February

Eli practiced with his camera he got for Christmas quite a bit. Here I captured him with his Daddy at work. Not bad for a little camera :)



Just a bit over exposed....

Grammalot's birthday was Feb 17, so Eli got her card all ready. What a great job he did- all by himself!!
I got a pic of it,and then decided I needed to capture him with the card, too!
Eli, holding Grammalot's card.
It was a cold and snowy Feb. Thanks again Jim, for trading Saturdays with me- the 15 inches of snow we got overnight made travel impossible to go to work that weekend. Eli was a great help, too, helping to push the snow blower.
Beautiful- thou hard to hit the playset :)

We left all the snow behind and headed out to St Croix. What a time- we celebrated our 10th anniversary, and had friends that wanted to come with us. Our friend Kristen, a professional photographer, did some beach shots for us to commemorate the occasion. Little did she know what was in store for her that week :)
Here she is catching our photos as the sun was sinking down into the horizon.
Eli has started doing this with his camera, too. He takes a pic and then comes over and shows the pic to us.
Notice anything on that hand??? The surprise was amazing as John sang Kristen a beautiful song, declared his love and they agreed to be married. What a day!! and it wasn't ruined at all when Eli ran up, in the middle of the declaration of love, asking loudly if they wanted any hand sanitizer :)
Here Eli is, ready to head out to the pool with the pool toys we brought. He loved the water this year- the pool water. The ocean was still a bit to "big" for him.
I was so impressed with his snorkeling ablility!! He swam around for a few minutes with Tim,talking to us through the snorkel the whole time :)
This is one of my favorite pics from this year. Tim and Eli holding hands, walking along the beach.

Wednesday morning, we had plans to go to Christianstead with everyone to see the sites and while we went to the fort,they were going to look for souvenirs to take home. We had very spotty internet service at the room. That morning, however, Tim was able to get an email from our pastor.

He had been scheduled to go to Haiti on a mission trip on Jan 16. That trip, of course, was canceled due to the massive earthquake that all but destroyed much of Haiti on the 11th. Our crew was so disappointed to not be able to get there and help. We "knew"they wouldn't be able to get us back there very soon, since the airport was in such shambles.

Imagine Tim's surprise, regret, dismay, disbelief and overwhelmingly sad disappointment to find that our missionary had called the night before and wanted our team there that weekend- before we were scheduled to return. Ah- my heart was breaking for him, I knew how much he longed to go and help. But, he put on a happy face and we finished getting ready to go and met up with our friends and headed out.

Surprisingly enough, our phones have service on the South side of the island. So, once we got over the mountain to the other side of the island, Tim's phone starts dinging like mad as it received all his voice messages from the last few days. One was from his brother, Jeff, saying only call me as soon as you receive this message.

So, as we were driving down the road in the tropical lushness of St Croix, Tim learned that his Aunt had gone out looking for his uncle after he had been gone too long plowing snow, only to find he had passed away. At only 56 years old, it came as a shock to everyone. We were sitting there reeling with the news, not knowing what to do.

We went through our day, kinda numb, wanting to enjoy our beautiful surroundings, trying to figure out how to deal with these conflicting emotions.

Over the next 2 days we tried to find a way to get home early for the funeral on Monday. Tim wanted to be there with his family in such a bad way!!! Unfortunately, it would have cost $750 per ticket for us to fly home 1 day early. We spent a while on the phone with family, who assured us they understood we couldn't be there for the funeral. We finally concluded we could be there for afterwards- when the numbness starts to wear off.

The weather was beautiful!! Hot, sunny and wonderful- what a break from the feet of snow and no electricity we left behind!!
We toured around the fort in Ft Christianstead. Amazing to see the places people lived.
Eli liked the cannon!

The town Gazebo was dubbed the Merry-go-round without horses by Eli.
We all went out to dinner at Cheeseburgers in Paradise, enjoying food and getting to know new friends. Along with Kristen and John, John's 2 sisters, Beth and Faith were with us. What a fun time we had. Our server, after taking our pic, found out that we wanted to find the tide pools a few miles from our resort. He offered to take us the next day. So, on our 10th anniversary,we were able to do something we'd never done-and what an amazing day it was!!

