My boy, Brody, is home. At just over 2 days old, he’s making quite an impression in the house. Braelyn has done well with him, but time will tell how well she will adjust to a prince invading her princess territory. But, so far so good!

It truly is quite amazing to experience bringing a human being into the world. Now, I don’t pretend to know what Rebecca went through for the past nine months, but I can tell you the scariest minutes of my life have been the minutes where Braelyn and Brody entered the world. It is such a relief when you first hear the baby cry and the doctors give the all clear signs! Then, it is nothing but joy.

Rebecca was a champ in both the delivery of Braelyn and Brody. I’m sure she was with Spencer, as well. I will admit that I got a bit more brave this time, and watched the whole thing instead of staring at the heart rate and contraction monitor like I did with Braelyn. And yes, I even cut the cord. I must say, it is an amazing thing to witness. As for Rebecca and I, we plan this to be our last one. Heck, I am too old for this!

Brody is very healthy and is doing well. He definitely sleeps a ton, but mixes in some feedings every couple of hours. His cry, despite what some of the pictures in his gallery may lead you to believe, is pretty quiet. As chaotic as it gets around here, he may need to turn the volume up a bit just to be heard. I am only hopeful though that he will grace us with sleep at night. Braelyn has been absolutely a great baby… only two or three real bad nights in her 20+ months with us. I hope Brody falls in her footsteps! Then again, he may make us pay… time will tell but I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Thanks to everyone for their well-wishes and congratulatory remarks over on Facebook and Twitter. It is much appreciated.

While I will head back to the office this week, Rebecca’s six weeks or so of vacation begin. Yeah, right… I know! She will definitely have her hands full. She is a terrific mother. I, as well as my kids, am very fortunate.

Have a great week, and here’s to wishing my father safe travel back to Wyoming tomorrow. I wish he could stay awhile longer, but duty calls….

Tags: braelyn, brody, rebecca, spencer

Brody’s room is coming along… the walls are painted, quite a bit of decor has arrived (but has not been hung). The new carpet is in, the crib, chainging table and rocking chair have been relocated from Braelyn’s room to Brody’s. I have a guy who is going to build me some cool wooden lockers for his room, and those won’t be done for about 4-6 weeks, but that will be the finishing touch. Now, if I could just get his baseball ceiling light working… the fan works, but not the lite. Someday I will master being an electrician. That someday will probably be right after my pops arrives mid week.

Yep, mom and dad are heading here from Casper to be here to welcome Brody into the world. Will be great to have them around to help out. I know Braelyn will love it… though she absolutely loves visiting with ba-pa and grandma on the computer. Webcams make family a lot closer, that’s for sure. And anytime I am on my laptop, Braelyn comes running to talk to ba-pa.

Braelyn is quite the girl. I am nervous as to how she is going to react to having a new brother… one that will inevitably take much attention. There is a 6 month old at her daycare who she isn’t too fond of. I think she will be a great big sister. I know in about 2 years, we’ll love the fact that Brae and Bro are so close in age. Of course, daddy and Spencer will spend a bunch of time with Braelyn while mom is feeding Brody. Ah, the sleepless nights are approaching quickly!

So it was nice to have some football to watch. I did ok with my picks for week one, though I must admit I did not pick the Broncos. Don’t get me wrong, I am ecstatic that they won… I just didn’t anticipate it. Was awesome to see the Chiefs lose again… that’s pretty normal though.

Quickie on politics… I am just so amazed at how many people pretend they know what the health care bill(s) being pushed are really about and what they will do. How could any of us really know how good or how bad the bills are… even our Congress hasn’t even read them! What I do know is I am very opposed to the government running anything more. They fail, fail, fail in everything they put their magical touch on. And I don’t like businesses being punished, nor individuals being mandated to. I love the legacy concept of America being a free-country. Those days are behind us all, I must say.

