Do you not know what causes that?

Ike - One year later

This time last year, baby Ocho, finally had a name.  But only a few people actually got to hear it in person because her naming was in the middle of a hurricane here in Kentucky. A few brave souls made it over despite the flying trees and many more had damage to their cars or property trying to get there.  We still had a blast!  Though the resulting lack of electricity for more than a week wasn't so hot.  We stayed with grandma for a few hours but knew that her tiny condo was no match for us, so I took some of the kids back to the Galt house where the Lamaze conference had been.  I had to go as I was still pumping for Noa! Thankfully K was on paternity leave.  We're mostly healed from the storm with a few minor limbs still being worked on.

Thanksgiving Weekend Wrap Up

Excuse my jumbled thoughts, they were composed on the fly in a much more coherent way but too many have bottled in my brain like a traffic jam and now it's just not as pretty!

Ada loves Laurie Berkner, a singer for kids.  Well there is one song called Victor Vito she really likes.  I just figured out why.  Listening to the lyrics the first line is: "Victor Vito and Freddie Fasco ate a burrito, with Tabasco."  Only Ada hears: "Victor Vito and Freddie Fasco, Ada Burrito and Tabasco."

Owen and Clara have been busy this weekend. I love watching their reading and writing bloom. Clara is more interested in spelling and reading.  She's paired up with the spelling queen, Lilah. (Good choice!)  Owen prefers writing and drawing her words.  So I came downstairs to find out house labeled.  Each room has a drawing and a label as to what the room is...  Pictures later.

Lilah was inspired and did her own label for her room.  There is a paper cup, taped to a piece of paper that says: If you find money, put it in the cup, it's for tzedakah.  She also learned to make her own beaded kippot. (I have these pictures but they aren't up yet.)

The little girls all cleaned their rooms nicely because of the Jewish House Fairy. 

Benjamin had a rough weekend. Due to my error we didn't get his medication refilled. Then today he slept through the day waking up at 5:30 p.m.  It was a crazy day and both Kevin and I thought that the other had him up and that he was peacfully hanging in his room. Oops.

Grandma is much the same. And I know some of you are really sorry that she decided to die during NaBloPoMo, but the writing it out has been good for me.  Today she was only semi-lucid, but I'd never admit that to her.  I was trying to make conversation, so I said, "Grandma, it looks like you've lost some weight."  "Obsome bait?" she asked. "No, lost some weight." "Obsome bait?"  "Grandma, you must be misunderstanding me..."  She frowns, "Noooo."  I tried again, "Grandma, I must be mumbling..."  "Yes," she agreed with a big smile.

While I was sitting there holding her hand she slept.  She woke up once and said to me, "I'm not sure why I'm holding this box."  When I asked her what box, she moved her hand to indicate that she thought MY hand was a box.  I said, "That's my hand."  She smiled, "Ooooo."  I could hear the "silly me" implied in the sound.

Mom is not dealing well living with her at the nursing home, of which mom was a resident first.  Mom is calling me to say Grandma is colder, mottled, having periods of apnea. I rush over and she points to Grandma, "Can't you see why I called?"  No, I can't.  She looks exactly the same.  I just nod and tell her I'll come every time to hold HER hand if she needs it.  I let her know that I understand how hard it is on her.

You just don't know what to expect. I explained it to a nurse today:  When labor is approaching, you know it's coming. You probably know the signs.  You probably know what to look for.  You might start having contractions.  You might even think, "Ah, this is labor."  But then the contractions stop.  You know that they will start again one day, but you're not sure when.  All you know is soon.

All we know is soon.  We don't know when.  And thankfully this is no induction at this end of the life cycle.

Blessing the Way

I know you've heard me talk about blessingways as the relate to birth, but I have to say that my amazing friends have sent me the nicest "Blessingway in a Box" for me to use during my Grandma's passing. There were beautiful notes and stories, plenty of wisdom, not to mention beads and string to make a necklace.

Thank you my friends, all of you.

Friends!

I had a wonderful day. I started off scrapbooking for a brief period with Jana, Dara, Ashley and then had breakfast with Elizabeth!  Here is a picture of Elizabeth and Noa!

The world is a bit sadder...

I sadly report that a true friend and doula spirit has parted this world today.  Keep Ilana's family in your hearts today:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ilanastein

Worried

I tossed and turned all night, worried for M & T. Wish I lived closer to go over, bring tea and soup and just sick and talk.  Lots of prayers for them and B.

WhyMommy Update

So many of you have followed WhyMommy's journey through cancer, but here is a really nice article that sums it all up in Health magazine:

http://living.health.com/2008/06/01/fighting-the-cancer-a-mammo-cant-catch/

Thinking of WhyMommy Today...

I just got the twitter that WhyMommy was wheeled into surgery.  She's having a double mastectomy today, after 6 months of chemo for inflammatory breast cancer.  Think of her today and catch up with her updates here.

Edited at 6:55 p.m.:

WhyMommy is out of surgery and itching for an Internet connection - she's my kind of friend obviously!  Keep her in your thoughts and prayers as her healing continues. Heavy on her heart is the six long weeks until she can pick up her sons again...

Chanukah (Night #6)

Well Hilary's night of Chanukah coincided with our annual Chuankah Party!  We enjoyed our friends, good food and lots of laughs.  The kids played nicely together.  Hilary enjoyed a birthday gift of a talking watch - it speaks Japanese.  She likes that.

We got her a book on health (Our Bodies, Ourselves).  Jana gave that one a nod.  She also got a 2 GB flash drive.  She was mostly fun to be with and seemed to enjoy the company despite a hard week.

I love that the kitty cat was playing dreidel too.

Fun!

I had a lot of fun last night.  It was about an hour, which is the perfect length for me.  It was funny and I really enjoyed it, even though he is so not PC. My friend and I sat in the car and talked for a bit.  Then when I went to leave realized my key wasn't working.  (There was an elaborate car switching scheme involving Skyline Chili.) So Kevin came up to Skyline with his key to get me.  All was fine then I went to bed. I'm such a wild child...