So I managed to get our 2013 slideshow together, but you can tell I must have had a bit of "baby brain" in that I left our title slide blank. Oh well. At least the soundtrack is pretty good!
It is longer than last year's, but that is only because 2013 was full of so many amazing memories. Enjoy (if you have 22 minutes to spare)!
Monday, March 17, 2014
Kid President's Letter To A Person On Their First Day Here
This is for Sam and for Liam. "You were made from love, to be love, to spread love."
Friday, March 14, 2014
Last of the Alabama fun
January and half of February went by very quickly (well, for me at least. I think Geoff would say they went by rather slowly.). We got to do some pretty fun things with the Glenns. We got to attend Avery's 2nd birthday party, visit with Uncle Jim and Aunt Betty for a THIRD Christmas, and Liam even got to take a ride back out to pirate island with Baba, Uncle Connor, Aunt Shanny, and Avery. It was so nice to be close to family for such a long period of time! We LOVED our 3 1/2 months "back home."
Avery got a very cool car for her birthday.
Liam LOVED wearing his new tie to church.
More fun presents from Uncle Jim and Aunt Betty!
Liam and Avery at Pirate Island, checking out the pirate booty.
Mims and Baba wanted a "nice" picture with the grandkids.
This was the best we could do.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Winter Storm in Alabama
A normal winter in Alabama is pretty mild compared to the winters I've experienced in Virginia and Sarajevo. I was expecting more of the same after a very lovely fall spent there. Boy was I wrong! We got hammered! And by hammered, I mean I got "snowed in" for two days in a crappy hotel in Talladega, AL with Liam and Sam, a pack of hotdogs, and 6 diapers. But I am not starting at the beginning, so let me go back.
Tuesday, January 28th started out like any other day. We woke up, had breakfast, and dropped Liam off at school (where he was star student of the week). I had an appointment for a haircut, so Sam and I headed to see my friend Whitney, knowing that we were supposed to get snow, but that Birmingham was above the "snow line" and that it would just be pretty to look at and nothing would stick. So said ALLLLLLLL the local meteorologists. And besides, hadn't I been living in hilly, wintry Sarajevo, driving my CIVIC through all kinds of snow and ice? Needless to say, I never gave the weather a second thought.
Whitney and I made small talk while Sam slept, and we commented how pretty the snow was when it began falling. I remember joking with her that I had turned into a snow snob like lots of my friends from "up north," remarking how cute this snow was. After my haircut, I took Sam home and fed him before Mom called. Mom, who was up in Blount County, AL on a wellness contract, called to ask how the roads were since they seemed to be getting bad where she was. I told her I'd had no problem getting home, I drive in this stuff all the time, etc...and I left to go get Liam.
Well, the roads were not good, but I was in a heavy SUV and was confident in my abilities. I even rolled my eyes at the folks who were sliding and spinning out. It wasn't until I was the only one who made it over a big hill on highway 77 in Talladega County and saw the policemen at the bottom CLOSING THE ROAD that I realized I could have a major problem.
I was able to get through and get to Liam, albeit 30 minutes late--the poor teachers were waiting on us as Liam was the last one there. After getting Liam, I inched my way back toward home, wondering if I should and how I could get past the road block. As I crept closer, I took stock. I had a change of clothes for Liam and for Sam. I had half a bottle of water. I had grabbed a pack of hotdogs for Liam's lunch, thinking we would be eating with Mims. I had a diaper bag with 6 diapers. AND THAT WAS IT. I knew if I got stuck on a closed road, the emergency responders were under no obligation to try to rescue us, and if I wrecked the rental car, insurance would not cover anything. So I gave up. I pulled into a hotel. A very crappy hotel, where the boys and I stayed for 48 hours while we waited for 2 1/2 inches of snow and ice to melt and the roads to be safe again to travel. (It sounds funny, but it is not. You remember the news. Just look at these photos! Those poor people, trapped in their cars for HOURS. What a nightmare! And it could have been us, except on a country highway, nowhere near other people to help out.)