Tim had just completed the P90X program. We sure were glad!! He carried Eli almost the whole way on his shoulders!!

We all had fun on the hike. It was so beautiful, and a part of St Croix we have never seen before!

The tide pools are down at the far right end of the photo- just before the outcropping of the hill.
It was B E A utiful!! I could have spent a whole day there!
Some more pics from Eli's camera.
Mommy and Daddy :)
Kristen, John and Faith through the eyes of Eli....
Our four friends!!
The happy Newly engaged couple!
Every morning, Eli would wake with the sun (around 6:30!!) yelling- it's light out, waking up time, Mommy and Daddy, and then launch himself into bed with us. Ahhh, the excitement of youth- if only we could capture it and retain it always!~
The last morning we were there, Tim and Eli played in the sand by the beach (love the palm trees on the beach) while we went snorkeling. It was fun to be able to get out and explore underwater a little bit. Kinda completed the vacation for me :)
We did our formal pics then- here I captured the boys dressing. I'll have more pics to post soon- just waiting on the final disc of pics from the week.
Eli captured Kristen as she was shooting our photos.
Then he came and got us between shots :)
He learned to say bouganvillia- the name of the flower- while we were down there- here he is saying that on the plane on the way home:)

We arrived home in Columbus to several inches of freshly fallen snow. I am amazed the plane was able to land!! We had to get a taxi to get back to our hotel.

Eli fell asleep as we were taxiing into the airport. I carried him out of the plane, where we saw a wheelchair waiting, and no one that needed it- so we put him in the chair, and used it to push over to the baggage claim. We had our sweatshirts only- thinking we'd be stepping right into the van from the hotel. We ended up waiting outside in line for about 1/2 hour for a taxi- there were so many others lined up.

I had Eli under my sweatshirt, his head sticking out, hood over his head. We finally got a cab and arrived at the hotel. What an experience that ride was!! We arrived at the hotel about 11:30. We got up to our room and I laid Eli down on the bed. That is when he woke up.... :)

We ended up staying overnight due to the road conditions.
Notice anything amiss?
Eli kept running out the door after he woke up- he wanted to go swimming- not realizing that the pool wasn't open. Our door lock wasn't very effective, eh?
We got home the next morning- but couldn't make it up the drive way- so much more snow had fallen.
So, from one paradise to the next- we went from sand to snow. After a few hours, we were able to get up to the garage :)
This is the view out our front door. WOW!!

A friend of mine had given Eli and me a Gingerbread house kit. We decided to make a valentines house. Chey and Wes came up and we made it all together. We had some icing left over, so we decorated the kids,too :)
Chey
Eli
Wes
Valentine's house front view
Valentines house back view.

Then we all went to Papa's work, sharing our gingerbread house with the guys and eating pizza with them. Sat is pizza day at work- they make it from scratch- yum!!

Then, of course, the kids went down the pole- well,the boys did:)
Wes coming down the pole
Wow!! What a look!!
Then Eli and Daddy came down the pole.
They got a tour of the back of a medic...and got to sit in the back of the fire engine. Good times!!
Eli had his first cleaning in the big room. He was so still and did just what they asked him to.
I was so proud of him. He made it into the "no cavity club"

The month passed so quickly!!

Has it really been 2 years!!!

Two years ago, right now, we were beginning our first day as parents to Eli. The memories still seem as fresh as yesterday- but a yesterday packed carefully away a lifetime ago! I pull the memories out, one by one, examining the preciousness of them, putting them away carefully for more thought later.

We talk so much about how easy it is now to make him laugh.

Ramblings of a recovering mom

We left last Sunday to go to PA to pick Eli up from my Mom and Dad's house. Tim's family had a gathering for Lunch, so we got away and arrived just in time to eat a late dinner and put Eli to bed.

