A little update on Chelsea sent via e-mail by her Mom!

Chelsea arrived in Jackson Mississippi about 4:30PM EST yesterday. The travel was uneventful, but the highways were full. She called me at about 11PM to tell me she was homesick…….for New Orleans ! She and the girls are fine, but bored to tears, as Jackson is not the tourist capital of the world.

The growing reality is that she may not be going back to Loyola this semester. If Gustav continues at this strength, it would destroy what Katrina and Rita did not. The city is on reserves from the hurricanes three years ago and this storm could bring extended power outages, building damages and unsafe community conditions. After Katrina, students did not return to Loyola, Tulane or Univ of New Orleans until January, but were accommodated at other schools. Loyola is part of a large and strong Jesuit community, so she could be placed at any of the Jesuit schools (including Fordham with her brother ) as she awaits her school to re-open.

The last few days of "vacation"!

Most of you know my goddaughter, Chelsea Rose. Chelsea has had her share of struggles over the last few years which just culminated in her graduation from high school and her acceptance at Loyola in New Orleans. ON Tuesday she left for school and shortly after she arrived the governor ordered a mandatory evacuation of the area due to Hurricane Gustav. Chelsea is on her way to Mississippi right now with her roommate and her roommate's grandmother who happened to be there this week visiting. They will stay in a hotel there for a few days until they know how long the evacuation will last and than Chelsea and her parents will decide if she should come home for awhile or not. I'm not sure how Chelsea's mom, Sondra, is staying so calm except that she has raised an incredibly independent and strong willed child! PLease keep Chelsea and her classmates and neighbors in your prayers as this latest hurricane tests the new levis and accomodations repaired after Hurricane Katrina. I'll update you on what is going on but right now we at least know that Chelsea is out of New Orleans and safe with a loving grandmother!

Bob and I loving Chelsea at her graduation in June!
My beautiful goddaughter at her graduation party!

Poor Annie had a rough couple of days in DC. Based on the pediatrician's recommendation after Annie had a fever of over 102 for 4 days we ended up in the George Wasington University ER on Wednesday night. The poor kid had been miserable and couldn't eat, sleep or soothe herself - very unusual for Banana! When the Ibuprofen kicked in Annie would have a few hours of normalcy but even then she was quieter than normal and not herself. We all ended up in the ER until after midnight and poor Annie had to endure bloodwork and a catheterization just to find out that the rash and high fevers were all symptoms of a very serious virus that they could do nothing about. Annie slept most of the way home yesterday but is still really not feeling great - we checked in with our pediatrician today and will go in for further tests if the fever is not totally resoved by tomorrow at noon. They are fairly certain that we are not dealing with an infection since we had all the tests done in the ER but a persistant fever in a child her age is an issue so.............

A moment of fun with MOlly sharing her Red Sox hat with Annie and putting a smile on her sister's face!
Molly-doll looking super cute - does she ever look any other way?
Annie learned to drink through a straw - yeah!
Annie fell asleep on the bed on Wednesday morning.

And this was Thursday after our night in the ER!
Thank goodness for Grammy blankies and big bird!
Our sweet, sick baby girl.

And how did the ride home from DC go - you might ask? Molly rode for an hour this way due to a tummy ache and a few minutes after this picture she heaved for 10 minutes straight. What a trooper she is, though. She got everything in the bag and felt better after and was her normal happy self - not a care in the world. And about an hour later when we stopped for lunch we let her eat chicken nuggets and fries. So there were many fun moments on the trip but it was tiring and hard to have fun knowing how awful Annie was feeling. The only thing worse - I decided - was if I had gone alone and was not there for Annie while she was sick so I was counting my blessings that at least we were all together and I could be with my baby while she was sick - even if it was in a hotel room in a strange city!

So now we are getting ready for our 1st Birthday Bash for Annie and our official 1st day of school on Tuesday! We are hoping the virus that Annie has does not move on to anyone else in the family!

GNM - ILY!

Our Sick baby and the DC Double Decker Tour!