It was not fun. But we stayed safe, warm, and thanks to the EXTREME kindness of Liam's teachers and a friend of Dad's, we were fed. They came in 4 wheel drives and brought us food, hygiene products, diapers, etc. After this experience, I will never be so unprepared again. I've had an emergency kit in my house for years (as should you all--get started here), but I have never had more than a few things in my car. That ended that very day.
Anyway, on Thursday Dad was able to make it over to us, and we followed him home SLOWLY. There were still icy patches everywhere! We went right to Mom and Dad's, where I took a much needed shower and was able to put on my first set of clean clothes in 2 days, and Liam was finally able to go outside for more than 5 minutes at a time right outside our hotel door.
(It also needs to be shared that my poor mother also got stuck in a crappy hotel for 2 nights, but she had restaurants and a CVS within walking distance. So I am still the pity party winner. Although she did come home with a suspicious bug bite. Yuck.)
I took some photos to remember all the good times the winter storm of January 2014. Here you go!
Tuesday, January 28th started out like any other day. We woke up, had breakfast, and dropped Liam off at school (where he was star student of the week). I had an appointment for a haircut, so Sam and I headed to see my friend Whitney, knowing that we were supposed to get snow, but that Birmingham was above the "snow line" and that it would just be pretty to look at and nothing would stick. So said ALLLLLLLL the local meteorologists. And besides, hadn't I been living in hilly, wintry Sarajevo, driving my CIVIC through all kinds of snow and ice? Needless to say, I never gave the weather a second thought.
Whitney and I made small talk while Sam slept, and we commented how pretty the snow was when it began falling. I remember joking with her that I had turned into a snow snob like lots of my friends from "up north," remarking how cute this snow was. After my haircut, I took Sam home and fed him before Mom called. Mom, who was up in Blount County, AL on a wellness contract, called to ask how the roads were since they seemed to be getting bad where she was. I told her I'd had no problem getting home, I drive in this stuff all the time, etc...and I left to go get Liam.
Well, the roads were not good, but I was in a heavy SUV and was confident in my abilities. I even rolled my eyes at the folks who were sliding and spinning out. It wasn't until I was the only one who made it over a big hill on highway 77 in Talladega County and saw the policemen at the bottom CLOSING THE ROAD that I realized I could have a major problem.
I was able to get through and get to Liam, albeit 30 minutes late--the poor teachers were waiting on us as Liam was the last one there. After getting Liam, I inched my way back toward home, wondering if I should and how I could get past the road block. As I crept closer, I took stock. I had a change of clothes for Liam and for Sam. I had half a bottle of water. I had grabbed a pack of hotdogs for Liam's lunch, thinking we would be eating with Mims. I had a diaper bag with 6 diapers. AND THAT WAS IT. I knew if I got stuck on a closed road, the emergency responders were under no obligation to try to rescue us, and if I wrecked the rental car, insurance would not cover anything. So I gave up. I pulled into a hotel. A very crappy hotel, where the boys and I stayed for 48 hours while we waited for 2 1/2 inches of snow and ice to melt and the roads to be safe again to travel. (It sounds funny, but it is not. You remember the news. Just look at these photos! Those poor people, trapped in their cars for HOURS. What a nightmare! And it could have been us, except on a country highway, nowhere near other people to help out.)
It was not fun. But we stayed safe, warm, and thanks to the EXTREME kindness of Liam's teachers and a friend of Dad's, we were fed. They came in 4 wheel drives and brought us food, hygiene products, diapers, etc. After this experience, I will never be so unprepared again. I've had an emergency kit in my house for years (as should you all--get started here), but I have never had more than a few things in my car. That ended that very day.
Anyway, on Thursday Dad was able to make it over to us, and we followed him home SLOWLY. There were still icy patches everywhere! We went right to Mom and Dad's, where I took a much needed shower and was able to put on my first set of clean clothes in 2 days, and Liam was finally able to go outside for more than 5 minutes at a time right outside our hotel door.
