visiting baby Nicole.....

 ...bright and early Saturday morning, Emily and I started our road trip south to the fine state of Delaware.  We went straight to the children's hospital, and had lunch with Abigail and Derek.  They caught us up on the delicate state of baby's health, and I can say this:  they are at peace.  This whole experience is unknown territory, the doctors don't know how things will go because it's so rare that babies survive the birth with this diagnosis.  We are all thankful to live in this day and age, and they are especially thankful for the time spent with their precious little girl.

We joined Derek's parents and his little sister, and made dinner plans.  A nice restaurant, a good meal together, very cozy, and we all agreed it's nice to get to know each other better.  

We made plans to have brekky with Abigail and Derek on Sunday morning, then went off to our hotel, Emily and I.  It didn't look promising, and we should have taken pictures.  The one light illuminating the parking lot was askew on the post and blinking off and on erratically. 

We checked in, and the foyer was dusty and dated.  Out the door, up the stairs to our second floor room.  (I asked the nice man if there were any first floor rooms, he said, "No, this is last room in hotel."  Okay.  We opened the door, nothing scurried.  But.  There was an adjoining door, to connect the room to the one next to it.  The lock was broken, and the door was nothing more than a thin closet-like door.  Emily opened it, and there was a similar door behind it.  We looked at each other:  if they opened their door, they would be in our room.  She fidgeted with the lock a little to see if it would work, but it just spun around all brokenly.  Suddenly, CRASH!  It sounded like someone kicked the other door, so loudly we froze.  Then WHAT THE F are you doing!????, someone shouted.    (only they didn't say just the "f".).   We just stood there looking at each other, I whispered LET'S LEAVE.  She agreed.  They thought we were trying to get into their room, and I told Emily that I wouldn't sleep a wink if I knew they could just open that door.   (They seemed extremely defensive, and I wondered if we made any noise or dropped something, they would yell and open the door...it just wasn't worth it...the lack of peace of mind.) (I told Em that if they opened the door at any point, I would simply die of a heart attack...)

We went back to the car in the dimly lit parking lot, and an old car with one headlight came speeding around the corner, screeched to a stop, and handed a bag of fast food to a guy who came out of no where, then drove away.  Was it really fast food?  Em decided we should go to a different parking lot to figure out what to do.

(it didn't help that there was a mom in the waiting room of the hospital, accompanied by three cops, because her son had been shot....(poor mama, seriously!). The hospital is in a nice area, but the surrounding city can be rough)

There were no hotels in the area with open rooms.  So I said:  let's go home.  It's five plus hours, so off we went.  It was well after nine, but we decided to just head north, and if we got really tired, we could stop somewhere.  Around eleven, we stopped at a gas station and got crappy coffee from an air pump jug, but it wasn't too bad, and it kept us awake.  We got to Emily's house around 2:30, and ahh, I took a quick shower and slept in the guest bed in her library. :)

It was a busy afternoon here with Margaret here with Wulf, Tennyson, and Blythe, then Oscar came with Kaia, and Mariel came too.  Not too busy, just right.  Sonja came after work, and we solved the world's problems around the table.  Paul made some chili, I grilled hot dogs and burgers, and we had a nice little feast.  Cam baked some of those Halloween cookies with the shapes in them, the house smelled good and the kids liked them.  

This fine morning, I face-timed with baby Nicole:), with her mama actually.  I took a screen shot: 

She's not a morning person, Abigail said.  She is definitely more active in the evenings.  Ab was talking to her, and she was making faces and trying to open her eyes:). I think she knows how much she is loved.  

You all have a really nice day....:)

good morning!

I met Kathryn and kids BJ's yesterday after dropping Cam off at school.  Jamie, Rhys, Achilles really like Tally, the inventory robot.  :)

They like the toys!

It's just so pretty, the autumn coming in the window!

