Released from the vault...

From Las Vegas, November, 2007:

Quick Update!

Dan spent most of last week in NY with Popps. He was here for a short work week, and is en-route now back to NY. Miles and miles and miles he's driven this month! We're looking into having Popps do his rehab here in Maine, which would not only be convenient for us, but also it would allow more family to visit and encourage him during the process. Who knows, maybe he'll fall in love with Maine and stay...I know that's a bit greedy of us, but we'd really love him to be nearby.

Vi is still doing really well at day care. Every day her "daily sheet" says she was happy or silly, and she usually eats and sleeps well there. They do a lot of art projects...finger-painting, marker-scribbling, etc...and I'm accumulating a priceless collection. She learns new signs and songs with hand-gestures all the time, and I have to try hard to keep up!

When Dan returned last week from NY, I gave him the run-down on Vi's development. She had significantly changed in the 4 days he was gone! She now climbs - silent and sneaky, like a ninja. I'm thinking of putting bells on her. She has new signs, so I had to show him all of them. One was for "fish." He stopped me, and asked, "WHEN will I need to know the sign for fish in casual conversation with Vi?!?" The next day, they were at the grocery store, and she started signing "fish." He didn't respond immediately, so she kept signing "FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH" frantically. He finally realized what she was doing, and acknowledged her communication with "Oh! You see a fish over there at the fish counter! Fish!!"

I've been trying to teach her "Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes," since she likes pointing to eyes and ears and mouth and nose already. She likes Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, and anything with a beat so she can stomp and spin and shake it. They play "I like to move it, move it" every day at day care and the kids, well, mooove it. So super-cute to see all those little rumpuses shaking.

Thanksgiving is coming, in case you didn't know. My brother and his family will be here, so we will have a nice, big family dinner. Mom, Steph and I are splitting most of the cooking, with other little assignments being given to the boys. I think we'll do two small turkeys - one at Mom's and one at my house - to cut down on cooking time and to have more drumsticks. Plus I'm attempting a from-scratch (read: not One-Pie) pumpkin pie, using the pumpkin from our hay ride last month. (Don't remind Dan of how old the pumpkin is. Ha.)

I hope you are all well and cozy and ready for the holiday season. I hope we can all slow down a bit and enjoy the changing season, the time with friends and family, and really enjoy the holidays with some peace and happiness!

-Lindsay

Gifting season is coming...

Check out my friend's new business, Turtle Love Committee. Beautiful jewelry!!

Update on Popps

Popps is not his usual fiesty self. He's pretty confused about where he is and how he got there. He'll be in the ICU for the rest of this week, most likely.

Dan is back in Poughkeepsie, acting as the Health Care Agent, making medical decisions on Popps' behalf.

On the homefront, Vi has an ear infection.

(And Mama's tired.)

Send your thoughts and prayers

Dan's grandfather, a feisty 92-year old, was on his way to buy more bleach to finish pressure-washing his house on Thursday, when he lost control of his car. He was trying to avoid a vehicle in front of him who had "stopped short," and he drove off the road into a tree.

He's in the ICU right now, with multiple fractures to his ribs, pelvis, sternum and elbow. They have him on pain medication, and they're keeping a very close eye on him for pneumonia and infection.

Thanks to all of you who have already sent your well-wishing.

Autumn in Maine

I can't believe it's November! The clocks go back tomorrow, Thanksgiving is around the corner...this has been yet another speedy year.

Here are some pictures from our Autumn so far. We've been on some nice walks, gathered leaves, closed up our garden, and now we're focused on getting ready for winter. Dan's still wood crazy...the wood stove hasn't been installed yet, due to a mix-up with the contractor. (The contractor who had great references, a great price, and could do the entire project...unfortunately, he didn't remember a little thing called "code" when planning our chimney.)

Vi is getting more and more used to day care, or "school," as we so frequently hear it called. She's definitely learning, the care takers are called teachers...I might give in an call it school after all. They had class pictures this week, which I hope to have in-hand by Christmas. And, they had a Halloween parade yesterday. A bunch of the parents came and we all walked around the neighborhood with the kids in the buggy, all dressed up. We had two ladybugs, one Tigger, two pumpkins,a superhero a turtle, a skunk, and my little Lion. I've included pictures of Vi in the album below, but I don't want to post pictures of other people's kids without permission. I'm sure you get the idea, though, that it was incredibly cute.

The lion costume is borrowed from my good friend, Kate. You can read more about her, and see more of her costumes on her blog, Hiccups & Fairy Dust. She makes costumes for her kids every year, and gets all the details right. The lion had everything - attached paws (read: mittens!), a fuzzy mane (read: warm head!!) and fully-detailed paws. Kate does make costumes and other items for sale, available at her Etsy shop, Four Square Walls. The quality is excellent, the designs are original, the price is right, and you can feel good about having your kids wear something hand-made. Start thinking about Halloween 2009 now!!!

Here is a new album of Vi pictures. Enjoy!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/z0Ta0ycL7O_K2obuVy78MA