He wouldn't eat until we got there. Said he wanted to wait for his Mommy and Daddy to get there before he ate. We arrived, and as I ran through the house searching for him, I heard him crying upstairs. Seems he wanted to push the garage door button and be the first to see us as we came in, but he also wanted to play for a little bit longer in the bathtub and missed his opportunity.

Oh, how wonderful to gather his sweet little body close to my heart!! I felt like crying. I was still feeling way below par, so wasn't too upset when Eli wanted Tim to rock him and tuck him in. I think we both really indulged him. I believe Tim read 5 books to him, and then I heard Eli singing to Tim as I stood downstairs listening.

We stayed an extra day with Mom and Dad. Eli had a couple of "bad dreams" and wanted to cuddle and be held, and sleep in the big bed with Daddy. He wasn't able to tell us exactly what happened, just that it was bad.

It was nice to have the extra time with Mom and Dad- especially since I was just regaining my ability to eat- Mom made several soups. It is amazing how little one wants to cook when one is not feeling well, and how little appetite one has when one does have to cook. Thanks for the savory meals, Mom!! They were great!

We got back home Tues evening, after a shopping spree at Cabelas, and about 5 or 5:30pm Tim headed straight back to work- he only had the first 12 hours off. He called me that evening, just after he left, as he was driving, to tell me there had been an earthquake in Haiti. It was the beginning of a long, emotionally draining week, for us, as well as nations around the world as we watch and listen for any details about friends and loved ones in the nation of Haiti.

The next day was my 2 week check up for my throat. Dr said everything looked pretty good, my tonsils were much larger than he thought, even wrapping around my trachea. Even so, followups will be closer to home at my family Dr if I have any more issues. Thank you, God, that I am finally healing!!

On the way home, we got a text from our prayer chain at church. One of my best friends had just found out that her brother, a police officer in PA, had just been fatally shot in the line of duty. Oh how my heart grieves for her and her family.

It has been difficult to not have CNN on all the time. I have a desperate need to know what is going on in Haiti. ( It feels almost like after the towers collapsed on 9/11.) Tim and I have been there several times on short term mission trips and have many friendships with people there. Facebook has been a lifeline- literally. Our friends down there had facebook availability before they had phone service, and were able to communicate with each other, make sure everyone was OK and coordinate efforts. And it is such a wonderful way to keep everyone informed of what is going on.

The hard part now is to turn the TV off. I know it is not good for Eli to see that. I so totally DO NOT want the pictures he sees on TV now to be what he has in his mind when we tell him Tim, or both of us are going to Haiti.

He is asking questions- and I encourage it- I want him to talk about it.

He wants to know why the houses fell down? Where are the people going to live? What will they eat and drink? Why did it happen?

He has overheard us talking about some of the stuff going on there, and I know he is too young to understand and process it.

So, it comes out in other ways.

I'm not sure if the destruction we see in Haiti, Mommy and Daddy tearful at times, or just the separation he experienced while gone for 10 days is to account for it. He seems to have forgotten his "self soothing" mechanisms. If he wakes in the night, he cries or comes and gets us and wants to cuddle or rock with us until he falls back asleep. And, always, wants us to "sleep in the big bed" in his room.

I am praying that begins to subside. Selfishly, it is very draining to not get much sleep at night. Seems when I do sleep, I'm listening to make sure he is ok, and then when I fall asleep, he wakes up. And yet, tonight, now that he is asleep, I sit here and type my thoughts when I, too, should be going to bed. I guess I can't lay the tired blame solely on his feet. As I feel better each day, I think I should be able to just jump back into the swing of things after having done nothing for the last 2 weeks after my surgery. I do hope he sleeps all night tonight, though.

We are so thankful for the safety of the people we know in Haiti. So grieved over the loss of so many in a country that is already so impoverished. Tim and a team from our church had been scheduled to leave for Haiti last Sat. Due to the airport situation, and lack of civilian flights, as well as no where to stay once we arrive, and not wanting to use up the limited supplies the people there have now, the trip was canceled. They hope to go down as soon as possible, to help in anyway possible.

