Teddy G

It wasn’t raining when I left the house, however 3/4 of the way through my 20 minute jog, it began to pour. Since there was no lightening, I decided just to slog along even when I got to the 5 minutes of cool down. I was already soaked, so there wasn’t any need to rush. I’m certainly not going to get hypothermia this time of year. In fact, I was a little warm in my long sleeved Goofy race shirt.

It has been raining for the past two days. We got 1 1/4” Wednesday and 3” yesterday. Today is supposed to be clear, which the Town of Windermere is certainly hoping. Tonight is Light Up Windermere when they ceremoniously turn on the “seasonal” lights. Not to be outdone, several families in town have already put up and lit their Christmas decorations. What happened to Thanksgiving? 

I am quite pleased with my progress with my Couch to 5K app program. Five weeks down, 3 to go, then I plan to run the Santa Twilight 5K in downtown Clermont, December 13th, amid the twinkling lights. Today was the first with all jog, no walking after the initial warmup. My new thought pattern is that I am lucky to be able to do this. How many other 73 year olds are as healthy as I am? I know pride goeth before a fall, which is my biggest fear, so I watch my footing very carefully. Especially today, since the sand roads were full of potholes from all the rain.


However, the really important news is the arrival of Theodore Grant Basham last Saturday, November 11, at 2:17 PM MST. 7lbs, 4 oz; 21.5” long. After a relatively easy labor, which doesn’t mean it wasn’t hard, both Teddy and Molly are well. Since then, his bilirubin level went high, as often happens, which made him lethargic, thus, when he tried to nurse, he’d fall asleep. This could have developed into a vicious cycle, but with some supplement bottles and really neat bili lights, which now are a fiber optic cable to put under baby, not the old overhead ones, I think things are back on track. It wasn’t the start Molly had hoped for, but an introduction to the fact that babies are messy and don’t always/often follow our plans. 

We have offered to come out and help with cooking, cleaning, and laundry as we did for Stephane and Mary. Actually, I’d volunteered Grant to go, since I have some classes and birding trips in the next couple of weeks I’d rather not miss. So far, Spaulding and Molly think they can do it all on their own, but as I said to Patten, they haven’t met tired yet. I also think they haven’t realized how much Teddy G is an addition to his whole family. He isn’t just their son, but also a grandson, nephew, and cousin. His birth impacts us all, so happily. It is an opportunity to realize new roles and places in our families. 

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