the class tomorrow.

You guys rock.

Distance Healing: Your Participation Appreciated

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:07:55 GMT

I'm going to be holding my first Medicine Reiki II class this Saturday. A big part of Reiki II is learning distance healing techniques. If you're willing to be a part of this and let my Reiki II students send you Reiki healing this weekend, please post here with:

Name (first name or internet name is fine)
Location
Why you'd like the healing

This post is screened for privacy's sake. This post is my regular distance healing post, and it is not screened. It is, however, linked from both my sidebar and my profile if you ever want Reiki energy sent your way.

Thanks so much!

January 4 – The Day the Earth Shifted

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:45:14 GMT

This post is a bit old, as the title suggests. I just haven't had the opportunity to post it yet, but I want to be sure that 1/4/08 lives on for posterity.

That's the day I started working at my new job, which is no big earth-shattering event. It's okay. I work in the deli at the grocery store near my mom's house (still quite a drive). It's full time, and I haven't had a full time job since before Eden was born. I'm slow and out of practice, but I think I'm improving. I definitely wasn't used to spending 8 hours on my feet again, and that was a change in and of itself. But that's not why it was such an important day for me...

It's hard being away from my babies for so long. I worked two part time jobs after Eden was born, but it wasn't 40 hours a week, working almost every day. I've been with them a lot since the get-go, and non-stop since Ivy was born. So, of course, what would happen my very first day back to work?

Eden officially became a “Big Girl”.

I wasn't ready for it. It wasn't even wiggly (she says she had an 'accident' with her sucker). I'd given her the Tooth Talk ahead of time, so she wouldn't freak if her tooth turned wiggly. She's nearing 5, and I remember losing my first tooth then. Either Eden didn't listen or just didn't comprehend, because she freaked out a bit. There was some blood, she broke it loose (apparently Josh had to help pull it), and she was mainly afraid that she was going to get in trouble. I let her go with me to call her grandma and tell her all about it, and talk of the Tooth Fairy soon lifted her spirits. She's very excited about it now.

And just to share, Ivy decided that we needed to take lovey pictures while we had the camera out. I thought it was a right splendid idea, and they turned out so well that I'll spread the love with you all. *hugs from us*

And Josh doing the face he always does when I try to take a picture:

Blue Ridge Reiki Center - Grand Opening!

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:07:05 GMT

X-posted from asheville, because I can use all the good vibes my f-list sends out. :D

I'm pleased and so excited to announce the Grand Opening of the Blue Ridge Reiki Center! I'm starting off small, by holding a couple of Medicine Reiki classes. I'm also attuned to Violet Flame Reiki and hope to add that in the future, as well as recruit other Reiki Masters to teach other modalities. But for now I give you my Grand Opening flier:

Blue Ridge Reiki Center
Grand Opening!

Grand Opening Special: Medicine Reiki I classes now only $100

Medicine Reiki I: January 26 OR February 9 - 1 - 5 pm

A blend of Usui Reiki and Cree Medicine wisdom, Medicine Reiki is a unique form of energy work. Level I students will learn the history and basic principles of Reiki, hands-on-healing for self and others, and an introduction to Medicine energies. Please register before January 23 OR February 6, as space is limited. Fee: ~~$150~~ Now $100!

Medicine Reiki II: February 16 – 1 – 5 pm

Level II students will learn the first three reiki symbols, distance healing, and an introduction to Medicine Hoops. Students will learn to use reiki for spiritual and emotional healing and will practice reiki distance work. Please register by February 13, as space is limited. Fee: $150

Amanda Trancoso, Reiki Master

Amanda was attuned to reiki in 2004 by K'Sitew, the founder of Medicine Reiki. She went on to receive her Master attunement in February 2005 and was also attuned to Violet Flame Reiki in 2006. In addition to her reiki work, Amanda is also a certified birth doula and a Prayer Chaplain at the Unity Center in Fletcher.

Register by emailing BlueRidgeReiki@yahoo.com. Classes will be held at the Unity Center – take I-26 to exit 40, head towards the airport. Take the first right after the airport, onto Old Fanning Bridge Rd. Unity Center is 2.2 miles on the left. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a pillow to class.

Happy New Years!

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 09:16:48 GMT

X-posted to mission101

I'm wishing a joyous, abundant, and blessed 2008 for you all! Instead of a New Years resolution post, I've decided that this would be a good time to update everyone on my 101 goals in 1001 days project. My last update on that was in July, and I've accomplished a few things since then.

