Thing. The Unknown Child
The first version of this page created November 22, 1996, with thing at
age approximately negative 3 months.
We call it THING. It does not have a name, and we don't know its sex.
If you'd like to help give it a name, click here!
THING first happened sometime in the spring. We're not sure when, but Lori
and I were both there for the happening.
We found out about THING in June, just after a large gathering of family and
friends. Thing was very very small for a long, long time.
July 17, 1996
Our first picture of THING was taken on July 17, 1996. There's really not a
lot of THING there. Sorta looks like something from space capsule pictures.
Maybe that's what THING sees. Then again, maybe not.
August 23, 1996
By late August, Lori was beginning to show. But not much. THING developed
a spine. I know many much older THINGs that have yet to do likewise, but
that's another matter. This picture was taken on August 23, when Lori's
amnio was done.
September 24, 1996
In September, the world heard of THING's existence. We learned that Orlik
is a Czech word which means "Little Orel". Had we known that, we might
have called it Orlik. But, it is THING. The next one (if there is one) can be
Orlik. By September, it had a head. Pretty cool, eh? THING also showed its feet.
Good thing, too, because after this picture was taken on September 24, 1996, we
went straight off to Kalamazoo to watch
Bruce Springsteen perform. THING wanted to get
its dancing shoes on, no doubt about it! 
As of November 22, THING is getting to be a big thing. Kicking up a storm,
but thankfully only during the day. THING is due to arrive on February 19, 1997.
The Orel Family
Email: matt@orel.ws
URL: http://matt.orel.ws/