I do have to give major kudos to President Obama for his 9/11 speech. I was actually quite amazed at it, really. The speech was very thoughtful and sincere and well delivered (thanks, teleprompter!) The amazing part to me was the religious overtures that Obama gave during his speech. He cited scripture and referenced God. Oh, how that must just irritate the left. Oh well, I bag on the buy enough so may as well give him props when he deserves it.

Speaking of 9/11, that is my mom’s birthday. Of course I called her and wished her a happy birthday, but let this be my public proclamation of such, and that I am so thankful for my mother (and my whole family). She is a tremendous woman who cares so much about her family and friends. I pray my daughter will grow up to be the same way. I am thrilled that Rebecca suggested that Brody’s middle name be Carlen, my mother’s maiden name.

Oh, and 9/12 was the Biggest B’s birthday… my nephew Brandon turned 20! Can’t believe it… I remember vividly holding him and dancing to Lollipop when he was younger than Braelyn is today… what a great kid. He’s off traveling in Europe right now for the next week. I pray he has a wonderful, safe time over there. What a great kid, er, young man he is.

Well, Hoover is laying at my feet snoring, Braelyn has been in (and out) of bed for the past two hours (mostly in, but she did tumble out of her bed tonight), and Spencer and Rebecca just ventured to bed themselves. I guess that is my clue it is time for me to do the same. After a shower, though… I am FILTHY from finishing my firepit today. Will have to throw some pictures up in my gallery sometime in the next few days. Pretty happy with how it turned out. It isn’t perfect, but for never having done anything like it before, I must say I did a pretty damn good job.

Peace to all ya’ll out there in cyber land. Wish us well as we bring another Elledge into the world…

–RElledge

No tags for this post.

Today, on what should be such be a day of only joy for Bob and Dixie and the whole family, is also filled with sorrow, as Dixie has requested that no further medical assistance be given to her to try and help her failing heart and kidneys. She is at peace and seemed so happy to have all of her loved ones together to say their goodbyes. Earlier in the day, I am told, she was not very coherent and was having a hard time recognizing people. But not tonight… she knew everyone, hugged and kissed everyone multiple times, and gave everyone some guidance and wishes. For such a weak body right now, she was so strong. She told her son Ed that she is ready to go see her parents and her other two sons who passed years ago… but wanted Ed to understand that it’s ok, and not to be upset with her — she is not choosing them over him. She was telling everyone she will see them again, but now is the time to go see her Maker and her loved ones that have departed before her. Tears were flowing, but so were the smiles. Six great grandchildren were there with her, all at the same time… and she asked each of them to always remember her, and that she will remember them and watch over them. While it was very sombering, it was also the way the day should be… very joyous.

Dixie has battled heart conditions since a much younger age. On many occasions that I have seen her over the past ten years, she has seemed frail. But she has always come around. Now, she is ready to move on and end the pain, and she is clearly at peace with it and helping those who will remain behind become more at peace.

Gabe said it best after we left… he is so happy to have seen her like this tonight… in a much better condition than earlier today… and this is how he wishes to remember her forever.

Nobody knows whether tonight will be the night for Dixie or if it might be weeks away, but tonight, Dixie and her whole family and friends know the love they have for each other, and I am quite certain Dixie will have a wonderful journey ahead… one that will be so much harder on those behind than herself.

Happy Anniversary, Bob and Dixie. Savor the time left, no matter how short. And have a wonderful journey, Dixie. You are a beautiful person. I am honored to have known you and hope you will remember me, too. Today, you taught me a lot about life while in the face of death.

Tags: anniversary, death, Dixie, family, friends, Murphy

Denver’s Future!!!

Enough said.

Thanks to my CEO, Phil Spencer, for brightening by day with this in an e-mail.

