Happy Birthday Angelica Rose!!

Today our "baby" turned TWO!! So hard to believe. Angelica Rose has changed and grown so much in this past year and continues to bring so much happiness and blessings to our lives. She is a sweet little girl and growing up so fast. She had her two year check today and weighed in at 25 pounds (25%) and 34 inches tall (50%). Poor thing is still trying to readjust to being home and has yet to get back on a routine since we have been spending some time at the hospital with PopPop. Marmee came over today and made one of her favorites for dinner though....spaghetti!! We are going to have her party and celebration on Saturday so Aunt Caitlin can join us as she will be done with school!! It was special that she had a celebration in VA with family and will have one here with family. Angelica....mama and papa love you so very much and never realized until you were born how to love someone so completely and unconditionally. We hope you have another healthy and wonderful year ahead and enjoy being TWO!! I am trying to put together a little slide show of our favorite pics so far and a cute video of her showing how old she is....but will have to post tomorrow....as after a long day....I am off to bed.

(POPPOP UPDATE: We were at the hospital for awhile this morning and again tonight and PopPop's spirits are very good...although he is quite a bit of pain. Luckily he has a great appetite and loves watching his great-grandchildren. He tries to get some rest and the doc has him sitting up for at least 6 hours of the day. His surgery site is oozing a lot which I guess is normal and they won't redress it for awhile yet. He is supposed to get discharged tomorrow to a rehab facility....we will keep you posted and thanks for the prayers!)

Baskin-Robbins Special

Tomorrow, April 30th, go to your Baskin-Robbins store and get small ice cream scoops for only 31 cents a scoop!! Go between 5-10pm, limit 10 scoops....it is honoring the firefighters in your area. Read HERE for more details. (will have to take Angel for her birthday!)

Update

We made it home safe and sound after a very LONG day of flying. It was sad to say goodbye to all the family and I think we were all in tears as we waved goodbye!! We had a short lay over in Cincinnati and got in to Seattle around 630pm yesterday. The girls were AWESOME on the flights and such troopers. The main thing I found difficult was trying to nurse in those very tiny seats on a crowded FULL flight and a long baby that likes to stretch out and move a lot when she nurses. Luckily I had THIS....which has made nursing in public so much more manageable especially with Emma who squirms a lot because it allows both my hands to be free and see her at the same time!! Dad and Alli picked us up, we stopped for some Teriyaki (thanks dad!) and then saw Marmee at the house. After baths we hit the sack...all exhausted and ready for bed...unpacking would have to wait until tomorrow!!

Updates: When I landed in WA, I had two voice messages on my cell phone. The first was from Mom H. in VA wanting to let us know they were ok. The tornadoes that hit Colonial Heights (where Jason's church in VA is and family close by) did not hurt any of Jason's family or homes. Luckily we had flown out of VA just a few hours before it hit!!

The other message was from Mom V. telling me that my grandfather, PopPop, had fallen that morning helping the ladies from his assisted living place into the activity van and gotten pretty hurt. He had cuts and bruises all over his face...some that needed internal and external stitches. His knees and hands were all scraped up...but the worse was he broke his left upper arm...a complete break in the distal part of the humerus near the elbow. His wrist was pretty sore as well, but not broken. So we spent this morning at the hospital with him, and this evening around 530 he went into surgery for his broken bone. The doctor had to use two plates and screws to fix it....and ended up breaking another bone to get to the injured one. But the doctor was pleased with the outcome and PopPop handled the surgery well. He is right now just into his room from recovery and in a lot of pain!! So please keep him and his recovery in your prayers....not a way to start his 87th year!! Right now the arm is just in a splint and the doctor doesn't' think he will cast it. He will probably be in the hospital until Thursday and then most likely in a rehab facility for about a week. Hopefully he can return to his assisted living home and his own room soon and we are praying for the best recovery of range of motion and use of his arm!! We will visit him tomorrow and update then.

Day Ten - Last Day

Today we got up and going early because we had to go to the other end of town to take family pictures. Jason's sister, Michelle, is a photographer...so we met at her studio and she worked really hard to get all the family members, including 12 grandchildren, to take pictures. We hope we got some good shots. Then we headed to the lunch to meet Uncle Junior, Nannie and Michelle and the kids for lunch....thanks Uncle Junior!! We took some pics there of the kids with Nannie and Uncle Junior and said our goodbyes. This evening all the family came over to have a cookout (ended up being indoors because of rain) and birthday celebration for Angel since her birthday is Wednesday. The food was all yummy (got more recipes) and Angel loved her cake. She was overwhelmed with all the cousins to play with and looked like the queen bee opening her presents with all her cousins eagerly watching and wanting to help. Thanks to everyone for making it so special. Then we got some pics of Jason with his sisters and brother and of him with all the nieces and nephews. It was a fun night and sad to say goodbye to all of them. Angel will miss her play buddies!! Then the packing began....ugh....we are going to have to mail a box back...so off to bed and hopefully we will have a successful and easy flight experience tomorrow....will keep you "posted"...hehe. (a lot more good pics in slide show)

