Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Go Western Art

While the rodeo in Houston has come & gone, some western art is making its debut. We learned yesterday that Little K's artwork would be on display at the


Kroger grocery store located at 43rd Street & Ella Blvd. She created her masterpiece during art class at St. Rose School as a way to kick-off rodeo time.

So our family HAD to make a


grocery store run yesterday. Here's what we discovered.

Until the next nap time...

Friday, March 19, 2010

Spring Break 2010

With 2 working parents, Spring Break has required a nit of shuffling but the time together has been well worth it. On Monday, my sister took Little K & her daughter to the Madd Potter to paint their own pottery. Since Easter is just weeks away, Little K painted a statue


of rabbit in "rainbow colors", of course. Baby Claire painted an Easter egg two shades of purple...with her Mommy's help. We'll pick up the items next week after the staff fires the masterpieces. They'll be great Easter decorations. Big thanks to my sister for watching Little K Monday afternoon.

Tuesday & Wednesday mornings, Little K enjoyed gymnastics at Discover Gymnastics, followed by playdates each afternoon with neighbors. Wednesday's playdate was actually a St. Patrick's Day party for children. The kids painted a small flowe pot with black paint. The hostess then used a glue gun to create a handle with a green pipecleaner. Once the glue & paint dried, Little K filled the pot with artificial grass & gum disguised as gold coins. Ta Da! An instant pot of gold from a friendly leprechaun!

Thursday, Little K went with her Grand, Aunt Juji & cousin to the zoo. They stayed for 5 hours so I was so glad we packed waters, snacks & lunch.

TGIF! Today, we ran a few errands & are now heading to Galveston for the weekend. Even if the weather turns cooler as is being predicted for Houston, we'll have some relaxing family time. Little K's Cici (parternsl grandmother) & her Aunt Susu will be there, too.

Something tells me returning to school on Monday may be a challenge. Any suggestions?

Enjoy the rest of your Spring Break! We'll post photos from the island.

Until the next nap time...

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Trip to the Zoo Made Easy during Spring Break

Thanks to the Houston Zoo for these tips on making your trip to the Zoo during Spring Break much easier.

Monday, March 08, 2010

Looking for Fun in Houston This Spring Break?


Hope you all will come visit me at the Barnes & Noble on West Gray in the River Oaks Shopping Center on Saturday, March 13 from 2-4 pm. I'll share ideas for fun local things to do this Spring Break in and around Houston.
Hope to see you there!
Until the next nap time...

Saturday, March 06, 2010

I'm Alive and Well

The events of the last 2 weeks have been frought with pain, anticipation and relief. I've looked for emails that I could copy and paste here but haven't found the full story... so here it goes. I hope all who read this understand that writing is a helpful process for me. I never write to antagonize or bare all.

We left Wednesday, 2/24, to head to Galveston to be with my father-in-law. He was in home hospice and we were all in for a ride. When we arrived, Steve had limited verbal abilities, quite a handicap for an attorney who made his livelihood from speaking eloquently & using his hands. This accomplished attorney suffered from liver & pancreatic cancer. It was not good. Thursday, Friday & Saturday, we spent by his side. This proud man was weak and it broke my heart. I won't go into too many details. On Saturday night, before we went to bed, a new home hospice lady came to the house for an 8 pm to 8 am shift. It was her very first shift, although she had previous worked as an EMT. Trent & I told her, as we headed up for bed, that if she had questions or concerns, she should call Trent's cell phone, not his Mom's. She needed her sleep.

The next thing I know: Trent was listening to the hospice lady and told me that we needed to head immediately downstairs. I told Trent to get his Mom while I got his sister and we'd all be downstairs together so his Dad wouldn't be alone.

After waking Trent's sister, she needed a minute to collect herself. I headed for the stairs.

Trent & his mom held hands around his Daddy. Trent touched his father to check his pulse, pulled back and said: "Mom, I love you. Daddy is gone. His pain is over."

CRASH!

You can maybe imagine what my husband said aloud. I won't write it here. The poor man ran to the back stairwell to find me. I had fallen in my rush to get to my father-in-law, from the top 3rd step. Trent said I must have missed all the steps and landed on the landing. When he went to reach for me, he found a pool of blood and I was unconscious. The hospice helper, who was a former EMT, told my husband how to hold my neck & head. My mother-in-law called 911.

I'm told I asked 5 questions again & again. All I remember is waking up in the hospital with a broken nose, two purple eyes & a worried husband. I was released that day after a cat-scan, an X-ray and other tests. We had the visitation on Tuesday; we had the burial and memorial on Wednesday. I did one of the eulogies. My dad picked me up from Galveston and brought me to Houston on Thursday.

I slept for close to 13 hours Thursday night at my parents' home & I'm doing better & better, despite being away from my husband and baby. It seems weird. But how can I not do better when each day I look better, and feel better despite the pain our family feels.

Trent & I are quite fond of the song by Kenny Chesney & Dave Matthews called "I'm alive and well." And it's quite true for me. Is it fair to say "onward & upward"?

Until the next time...