The point of Mission101 is to complete a list of 101 preset goals in 1001 days. For me, that means:

Start date: Saturday, September 2, 2006
Ending date: Saturday, May 30, 2009

15 / 101: 15% done!

As of my July 6 update, I had 12 items successfully accomplished and 15 in progress. That's changed and shifted a bit as I lapsed on some things and completed others, but I'm still plucking along. I have only successfully completed two more, but I am further along on some other goals – and the reading list. (Note to people who think it's a good idea to read 101 books in 1001 days: It's a lofty goal. Have some magazine-to-'book' conversion system to help yourself out and not waste quality reading time on goal-less magazines/reader's digests/newspapers). I hope to post a book list someday soon.

Here's the scoop. The new progress is in bold.

Completed: 15

1. Organize this list Misc.

2. See Keller Williams live - (Nov. 5, 2006 - The Neighborhood Theater in Charlotte...it was awesome!) Misc.

5. Find a female friend. - *Waves* hi, lahermite! Misc.

9. Get my DONA, Int'l certification - Got the call 5/20/07 - I'm certified! :D Doula

15. Get a portable massage table Reiki 12/24/07 – Thank you, K'Sitew!

16. Teach a reiki class - Done July 1, 2007 for my mom & sisters. Friends hear the Voice Post. Reiki Masters on my Level 3 filter can see the class outline Reiki

18. Participate in a Full Moon Hoop Ceremony Reiki July 07

19. Participate in a New Moon Hoop Ceremony Reiki I think this was October. I need to check the dates.

21. Get attuned to Violet Flame Reiki -(October 21, 2006, 1, 2, & Master levels) Reiki

34. Get a paid LJ account - Thank you, simplydorei! Writing

48. Get the kids' room fixed up - Yay to Josh for clearing out the 'junk room'. Home

49. Start a piggy bank for the girls - Eden already had one, and now we have one for Ivy too. Family This one needs repeating already, as we've had to raid the money stash.

55. Take family to IL Check out my IL Trip tag!

70. Pay library fine & return all books that aren't mine - Done once, need to repeat already. Personal Improvement

100. Do the 4T Prosperity Program - (Personal Improvement - started Sept 10, 2006 - Dec 06) 3-month projects

In Progress: 13

3.Learn how to make a compost pile Misc. - Compost pile in progress. We'll see how I fared come Spring.

4. Plant a garden Misc (I have tomatoes so far)

24. Read 101 Books, including 3 from: ...Writing

29. ...Poetry books Writing

32. Complete NaNoWriMo Writing Nov 07, 12,643 words. Completed the month, but didn't win. Room for improvement here.

42. Choose a persona SCA - This one's on hold until I can devote more time & resources, but we have ideas.

47. Get a bed - Thanks to lahermite for the bedframe! Now we just need to upgrade to a King mattress. Home

56. Start a homeschool routine with the girls - Slowly but surely we're integrating more and more Family

57. Offer to braid Josh's hair 3 times - I Family

65. Read the Complete Idiot's Guide to Beating Debt Personal Improvement

83. Bake something to give away at least 6 times - I Love

85. Meditate every day Spirit, Month Long Projects

88. Keep a journal – I keep forgetting to keep up with it. Personal Improvement

I have more exciting goals scheduled to start in the New Year.

Incidental Stuff I'm Pleased With: 11

1. Culled (still culling, actually) mine and the girls' clothes, their toys, my books.

2. Got rid of several boxes of things on Freecycle.

3. Got a new computer

4. Took Josh to the Biltmore House. He may be the only Asheville local who'd never been.

5. In the process of starting my own Reiki School. More on that later.

6. Done several Flash Challenges, though not for six consecutive weeks. :(

7. Made some more new friends via NaNo group and Coffee Meet-Up.

8.Made contact with long-lost, much-missed friend. Even if he disappeared again.

9. Got engaged. :D

10. Exciting new amulet changes. Since I first shared my amulet (also in July, so I can't speak for the whole year), I have gained four new items. Four items also left me for new homes (one of which was one of the new items, another was more of a switcheroo, and only one that I actually knew that it would eventually leave me and who I was holding it for). Four and four. I've mentioned many times that four is my sacred number. Woot!