I've got a load of laundry ready to come out of the dryer, and I've mop/vacced the floors.  I'm on coffee #2, and ahh, in my comfy chair again.  Not for long though, I'm going apple picking with some grandchildren!  I need to pack an overnight bag too, as tomorrow morning I'm going with Emily, down to Delaware to visit Abigail and Derek.  I don't think I'll be able to see baby Nicole, as they are super strict with their visitor list, admitting only four people, and you can't rotate them out.  But that's okay.  I get to see her on her NICU cam.  She seems to be doing okay.  I'm praying for her, that she can be strong enough to be weaned off the heavy duty vent, and not be sedated, so we can see more of her personality shine through.  :). 

Here's your daily Nicole : 

This is a close up of her chubby little arm and cute hand...

This was last night...she is so sweet.  

And from today...:)

Such a beautiful day for the apple orchard, and I got to push the stroller.

Jamie, Rhys, Achilles

Ellis...:)

Shh, the donuts are better than the apples...although to be honest, I only had one little taste...I did have a few apples though!

Charlotte Claire made pumpkin muffins...I did not have one of these either, it's so hard. 

Anyway.  Cam made fajita soup in the crockpot, it was simmering away and I knew I didn't have to make dinner, which is wonderful.  Kathryn and the kids were here for a bit, I read some story books, then we took turns telling stories, which kept them occupied for a while.  They went home, then Oscar stopped by to return an air compressor, he and Kaia stayed for dinner.  

This is Jonathan and Rosi's little Emila...

And Evelyn and Nate's Bridget Suzanne

Sonja and Oscar's Kaia Jean

 

Sam and Grace's crew:  Grant, Ruth, Maeve, and baby Samantha Grace...

Today is done, today was fun, tomorrow is another one...(Dr. Seuss)

I'm leaving in less than 12 hours to go visit Abigail and Derek in Delaware, so goodnight!  Have a good one!  (I got my bag packed, some seltzers and two diet Pepsi chilling in the fridge to pack in the cooler in the morning, my overnight bag packed...I think I have everything?  

can we talk about Christmas?!

No?  Not yet?  Well.  This fine afternoon, I was in Target with Sonja and Kaia, and Miss Camille.  Would you believe they had Christmas ornaments out in the dollar section?!  Shh, yes, I did.  I bought four or five.  They are really cute!

To be fair, last Christmas was super challenging, as my mobility was...awful.  (I'm just so excited about it this year!!!)

Anyway.  This fine morning, I went out and about...filled the car with gas (ouch!), then met my friend Nancy for brekky at a really cute little place.  I had egg/bacon on a homemade biscuit, and a 20 ounce coffee, so good!  We caught up on things, and had a nice time.  

Home....I discovered a broken glass, it was shattered on the living room floor and it had been filled with water.  I suspect Kettler, she likes to tip over drinks.  I had to clean that up, do some laundry, then clean the floors since I picked up the glass and cleaned up the water with the vac mop.  (If I had to empty it anyway, may as well clean the whole floor!)

Cam and I had things to do and places to go.  First, she needed some bloodwork done.  Then we had to get a script for Sunny.  Then, meet Sonja and go to Target...very important, ha.  I got a new sweater for 40% off, some chicken stock, a $20 rug for $6, and a those ornaments.  We came home and made chicken pot pies.  Sonja chopped the celery and carrots, I peeled and chopped potatoes and made the pie crusts.  We put frozen chicken breast chunks in the Dutch Oven on the stove, they defrosted pretty fast.  Then some chicken stock with all the veggies, plus half a bag of frozen mixed veggies, lots of seasonings, then thickened it up with a cornstarch slurry, added some heavy cream, and into the pie crusts it went...salt, pepper and rosemary on the tops, and into the oven.  The aroma of those baking, ahhh.

Sonja and Oscar and Kaia are home now, and the girls are studying.  It's quiet in here again.  

Tomorrow is another day.  I am planning to do some sorting out, and some dropping off at the thrift store, as well as meeting Kathryn at the grocery store to help her get some shopping done.  With four small children and being 8+ months pregnant, I'd say she could use a little help.

I don't have any new pictures of Nicole, her cam hasn't been working today either.  Abigail said she's calmer today, but has had a rough few days.  

Ah well.  Bedtime for Bonzo, whatever that means.  You all have a good night!

go go go!