–RE

Wendy's 40th from Ryan & Family

Dru and Tracey

This follows just two weeks after my sister Wendy and her family had to go through the exact same situation with their dog, Casey. Casey was 13 years old and had a tremendous life and brought joy to my sister, my brother-in-law Tony, my nephews Brandon, Nathan and Keegan, and my niece Courtney. Of course, she was a great dog to her extended family as well, and it will be hard next time I am in Fort Collins (in less than 2 months to celebrate Nathan’s pending graduation — you will be graduating, won’t you Nate?) Won’t get to see that cute little dog Casey-Casey. She, too, was diagonsed with cancer, but she made it on drugs and love for about a year before they had to make the ultimate decision to let Casey go before the pain was too much. Like Tracey and Dru tomorrow, they had the act performed at their home with the whole family there.

Casey Casey

Aside from Dru and Casey, my parents lost one of their two pugs, Maggie, just a few months ago. Unlike Dru and Casey, Maggie died unexpectedly when she went in to get her teeth cleaned. She was, so it seems, in good health, but they had to sedate her to do the procedure and she went into cardiac arrest. This is why I am trying hard to see if we can get Hoover healed without getting sedated xrays. Unlike Tracey and my sister’s family, my mom and dad didn’t get to say goodbye to Maggie… they didn’t get an opportunity to come-to-grips with it. In some ways, I think that’s good… I know when my day comes and I depart this earth, I want it to be sudden and quick, just like Maggie’s passing … a passing with no suffering. But, on the flip side, not getting to spend time saying goodbye… eating cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets… is something that you hate to think about missing out on.

Maggie Moo

I should mention, too, that though I don’t remember all the details about what my friend Shawn Porter told me (sorry Shawn, I *think* I may have had a few pre-birthday drinks when we talked last week), I know he lost his lab this year, too. I do remember him telling me how hard it is to explain to his daughter, and I know someday, I may be in that same place, too.

Time helps heal all wounds, but quarter one, 2009 sure has been a tough one for my family and friends when it comes to their four legged family members. My thoughts are with them all, and it is great to know that I am not the only nut in this world who loves his pet as if it were his child. Here’s to the four legged family members and those that have cared so much for them. Hang in there, Tracey, and though I didn’t get to meet Dru, give him a hug for me.

-RElledge

We don’t want a situation in which some countries are making extraordinary efforts and other countries aren’t [on improving the global economy] with the hope that somehow the countries that are making those important steps lift everybody up.”

Maybe I am completely off base here, but does this not contradict to the core what Obama is trying to legislate right here in our homeland? Where the upper class and businesses [the countries that make the extraordinary effort] take care of everyone else’s problems [the countries that don't]?

Certainly I am not trying to imply that anyone not in the upper class or businesses don’t do their part, but I think you should see the contradiction here. Of course, again, I may be completely off base….

–RElledge

He Shoots He Scores!

— RElledge

I remember a similar day in 1972. In fact it was so nice that day that my very pregnant wife said it would be fine if I got out of the house and played a little golf. So I did. That particular day transformed this family – that particular day the golf pro had to come out and get me off the course and send me to the hospital – that particular day a baby boy was born unto this family. Ryan Lloyd Elledge drew his first breath on March 21, 1972 at Casper, Wyoming.

I think his mother and his sisters will agree with me that it was a great day. We have all had our ups & downs through the years but that baby boy has brought tremendous joy and pride to this family. Gotta laugh, I will always remember my Dad’s concern that Ryan might grow up over-protected and “sissified” the way his mother and two sisters coddled him and watched over him. BUT – about the second time one of the sisters tried to pick him up and mishandled (dropped) him my Dad changed his opinion and said that he was wrong, that IF Ryan survived the early years he might just be one of the toughest little guys around! LOL

Anyway – Happy Birthday Ryan – thanks for alot of great memories and I look forward to alot more. You’re quite a man, with a great family of your own and alot going for you. I wish you happiness and success and many more birthday celebrations. Love you.

The (Proud) Dad

I would love to hear some sound logic from those who disagree… and simply saying they don’t deserve the bonuses doesn’t fly since those were legally bound “contracts”, no matter how poorly written.

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