11. Rejoined Unity's Prayer Chaplain program, after a three year hiatus.

That's it! Hopefully I can stick with it and have even more successes to report next time, probably more often than every six months.

Merry Christmas!

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:50:06 GMT

Thank you so much for all of the cards, gifts, and nudges! It's nice to know that my cyber-family still cares. I'm sorry to have dropped off the face of the earth. I'm hardly ever able to get online anymore, and when I do, it's mostly spent catching up massive amounts of email. Things have been tough lately, so I appreciate everyone who's been holding us in prayer and sending awesome energy our way. I may speak more on that later, but for now, let's revel in the good!

We got to visit my dad, step-mom Kathy (they're split, so we rarely get to see them), and little brother Adam. It was so wonderful to see the girls playing with them. They racked up – scoring Christmas from Santa, Grandpa, and then Grandma too! I forgot my camera for the grandma fun, but there are still plenty of cute ones to revel in.

Adam, Ivy, Dad, and Eden

Adam, Kathy, Tina

Ivy gets “The Claw”. Ah, memories...

Our infamous mantle. 'Twas erected our first Christmas, for the stockings (of course), and it usually has a place of honor in the middle of our wall (moved this year for our tree). Josh keeps trying to talk me into taking it down, but I refuse. I love my mantle.

Eden chose the Cinderella dress at the store, but it ended up being way too small.

My pretty princesses. (Ivy refused to wear the shirt)

They both got new tables.

Eden's is red, her favorite color.

Ivy got a new doll, and promptly drew all over it's face. She has this compulsion...every doll in the house.

So I told her to clean it up.

She loves her gift from lessthan90sheep. My Lil Ponies are some of her favorite toys.

Eden likes hers, too – especially since it shares her birthday AND has red hair like her. Weet!

My very special gift went in my amulet, and her cardboard place-holder came out. :) I wear it in my hair until I can get a new strap.

lessthan90sheep also gave me one kick-ass amethyst, which I think I'm going to have Josh put into a walking stick for me.

Being a bit broke this year, Josh's only gift from me was a nice glass of homemade eggnog. But he's never had homemade eggnog, and it had rum & brandy – a bonus for me, since I can never get him to drink with me. (I hate eggnog, so I had a Christmas margarita).

Since he had nothing to actually unwrap, I let Josh open my last gift from my sweet friend. Score for Rumi & Dhammapada! (I also received a 365 Days of Rumi book from tadeudz not long ago, but I've been saving it to start tomorrow. :D)

Daddy & Eden break it down with the drum-kit fun Santa brought for Eden. Here you see Josh on drums and maracas, while Eden's on tambourine and castanets.

Once I saw my amethyst pic and realized I still had that damn bow on my head, I decided to get Achaiah in on the Christmas spirit.

And bonus pics! These were from like November, but my sister Tina took me and Lyz out to buy us some wigs. Why? Because we wanted to be fabulous! Do you really need a reason to get dressed up in saucy wigs and hit the town? I've always wanted wigs, and now I'm jonesing for a whole collection. (I tried on a grey one and I was totally right – I'd look freaking awesome with grey hair).

Admit it – we are just SO fabulous!

Ivy's got a Gangsta-Grill

Eden brings it home to the Westsiiiiiiide

I love my hair.

Wiggin Out.

Happy New Year! You'll hear from me again soon, honest.

Random Update

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:34:31 GMT

Hello, friends! No, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. We've just been trying to deal with stuff at the house. I may address some of that later, since things seem to be rough in the majority of aspects right now, but for now I'll mostly try to focus on the positive.

Everyone seems to be over the flu that hit during Thanksgiving, so that's a real blessing. I'm still nowhere near where I wanted to be with NaNoWriMo, but I've been steadily plucking along and will continue to do so through the 30th. Unless I have some huge bouts of inspiration (which is actually entirely possible, given the fact that I've just gotten into a comfortable groove with the story), I may not hit the 50,000 word mark. In double checking my Mission 101 list, I see I actually put “32. Complete NaNoWriMo”. Now I find myself splitting hairs. Is it 'completed' if I go the whole month, or do I actually have to 'win'? * sigh * I probably won't strike it out unless I actually win, but I still have next year (my 101 list is up May 2009). In reviewing the list, I see I actually have a couple things to strike out – and a couple I forgot I was working on, so will need to start over. I'll save those for a whole 101 update in the future, though.

