Life is continuing on at a pretty good pace! I have to admit, today I don't feel like trying to keep up! We're getting the garden in shape. Being gone a month made some extra work but, it's looking nice. I've pretty well finished the pond. We have some plants in it that the fish really like and-woo-hoo! we even have a resident frog and 2 large snails! It's alot of fun to do and watch. Things are looking nice- just not a lot of different things as far as vegies. My herbs are looking healthy so I should have a nice little crop to dry for use this winter.
Tom is very anxious to meet and hold Chastity. If all goes as planned they will be home the first part of Aug. Oh, boy!
An interesting thing happened at the hospital where Hannah was in FL. I met Dr. Thomas Enyart.(hope I spelled it right) He spoke to Becky , the girls and I at the elevator. He looked so familiar and I had heard the nurse call him Dr. Enyart but, I couldn't place why he looked so familiar. It finally hit me-a blog! I had seen his wifes blog. Is it a small world or what!
I have lot's to get accomplished today so I'd best close this and get moving. It is only 7:25 a.m. and I have a load of laundry ready to hang out,rearranged a couple pieces of furniture, changed my tablecloth and just about finished the dishes. I guess I'm not doing to badly!
Have a good day and take time to smell the flowers! They'll be gone before we know it!






This shows some natural comb. It had to be removed so more frames could be put in place. The honey run has been going for about a week now so the bees are really working hard! The frame Tom is holding is what a fully capped frame of honey looks like. He cuts the caps off and then it's spun out in a small extractor. Good honey!!

Confession

Ok- so I must confess--I'm becoming what is referred to as a birth junkie! As I become more educated in this field I am also becoming more passionate about birth and the process of it. It is a beautiful thing and every birth is it's own story.
While I am committed to natural birth and educating my clients and friends about it, I do know there are times when intervention is absolutely necessary. For Hannah we all agreed that whatever needed to happen would be ok. She was committed to a natural birth but, with the test results from the sonagram at 41 wks. showing low amniotic fluid, we knew we were possibly running some risks by waiting the full 42 wks. So--she chose to go to the hospital for an induction. If this would have led to a c-section because of risk to the baby, she was ok with that. She wanted what was best for the baby.
Natural birth is a world that is largely unknown by the medical profession. Many doctors and nurses have not witnessed a natural child birth and therefore do not understand the process. While we are the greatest country on earth and I'm very thankful for all the technology, unfortunately, birth is one area that has been turned into a medical procedure instead of the natural process that will take care of itself, so to speak, if left to take its course. Again, thank God for technology when needed.
Note: I will be posting tidbits of information on medical procedures and natural childbirth, because I find it very interesting and informative. That's also my new profession. I welcome comments and questions! It's always fun to have a good discussion.

Home

I arrived back in OH late, late Sun. eve. thanks to USAir. They got me into Pliladelphia just as my connecting flight was to leave so I had to book the next Dayton flight-leaving 3 1/2 hrs. later, then got diverted to Col. for almost 2 hrs. due to weather. We lost the first night of our cabin because of it all but, it was good to be back with Tom.
We headed to the cabin Mon. morn.-very nice drive and a pretty area-Hocking Hills. We had a very nice get-away and took our time coming home. We stopped in old Dublin for a starbucks and found a specialty childrens shop. Papaw bought his new grand-daughter her first gift from him! Hannah doesn't know what it is as of this posting so-----
I"m very glad I was able to be with Hannah for the labor and birth of Chastity. She did a fantastic job! We are so proud of her and her choice to stay "drug free" has paid off. Chastity is so very alert- has been from the get-go. She holds her head up, turns to sound, actually appears to focus on you when you speak to her, coos at you and is just very responsive. I actually got her first smile Sun. eve. Since then she's smiled in response as well as the involuntary stuff. Of course, we think she's a doll baby.
Hannah labored hard but, did a great job. It took all 3 of us-Andy, Courtney and I to help her through it but, it was a great experience. At one point they thought she may have ruptured so the pit was shut off- she was fine and thankfully- the pit was not restarted- that is until the Dr. thought the contractions were not coming soon enough during delivery! No rest in between? isn't that soon enough??? My rant- birth has been turned into a medical procedure and it's not that at all- you're not sick-you're pregnant!!!
Anyhow- Hannah and Baby are doing well, nursing is going great and Andy is already wrapped around her finger by his own confession! He so thought she was a boy so it was a bit of a surprise but, he loves her dearly. I think he'll be a great Daddy.

Happy 25th Anniversary to my Sweetie

Yes, she has arrived!

After many false alarms and much waiting, Chastity Ruth Heintzelman made her grand, and I mean grand, entrance into our world. She was literally a BIG surprise to everyone! Becky, Nathanaels wife, won the guess as to the weight-she said 10 lbs. Grandpa Downer got to attend the birth via Skype-not the messy stuff but, he was on during the end of the pushing and the big announcement. He liked that pretty well! Nathanael and Becky have gotten to see her via Skype,too. Aaron won't know she's even here or what she is til' next week due to being in boot camp. We all think she's just beautiful and the hair!! she has a FULL head of golden hair! Needless to say, I'm enjoying what little time I have with her. After being here a month, I'm leaving for home on Sun. Hannah would like for me to stay as we had originally planned-when we thought she'd be born earlier! but, Tom and I have a cabin booked for our anniversary and I need to be home. Tom has been a true jewel-he's been so very patient! I'll be happy to be home with my hubby and into my garden. I hope it won't need too much work!!!
Going to end this and change Chastity-have to get it all in while I can! Check out Hannah's blog for some pics- I'll post some later.

Anniversaries and babies

Yesterday Hannah and Andy celebrated their 1st ann.! She did not want to be pregnant on her ann. but, she still is as of this posting. However! she was allowed to take castor oil this morning so---we shall see! She's feeling good-has the whole time--no miserable stuff for her. We are, of course, hoping for a short, easy delivery.
I'll keep you posted!

Waiting

We are all trying to wait patiently on Baby. The midwife is sending Hannah for a sonagram on Mon. just to check on everything-no-there are no problems, everything is fine- she just has to check before proceeding so we all know whats going on for sure. She will then see the midwife on Tues. and will most likely start some herbs to get things going. Of course, we're hoping she goes this weekend! Pray for a weekend delivery!
Tom is being ever so patient! He has gotten 3 swarms of bees in the last 2 wks. bringing his hive count to 5. That will mean quite a bit more honey than we had anticipated but, hey, that's good! Anyway, between the bees and college and work he's managing to stay busy.
We're hoping Aaron is doing ok in boot camp- can't talk to him yet. Nathanael and Becky have had a scare-someone broke into their house the other day. Didn't take anything but, left signs they were there.( lights left on, door unlocked, busted lock on one door and a footprint) Needless to say all the locks are changed and Becky will have her permit to carry and a new gun. Pray she never has to use them!!!!
I'll be sure to post as soon as Baby arrives!!