We’ve got two new grand-daughters; Kate Duncan and Amelia Ostrander. You’ve gotta love SKYPE. With webcam attached on both ends, we can visit with and see our kids on the other end of the country. Candy and Jamie live in Florida… take a look at Amelia and Noah.
Candy and Jamie have posted photos. Amelia is home; Noah loves his little sister. The Duncans (Kenny, Wil and Becca), the Kevin Kemps (Emerson) and Amelia’s brother, Noah all welcome Grandchild number SIX.
Just spoke to Carolyn. She and Noah arrived home, just in time to welcome Jamie, Candy and little Amelia. Noah’s still not quite sure what’s goin’ on. His world is about to change.
Already, friends in the community have set up meals and support. Marsha and Robin are closeby. Jennifer drive down with a good friend from Holly Springs. The Holly Springs house is on the fast track for a quick close. Jennifer finishes up her work in NC, and will head to her new home in Florida in the next few weeks.
Candy is doing very well after the delivery. More photos will come soon. Between now and then, I got time with the Duncans. Good to see Kenny, Wil and Becca. Kris is due in six or seven weeks.
God is good. Very good.
Carolyn just uploaded a few new shots.
Amelia arrived just ten minutes ago… 6:10PM Eastern Time. The labor was FAST. There was an epidural in process when Candy called out to the Anaesthesiologist, “I have to push!!” A short few minutes later, Amelia was in Candy’s arms.
“She looks like Noah!” Carolyn and Jamie agreed. “She’s a big girl,” exclaimed the physician. Eight pounds, fourteen ounces to be exact.
Everyone is celebrating… me from California. Check back soon for more detail, and photos. These just came from Jamie via cell phone direct from the delivery room (click on thumbnail for larger image) -
Stay tuned!
PS MAP of Melbourne, including hospital location, Amelia’s home, Jamie’s office, etc., etc.
This just in from Jamie…
“We’re at 5 centimeters. Candy’s been admitted. We’re staying for the duration. More to come.”
- Via text message at 12:25, PST (5:25 East Coast) Jamie added… “We should have known it would be the 5th – that’s Candace’s birthdate in May… the 5th”
PHOTO – Just as Candy was admitted just moments ago… click on the THUMBNAIL for full photo. She’s about to deliver (from Jamie’s cell phone, sent to Ken’s cell in California)
More to come…
Hey guys… here’s a hot alert… Candy’s on her way to the hospital with Jamie. She’s had some hard contractions. She’s still not certain “this is it…” though I talked to Jamie, and he disagrees. He thinks this is it.
Carolyn is at the Melbourne house with Noah, who is currently napping. Carolyn’s Aunt (he mom’s sister) and cousin are visiting… they are in on the excitement.
We’ll keep posts going on the BLOG.
Well, I’m heading home. Amelia has yet to make her debut.
Carolyn took me to the Orlando Airport early this morning in Jamie’s VW Diesel. We were guided by his new Garmin GPS… got us there right on schedule. The ETA called it. No challenges… got on the airplane headed home.
Good news! Jamie and Candy are in escrow on their NC house. We’re thankful for a timely sale. A new family moves in after a short escrow. This closes out a good chapter for the Ostranders in NC… and opens the door wide for great opportunity in Florida.
Carolyn stays in Melbourne… and will stay long enough to help Candy with her first week or so. There’s induction scheduled for Monday… C and J are considering that possibility, too.
I’m going home disappointed to miss the delivery; but got to get back to work on the next chapter of our lives. Already several things are coming into focus for us. I got several calls while I was in FL; things are taking shape.
But what a wonderful nine days it was for me. I got to see the new house (a terrific rental for the next thirteen months), their new neighborhood. We visited Jamie’s Riverside Bank office over in the Island (Melbourne Beach) and got a sense of the new position he’s been given. We also got a good look at the neighborhood – Jamie’s home town from childhood through high school. We took a “nostalgia tour.” Jamie told us all the stories – the house he grew up in (built by his father), the Catholic High School where he won honors as a football star and the church he grew up in. We heard about the neighbors who are still life long friends, several of whom came to Valley Center for the wedding.
We spent New Year’s Eve with Linda and Hugh Evans, brought in the New Year with laughter and singing. We went to the Zoo and a couple of local parks. We walked the beaches and toured the upscale estate homes all along the waterfront up and down the Atlantic. We experienced some of the heat… and cold. A cold front came in just a few days ago.
We got plenty of one on one time with Noah – bonding as his grandma and grandpa.
So we can be thankful. I’ll be monitoring the progress as Candy gets ready to deliver. And you know I’ll keep you posted. Carolyn’s become quite a photographer… so there will be plenty of photos for us all.
Between now and then, here are a few shots…
As I enter this post, Candy has jumped into a furious house cleaning mode. The vacuum cleaner is whirring; the trash bins are emptied… We are, of course, watching football.
Is this a sign? Time will tell.
Happy New Year everyone. Still no change. Lot’s of football. Stay tuned!
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