Congratulations, Grandma Xuan! :-) Shelle is simply gorgeous, as is her mother... and they look so happy! Yes, I'd say good genes run in your family! You all must be so thrilled with this new addition to the family! I'm so sorry I didn't see this thread earlier... I haven't been around too much... This is wonderful news! Thank you for sharing your family with us! Just think... two more, and you will have caught up to me! ;-) The two eldest of my own grandchildren are in school already! Gosh, time really flies! Treasure every moment... because they pass so quickly... it seems like only yesterday my own children were young, playing the games children play, wishing they were older and bigger... ah, the memories! All the best, Xuan... from my family to yours! :-)

One more photo, I promise. I just got this one that is a close-up of MacKenzie and the baby leopard. The eyes just tickle me to no end. And her turning 5 yrs old while he's 5 wks old. I swear he almost looks like he's smiling too. They make a pretty cute pair, even if I am terribly prejudiced. LOL. hugs, Karen

Thanks, dirtpig (love your user name!) DD is very grateful--people are always telling us how she sings our praises! She's a pretty special young lady, so we are happy to do what we can to make her day memorable. Plus, it beats spending hundreds of $$ on a church or hall that we would never see again. At least we get to enjoy it afterwards!! Thanks to you, Connie--yes, I am very blessed to have a man that not only knows how to do construction, but WILL do it! :) I can't imagine what this place would look like if I didn't have his help...not like this, I'm sure! He's the one who wanted to buy it, so I remind him of that when he starts to fizzle (lovingly, of course!!). And I know what you mean about long-time hubbies--I bet there are other reasons you keep yours around! :) Karen

Glad to hear the good news. I totally get the heart-stopping feeling. When my now 4 1/2 year old twin grandsons were born at 36 weeks, one spent 1 week in the NICU then another week in the step-down unit. The other twin had blood and bilirubin issues and spent 2 weeks in the NICU, where they performed a total blood transfusion at 8 days old, then 2 weeks in the step-down and then we spent the next year running back and forth to hematologists and pulmonologists. The poor baby was a pincushion. Thank goodness that's behind us and they're both getting ready to start kindergarten this fall. Helene