Great visitors today

Today was a great day of visitors, rest and bonding. Ivy has slept a lot today, still tuckered out by her 12:24 a.m. entrance.

We had some great visitors today. Grandpa "Hey" Steve was the first to stop by -- for the second baby in a row -- this morning, followed by Grandma Nomi (my mom). Next came our family friends Mary Kay and Jeramie Larson, and then Pastor Arlin Hill from East Hill, who came to visit and pray for Ivy and us. Then my best friend Jeff Schroeder, his very pregnant wife Amber, and his mom, Jackie. Then the Hathcock Five was joined by the Dunn Five, as Savannah's brother, sister and parents came, bringing London and Liberty to meet their new little sister for the first time.

Thanks to everyone who came out today, for everyone who sent their well wishes on Facebook, by phone and by text, and for everyone else who has been praying for us! It's been a great day! We just need Ivy to wake up a little bit more so she can eat and then pee!

Here's our first family photo:

We'll soon be homeowners!

The last couple of days of PawPaw and Gran's visit were spent working on getting our fam into a house! Our knowledgeable real estate broker PawPaw took us around Gresham and Sandy, looking at places in our price range that fit our space requirements.
Well, it turned out that the first place we saw was the one to beat (and the one that ultimately couldn't be beat): A four bedroom, two-and-a-half bath attached townhouse a couple blocks away from our apartment here in Sandy. Asking price was fantastic, and the 1,600 square feet were just what we needed. Brand new building, new appliances, brilliant layout -- woo hoo! (CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICS!)

There were three of these townhouses in a row... one facing Dubarko Road, one in the middle, and one on the north end. We wanted the one on the north end most of all because of its color palette and its location.
So, with PawPaw's help, we got general financial info and presented our first offer... but before the seller could even look at it, he had approved another offer. So, back to the drawing board. The middle unit was nice, too, and was $10k less than the end unit, so we put an offer on that one... but ultimately we were no match for a buyer who offered more than the asking price, and paid in CASH. Unbelievable in these economic times.

We thought we were finished, but then we realized we could put an offer on one of the two as-of-yet unbuilt townhouses across the driveway. Those will have the same layout and square footage as the others, but the buyer also will be able to do a little customization. We saw the opportunity, and put an offer... and, praise God, it was accepted last night without so much as a counteroffer!
Thanks go out to God most of all, and right behind Him, PawPaw, for everything he's done to make this happen for us.

We're still 2-4 months away from moving day (because they have to build the units), but that's fine with us, and we're so excited!

PawPaw and Gran visit!

Well, we've been busy this past week, as PawPaw Larry and Granny Debra came for a visit from Dalton, Georgia. They came to see Liberty for the first time, and to play with London lots! We went swimming, played instruments, went out to eat, read books and threw balls. London and Liberty took to their Georgia grandparents quite well!

Here are a few looks at what we did! Enjoy the videos!

On to the NEXT challenge...

Well, praise the Lord, we were released from Doernbecher Children's Hospital at about dinnertime yesterday, much to our surprise and joy. We're still amazed and grateful at the about-face the new (more level-headed) doctors provided.

We reached my (Marcus') parents house just before 8, watched "The Bachelor" with my parents and gathered everything to leave. Just as I started to put London in his carseat to go home to Sandy, he vomited all over himself.

So, we all came back inside, tried to make the boy drink PediaLite and slept in the downstairs guest room. We were so close...

We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning in Rockwood for Liberty (the "Well Baby" checkup she was supposed to have Sunday), and London will see someone later. It looks like he has a virus, though... not much we can do about that but keep him hydrated and happy.

Liberty's fine, as she always was! You can tell she's happier being in cozier, more comfortable surroundings and is responding by being more alert every day. Her eyes are definitely blue.

We miss home, but are thankful to be amongst grandparents who are supporting us and taking care of our fragile children and their perhaps even more fragile parents.

I'm hoping to get some video up on here once things calm down a bit, but enjoy this pic, taken by our friend Emily McFadden, in the meantime.

What happens at Grandma's, stays at Grandma's, apparently.

Well, our first night away without London went off without a hitch. Savannah and I (Marcus) enjoyed a fantastic time at McMenamins Edgefield, watching "Madagascar 2" in the theater pub, playing rousing games of UNO and table shuffleboard, and listening to the wild wind whip through the trees.

Meanwhile, London, Grandma Nomi and Grandpa Steve played games, ran around and chowed down. London also went to sleep without a problem and visited Great-Grandma and Grandpa Hurt at their house.

That's about all we know.

Grandma Nomi and London repeatedly said, "What happens at Grandma's STAYS at Grandma's..." and from the looks of this video, London is keeping pretty tight-lipped! :-)