 This fine morning, I had visitors by the time I finished my coffee!  Mr. Jamison and Mr. Ellis came while Kathryn took Rhys and Achilles to the dentist. 

Ellis in the fox suit...

(That's Evelyn for a visit too!)

James and Ellis...

I made them some scrambled eggs, sausages, and toast.  They had some treats, and played with playdough, dollhouse, and did some coloring.   Kathryn came back with Rhys and Achilles, and Evelyn came over with baby Bridget.

When Kathryn left, we packed up to bring Miss Camille to her college class.  Ev, Bridget, and I went to the thrift store, but I hadn't packed up anything to donate today.  We didn't find a single thing, and left there empty handed.  We went to Marshall's, where I found the marshmallow coffee syrup Cam likes, one bag of bbq kettle chips on clearance, and one birthday gift for Cam, who is turning 19 next month.  Truly.  I can't believe it. 

We stopped for a BJ's pick up because the 90% ground beef is still $3.30 a pound, and I got another bag of Starbucks whole bean coffee for less than $14 for a two pound bag, some pepperoni, coffee cream, and some chocolates for Halloween.  

Home...ahh, home.  Ev and Bridget headed home, and Camille and I started in on dinner.  Chicken curry and rice.  I chopped chicken, she chopped the onion.  I peeled and sliced carrots and chopped red and yellow peppers.  She measured the ginger, garlic, curry paste, coconut milk,ect., and put it all together, and made the rice.   Paul was out hunting, so just Char, Cam, and I had dinner.

Tomorrow I'm going out to brekky with a friend, then bringing Camille for some bloodwork, then picking up a script for Miss Sunny.  Maybe then I'll get to work sorting and organizing again.

Emily and I are going down to Delaware on Saturday morning to see Abigail and Derek.  We probably won't be able to see baby Nicole, but that's okay.  Derek keeps us all updated on a chat, and I get to tune into the baby NICU cam.  I was watching her a little while ago, she had her eyes open and was opening and closing her mouth, and I wanted to magically appear next to her little bed and talk to her and put my hand on her and comfort her.  Of course her mama and daddy are there with her every day, and there are nurses (angels!) and doctors there all the time.  

We just want to go down and see them and maybe make them dinner or take them to dinner, and visit with them.  

Here's your baby Nicole fix for the day.  She is so cute.  

You all have a really nice night!

could not be much cozier!

 This fine rainy morning, I am sitting in my chair listening to the rain fall onto the metal roof.  It's dark but the trees are starting to blaze with color.  I had my coffee, then got moving...switched the laundry, vacuumed some rugs, then used my new floor cleaner to mop/vac.  It's very satisfying.  I decided my comfy chair was a good place to return to, and here I am.  I have to get moving soon though, because I have to go watch Kaia while her daddy is in class.  She was supposed to come here, but a flat tire happened.  :)

Update on baby Nicole:  she wasn't doing well yesterday, carbon dioxide build up in the lungs, blood transfusion, ect., but doing better today.  

She likes her daddy's hand...it makes her little heart rate go down a bit:).   I love her so much.  

Camille and I just got home from watching Kaia while her daddy was in class.  She woke up from her nap and snuggled with Aunt Cam for a long time.  

She had some lunch, but shh, she knows how to jettison pieces of food onto the floor then shrug and say, "uh oh!", ever so cutely!

We said good bye to her and it was sad because she didn't really understand we were leaving, she likes waving bye-bye.  

Home...ahh, home.  It's very chilly this afternoon, so sweatpants, a sweater, and slippers.  Afternoon coffee, my comfy chair, thinking about what's for dinner...

You all have a nice afternoon!

oot-and-aboot....

 Not really, I am not Canadian.  :).  But I did go out and about.  First to brekky, at the little place in town.  Our swim class group met up there.  Diner coffee, ahhh, and a hot breakfast, with nice people...we caught up, I mostly talked to Connie, she's the nice lady who gave me her childhood dollhouse a few months back.  We're looking forward to the pool opening back up in a few weeks!

Then Cam and I headed to Target, for a jar of peanut butter, two shower curtain liners, one baby outfit for one granddaughter, two bags of sage popcorn (yes, it tastes like stuffing!).  

