Holly and Erich need to move out of their current house of 5 years because of a big raise in their rent. So,I've been busily searching for homes in Ventura for Holly and Erich (and they are, too) but geez, when will California home prices get reasonable? Who, other than actors and lawyers, can afford to buy out there? I've never seen anything like it! It's REDICULOUS!!! It's no wonder people are moving OUT of California in droves!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Tidbits from Today
Before driving to Sara and Zach's, we drove by the River Bluffs Trailhead parking lot where the Cache La Poudre River flows by. The river has risen a lot and is supposed to continue to rise due to the snow melt in the mountains. Check out the picture on the right.
Mark wanted to help Sara and Zach get started on their garden so we went with Sara to Lowes to pick out plants and supplies while Zach babysat Sophia.
I did another short photo shoot with Sophia today. (Mark and I did her first photo shoot yesterday.) The photos here are yesterday's shoot.
On our way back home to Fort Collins, we experienced a beautiful sunset and took a few pictures, too!
Mark wanted to help Sara and Zach get started on their garden so we went with Sara to Lowes to pick out plants and supplies while Zach babysat Sophia.
I did another short photo shoot with Sophia today. (Mark and I did her first photo shoot yesterday.) The photos here are yesterday's shoot.
On our way back home to Fort Collins, we experienced a beautiful sunset and took a few pictures, too!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Back to Life as I Know It
May was an amazing month full of joys, concerns, anxiety, anticipation, and love! So many things happened so quickly that I didn't have time to sit down and think about them much less write about them. So, let me now recollect the adventures that took place...
Holly, Zoe, and Ezra flew in from California on May 10th and our house filled with laughter, screeches, and sometimes tears for the next 3 weeks! I'm always amazed how the house blossoms into the brightest most colorful bouquet of emotions and activity when they are here; I LOVE it!
My first concert band performance was on May 11th and several of our friends as well as Holly and the kids were able to attend! I didn't have a flawless performance on percussion but no one noticed the "mistakes" but me. I'm glad to have my first concert behind me now. Too many jittery nerves on the first one!
Sara's due date came and went on May 10th, too! By late in the night on the 11th, she went into labor for 12 hours and then it stopped for the next 12 hours or so. This pattern went on for 4 days! On Monday, May 16th at 2 p.m., she was given Pitocin to speed up the contractions and by 9:03 p.m., our beautiful granddaughter, Sophia Lena Goldberg was born! Holly was thrilled to have been able to be a part of the delivery with Sara and Zach!
There should have been a camera filming Ellen, Howard and I (the anxious and excited grandparents we were) who waited just outside the room door while the miracle of birth took place! We looked like the Three Stooges with our ears against the door! Sophia is their first grandchild so you can imagine their excitement level was over the top! I was also anxious to know if both Mom and baby were doing well!
After a day, it became clear that Sophia needed a few more days in the hospital due to a condition called "tracheal malasia". Her oxygen level dropped when she would cry; that appears to have resolved itself and she's gone from her birth weight of 6 lbs. 10 oz. to 8 lbs. 5 oz. in two weeks! Sophia along with her mommy and daddy came home on Saturday, May 21st!
She had her first "outing" to Grandma's and Grandpa's this past Saturday and we invited Howard and Ellen to participate! We had a little BBQ and ate inside as the weather was rather cold and cloudy.
Speaking of weather, I couldn't believe how almost every day for three weeks we had cold, cloudy/rainy weather! I was so upset for Holly and the kids because it limited their outdoor activities! But, if you check out the pictures on the right, you'll see we fit in just a little fishing, park/playground visits, sculpture park and the Denver Children's Museum!
So, now the house is empty and I'm playing catch-up on my drum practice. I also will start walking outside a lot more frequently as long as the good weather holds up! We need to plan a Rocky Mountain National Park hike, dinner events, camping, and practice shooting more photos to prep for an August engagement shoot and wedding in January back East. I also have more work to do as a board member for our band to get us ready for a new season in the fall. I hope to get a few more people to join so need to push the publicity even harder this year.
I have more than enough to do but despite this activity, I can't help but miss Holly and the kids! (I miss Erich too...don't get to see much of him at all.) They are such an important part of our life that it's sad we see them so seldom.
Tomorrow is another day...we'll be heading to Sara and Zach's in the morning. We'll take Sara and Sophia to Buckley AFB in Aurora to get my prescriptions refilled and to do a little commissary/BX shopping. Then, back to Sara's to do a baby photo shoot!
