Lost: A Sense of Proportion

Yeah... apparently I'm a failure as a foster mom for birds.

Think I told most of you that a pair of our friends' parakeets started nesting. So, they asked if we'd be interested in taking them for a while, to help raise the babies and tame them when they hatch. Being the animal person around here, and the one who's the most read up on the subject, I've been kind of the head of operations.The parents are so absolutely sweet together, and they'd already laid two eggs - the usual number for parakeets is 3 to 5. Raising three or four little baby birds sounded like so much fun, and I was so excited. I was even more excited when the momma bird just kept laying... and laying... until she wound up with a total of seven eggs. It was so cute, seeing her try to spread such a small body over so many eggs - not to mention the way the male would just hover over her and sing to her. 

And then suddenly she just stopped sitting on the eggs, threw them all out of the box, and punched holes in their sides. Needless to say, we were... upset. But then after a couple days she started laying again - a total of three this time. I wanted so badly to get things right this time around, was so careful not to let them get disturbed, and everything seemed to be finally going well. Until, after about a week of sitting on them, she did the same thing again. 

I know there was likely nothing I could have done to change it, and she probably did it for a reason, knew they weren't viable anyway, something. But I still can't help wondering if there was something I did, or didn't do, or... *sighs* And I feel so sad over ten baby birds that never even had a chance at living. Maybe I'm being overdramatic, and I shouldn't get so upset over losing animals, but... I just feel like crying.

In other news... my cousin was hit by a semi while biking this morning. A hit-and-run, since the driver didn't stop at all, but with a truck that big it's possible they didn't realize what had happened. She's alive, and should recover well, but she's already had one surgery today, and needs another within the next few days. So... yeah. Since they're in Arizona, there's so little we can do for them, and news is kind of limited. Yet more unsaved family members I would very much appreciate prayers for - both her, and her mother, my dad's sister.

Heh, we've got so few relatives, I'm starting to suspect that they're all going to go into crisis at once...

In happier news, the meteorologists are saying we might get some snow today. That'd definitely be nice. *looks out at the rain hopefully*

Gotta get back to work.

Little Lexie Ann was born this morning, and she is absolutely the most wonderful, beautiful, perfect baby in the entire world. Yes, the entire world. And I say that with very detached, unbiased judgement. ;D She's so sweet and content and tiny - I can hold her in one arm! And she is adorable. She's got her father's black, curly hair (and so much of it!), and slightly darker complexion, but she looks so very, very much like Ashley... And she's just wonderful. I'm so, so happy that both Nef and I are recovered and no longer contagious and were able to hold her. I never wanted to give her back!

The birth went well, both Ashley and Lexie are healthy and happy and doing very well. She was born right on her due date, and despite seeming so amazingly tiny she's actually quite a healthy size. Thanks very much for all your prayers for both of them. :) And please don't stop! In many ways, the hard part is only just beginning.

But oh, I am so looking forward to babysitting duties! Hee, such excellent motivation to get in lots more driving practice and get my license very soon. I have the most adorable great niece in the whole world!!!!

Hee, and yes, I am very tired and extremely giddy. ;D But she's so wonderful! LOL, I'll probably post a picture... tomorrow. When I've had some sleep. :D

First off, a bit of praise and celebration - Ashley's visit to the doctor went well. Apparently the baby weighs about four and a half pounds at the moment, and everything is looking good for a healthy birth. Praise God!

And yesterday was rather exciting... We're going to be gone during karate promotions night, so we were tested early - Nef, Eric, and I are now all green-with-purple belts! Yays! ;D

And then we had a big storm here last night, with us right in the path of the worst of it (bad enough that the weather radio actually mentioned our little town by name o.o). So we all had to rush around to secure everything before it hit, and then piled into our basement bathroom. Five people, two cats, a dog, and a bird are a bit of a tight squeeze in one bathroom. Heh, and even though it doesn't phase Strider in the slightest, the cats have recently demonstrated that thunderstorms make them nervous. Fortunately it tends more toward the clingy, cuddly, and hiding in the shower, rather than going berzerk. ;)

For some reason, having to take shelter during severe weather tends to make most of our family rather punchy and giggly. As when Neffie was giving the animals some water in her cupped hands, and then decided to wipe her hands off on my towel. When I protested and told her to use her own, she said, "But it's way over there!" *points two feet away* XP

Anywho, it turned out all right - storm passed over, and almost immediately the sky cleared up and we could see the moon. No damage to the house, and I don't think we even had anything to speak of to the trees. Less than the last big storm, when one of the trees down by the lake blew over. Fortunately it was a comparatively small one, and it even helpfully toppled right on top of our wood pile - guess it knew where it was going to wind up. ;P

And in just a few hours we'll be heading off to the cabin! So if you don't hear from me in the next week or so, it's not a sign that I don't care or that something drastic's happened - just a sign that I'm out in the middle of nowhere without internet. :D

Talk to y'all when I get back!