Names and Veins

Things SHOULD begin settling down around here. I'm back from Seattle. Kyle's back from backpacking in the Uintahs. Plus (hallelujiah!!) Kyle is back to working only 40 hours a week. We are grateful he had the work and the overtime during such a difficult time, but we're ready to have Daddy back.

We are definitely having another girl and we're really excited. Kyle declared that since I named our other three children (though not entirely true because my sister suggested two out of the three) he would get to name this one. I laughed aloud and told him he knew perfectly well that he wasn't naming the baby. He has a tendancy to come up with some very 'interesting' names. He then told me that he already had a name picked: Juliet. I was pleasantly surprised. I like it and it fits in with the other kids' names. So there you have it. Though the jury is still out on a middle name. I like Ester. Or maybe Sophia. What do you think?

Scarlett starts kindergarden the end of August. She has afternoon class with Mrs. Carter. I was dissappointed about not having morning at first. Then I thought about getting up and getting her ready in the middle of winter early in the morning with a new baby and I'm really coming around to the idea of afternoon. I think it'll be great. I'm still debating on whether I'll attempt to do the choir at the school next year. We'll see. It'll be a lot of work, but I already have some great ideas and I just don't want to turn it over to just anyone. If I can get all the music planned and the script written before the start of the school year, I might just be able to pull it off.

One little thing I've got to vent about before I finish up. I have a HUGE varicose vein in my right leg (I can't really describe the grossness of it) and it turns out that I have a clot (no worries!!!! It's in a superficial vein and there's very little danger of it going anywhere that would be harmful). It's just really annoying. I get to wear very sexy support hose all summer now. I'll have one tan and one very white leg by the time this baby's born. I'm glad that I had it looked at though. I'm also grateful that there are thigh high supports that will keep me functioning this summer. Finally I'm grateful that they don't strip veins anymore. Look it up. It's pretty gross.

Condolences

Condolences to my sister and her family at this time. Here is a letter that her husband wrote in explanation. I'm at a lack for words in my grief for them.

"Dear family and friends - we have felt your amazing sympathy and support and we want you to know that we sincerely appreciate all of your actions, thoughts, words, and prayers. We're still taking things day by day and even hour by hour - we don't know what to expect with each new turn.
Things happened pretty quickly - I've been trying to balance being here for Stacey with my own emotions, not to mention the logistics of childcare and upcoming memorial services. I want to personally thank everyone who has helped us by watching or sharing a kind word or hug with Caleb, Andrew, Matty, and Sammy these last few days while we've been at the hospital.
I know you are all wondering what happened, so let me share briefly what we know. On Tuesday evening, Stacey called me from her regularly scheduled OB appointment. She was crying - really crying, and she told me that there was no heart beat - that the baby had died. There was no way of knowing how, when, or why at that point in time. We decided to go ahead with a c-section delivery on Wednesday.
Eli Quinn Roundy was [still]born at 31 weeks gestation on June 3, 2009, at 1:38pm. He weighed 4 pounds, 3 ounces, and was 16 inches long. He is our fifth boy, something many of you know we are pretty proud of - we do pretty good with boys! During the c-section, both doctors commented on Eli's abnormally short umbilical chord, and there is a likelihood that the short chord had something to do with the complications that resulted in his passing.
We had the beautiful opportunity of spending the rest of the day yesterday with Eli in Stacey's recovery room. Somehow having him bundled up nearby has made it easier for us to both remember him as our fifth son and let go at the same time. Stacey and I are both bound by the faith that we will be able to be with Eli - and all of our children - again in the eternities after this life. This belief has also been the source of great comfort to us.
Stacey is recovering well - she was taken off IV just a few minutes ago. Her spirits are up. But she has a long 4-6 week recovery period ahead of her. Stacey's parents are flying in this afternoon. We will have a private grave-side memorial service next week with our boys and other immediate family who are here. We want to spend time with our boys focusing on Eli and building a tradition to remember him even though we barely knew him...
Thank you for flooding our email, text, and voice mail inboxes with words of sympathy and kindness. Although we haven't been able to respond to each of you individually, your words and thoughts bring us great comfort and confidence that we will make it through the days and weeks ahead.
From the bottom of our hearts, we appreciate all the help and support everyone has offered."

I'll be leaving next Thursday to fly out and help for a few days. Stace, your family is in our thoughts and prayers. We love you.