Holly, Zoe, and Ezra flew in from California on May 10th and our house filled with laughter, screeches, and sometimes tears for the next 3 weeks! I'm always amazed how the house blossoms into the brightest most colorful bouquet of emotions and activity when they are here; I LOVE it!
My first concert band performance was on May 11th and several of our friends as well as Holly and the kids were able to attend! I didn't have a flawless performance on percussion but no one noticed the "mistakes" but me. I'm glad to have my first concert behind me now. Too many jittery nerves on the first one!
Sara's due date came and went on May 10th, too! By late in the night on the 11th, she went into labor for 12 hours and then it stopped for the next 12 hours or so. This pattern went on for 4 days! On Monday, May 16th at 2 p.m., she was given Pitocin to speed up the contractions and by 9:03 p.m., our beautiful granddaughter, Sophia Lena Goldberg was born! Holly was thrilled to have been able to be a part of the delivery with Sara and Zach!
There should have been a camera filming Ellen, Howard and I (the anxious and excited grandparents we were) who waited just outside the room door while the miracle of birth took place! We looked like the Three Stooges with our ears against the door! Sophia is their first grandchild so you can imagine their excitement level was over the top! I was also anxious to know if both Mom and baby were doing well!
After a day, it became clear that Sophia needed a few more days in the hospital due to a condition called "tracheal malasia". Her oxygen level dropped when she would cry; that appears to have resolved itself and she's gone from her birth weight of 6 lbs. 10 oz. to 8 lbs. 5 oz. in two weeks! Sophia along with her mommy and daddy came home on Saturday, May 21st!
She had her first "outing" to Grandma's and Grandpa's this past Saturday and we invited Howard and Ellen to participate! We had a little BBQ and ate inside as the weather was rather cold and cloudy.
Speaking of weather, I couldn't believe how almost every day for three weeks we had cold, cloudy/rainy weather! I was so upset for Holly and the kids because it limited their outdoor activities! But, if you check out the pictures on the right, you'll see we fit in just a little fishing, park/playground visits, sculpture park and the Denver Children's Museum!
So, now the house is empty and I'm playing catch-up on my drum practice. I also will start walking outside a lot more frequently as long as the good weather holds up! We need to plan a Rocky Mountain National Park hike, dinner events, camping, and practice shooting more photos to prep for an August engagement shoot and wedding in January back East. I also have more work to do as a board member for our band to get us ready for a new season in the fall. I hope to get a few more people to join so need to push the publicity even harder this year.
I have more than enough to do but despite this activity, I can't help but miss Holly and the kids! (I miss Erich too...don't get to see much of him at all.) They are such an important part of our life that it's sad we see them so seldom.
Tomorrow is another day...we'll be heading to Sara and Zach's in the morning. We'll take Sara and Sophia to Buckley AFB in Aurora to get my prescriptions refilled and to do a little commissary/BX shopping. Then, back to Sara's to do a baby photo shoot!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Sophia Lena Goldberg Arrived on May 16th!
She sure took her time making her entrance into this world, but Sophia Lena Goldberg finally arrived on Monday, May 16th at 9:03 p.m. She was 6 lbs., 10 oz. and 19 1/4 inches long! She is a beautiful baby who has her Mommy's chin and nose and resembles her Daddy a lot, too!
She finally got to go home yesterday as she had to be watched a bit for her breathing when she cried. She initially wasn't taking in enough oxygen as she breathed in during her cry; but after a few extra days in the hospital, her trachea seems to have matured enough for her to go home.
I know Sara and Zach are thrilled to be home with her! Now they get to settle into a routine and figure out how to be Mommy and Daddy to our beautiful new granddaughter. They will make awesome parents! I'm looking forward to my next visit with Sophia!
She finally got to go home yesterday as she had to be watched a bit for her breathing when she cried. She initially wasn't taking in enough oxygen as she breathed in during her cry; but after a few extra days in the hospital, her trachea seems to have matured enough for her to go home.
I know Sara and Zach are thrilled to be home with her! Now they get to settle into a routine and figure out how to be Mommy and Daddy to our beautiful new granddaughter. They will make awesome parents! I'm looking forward to my next visit with Sophia!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
I've Been So Preoccupied!
I've been so preoccupied this past week that I haven't found the time to write in this blog. My daughter Holly and grandkids from California arrived on May 10th. My final band concert of the season was on May 11th. (For my first ever concert, I thought it went very well!)
Sara's due date was May 10th and beginning on May 11th and everyday since, Sara has had 12 hours of labor and 12 hours of no labor each day! She's had really intense and regular contractions for each of those 12 hours of labor and each time she went into the doctor's or hospital they've sent her home because the contractions all but stopped!
