Home...FINALLY!!!

The road home from the hospital took 5 days, but we finally made it. It is a loonnnggg and extremely irritating story, which I will not go into at length. Let's just say there were some very needless tests done, which required incubation time, which meant Marsi could not leave the hospital. Then, when the time was almost up, they wanted to do more, which Rachel put her foot down, talked with the head Doctor of the unit, who agreed that additional testing was unnecessary.

We were able to put on a New Born outfit Rachel had bought for the occasion, that is the only time Marsi will be able to wear it, strapped her in her new car seat and came home!

At home, Marsi and Endrit had some good look in each other's eyes time. It is so fun to watch Endrit with his little girl. He has been hesitant to hold babies, but he has had no problem with his own, bonding has definitely happened.

Marsi was introduced to Dexter and Jimmie. Dexter is pretty nonchalant, but Jimmie is a little terrified and has been in hiding.

Endrit's parents were able to spend some time with Marsi. The looks on their faces tell the whole story, I don't need to say a thing. It's been great to be home. I'll be here for just a couple more days. It will be so hard to say goodbye. Later this week we will be moving to Missouri, for good. I don't know when the next time will be that I'll see and hold her. Rachel promises pictures.

Marsi is here!!!!

Day finally arrived...Marsi decided to make her debut at 3:46 PM on October 24, 2011.

These were Rachel's midwives...I say were, because she ended up needing to be transferred to the hospital, the University of Utah Medical Center. It is situations like these that I am so grateful for modern medicine!! Marsi was posterior, but turned enough to be transverse. Anyway, after 3 hours of pushing, forceps were used to bring Marsi into the world. We are all grateful it didn't need to be a C-section.

Rachel is smiling...after the epidural!

Endrit has a bit of a rough time with blood, hence, he said, he has a PhD, not an MD. He didn't want to lose anything, so he didn't watch anything. The container over his head was the barf bowl the nurse gave him. Besides that, he is so protective of Rachel and their cats, I just can't imagine how protective he will be of his little girl.

Nicole was in the room with us while Stan and Phillip were outside the door.

Marsi turned out to be not so little; 9 lbs. .3 ozs. with a head of hair you cannot believe! Rachel was very pleased with the result of all of her hard work, in the womb and the coming out there of. Endrit was pretty happy with the result as well!

This little girl was well taken care of, proof of which is in her little rolls and the dimples on her fingers. It's so nice to have her here with us. When they leave the hospital, I will go and spend some time with them....wow what a hardship....NOT!

Paris...here I AM!!!

Our first day in Paris, we wanted to get out and do some walking, so that we would be able to not have jet lag. It was a great day. Not long after we started out, it started raining. I thought it was funny that everyone, almost, took cover by a sidewalk toilet.

Of course we needed to see the Eiffel Tower. It's quite the structure! It was fun to see all of the old architecture.

There are a lot of scooters. These were all Domino Pizza delivery scooters. We also went to where Nepoleon is entombed. We didn't go in, but I guess he is suspended from the ceiling under the gold dome.

We stood in line and went to the top of the Eiffeil Tower at night. Every hour glittering lights, light up the tower. Rob made sure I had great looking ears! The lights of the city are very pretty. This is looking down the river Seine.

It's a once in a lifetime event....FOR SURE....most never have it!

September 24, 1921, William Alfred Pope, Jr. was born; making September 24, 2011 his 90th birthday. My brother Charles hosted dad's birthday party at his home in Hesperus, CO. It was a perfect day. The weather was beautiful, in the background of some of the pictures you can see the fall colors beginning to come on. Two of my brothers were not able to be there; Terrel and Ted. I missed them, it's so hard to get all of us together in the same place. Most of the spouses were unable to attend, but those of us there, had a wonderful time. Pixie and Gloria did all of the cooking, except for a couple of the desserts. The meal was wonderful! Two of Marjorie's daughters were able to be there; Debbie and Sharon with J. Paul. Of my family there were Bill and Susan, Randal and Arla, Doris and Dan, Pat, Mary and Hal, Charles and Gloria, Me, Rick, Rob, Pixie, Tisha, and Taylor.

That evening Dad told us some stories of this Great Grandpa Pope, and Shupe. We learned that in the late 1800's, 18 men were members of the Texas Rangers. He had a couple of colorful stories to tell. Some of the relatives were truly rough and part of the wild, wild west.

Charles and Gloria were awesome hosts. Most all of us spent at least one, if not two nights there. As some of us were leaving, Gloria handed us some tins, "to snack on, on the road." Gloria is always so gracious and kind. Thank you, Charles and Gloria for the wonderful weekend. Another memory to enrich my life.

As I was leaving, they were having a hot air balloon, something, in Manasa, Co. It was fun to see at least 30 balloons starting to rise in the beautiful early morning.

These next two pictures are pictures I have wanted to get forever ago. These pictures come from just southeast of Moab, Ut. When I was a little girl, my dad pulled over and showed us the "Vanishing Angel". You can see the upright rock at the end of the range, standing out as plain as day. When you go around a turn in the road through a small outcropping, the 'Angel' is gone. You can see it until the small outcropping hides it, within seconds, it is gone. No one, to my knowledge, has ever figured out what this phenomena is...but not for the lack of trying!