You can tell that poor Annie is not feeling good - her eyes are glassy and she's a bit pale but what a trooper this kid is! We went to Union Station to do the DC Duck Tour but it was REALLY expensive and so we all decided to do the Double Decker Tour bus instead - that way we could get off when we wanted and take our time if Annie was not feeling well! Wow did we run all day - several monuments and lots of walking and when we got home at 6 the kids begged to go to bed. Instead we fed them, let Ann sleep for a bit and then headed down for a night time swim. I highly recommend the bus tour to anyone - there are 18 stops and you get on and off when you want so you get to spend as much or as little time at each stop without dealing with traffic or directions. The buses come every 20 minutes. The one issue we had was loading and unloading kids and strollers because the stops were so quick - there would be no issue if I wasn't being a bit wimpy today with a back ache and baby Nola hanging out on my pelvic bone! Either way we had a great time and stil have all day tomorrow if we want to see anything else. We may make our way to the White House since Molly is dying to see it and we always make an excuse not to go there. Things are different since 9/11 but for some reason the kid thinks she is going to ask to see the president and he is going to walk out and give her a big hug. She may be the only one left willing to talk to him so who knows!

Loaded onto the Double Decker Bus and ready to see some sights.
Visiting the Capitol - the kids loved it!
The kids hugging on the lawn of the Capitol.
Had to get a close up of the big kids hugging. Annie was taking a little snooze at this point.
The fountain at the Capitol. Molly is really intrigued by all of the architecture and is mesmerized by all of the sites! I love doing this kind of stuff with her - at one point she said to me "Imagine how happy your eyes would be if you lived in Washington DC - there is so much to look at even when you are just driving in the car." She especially loved Lady Liberty - the bronze statue on top of the Capitol.
The kids thought it was funny that you can see the Washington monument from every site in DC.
My girl hanging out with mom at the Capitol.

Everyone knows how much i love to be in pictures but Molly asks incessantly for pictures with me - this is us at the Capitol waiting for the bus - she and I both love these kind of tours while Peter just wants to find a place to do handstands.
Peter and Molly on the top of the Double Decker Bus with Daddy!
Popsicle break for Annie at the Jefferson Memorial.
The kids had an italian Ice at the Jefferson memorial - we were trying to keep everyone hydrated!
My girl getting her hair wet in the sprinklers designed to water the floweres.

The kids getting drinks from the hoses watering the flowers - it was a hot hot day!
The Jefferson Memorial - the sign asks for respectful silence - I'm not sure Peter understood the meaning of that phrase. Molly was in the gift shop just prior to this and ran over to me to show me a snowglobe with the Capitol in it - she accidentally dropped it and the store owner was extremely mean about it - despite the fact that we kept saying that we would pay for it. He made her feel so bad and she was so embarrassed that she started to cry. When I bent down to hug her and tell her not to worry she wailed "I want Grammy. I miss Grammy!" I'm not sure what Grammy would have done but she insisted that it would have been better if Grammy came with us! The kids are starting to miss home alot and especially my parents - they need some loving this weekend when we get home! By the way - I did buy her a new globe and payed for the broken one on principle because they were so rude and nsty to my baby girl.
Kisses from Peter!
The kids resting on the columns at the Jefferson Memorial - incidentally the kids both kept saying that Auntie Karla would LOVE this one since the Declaration of Independence is all over the place and Auntie Loves it so much that she has it in her living room. Does Karla really have the Declaration in her living room? I never noticed!
The girls on the steps at the memoorial. I think this is classic Annie - 20 minutes earlier her temperature skyrocketted and we were forcing Tylenol down her throat. Molly was so goo with her today - hugging her, helping her to take medicine and just being really patient with her and us as we tried to take things slow and easy.

