Hot Air's Blowin'

Tornadoes. Every other day this last week, we've had a tornado warning. It's getting obnoxious. I'm at the point that I'm content staying upstairs until I see a cow fly past our window, but Audrey's good at getting us downstairs every time. Better safe than sorry. Lydia doesn't care one way or the other. Although, she does seem a bit more bored in the basement.

While we were downstairs, we decided to go through our stuff we'd be moving to figure out what would stay and what would go. Audrey found some interesting stuff.... So Lydia's bored, I'm bored, and my wife clearly has cabin fever as you'll see in this never-before-seen footage:

I'm writing this now, in our basement, where we've been sitting for the last two hours. So far, the only hot air blowing has been from the weather man. But all of seminary community has moved downstairs. I attribute this to two causes. One, Joplin just lost 118 people to a tornado at the beginning of the week, so everyone's a little paranoid. Two, classes are over, so no one has devoted their soul to writing papers.

Last Thursday, I finally finished my spring quarter with over 100 pages written, thousands of pages of reading, and over 20 tests and quizzes. Now, Lydia and I get to have some father/daughter bonding time for the next couple of weeks while Audrey's at work. Then in June, I have one more summer class before we move to Fredericksburg. Still. Good for me to be free for a while, and as much as Audrey misses us, for the most part, she's liking being back at work and out of the house. More updates to come.

-Andrew-

Shots Day

Well, it was one of the saddest days of my life thus far.

Lydia had to go in today for her 2 month immunizations. She was a little fussy already because she was hungry, so she was kind of whimpering. Then the doctor came in with TWO needles. When they had her laid on her back ready to give her the injections, I made the mistake of looking into her eyes. Suddenly, they got very wide, and she just screamed bloody murder. I wanted to bawl with her.

A few minutes later, when we finally got her calmed down, she just stared at me with huge crocodile tears gathering the corners of her eyes, as if to say, "Why would you ever let them harm me?" It was awful. But I know it's ultimately for her benefit.

I thought of all those times I ever asked God, "Why would you ever let this happen?" If I hurt that much out of finite love for our daughter, I can't imagine how much God must hurt in his infinite love, when he sees us hurting. However, the need for our daughter's health made the pain necessary to endure. As long as we are loved by our Father (which is forever, because of Christ), we can trust that whatever happens, no matter how bad, he will ultimately turn around for our good.

On a brighter note, however, it's Audrey's birthday today, so we're going out to dinner with some friends, and we're gonna party like its 1999! Actually, we're going to make 2011 the NEW 1999. That's how hard we're going to party. Or something like that. We might pass out around 8:30 watching Office reruns. Wish us luck.

-Andrew-

Something New

Wednesday, on Call Day at seminary, we found out we would be living in a new location for a year, while I'm on vicarage. For those of you who don't know what vicarage is, think of it like an internship. The way seminary is organized, I take 2 years of classes, 1 year of internship anywhere in the country, then another year of classes. So for the next year, we'll be moving to Fredericksburg, VA, while I learn under a pastor in the field up there. Here we are on Call Day:

Lydia doesn't look that happy, but she told me later that she actually is.

Needless to say, we're incredibly excited! I actually think Audrey's even more excited than I am. She often makes high pitch squeals and shakes her little balled fists in excitement. It looks like a great area with plenty of stuff to do. I think by the time we leave, our biggest "regret" is that we won't have time to do everything. It's a huge Civil War historical area, an hour away from Washington, DC, and a few hours away from NYC. I know we'll have a blast. More importantly, though, the congregation where I'll be working, Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, looks like a fantastic congregation with lots of ministries to their community. And in talking with the pastor, I think I'll get some great experience from him as a mentor.

Please pray for us as we start this new chapter in our lives, and we will also be praying for all of you. We're really looking forward to growing as a family as well as growing together in Christ. And I'll be keeping you updated throughout the year, as well!

-Andrew-

Peanut Talks! ...Kind of.

Hey everybody,

Just wanted to give you the latest. Audrey's getting better and better everyday. She goes back to work in a little less than 2 weeks. On Wednesday, I get my vicarage call, so we'll find out where we'll be living for the next year of our lives.

And as for Peanut... well, she's doing magnificently. She found a new pastime--talking with her dangling toys on her bouncer. Strangely enough, though, she only monologues with the dragonfly. I guess the snail and caterpillar haven't yet earned that privilege. If you're interested, here's a video: Peanut Talks! She's done it a few more times since I recorded that video, and every time, she's only facing the dragon fly. Kind of a weirdo, I know. But what did you expect? She fits right in with our family.

-Andrew-

Back to Life

Well, over the past few days, Audrey has been stuck in the hospital with a hematoma. We're actually at the hospital as I write this, but she should be discharged very soon. She's spent just as much time here for post-cesarean complications as she did for the cesarean itself. But this afternoon, she's finally back to life, and we're going home.

As for me, I'm at least 75 hours behind in my homework, but I have the next 4 days to catch up a little. Happy Easter break!

More updates will come throughout Audrey's recovery, but for now, thanks all you friends and family for your prayers and support!

-Andrew-

Baptized

Well, I finally have a few spare minutes to write some stuff down. Sorry it's been awhile.

Lydia and Audrey are doing awesome. Thank you, everyone, for all your support and prayers. They're both sleeping semi-regularly, depending on how fussy Lydia is when she goes down. She was just baptized last Saturday

(thank you everyone who came up to visit and support us), and I thought for sure, the Lord would miraculously instill in her divine exhaustion to let her sleep through the night, but I think she grows into that later. In the meantime, she's just enjoying being a saved child of God too much to sleep soundly.

My classes have finally slowed down enough that I can see them as much as, if not more than I see the campus library. But wouldn't you know it? As soon as it slows down, I leave for Memphis for a class for 3 days. I can't wait to finish with this place.

ANYWHO, there's a series of trips in the works for this summer, when we'll be going to Texas and Colorado to visit family, so stay tuned for details....

-Andrew-

Lydia Marie Walker

Lydia "Peanut" Marie Walker was born yesterday afternoon at 2:42pm weighing 7lbs. 6oz. Audrey was induced around 3am, endured about 12 hours of contractions to no avail (no dilation whatsoever), and finally got a non-emergency c-section. About 3 hours prior to the procedure, I started feeling unconsolably ill. No sleep for almost 36 hours and no food since dinner the night before had me spinning. Even the doctors were asking if I had the flu, so we were scared they wouldn't let me into the operating room. However, as soon as she was born, it all went away.

She is beautifully healthy. Even after birth, she's still right in the middle of the stats of all her peers. She's getting ready for the world, and so far, everyone who's seen her seems very impressed. Probably because she looks just like Audrey.

Now, the entries on real parenting can begin. If anyone has any suggestions or stories, please do not hesitate to tell us. As cute as she is, she's very frightening. But it's nothing we can't handle! There hasn't been a diaper yet I haven't changed (almost a blowout yesterday), and so far we haven't had any trouble calming her down when she needs it. But that doesn't happen too often. She stayed quiet yesterday from the time she came out and they cleaned her for 18 full hours after that. Not a peep all night, even when she was hungry. Hopefully, she's as good in a week as she's advertised so far.

Thanks to you all for your prayers and the interest you've expressed in my daughter's and my wife's wellbeing. I (and both of them too) are eternally grateful, and we can't wait to report to you some stories!

-Andrew Walker-