Home....Grace was coming with the kids, Sam would come after work.  Sonja and Oscar came over with Kaia too.  I got to work making four pie doughs because I had apple pie-on-the-brain.  It took over an hour to peel and slice about eight pounds of apples.  I mixed up the flour/cinnamon/brown sugar/sugar mixture, poured it on the apple slices, and started on the meatballs.  Five pounds or so of 90% ground beef, a pound of mild Italian sausage, cracker crumbs, bread crumbs, whole oats, fresh garlic, chopped onion, onion powder, garlic powder, 4 eggs...lots of meatballs into the oven.  I made some sauce, put the water on for pasta, then started on the pies.  I rolled out the dough which had been in the refrigerator, filled with apples,  put on the top crusts, added heavy cream and granulated sugar, and into the oven on parchment covered cookie sheets....

Sonja finished making the pasta, and it was dinner time.  (The meatballs were really good!)  (I skipped the pasta).   

Anyway...while we ate, and talked, and played with the kids, we smelled those pies baking...the cinnamon and nutmeg...mmmm.  As I pulled them out of the oven, I put heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla in the Kitchen Aid, and soon there was fresh whipped cream.  

The pie...not beautiful, yet beautiful...

Kaia and Maeve

Baby Samantha, Kaia, Samuel and Grant on the couch...

I have one thing to say:  Apple pie is as good as you think it's going to be, those last weeks of summer when you start thinking of autumn and the inevitable baking of pies.  

Tomorrow morning we get up and out the door to the church soccer weekend!  Lots of grandkids will be playing.  It's supposed to be 65 and sunny, just perfect.  Cam made her lunch, one PBJ, Char will probably make the same.  I'll bring some pepperoni and celery and crackers, and some pears and apples for all of us.  Paul is going for a bit, then hunting in the afternoon.  

I don't have a new pictures of baby Nicole for you today, as she was facing a bit away from the angel cam, maybe tomorrow.  She is a miracle!  Thank you for prayers for her and for Abigail and Derek.  

Have a really good night, and a wonderful Saturday!

it's autumn-y here!

 

Even the fields, even on a cloudy day, are lovely.

This fine morning, I had my coffee and sat in my comfy chair, and I knew it was time to get up and do some sorting and organizing.  So I washed a load of clothes, then a load of nice couch blanket throws (I like to keep them clean anyway, but Miss Sunny of course had herself a comfy spot on them when I put them on the floor while doing the couch with the cleaning machine.  (I had just done the floors first with the new mop, so it seemed like a good idea..ha).   Cleaning begets more cleaning, that's why it's smart to just stay in the comfy chair.

Anyway.  I headed to the big storage room to sort some things.  There is one large bag for donation, and one bag for garbage.  It's less daunting when you begin to actually sort things.  Emily is taking the huge-0 Little Tikes Waffleblocks, and Oscar wants the Duplos.  I have an Emmaljunga Viking pram down there, which I still adore, and a double Emmaljunga stroller...used by my kids, the latter bought brand new for I think Kathryn and Evelyn...it's going to hurt to downsize, isn't it?  I mean, there are things that have lasted through all the clean outs through the years, and well, there comes a time...

I have an UppaBaby bassinet and wood stand, a walker, a high chair, two pack and plays, a plug in swing/bassinet, booster seats, ect.  We get them out when the babies are at different stages and come over... I will not be able to have all those things at our new place if it's as small as we are thinking.  Maybe Emily and Mariel would be able to have a few of them at their house.  

Anyway.  I feel like I did accomplish something today.  I have to leave in a few hours to bring Miss Cam to class, and to pick up a BJ's order...they had the ground beef in stock today, it was $3.30 a pound for the 90% beef, which is a steal.  It's an approximately 10 pound package, so I will have to wrap and freeze.  I also got another bag of Starbucks coffee, $14 for a two pound bag is a good deal.  We go through a lot of coffee!  

Here is your baby Nicole fix for the day....

Her little piggy toes with her daddy's finger!!!  I just love her.  

You all have a good day!