We really couldn’t have asked for nicer weather for our walk around the (free!) Botanic Garden over in Ft. Worth. There was no blazing, blinding Texan sun or sky full of clouds, only a pleasantly breezy autumnal afternoon. Truly a photographer’s dream!

When we arrived, not one but two latina gals were having Quinceañera pictures taken (see the first photo below). We told Poppy they were princesses. As they were walking towards us, Poppy was walking down the steps and subsequently tripped and feel on her side. Right in front of the princesses! Don’t worry, Piggy, even princesses fall down sometimes.

After reviewing the pictures, I realize that I didn’t really get any of Henry. It’s difficult when he’s usually attached to Mummy in one way or another. It’s a shame, too, because you don’t just want to wait until your baby grows up to take pictures, but at the same time, it can be tricky to snap photos of an infant. Remember my post about passport pictures?

On a sidenote: I’m not sure why a garden should need to specify itself as botanic. Aren’t all gardens botanical?!  These are the sorts of questions that keep a linguist up at night–that and a 2 month old!

Walking from our apartment toward the main road whereon our pot of donut gold is found, we pass the soccer field where I play every Wednesday and Saturday with internationals and other center residents. I gain a sense of satisfaction walking past the soccer pitch on the donut run because I know that whatever I consume will be negated shortly by that magical wonder exercise. Or, does it work the other way around: the donut negates the exercise? Oh dear, anyways…

The Texan sun isn’t kind even to donut travelers. Nonetheless Granny and Grandad soldier on for the joy set before them. We joke that we’ll arrive only to find the shop shut this particular morning.

Our first obstacle is crossing four lanes of traffic. I reckon by now you can probably guess the answer to the perennial riddle Why the Granny crossed the road.

A too-short-for-pedestrian-safety-flashing WALK sign later, we arrive. Grandad’s the first to enter. Granny and Henry aren’t far behind. In fact, I’m the one behind.

Now, the donuts. Would you know that I tried to get the Korean patrona to pose with her donuts but she refused?! I asked nicely. =/

At least donuts aren’t shy. I mean with looks like these why would they need to be?

With donuts in tow we head home: cream-filled for Grandad, chocolate with sprinkles for Poppy, apple fritter for Mummy, chocolate with coconut for Daddy, and Granny doesn’t even care. Now, you haven’t seen me and Poppy in the pictures. That’s not because we’re shy but because I’m snapping the pics and Poppy’s strapped to my back much like Henry is riding along on Granny.

In addition to getting to eat donuts, there are two great things about the Saturday morning donut run: (1) Grandad insists on buying and (2) if you didn’t find the donut you wanted, you can always pick a horse-apple on the return journey, although we’re not sure if anyone actually eats them.

Does your family have a Saturday morning ritual?

Last night Poppy busted out her infamous refrain, “What do now, Granny?!” Well, Granny was armed with a premeditated quick response because the very next day we were going to an arboretum–that very next day was today. I told Poppy that at the arboretum we should expect lots of fun and exciting things like butterflies, bumble bees, and mermaids. I mean we couldn’t just tell her we were going to look at a bunch of trees, could we?

Although we didn’t encounter any mermaids, we did stumble upon giant lily pads, Poppy-sized play houses, strange unnamed fruit, Scripture graffiti, reflecting pool, prohibition of any one with diarrhea, frog-spitting fountains, avenue of trees, semi-transparent water windows, and wonderful photo opportunities.

Granny and Grandad arrived last week from New York City where they visited Aunty Han Han doing her thing telling kiddies about Jesus.

As always it took a bit for Pops to warm up to family she hasn’t seen in a while. It wasn’t long though until Poppy and Granny were straight kicking it like old times.

First thing we wanted to do was head to a nearby town where there’s a festive fall farm for kids to pick pumpkins and play on all sorts of things. But first, Granny had one thing to take care…our front yard.

Now with everything trimmed up we headed out to the farm.