(It also needs to be shared that my poor mother also got stuck in a crappy hotel for 2 nights, but she had restaurants and a CVS within walking distance. So I am still the pity party winner. Although she did come home with a suspicious bug bite. Yuck.)
I took some photos to remember all the good times the winter storm of January 2014. Here you go!
Brothers stuck in a yucky hotel
Liam could only play outside for 5 minutes at a time due to the insane wind chill!
He made the most of those 5 minutes though!
WOOHOO! FINALLY HOME!
NOW OUTSIDE QUICK BEFORE IT ALL MELTS!
And in true Alabama fashion, the day after these pictures were made, the high was in the 60's.
New Year's Visits!
We were fortunate enough to get to celebrate TWO Christmases this year! GG, Grandpa Gallagher, Papa, Aunt Steph, and Cousin Oliver came to see us over the New Year holiday, bringing gifts and fun times. Unfortunately, a mysterious flu-like illness also visited our house and took out Geoff, GG, and almost took out Liam. Thankfully, it was short lived and none of the rest of us got terribly sick. However, due to the illness, we did not get as many pictures as we would have liked! Oh well! Thanks to Grandpa for sharing his!
Hats made by Great-Grandma Sally
Arrrrrr!
Waging pirate battles
Let me help you open your gift, Grandpa!
Hugs from Papa
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Christmas
A picture is worth a thousand words, so how about 13 to tell about our Christmas Day?
Santa brought a necktie, just like Liam asked!
The boys attempting to assemble an Iron Man action figure
The Glenn clan
Liam and Avery opening their gifts from Mims and Baba
More presents!
Mims showing Liam her new earrings
Aunt "Shanny" loving her gift
Baba likes his citrus press.
Hey...real Scotch rocks!
(I love how you can see Sam's leg and his hospital anklet peeping out!)
Uncle Connor getting his print of the AU radio call
from the best sports play of the year,
Sweet cousins walking over to see Wacky
Hugs for Wacky
Wacky meeting Sam
Happy Birthday, Samuel Odom Howard!
On Monday, December 23, 2013, Samuel Odom Howard was born! What an exciting (and adventurous) day it was!
After several days of off and on contractions and rising and falling hopes, I woke up that morning a little after 5 a.m. knowing it was the real thing. Geoff and I got ready, dropped Liam off at Mims and Baba's, and headed to the hospital. Admittance took a while, but I was finally admitted at 8:45 a.m., despite not having heard back from my doctor's office.
To say things progressed quickly is a bit of an understatement. While in triage, Geoff and I tried our best to make the nurse understand that this labor would progress rapidly (Liam only took 6 hours, remember?), and that we would like an immediate call to the anesthesiologist. After the nurse asked me one million questions about my mental state, my level of support at home, the amount of baby safety gear I had, etc., I started to get the idea that I may have to deliver naturally. Geoff firmly asked the nurse to call the anesthesiologist again, once I could no longer breathe through the contractions.
The next time the nurse checked me, I got wheeled to the operating room since all the delivery rooms were taken. While chaos reigned supreme, Geoff held my hand and tried to reassure me while yelling for someone to find a doctor. Dr. Dubois from my office arrived in the nick of time, and sweet Sam was born at 10:54 a.m., just over 2 hours after my admittance. He was 7 pounds, 9 ounces and 21 1/4 inches long. About 30 minutes later, a delivery/recovery room was finally available for us, and we were able to move to a normal setting, where Geoff and I were able to relax a bit and joke (a tiny bit) about our experience.
On Christmas Eve, Mims and Baba brought big brother Liam to meet his new baby brother. Liam was immediately enamored with Sam, and Mims and Baba fell in love at first sight. It was a precious time at the hospital, and Geoff and I will treasure (almost) every moment. Welcome to the world, Sam!
Sweet Sam
Meeting baby brother
Mims and Baba with grandson #2
Pure love
Me and my boys
The Howard family, party of 4
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)