Mother's Day

We had a wonderful Mothers Day on Sunday. We went to mass and my mom and I were given beautiful corsages. Then we went to Mamasan's grave and put flowers there and told her how much we missed her and loved her. Angel was very proud of herself for putting all the flowers in. Then we went to my mom's house and had a yummy breakfast of blueberry pancakes, eggs, donuts and mimosas!! (made by Caitlin and Jason) The girls went down for a nap and we opened some beautiful gifts and then went to see PopPop. Jason and Caitlin cooked a yummy dinner and I made a delicious dessert...a recipe I got back home in VA from my mother-in-law, called Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwich Dessert. It was a very relaxing day spent with our kiddies and family members and just enjoying being together (and being spoiled!!).

smelling the corsage flowers

looking at the wedding book Megs did

including Poppy at dinner by putting up a picture

Who is having more fun??

Angelica (and Aunt Caitlin) had a lot of fun playing in a fort Jason built out of Angel's birthday boxes!!

Can you do this??

Updates

PopPop Update:
He is doing well, still at Northwoods Lodge but hopefully not for too much longer. He has never complained of pain, just boredom!! He has been a bit disoriented but he tends to get that way when he isn't in his normal surroundings. He is walking pretty well again and the swelling in his hand seems to be getting better. He is in a big brace for his arm, not a hard cast anymore. He tends to get up and out of his bed on his own still so at least he is still wanting to be independent...however he also keeps setting the bed alarm off!! Poor guy....we try to keep him happy by bringing him goodies and the girls to make him smile!!

Pepe Update:
Pepe is still in the hospital although the doctors say he is doing well. He is getting his appetite back which is good because that wasn't going too well at first. He still has the drainage tube left and cannot be discharged until that is taken out. Right now they are trying to get his blood chemistry back in normal ranges. First he was anemic, then his potassium levels drop etc....so trying different things to fix that so he doesn't have to have a transfusion. He gets up several times a day to walk and slowly get his strength back. So we are hoping that maybe in the next day or two he can go home.

Other updates:
My sister Meghan found out her official due date for Baby Sturhahn is December 20th!! She is still feeling really well (remind me not to hate her!). Dad is still in Florida for his dad but will be coming home Saturday. We are supposed to have 80-85 degree weather this weekend starting Thursday so that should be nice!!

Thanks Joanie

Your BIRTHDAY GIFT to Angel allowed me to get dinner made tonight with no distractions...although now I have lots of silly songs running around in my head!!

Pepe update

Thank you to all the prayers!! Pepe is in recovery right now and will be moved to ICU for the night. He came thru the surgery well and the doctor seems pleased. He ended up having 4 bypasses and one valve replaced. They were able to take the vein from his leg for the bypass so that was good. He is still hooked up to all kinds of monitors and on a ventilator right now, but once he wakes up and starts to respond well they will start removing him from machines. They are hoping tomorrow to get him up and in 3-4 days if there are no complications and he is up walking they maybe will be able to bring him home. So we are so thankful for the successful surgery and praying still for a safe and complication-free recovery during these next few critical hours and days. Our guardian angels were all working overtime today!!!

Prayers!!

First, update on PopPop....he is doing well so far. He is at Northwoods Lodge, a very nice rehab facility right now. The doc changed his dressings yesterday and put him in a hard cast right now. He should have stitches removed soon and possibly then a splint put on. PopPop has done very well...still has a good appetite, doesn't seem to be in too much pain and loves having us visit. We hope the recovery will continue to go well and he can regain use of his arm as much as possible...a long haul ahead!! Thanks for all the prayers....From one grandpa to the other...this morning my Pepe (paternal grandpa) had an angiogram for his heart (he suffered a mild heart attack a few weeks ago during oral surgery). It showed significant blockage in all arteries and we already knew of his faulty valve. So....they admitted him right away and he will have open heart surgery tomorrow and from what I know and understand right now....5 bypasses will be done and the aortic valve fixed too. So this is major surgery and we are all praying very hard. My dad flew out right after he got the phone call and will be there tonight to be with his folks and help out however he can. Wish we could all be there Pepe to give you hugs and kisses and wish you well. You are so strong and healthy, I am sure you will pull thru this like a pro!! Meme...we wish we could be there to distract you and give you strength, but know we are praying and will call lots!! Thanks to everyone for the prayers...keep them coming especially tomorrow and we will keep you posted on the news...

Flexible and hungry

Angel's Birthday weekend

Well, at long last I have some time to post some pics from the birthday girl's big day. She has had two big parties for her 2nd birthday, one back in VA which I already posted and one this past weekend with the family here. On Saturday we had a yummy dinner and Angel got her "two pink cake" which she has been requesting...Marmee made a yummy double layer chocolate cake with pink icing. I did chicken enchiladas, chicken curry, rice, boiled to death green beans and Caesar salad. Angel got some very nice and FUN gifts. A cute Nike outfit from Aunt Caitlin of course, a play kitchen from Aunty Megs and Chris, a sandbox-water set from Marmee and Poppy (and a cool ABC leapfrog fridge set), a bike from Mama and Papa, helmet set from Nannie, popper from Aunt Alli, Leap pad system from Meme and Pepe and much more!! She had fun all weekend playing with her new toys and enjoying being two!! How fast the years have gone!! Thanks to all who helped celebrate her special day! (Family...there are some funny pics of you in the slideshow!)

Sweet

I was looking at my sister-in-law, Michelle's, blog and saw this post she did when we were back home...really sweet.

A Full May Day

Not only is today Ascension Thursday (which is a Holy Day of Obligation, but will be celebrated on Sunday) but it is also the first Day of May, the month of Mary. Angel and I are hoping to try and make a crown this week to adorn our Mary statue with this month. It is a good month to truly meditate and pray the rosary and have special devotions to our Mother. Today is also the feast day of St. Joseph, the Worker. (his other feast day is March 19th) We should all remember to thank our working husbands for the sacrifices and hardships they endure to support their families, and pray that St. Joseph will always direct their steps towards success in the occupations they choose. Tomorrow is also the day to start the novena to the Holy Ghost. This way it starts on the day after the Ascension and ends on the vigil of Pentecost. This is a special novena as it was instituted by our Lord Himself. Wishing all a very prayerful and blessed month of May!!

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)