Day Nine

Today the girls are still not doing well with the allergy issues...poor babies. We had a leisurely morning and Grammy made breakfast of cheese eggs, toast and sausage. Then Ann and the girls came over and Grandpa brought Miranda (Mike's daughter) over. We got to see Mike (Jason's brother) finally as well. Miranda and Lexi had fun singing and playing music with Angel up in the play room. Then everyone left to go to a little fundraiser carnival for the Police Department but I stayed home with Emma so that she could nap and not be out in the hot weather!! The carnival ended up not being too much and the kids were afraid of the clowns....so after some popcorn and root beer floats they headed to Daniel's (Mike's son) soccer game and to Chick-Fil-A for lunch. I will sure miss that when I am gone. We went to mass tonight at mom and dad's church and met some of their friends. Then after mass we went to eat at a local Seafood place, I believe called the Riptides. Ann and Jason and the girls met us there. When we came home, Angel helped Grammy make goodies for tomorrow's dinner and birthday celebration. Then she called Poppy and we went to bed.

Day Eight

This morning we got up and "Aunt" Joanie made a yummy breakfast...Angel was still being funny about eating, but the teething has a lot to do with it I think. So far my kids have had a hard time with the teething issues. Emma crashed for a nap and we just hung out and visited with Joanie. They took Angel in the backyard to the water to find ducks and pick flowers. Then she enjoyed helping Joanie get the air out of the mattress and play with the beautiful and fun doll house Joanie has. We had some lunch and then stopped by her office to say goodbye to her daddy, PopPop. Speaking of PopPop....my PopPop (maternal grandfather) turned 87 today...HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPPOP...we love you!! Then we were on the road again. (Thanks Joanie for the girls beautiful outfits too!!) Angel was tired but every time she would fall asleep her poor little head would come crashing forward and wake her up because she was uncomfortable. So...mommy had an idea and thinking I should market it...maybe call it the Napper Wrap? The pictures of it are hilarious....but it worked....kept her head upright and allowed her to sleep!! I found a fleece scarf in the car, and tied it around the car seat and put it over her forehead!! It scrunched up her nose so much, she looked like a little piggy...we laughed so hard....but a desperate mother with another baby fussing will try anything to get the kids to sleep!!! So don't be surprised if we make millions one day....hehe. We made it back to Richmond and headed over to Jason's sister Michelle's house for dinner. We had pizza and visited with Grandmaw, Aunt Kimmy and Tyler and Lauren, and Aunt Chelle-Chelle and September and Connor and Jacob. Angel had a blast playing in the backyard with all the cousins and fun toys!! We definitely need to get some outside toys this summer! So far we are having a very ROUGH night getting the kids to sleep....we are playing tag team, but because both of them aren't feeling good with the teething and allergies, all they want is mommy. AAHHH. We were going to play some cards with Dad and Mom, but on my third trip back downstairs with another child, I saw Mom putting away the treats we had gotten out....oh well, so much for good intentions. And hopefully I am off to sleep......

Day Seven

Well, Wednesday night was our first difficult night. Poor Emma has gotten some allergies since she has been here and had trouble breathing while sleeping because her nose was draining so much. Even with nose drops and suctioning it, we had to keep her upright to sleep. I have been having a rough time with the allergies since I got to VA, as has Jason. But we got going Thursday morning packing for our overnight trip to Norfolk. Jason and Angelica went to September's school and surprised her for lunch. When they got back we loaded up the car and were on our way. We arrived to Norfolk around 4ish (after remembering how much I hate the traffic and the bridge-tunnel!) and Joanie had made a delicious Italian dinner. She opened up her house to anyone that wanted to stop by....it was so good to see Colleen and her hubby and new baby, Dave & Mary, Ginnie & Becky, Carol and the twins (loved Alyssa's pigtails and Sean gave Angel her first kiss!), Wendi, Melissa & Chris and the 4 kiddies, and John Domingo!! John - I feel like I caught up with everyone thru you!!...and I am serious about organizing a youth group reunion!! I wish I could have had more time but it was good to at least get hugs and catch up a bit and have people meet Angel and Emma. Angel crashed sometime during the busy talking and poor Emma finally got to sleep, again upright and with daddy on the couch....hoping her nose and allergies get better soon!! Thanks so much Joanie for letting us stay with you and visit. The air mattress was great! We love you so much!!! (I think both the kiddies are teething as well...Angel's first two year molar came in today!)