There was a big slide which completed rattled your bum.

And a big corn bin to play in.

And a hay ride to the pumpkin patch.

And of course what day would be complete without ice cream!

Don’t miss the rest of our pictures from Granny and Grandad’s arrival and from our trip to the farm.

Sir Nigel D

1. I love her smile.
2. I love her blonde hair.
3. I love her her patience.
4. I love her impatience.
5. I love her child-like naivete.
6. I love her her honest to goodness common sense.
7. I love her handwriting.
8. I love her determination.
9. I love her love for her family.
10. But, most of all, I love her taste in men.

Simon Andrew

11. She is selfless.
12. She is hardworking.
13. She isn’t quick to get angry or stressed.
14. She is considerate and careful.
15. She is a good steward of possessions.
16. She sees the positive side of people.
17. She isn’t interested in gossip and makes a noise to acknowledge she hears what is being said but doesn’t wish to comment.
18. She is energetic.
19. She doesn’t use 200 words when 20 will do.
20. She has a servant heart and shows she loves people through cleaning or gardening.

Sally Olivia

21. I love the way mum potters about in the kitchen in the evenings until it is sparkling clean.
22. I love the way mum always thinks of others before herself.
23. I love the way mum has always encouraged us to go to church.
24. I love the way mum says mm, mm, mm, when she talks on the telephone.
25. I love the way mum cuts the hedge.
26. I love the way mum gels her hair to look all trendy.
27. I love the way mum looked after Marco.
28. I love the way mum lets me squeeze into bed next to her on special days like her birthday and mothers day even when I am no longer a little girl.
29. I love the way mum has worked to earn loads of money to pay for me to do so many exciting clubs and activities and have great family holidays.
30. I love the way mum smiles and squints too! I love my mum very, very, much.

Emily Clare

31. I love that she collects postcards from every place she visits.
32. I love that she doesn’t know her left from right.
33. I LOVE that she looked after Marco and Toby for so long and took them on the train.
34. I love that she taught the children’s groups at EFCC even though it was a hassle sometimes.
35. I love that she likes camping so much.
36. I love that she continues to work on the computer even when it drives her crazy.
37. I love that she wanted to work in Africa.
38. I love that she enjoys the details in life like counting how many cars there are on a train as it drives past.
39. I love that the contents of her letters and emails are so random.
40. I love that she is the only one to consistently comment on my blog.

Hannah Polly

41. I love her smile, her beautiful eyes and rosy cheeks!
42. I love her selflessness.
43. I love her enjoyment of nature.
44. I love her cuddles.
45. I love her laugh.
46. I love the way she has taught me so much.
47. I love the way she gets excited about unexpected things – like freshly cooked play dough!!
48. I love the way she hordes everything and therefore always has what you need!!
49. I love her potato cakes!!
50. I love the way she loves me. I love her!! She is like sunshine.

Beau-fils

51. I love that she insists that “commingled” is not a real English word.
52. I love that she once made me go dumpster-diving near the Theydon Bois station.
53. I love that she speaks French.
54. I love the face she makes when someone says something stupid. (She’ll probably make it when she reads this line.)
55. I love her sense of wanderlust.
56. I love how she swoops around, even if not doing anything super important.
57. I love that she wears Christmas sweaters.
58. I love that she allows her kids to poke fun at her.
59. I love that she loves me.
60. I love that she married Sir Nigel D.

Happy Birthday, Mum! We Love You!

Grandpa and Grandma Hayes traveled from Rundu, Namibia, to South Africa to Nigeria to New York to Raleigh to Greensburg, Pennsylvania, to Williamsburg, Virginia, and back to Wake Forest again. Aunty Sally spread her wings and flew from London to RDU and rode the nine hours to Greensburg, then to Williamsburg and left from Richmond, Virginia. Aunty Hannah and Uncle Simon landed in Pittsburgh rode to Greensburg, drove to Williamsburg and left from Richmond like their sister.