In slightly less boring news, we have spent the last couple of weeks being pirates. (And I must reiterate here, I was a pirate long before Jack Sparrow – or Steve the Pirate – made it cool.) I am Captain Janey Rotten, Eden is Pirate Stormcloud the Builder, Ivy is Pirate Yohosefat (I named her, due to her constant Yo Ho-ing), and Josh has recently joined the fun as Pirate Zatara. We have had jolly good fun stealing and burying treasure (leaves are awesome for this, thank you Autumn), sailing our ship (car), hosting cannon battles/sword fights with innocent passerby, blowing away storm clouds, and using our buckets to put out the lightning fires aboard our trusty ship, The Bad Princess. I highly recommend a good month immersion into piracy, even if you don't have kids. It's been awesome. Gar!

Ivy is just a-talking and a-singing up a storm. I'd do a voice post, but kids never do it on command. She's absolutely brilliant, though, just like I suspected.

I don't know whether it's the beautiful birth of baby_squee, or the fact that damn near everyone else on my f-list has either been having babies, eagerly awaiting babies, or just found out they're having babies, but I have been in full-on “We need our son!” mode lately. Oh no fears, I'm not doing anything stupid. But I am dreaming about him night after night. I really gotta nip that in the bud, although I'm not sure I actually want to yet. In other super-duper-mega-exciting news, I do have my doula already lined up for his birth – my bestest friend lessthan90sheep. She has seriously been like my main source of sanity for the couple weeks, so I can't sing her praises enough. It makes me really strengthen my resolve to make sure that actually does happen one day, because I would love to have her support me at my next birth.

Reckon that's all for now, folks. I have been dipping into my f-list during the past week, but please let me know how things are on your side of the world!

Home!

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 22:52:36 GMT

It took me all day to catch up my emails, just from missing one day yesterday! I'm sorry that I forgot to post and say that I was home safely. :) It was bumpy and scary, so I appreciate all the energies and prayers everybody lent! We had snow flurries as I landed in Asheville, but I was lucky I landed when I did. It started snowing much harder on the way home, but it wasn't sticking and today was just a lovely day.

I just wanted to pop in quickly and let everyone know I was safe. I'll do a proper post on my trip later, although it seems I'll probably be gone next week. Not gone gone, just sticking close to the house.

Thanks again!

Quickie Update

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 06:00:58 GMT

I'm flying back home tomorrow, around 10 a.m. I'm still quite nervous about it, so I'd really appreciate any prayers and reiki that you'd like to send my way!

Hopefully I'll do a proper recap when I get home. Can't really share much until baby_squee gets a chance to ;), but I can at least tell you how much fun I've had! And maybe more pictures. We'll see.

Just to reiterate - I'm really begging for prayers. lol Apparently I'm not my most comfortable on a plane.

Thank you!

*hugs*

Welcome, Squeelet!

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 02:54:50 GMT

baby_squee was born at 6:14 pm to kajmal & simplydorei. She is absolutely adorable. Despite the meconium, she had APGARs of 8 & 9. Perfect in every little way! Big huge thanks to everyone who sent prayers and reiki.

She hasn't shared her name with us yet. Mom & Dad need to spend some time with her to find out. I probably won't post much more until they do their own posts, but I wanted to at least let you know that the new family is all safe, happy, & beautiful.

I'll keep this post public in case you know any of their friends who might be interested. ;) I'm guessing it may be a while before Daddy updates the squee journal.

Baby Squee

ahavah_ehyeh@livejournal.com — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:53:07 GMT

We made plans Friday, and I flew up Thursday morning. Got here about 11 am yesterday. simplydorei really felt it would be this weekend, specifically Sunday.

Edit: Bah, was I loopy and in a hurry yesterday. That was supposed to be flew up SATURDAY morning. The plan was to *stay* til Thursday. roflmao

She started laboring last night. :) Membranes ruptured early this morning, around 5-ish. We're at the hospital, and she's laboring really well.

Unfortunately, there was a lot of meconium. She's currently getting an internal fetal monitor, so that she can move around a bit more and try to get labor going stronger and more quickly. They're concerned about the meconium level and wanting to monitor baby. We're going to do our best to get it going swiftly - as it seemed to be doing when she was up moving.

Please send lots of health and quick birth energy this way. She's currently about 3 cms, and now we're about to do some more moving and walking. Hopefully baby_squee will be here soon! All prayers and reiki are very gratefully appreciated by mom & dad.