WE went to church on Sunday. It has been a while since I've been able to make it to church! Eli and I were standing in line to sign in for KidsPraise. There was an older lady, maybe mid to late 70's- hard to say.... she was in line behind me. Eli didn't want to go to class- he wanted to stay with us in big church. The lady behind me and I struck up a bit of a conversation.

After a few minutes of talking back and forth, she looked at me and, while pointing to Eli, said, "So, is this your grandson?"

GULP!!!

"Ah, no. He is my son," I replied, reeling with a bit of shock at her words.

I'm usually told I look like a teenager and not old enough to have a child. This is definitely a first for me to have someone ask me if I am a grandparent to my child. OUCH!! I jokingly put on facebook that I never knew that a tonsillectomy could add a whole generation to your age....

Eli didn't make it in KidsPraise. His number appeared on the screen in the front of "Big church" before we'd finished singing the first song. So, Eli came to big church with us. He was so very good. He used his whisper voice (amazing how much volume a child can put into a whisper voice, isn't it?) and was very still while he was drinking the drink I picked up for him in the nursery and the goldfish snack.

Seeing our friends that have Haiti as strongly on their hearts as we do, talking about my friend, Melissa's brother that was killed, my own recovery, and just being back in a place of worship where I felt I belonged just about did me in. I was close to tears, or tear streaked on the face until well after we left the building.

Thank you, God, for the people you put in our lives that we can "do life" with. Where we feel accepted for who we are and loved, sometimes in spite of it :)

As I sit here and type about getting up in the middle of the night to tend to Eli, I can't help but be overwhelmed as I think about all the parents all over the world that tonight are sitting in their homes, arms and hearts aching, holding pictures of their children that are still in Haiti, waiting on the final stages of adoption, not knowing if their child is alive, or has any water, food, clothing or shelter, and no end in sight as to when they can go bring their children home. I do stop and remind myself to cherish every moment with our son who took so long to come home to us, and realize that it isn't so bad to have your child come and get you in the middle of the night because he wants to be close to you.

Praying for the people of Haiti and all that were affected by this tragedy- May God bring healing from the darkness and hope from the despair. May His love shine through the dust, rubble and smoke. May WE all be changed for the better as we participate in what ever way we can in helping this nation, roughly the same size as Maryland.


Good night all! I'm headed to bed :)

Missing you

Mom's are very wise people. When Mom approached me last year about keeping Eli while I recovered, I turned her down. I knew Tim would be home- we could handle it.

Then, over the last couple months, I lost my voice. Several times. Eli didn't handle it very well and on the days when Tim went to work, and it was just the 2 of us, it was very difficult.

Finally, when the subject came up again, and I asked Mom if her offer was still good, she enthusiastically replied, "Of course, it is!!"

So, we packed up after Christmas here with our family and Tim's family and headed home for some time with Mommy's family. We had a wonderful few days, and then we took off for Ohio, leaving our little guy safe and sound with his Grandma and Grandpa Fox.

Other than missing him soooo very much this has worked out very well. Tim hasn't had to keep Eli quiet so I could rest, we haven't had to worry about feeding him and entertaining him- I didn't have to worry about waking him up when I was up through the night- and, best of all, Grandma and Grandpa, who never get to see Eli, get to have some time with him, getting to know him.

I can't wait to hear all the stories of what all is going on with that little guy. I can't wait to get some hugs and kisses from that little guy. What a special little person God placed in our lives- and what a huge hole you leave when you are gone!!

Come on throat- let's get this healing on the road!!! We love and miss you, our sweet little guy!!

Mommy's Surgery

Hey everybody!! I am alive!! I had my tonsils removed in a very simple procedure on Dec 30th. The Dr told Tim the tonsils were actually much worse than he had originally thought, and he was very happy that I had decided to have them removed. He couldn't believe how big they were.

The first day, right after the surgery, was great!! The anesthesia was still lingering in my system, making it very difficult to be awake and or aware for very long. My tongue was the only discomfort I had at all!! The last 2 days, though, have been challenging. I am soo glad to know that God walks with us every step of the way, though!!