Quite the Christmas, Poppy’s first Christmas. Christmas Eve through Boxing Day we spent at Granny and Gramps Mausts’ in Greensburg, all Poppy’s closest family together in one big cozy house for Christmas. Allow me to cite Uncle Simon’s Christmas morning tweet:

@simonhayes2: enjoying the best in American hospitality. Sister Emily did well when she married into the Maust family! Merry Christmas to ya all.

So many people under one roof. So much hospitality. So much love. So much to be thankful for.

Sorry for the long delay in finishing this story! Starting back at Nursing school has been my number one priority for the last 3 weeks, but I have a couple of days off this week so I’m getting stuff done!!

Poppy was 7 weeks old yesterday so my memory of the events that took place that day are a bit faded but I will hit on the main points and you can use your imagination for the rest, haha. Oh, and be sure to read parts one and two first if you haven’t read them already.

So back to the story…

We just hung out for most of the morning, napping, channel surfing and anticipating what was to come.  Drew ventured out to find the cafeteria and ended up having a slap-up breakfast of sausage and biscuits and gravy: lucky thing!  I can’t remember what time of day it was but at some point the news of Michael Jackson’s cardiac arrest hit the news and that kept us busy for a while.  My contractions were getting worse and worse as they kept increasing the Pitocin.  At various points the nurse would come in and reduce the pitocin and then come back later and increase it again.  I was trying so hard to put off the epidural but it came to the point where I was just exhausted from the pain and felt like I couldn’t keep breathing through them anymore.  So I told the nurse “it was time”.  Everything happened fairly quick.  The anesthesiologist was called, the nurse came in to prep me, they elevated the bed, I sat on the side of the bed and Drew sat in front of me so I could put my feet up on his knees.  He was told to brace me as I tried hard not to pull away from the needle going into my spine!  I don’t know whether it was just because I was already in a lot of pain or whether it was because I was just exhausted but this procedure was horrible!!!  Drew really had to brace me hard.  I lay back down and they put a Foley catheter in.  I started getting numb from the waist down and it was sooooo weird. I hated the way it made my legs feel like rubber.  It was freaky touching them and not feeling a thing.

At around 1-2is in the afternoon Drew’s parents and little brother arrived.  We chatted for a while before they went out to find some lunch.  The afternoon went quickly but I wasn’t progressing and I was getting more and more nervous that they were going to come in and say that they’d done everything they could but it was time to just take the baby out!  I’m unsure exactly what time it was but the doctor came in and said “lets break your waters”.  WATERS!!  That’s right I still have that card to play!  I had totally forgotten about the waters!  I was so relieved that we had something else to try.  So after the doctor broke my waters we waited some more. (I was still at 3cm, oh and probably by now it was confirmed that Michael Jackson had died).

Here is where the story gets amazing for me.  It turned 7pm and guess who walks through the door, nurse Mary, the nurse who I first saw in the morning when I first arrived.  She had been on call that night and seeing as the day had turned out to be really busy they had phoned her in!!  She said her husband wasn’t very happy about it but we were super super happy!  She came in so determined to get Poppy out naturally that I felt like she was my hero, like God had sent her in to rescue me.  She then did more for me in the space of a couple of hours than any of the 3 nurses who I had during that whole day had done for me.  She put me in to various positions with my legs up on the stirrups, 30 mins on my left side, then 30 mins on my right side.  Then the doctor came in and checked me again….9cm and roughly 90% effaced!!  We could not believe it, I had gone from 3-9, praise the Lord!!  The doctor said in about an hour I could start pushing. He told me what to do and how to count and I felt really ready to get this show on the road!  So after a bit Mary got the bed in the right position and we started!  Drew was at my left side and my mother in law was sitting back eagerly waiting to meet her first grandchild.