She is scheduled to be induced tomorrow at noon. I'm not so sure she will make it until then as the contractions and labor pains have recently started up again!
With lots of other things on my mind, I've neglected this blog for a bit. Hopefully, things will settle a bit in a few days, enough at least to write about our new grandchild soon!
Sara's due date was May 10th and beginning on May 11th and everyday since, Sara has had 12 hours of labor and 12 hours of no labor each day! She's had really intense and regular contractions for each of those 12 hours of labor and each time she went into the doctor's or hospital they've sent her home because the contractions all but stopped!
She is scheduled to be induced tomorrow at noon. I'm not so sure she will make it until then as the contractions and labor pains have recently started up again!
With lots of other things on my mind, I've neglected this blog for a bit. Hopefully, things will settle a bit in a few days, enough at least to write about our new grandchild soon!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
More Than Ready
Three more days until Sara's due date and she is MORE than ready to have this baby! She is so uncomfortable right now. I just hope she can get as much rest as possible over this next week because she won't be getting much sleep once the baby comes. (Neither will Zach.)
It's strange to think that a baby will most likely be here by this time next week! The doctor will schedule an induction if Sara hasn't had the baby by this Tuesday! We are so excited about having a third grandchild!!! I hope and pray that the labor and delivery goes well for Sara.
And speaking of grandchildren, we are really looking forward to seeing Zoe and Ezra (and of course their mommy) on Tuesday!
We finally had beautiful weather today so Mark and I took a 15 mile bike ride on the River Bluffs trail. I'm a bit sore but plan on doing this a lot more frequently as long as we have good weather. I feel it right where I need it...thighs and butt!
And, I finally made it up our hill without stopping! I was completely exhausted by the time I made it to the top but I kept on peddling. I kept saying to myself, "Biggest Loser, Biggest Loser, Biggest Loser"! I figured if they can put up with tough workouts 8 hours a day, I could handle a little pain for a couple of minutes or so. It worked!
It's strange to think that a baby will most likely be here by this time next week! The doctor will schedule an induction if Sara hasn't had the baby by this Tuesday! We are so excited about having a third grandchild!!! I hope and pray that the labor and delivery goes well for Sara.
And speaking of grandchildren, we are really looking forward to seeing Zoe and Ezra (and of course their mommy) on Tuesday!
We finally had beautiful weather today so Mark and I took a 15 mile bike ride on the River Bluffs trail. I'm a bit sore but plan on doing this a lot more frequently as long as we have good weather. I feel it right where I need it...thighs and butt!
And, I finally made it up our hill without stopping! I was completely exhausted by the time I made it to the top but I kept on peddling. I kept saying to myself, "Biggest Loser, Biggest Loser, Biggest Loser"! I figured if they can put up with tough workouts 8 hours a day, I could handle a little pain for a couple of minutes or so. It worked!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
One More Week!
I'm really getting excited now knowing that in just one short week...only 7 days...Sara will have reached her official "due date" AND Holly, Zoe, and Ezra arrive that same day! Sara sees her doctor next Tuesday so if the baby hasn't arrived by then, they will schedule a date for her to be induced.
Holly and the kids will arrive in the morning on the 10th and I think just Mark will be there at the airport to pick them up so that I can still do the rehearsal for our concert on the 11th! Wish I could be there, too, but somehow I think I would be missed greatly if no one was playing the parts I play (i.e., base drum, clave, tambourine, suspended cymbals, crash cymbals, and snare drum). If they get in on time, Mark will bring them by our rehearsal hall.
Speaking of concert band, one of our members had a mild stroke over the weekend. My thoughts and prayers go out to Jack and Shirley. We just had dinner over their house a couple of weeks ago! I wish Jack a speedy recovery!
I was also elected Secretary today for our concert band for the new year starting in the fall! Should be fun!
Holly and the kids will arrive in the morning on the 10th and I think just Mark will be there at the airport to pick them up so that I can still do the rehearsal for our concert on the 11th! Wish I could be there, too, but somehow I think I would be missed greatly if no one was playing the parts I play (i.e., base drum, clave, tambourine, suspended cymbals, crash cymbals, and snare drum). If they get in on time, Mark will bring them by our rehearsal hall.
Speaking of concert band, one of our members had a mild stroke over the weekend. My thoughts and prayers go out to Jack and Shirley. We just had dinner over their house a couple of weeks ago! I wish Jack a speedy recovery!
I was also elected Secretary today for our concert band for the new year starting in the fall! Should be fun!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)