AN UPDATE FROM GREECE

This is a photo taken a few hours after his birth, we still haven't been able to take any current photos.
Posted by mara at 7:39 PM 7 comments

UPDATE
The doctors have confirmed that it is Hirschsprungs Disease. We are going to go see him on Thursday and then on Friday he is going in for the Colostomy Surgery. Rhonda will be in the air flying back home and Arthur and I will stay in Thessaloniki untill after the operation. We are still unsure of when he will be coming home but put in your prayers that it will be soon.My dad found an easy to read website that talks about Hirschsprungs Disease .
Posted by mara at 7:19 PM 0 comments

Fashion Statement
I did the Greek Fashionable thing, I had a C-section. Anyone who knows me would know that I am not at all into being in fashion, but it was a quick minute decision. The doctors said I was in the stages of pre-eclampsia and it was getting very dangerous for me and the baby, although I wasn't in any labor pain I did have pain in my upper back and the baby was showing signs of being stressed. So the team was called in ( I had both maternity doctors with me) and a little after midnight in the early morning of January 29, 2008 Nik was delivered while I was out cold. The reason I said it was the fashionable thing to do was that everyone Arthur knows has done it. In fact in my room we had 6 women come through, 2 regular labors and 4 C-Sections, out of 6 women 2 of us had our babies taken to bigger hospitals. A C-Section in Greece is almost like fake boobs in California 2 out of every 3 women has it done.

Bayview Snow in WA

We are anxiously awaiting news from Arthur and Mara about how baby Nicolas is doing. Hopefully he will soon be at his best and home with his new parents and extended family. It snowed here last week so I had to post the snowman because I have a rule that when it snows, which is rarely more than once a year, we have to do three things: sled, cross country ski, and make a snowman. We had to do all three of these quickly as the snow only lasted a few hours.

Seems odd that just a few months ago this was the same back yard where Leah and Terry's wedding was held.

Baby Boy-- Nickolaos Sakkas

Please pray for Mara, Arthur and new baby Nickolaos. It appears he is having some trouble absorbing his food and has been moved to another hospital 1 hour away from Mara . It is the practice for new mothers to spend 5 days in the hospital in Greece. Arthur is in between...

See wacocaprons or grecomara links for updates.

Winter Snow

Before I get started about the snow I just have to tell you about

BABY - Nick- born last night in Kalampaka Greece , parents Mara and Aurthur. Jenny called me from T.P New Mexico a few minutes ago with the news. Guess they went to the hospital for Mara having some indigestion or something and they said it was time for him to come and he did. Parents were not quite expecting him last night but all are well and happy!

Congratulations!! I will update this blog with their blog address asap.

The boys are out of school Cam for semester break and Foster for a snow day and they have had some fun. The chickens are even enjoying the change of weather. The snow has brought along warmth, 32+ degrees. Last wee and weekend we were dipping into the teens and were very cold. All of us including the animals except "WHOPPER", the two week old orphaned calf were feeling it. He is snug in his little igloo. He was given to Cameron from the farmer who sold him his cows last summer. Whopper lost his mom to some ilness.

Foster s off to his first chicken 4-H meeting tonight and has a new batch of chicks on order that are coming next week in the mail from the McMurray hatchery. He is getting his brooder ready and these will be his summer show stock for the fairs in the area.

Took Grandpa and Granny a load of wook on Sunday since Granps keeps it toasty and he was running low. They are snug in the farmhouse and Gramps made all of the boys a big bowl of icecream and fruit topping for their efforts. They still do remarkably well.

Glen Smith led a wood party at Great Grandma Bridgmans house in Burlington on Saturday to take down a couple of giant birch trees that were a hazzard to the house. Mike and Cameron went to help and David Stice, Kelli's friend, brought a commercial boom truck and chipper. It means for more firewood for Granny and Gramps and the place looks real cute.

Foster and I were in Puyallup at his soccer game in a sleet storm. Burrrh! THe game was a "nail biter" and ended in a tie!

Christmas Day

Here we are below!! On Christmas Day. Bob is missing because he waited in the garage until we finished singing Joy to the World. That makes him the star of the program as solist next year. Pictured seated in front: Grandpa and Granny B. Second row left to right, Glen Smith, Kelli Smith, Peter Bridgman, Foster Wade, Dillon Wade, Candy Smith, Cameron Wade, Larry Smith. Back row Mike and Peggy Bridgman and Mike Wade. Tindy took the picture.

Above the boy cousins were enlisted to help make the "smashed" potatoes.

p.s. Mike Bridgman is the happy recipient of the "Pee Wee" portrait. Glen sadly retired it from his care. He will proudly display it for one full calendar year, or if he disires not to, he automatically will be required to keep it one additional year.

Holiday Visitors

Grandpa Mike came from Oregon yesterday and is staying a couple days before he's off to see Jeff and Jill and Marlena and Randy and the kids. He's got a few stops along his way. He looks good and is walking three miles. He said Uncle Gene Smith has lost 160lbs and is weighing 215. Yeah to them!!

He helped Michael and the boys with some welding projects for Camerons cow grooming chute and shelf brackets for the wrestling room at Camerons school. Beat nearly all of us at cribbage and played some mean ping pong.

The new neighbors Nancy and Alan came buy today with banana bread and borrowed great granny Bridgmans hamilton beach mixer to make more treats for the holidays. It's still in great shape and loves to work.

Dillon spent the night with Peter Bridgman last night and they had a jam session I think. Dillon said Pete's a good cook!

Rained and rained today and felt good to get some indoor projects and time in today.

Now that I have figured out how to use the blogspot I'll make more frequent posts and get more family from Washington involved.

Busy Week in the Skagit Valley

The Bridgman family tree was full of limbs and leaves this past week in the Skagit Valley. With Leah and Terry's wedding on the 28th there were lot's of visitors in town and the three GREAT grandkids made it to Bow for a first visit. Caleb, Andrew and Owen are real crowd pleasers. They are truly a gift to us all. Any great news was shared about Mara and Arthur from Greece that they are also expecting a boy they think. Wow!

Leah was truly a beautiful bride and the ceremony lovely. She a Terry are a gorgeous couple. So many friends and relatives. Granny and Gramps were dapper!