I really enjoyed this part of my labour.  I felt like everything was really organised and under control.  Mary would tell me when a contraction was imminent and then she’d tell me when to start pushing because obviously I couldn’t feel them although I did slightly feel some nearer the end.  Mary did most of the work for the doctor, she got Poppy’s head right to the point where if I pushed anymore Poppy might pop out.  I would be pushing and Mary would say “ok stop stop lets wait for the doctor!” lol.  So we paged the doctor and obviously seeing as it was so busy he took a little while to come.  Eventually he came in and we started again.  I pushed and pushed while Drew was encouraging me and doing what supportive husbands do best.  At one point I had to tell him to stop talking because he was distracting me!  Then we came to a bump in the road.

Skip this paragraph if you don’t want to be a bit grossed out! There was a piece of skin that was stopping Poppy from coming any further.  Every time I pushed she would come up against this piece of skin and then when I relaxed she would bounce back.  So the doctor had to snip a little bit to allow Poppy to pass through.

Once this was done Poppy was on her way!  I think it was at this point where everyone was going crazy at the sight of Poppy’s hair and so much of it!!  The doctor asked if I wanted to reach down and feel her head, I wasn’t sure at first but I did in the end.  This was where I lost it!  I could feel my baby!  She was finally here!  A few more pushes now and she was out.  Drew was in tears. My mother in law at this point had come to stand next to Drew and she was sobbing too, but the room was so peaceful. It was a beautiful atmosphere.  The umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck and she came out blue, but Drew said the doctor went swoop swoop swoop and she was free.  She was put on my tummy and we were all crying and overwhelmed with joy. Then she got carried over to the warmer where another nurse was waiting to clean her off a bit and wrap her up.  This was the time that we phoned Africa and got my Mum on the phone.

Drew held the phone up to Poppy so Mum could hear her crying, a very special moment for my Mum.   While Poppy was under the warmer the doctor was fixing me up.  I was bleeding a lot and he was vigorously massaging my uterus and getting the nurse to take over while he gave me stitches and gave me a medication to contract my uterus to stop the bleeding.  I later found out that my EBL (estimated blood loss) was 750ml which the doc said was more than they usually see.  Thankfully they got the bleeding under control and nothing else came of it.

Poppy was then put it my arms and I met my little girl for the first time.  I was exhausted and in a daze but the moment was magical.  Drew’s Dad and brother came in and Poppy met everyone.  Lots of photos were taken and it was a special time for everyone.  Then a nurse came in and we watched Poppy get her first bath.  A little while after that I got into a wheel chair and we went down to the post-partum unit.

Here ends my labour story.   As I write this I can’t help but want to cry because it was such an amazing day, from the moment I realised I was bleeding in the beginning to the moment she was put in my arms all bundled up.  I look back at it fondly and love remembering how our angel came into the world. – I love you, Poppy.

Well evalo ewanawa is what Georgina will hear if anyone in Namibia wishes her a happy birthday in Oshiwambo. That could actually be Nigel. I hear he is now in the process of acquiring his ninth language. The real question though is has he learned Georgina’s language? I’m sure he’ll find a way to wish her happy birthday while the two of them are a continent away from their Si, Sal, Em, Han and ingrafted Drew.

Happy Birthday, Momma G!

About the only thing newsworthy I can think of as I sit here is that I had a cold shower this morning. Well, it was more cool than cold, but heat mostly definitely significantly reduced when compared with a normal day’s shower. Our hot water heater seems to have been acting up. I can say “have been” because I called the maintenance people this afternoon and they were able to come over soon thereafter and work out whatever was the malfunction. Though this is the second time this has happened in the past two months, we’re grateful in this case that we rent an apartment and can call a maintenance man to come fix the problem because it’s not our water heater.

Over the weekend we watched Chariots of Fire which turned out to be a fairly touching, moving and interest-keeping film of yesteryear. We recommend. Here’s what’s perhaps the most well-known line from the movie apart from the theme song:

I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.

Lastly, Nigel and Georgina are beginning to make posts on their blog at Hayestack.co.uk about adjusting to life in Namibia where they’ll be living for the next two years.