Annie taking a walk.
One of my favorite monuments is the World War II Monument - this is the kids in front of the waterfall with the Jefferson Memorial behind them.
Each state is represented at the WWII memorial and the kids quickly set out to find CT. Peter was touched by the meaning of the memorial and the fact that people from CT died in the war so long ago.
I thought it was cute when Peter was doing handstands on the lawn of the Washington monument.
We also stopped at a few other places - but the kids were exhausted and their parents were even more so. The plan for tomorrow is to possibly do the Holocaust Museum and the Bureau of Engraving (where they make the money). I aslo would love to go to the African American Art Museum but we need to see how Banana is doing. I love this city but we can't wait to get home and in our own beds. I can't beleive that in a little over a week it will be one year since Annie came into the world - is it possible that we all had lives before her? I asked Molly what we should do for Annie on her birthday and she said that we should all tell her 5 things we love about her. Molly had her five things all set to go; 1. I love how Annie gives big wet kisses. 2. I love that Annie is beautiful with honey colored hair (my mother in law coined that one and molly thinks it is great). 3. I love how Annie smiles when she sees her sister - especially when she gets up from her nap. 4. I love how Annie holds my hand when she walks and walks to me when Daddy lets go of her. 5. I love how Annie says I Wuv you but only I know when she says it because it still sounds funny! I thought it was cute that she was all set to go - Pete needs to think a bit more but I wrote all those things down for Annie's baby book.

Off to finish watching the DNC - we are in Washington after all. I just realized that we will have a new president by the time Nola is born - wow! The never ending election will finally be over!

GNM - ILY!

Happy 1st Day of School!

Okay so my kids didn't go to the 1st day of school but for all those poor kids who had to start school in the 100 degree heat today - Happy 1st day! We, on the other hand went back to a museum that we have been to 5 times in the last 2 years - we probably would have bought a membership were the admission not free! Let me explain - my daughter - the barbie loving, HSm singing, tiara wearing princess LOVES the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. She begs to go there and never disappoints with her enthusiasm and passion for all things related to space and flying. This is not something that carries into her everyday life but while we are there she is mesmerized like I have never seen this child before. There is also a McDonalds attached to it and an awesome gift store.

Peter and Molly love this picture of an astronaut!
This is Peter trying to lift the payload from one part of a space craft - he could lift almost as much as Bob!
Molly learning about friction via a speedskating exhibit.
We went to a great IMAX Show and this was Annie's only nap for the day.
Molly loved taking Annie for walks and showing off with her baby sister.
Peter sleeping in the bed of an astronaut - he thought this was so cool but Molly would not lay down there because it was dirty and gross from all those people laying on it. A girl after my own heart!
Bob and the big kids in infrared - what's up with Bob's nose - the kids thought he looked like a pig!
The kids next to Amelia Earhearts plane.

Annie fell in love with a big bird doll in the gift shop.
Yes, she kissed and hugged it so much that we indulged her and bought it. To be honest I love that she went to the Sesame Street doll rather than the other boring stuff.
Trying to get a picture in front of the flight simulator that Molly convinced us all to go on. The best thing about it was listening to Molly and Peter giggle and laugh as we got flung around the cabin while watching a movie that made me want to barf. Molly could not stop laughing and she and Peter agreed that this was the best part of the day. They told us that Annie and I were fine to go on it - they didn't mention that there was no danger if you were pregnant but could be dangerous if you already throw up 20 times a day and get motion sickness even when not preggo. The funny thing about this is that Molly has to take Dramamine if we drive more than 30 minutes in the car but loves rides and roller coasters.

Back at the hotel and waiting to go swimming - the queen makes herself comfy on our bed!
Snuggling up in the pillows!
Standing and letting us know that she is ready for some action!
This is Peter and his friend Peter from Holland - yesterdays picture was his friend Brendan from LA. He also hung out with Corrin and Carly from Chicago while Molly played dolls with Anna again! They had a doll festival and everything in the pool.
Molly and Peter in a rare moment of getting along and playing together. We spent another few hours down at the pool after an exhausting 6 hours at the museum - yes, the one we have been to a million times! The kids started getting hungry and Bob and I realized that it was already 7 and we had not fed them. We trekked back up to the room and splurged on Room Service - expensive for the adult meals but actually reasonable for the kids meals and they come with milk and cookies for before bed. Annie went in to bed pretty easily but a few minutes ago as I was talking to Grammy and Papa on the phone she woke up crying and when I went to get her she was burning up. Her temperature was 103.4 - why I happened to have an extra thermometer in the diaper bag is beyond me but I took it because she felt so excruciatingly hot to me. Poor banana is miserable. She took a whole cup of water, tylenol and than headed off to bed again after Bob rocked her to sleep. Now you want to talk pathetic - my poor baby is so good natured and sweet that even sick and miserable she was smiling at us and indulging us in kisses and hugs when asked! We may have to alter plans for tomorrow - I think these fun days with no naps and little down time are wearing on Annie - we tend to take advantage of her easy going nature! Bob may take the big kids to the zoo so Ann can nap and then we can spend a leisurely afternoon by the pool - we'll see. So I'm going to read through my presentation before bed and praying for some clarity when I present at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow - I can't believe people are getting up that early to listen to me - what are they thinking?