Eli is staying with my Mom and Dad in PA and having a great time. He calls us each morning and wants to know if we are ready to come and pick him up. "I love you, Mommy and Daddy!!" he says so sweetly in the phone.

I am quite eager to get the pain to at least a tolerable level without being so groggy :) I will also be glad to get rid of the 15 pounds of fluid I've put on in the last 48 hours. I have on a purple jogging suit today- I told Tim I feel like the little girl that loved to chew gum on Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory.... hehehe Doopity doo.... and turned into a blueberry!!

I am only on my 3rd day of recovery, though, so I will rejoice in all the small things!! Thank you God that I can sleep, for family and friends praying for us and loving us and taking care of us. Thank you for speedy recovery and that I find that wonderful balance- doing just enough to speed healing and recovery, but not too much to set me back.

I am soo thankful that my tonsils are out now, so I can look forward to much better health all around in 2010!!!!

Happy New Year to Everyone!!

Christmas in PA

We had a Kidstuf program in December, and Eli was helping me out as I was making some props.
Note the Halo, the festive socks with garland and bells- turned up on the end like an elfs...


And then there was the day the Papa's boots came. Eli was soo excited about them- he opened the box and we got a pic of the boots to send to Papa at work, so he could enjoy the new boots, too:)

We drove to PA Sat morning after Tim got home from work and we got the car all loaded up. It sure is good to see my family. All the kids arrived on Sat, through out the day, so by evening we were ready to have another celebration. Eli was a little tired and wasn't listening very well, so he and i went up and got a bath. I saw on the clock that it was after 8:30- so I was going to go ahead and put him down for the night. But as Tim came up, and I realized the clock was wrong, Eli got the reprieve he'd been longing for, and we went downstairs and had a celebration!!

Grandma and Grandpa got him a little kitchen set. Aunt Amity and Uncle Justin got it all put together in record time, and he had a blast making us pancakes and lemons.

He got some Spiderman gloves and hat- I just loved this pic!!

Veronica was being a Puuurrrrffectly lovely little cat, playing in the box. Eli loved that- he loves to play kitty!! And Kylie was a great chef, helping Eli prepare meals in the kitchen.

The next day, we went with Rick and Dad as Rick was setting up his tree stand to go hunting the next morning. The farm has many beautiful horses on it, so Eli, Veronica, Amity and I went along to see the horses. Here is Eli, getting his bearings, taking pictures with his new camera.

Veronica reminds me so much of myself when I was younger. I was so horse crazy- I loved to be near them. What a dream!! So glad I could capture it on film:)

My 2 little hams, hamming it up for the photo opp...

I went shopping with Tara the next day. Tara, Kylie and I had sooo much fun!!Kylie was my fashion consultant. Tim and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary in Feb, so we are going to have some nice photos taken, and Kylie was helping me pick out my dress.

We chose several and then went back to the changing room. She critiqued each one, cautioning me on what type of undergarments I'd need, and then we picked out shoes to go with the dress I picked. I haven't had that much fun at Gabe's for a long time!! Thank you Kylie and Tara!!

We stopped at JC Penney's for Tara to exchange an item- and I found this darling suit on sale. It is sooo cute!!

Still a little big on him- but oh, what a dapper little guy!!!

It snowed quite a bit (not a lot stuck) while we were in PA- but we did get enough to go sledding!! So Tues morning, Tim, Eli and I all bundled up and headed out to go sledding. Eli got to wear his new snow suit- sooo cozy and warm!!

Love these pics of Father and son......
Up the hill for another ride down....

Wheeeee!!!!!!

The incline was just right- not to fast, not too slow....

Then we walked over to where the elementary school is, there is a cool hill there. He didn't enjoy it as much- it was fast enough that he got the snow crystal spray in the face. But he loved playing on all the playground equipment in the snow. What fun we had!!

Then it was time for Papa and Mama to say goodnight and leave.