GNM - ILY!

Our 1st day in DC!

Bob and I were sure the kids would sleep until 9 - needless to say, that did NOT happen. Annie was up at 6:30 a.m. ready to go and woke the others by 7:30. They were so excited that we really didn't care. We all got bathed and dressed quickly and ran down to brunch - Bob and I were looking forward to a nice leisurely brunch with lots of trips up to the omelette, waffle and potato bars set up but the kids had other ideas. By the time we got them their food and sat down with ours they were done and we were scarfing food down to catch up and get the heck out - great food either way - potato and sweet potato homefries, mini waffles with incredible fruit choices and the best omelette ever! We had a nice day - sort of low key. We ended up at the Thai Festival at union Station and than walked around downtown. When we got back one of my best friends from college was waiting at our hotel (based on a message I had left her) and so we all headed down to the pool (this was our most likely chance of getting to chat without kids interrupting). We ended up staying down there for 4 hours - ate hot dogs by the pool and then headed upstairs for showers and bed - ahhhhhh! Everyone is sleeping soundly and Bob just arrived back from a vegan restaurant up the street with a non-mushroom veggie burger and sweet potato fries for me! Sorry some of the pics are out of order - I am in a rush!

Fruit and cheese before bed last night - Annie ate all of the blueberries!
Pete woke up and asked for cereal in a coffeee cup so he could look like a teenager - he can't wait to get older!
Tubby time for the girsl! Molly now washes Annie for us - even her hair!
All three kids ready for brunch - how cute are they?
Molly went up to the fruit bar 4 times - she loved brunch!
The kids waiting for the kickboxing to start at the Thai Festival!

Bob and Molly in Union Station!

And we're back at brunch with Peter clowning around with the fancy glasses.
Everyone fed and happy!
Annie also enjoyed the fruit station - and she had the diapers to prove it later in the day!

Pete thought the McCain and Obama cut outs were hysterical - he had people passing by cracking up as he had lengthy conversations with Babama - as he likes to call him!

Molly loved the thai dancers - their costumes are sewn on them and their headresses weigh 12 pounds each.
Molly getting a flower painted on her arm!
Watching the thai dances!
Annie made a new friend - Natasha loved her! All of the Thai women kept stopping us with Annie and calling people over to look at the little cabbage baby - they thought she was beautiful like a little cabbage baby - we have no idea what it means but Annie put on a show for them everytime!
Molly's arm tatoo!

Peter's friend Peter from Holland - they played all afternoon together!
Molly jumping in to the pool!
My girl waiting to go back in the pool again - she never wanted to get out!
Auntie Chris and Annie Bananie!
hugs for Auntie Chris! We are going to dinner tomorrow night so we can get more time with Chris!

Molly and her friend Anna - they have a playdate tomorrow at the pool!
Annie finally gets out of the pool to have some dinner!
Concentrating heavily on dinner!
Peter hanging out in molly's goggles - he did not have a care in the world about wearing pink goggles.
not sure what happened here - my bathing beauty in the wading pool.
Annie hanging in the pool with daddy!
Peter and Annie swimming together!
Annie found stuff to do while we bathed the other kids for bed!
This one is for Nola - I couldn't resist posting this one of Annie kissing on my belly - she smothers it in kisses and rasberries constantly. Sorry about the gross belly picture but focus on my adorable baby!

I'm off to feast on my veggie burger - more updates later!

GNM - ILY!