"I'm so sorry Daddy can't eat Fruit Loops and Trix and Pop Tarts anymore."

Gabriel couldn't fall asleep tonight (a frequent problem). He got up to tell me he'd had a bad dream about the Sombrero ride at Six Flags. His feelings were hurt about getting in trouble with David for not getting his p.j.s on. Since I've been back at work (a month now), he's developed more of a sweet tooth than he's ever had before. So I'm not surprised that that last night's discussion made a big impression on him.

Last night David told the kids about his diagnosis: Type II Diabetes. He got the call Friday that his labs were back, his blood sugar was very high (in the 300s when it should be no higher than 99) and to come in Monday morning.

After the second time Gabe got out of bed to talk to me, I sent him back to bed and told him I'd come talk to him after I got Paloma down. I did so quickly. Almost immediately, Gabe was recounting all of the foods David had told the kids that he can't eat anymore (and it was quite a long list). Apparently the things that made the biggest impression were the brand-named foods Gabe enjoys himself. I guess David used those as an illustration because he doesn't really eat much of the sugary stuff. I'm the one that likes the sugary stuff.

I was telling the kids recently, though, how funny it is to me that now that I'm an adult and could have sweets/ candy any time I want, I almost never do. I don't grab candy bars in the impulse aisles or buy them out of the vending machines at work. I'm not even tempted. But as a kid, Halloween was my favorite holiday because candy trumped even the grandiosity of Christmas. When I was in high school, I ate a bag of chips and a candy bar and drank a soft drink for lunch every day. When I first started eating at Pappadeaux, I didn't eat seafood at all-I'd go in and order a dessert sampler, which was an entree-sized plate of their luscious desserts created by their pastry chef. I still consume more sugar than the average adult, I'm sure, if for no other reason than the amount I take in Coca Cola, but I don't eat whole meals of desserts anymore. We have candy bars in the refrigerator from the opening of Terminal D (over a year ago)--and those were good chocolates, too. What I still crave these days is ice, and that started when I was pregnant with Paloma.

So anyway, we are about to take a crash course in Diabetes, having been prescribed classes by our doctor. I already picked up the books about the diets she recommended he follow: Sugar Busters and the South Beach Diet.

I am trying to be supportive of David, but this is upsetting to me, too, and I'm afraid I haven't been the model partner so far.

Please pray for us as we face this challenge in our family.

Souvenirs for Mouseketeers and Cousins, too!

Chrys sent me these pictures that should've been on my August 12 post (if I had taken any). Thanks again for coming, guys--it was great to see you! And thanks for the pics, too!

Seven years ago today we lost my Uncle Pete to lung cancer.

I miss him, and I've been thinking about my Aunt (we call Sissy) constantly today. Mom said she went to the cemetery first thing this morning and that Pete's brother (we call Sonny) was keeping her company today.

I always remember this date because the following year, Carmen was due on the same date. I was actually relieved that she wasn't born on that day--she came a week early.

There is a picture I have of Pete with Allison & me when we were little that reminds me of how he played with us, calling us Pests # 1 and 2 and telling us the Pete and Repeat joke. I looked for that picture for a while tonight, but I quit looking, deciding to scan the picture I had in a frame on the mantel instead.

My Mom's side of the family lived nearby when I was growing up and we saw them all the time... birthdays and holidays as well as swimming in their pool, boating and learning to water ski on Pete's boat, and sometimes going on trips (I remember one trip to the Big Thicket where we stayed in a camper and went fishing). We had Christmas at Sissy & Pete's house for years when I was a kid--they had the requisite chimney and fireplace, and I vividly remember trying to fall asleep there while waiting to hear or see Santa Claus. We used to love the drive to Sissy & Pete's--we called it the "roller coaster" and especially liked to drive there in Dad's Sprite. It's hard to believe we used to sit behind the bucket seats of that car!

I remember how Pete looked out for Nanny before he died. Around that time, she was in the hospital, too, with a broken femur, I believe. I think that's when she had to move out of her house.

I wish I could find the eulogy that David & I wrote and he delivered at the funeral, but that was at least 3 computers ago, so we're not exactly sure where to find that tonight.

Maybe I will be able to find it soon.

In the meantime, in memory of Pete, I will continue my campaign against tobacco in the classroom and the world at large. I posted a message in honor of Pete at thetruth.com a few years ago. I tried to go find it tonight and couldn't.

As it is, I still have to pay bills then get ready for the second week of school. Where did the weekend go? The kids are asleep, but the unsorted and flat-but-unfolded laundry is piled high on our bed, so I have piles to go until I sleep.

Sissy, I'm thinking about you. We love you.

Mason & Paloma
and
Gabe & Paloma

These pics are from June... just came across them and wanted to share how sweet the boys are with her.

Flying practice for babies, Carmen and Gabe swimming and floating, and Mason: "I SAID, it's TIME to get OUT of the POOL, everybody!"

Back to School

Carmen started first grade and the Spanish Immersion program today. Her teacher is Maestra Zendejas.

Happy Birthday, Carmen!

Thank goodness Gigi retired-- I've almost been too busy to celebrate or prepare for Carmen's birthday this year! Gigi made the adorable teapot cake. The kids were wild while Carmen opened gifts, but I was able to get a couple of photos anyway!

Celebrating 3 birthdays

On Saturday, we went to Mesquite to celebrate Susan's, Abuela's and Carmen's birthdays. (Carmen requested Posados, her favorite Mexican food.) This was also the first time we've gotten together since we've all been back from California, so we all had to catch up.

On our way, David got a call from the airport because a suitcase was leaking liquid and smoking. He ended up on the phone for the next several hours, including while we were at the restaurant. The rest of us had a good time, though.

While we were there, my cousin Chrys, her husband Mike and their baby Oliver came to visit. We were excited to see them! Unfortunately, I have no pictures, since I had my hands full with the kids.

We're glad we got to see you all!

Wedding pictures

During Mark & Maria's wedding, the photographer's camera broke and he came to David for help. David gave him our camera to use, but the photographer decided not to use the flash. I am sick that he didn't, because it was pretty dark in there and he missed a lot of great stuff. We don't know if he wasn't allowed to use flash or what.

The wedding was in a mission in downtown Los Angeles and it was beautiful! We did wish, however, that the Texas over-100-degree weather had not followed us there, as the mission did not have air conditioning. About 45 minutes into the ceremony, Uncle Joe took Carmen out for lemonade--she was sitting with them and saying she was thirsty!

With the most beautiful, unique wedding invitations Maria made herself using photographs she'd taken of the mission, Maria had also sent us all great instructions on getting to the church and the reception, but lots of people were late, so we didn't start on time. This was fine except for Paloma got restless waiting for me--I was in charge of the flower children (8 of them!) and we were waiting, practicing, etc. Apparently Paloma got to know everyone around us before the wedding started. During the ceremony, at one point, I let her down on the kneeling rails because she was arching her back to get down. I looked away (at the wedding going on!) and the next thing I knew, she had gone under the pew behind us!

I am going to leave this one for now, although I hope to write more soon about the lovely reception and the rest of our trip!

Meet the Teachers

Carmen met her new first grade teacher, Maestra Zendejas. She'll be in the Spanish Immersion program this year: all Spanish, all day (except for recess, P.E., music & art).

She also met Karen Jeter, her piano teacher. We're starting lessons on Tuesday!

I still hope to write about our trip soon, but for now, here is a post from Carmen!

I wanted a picture of the kids in their wedding attire, but since we didn't have our camera for the wedding or reception, we didn't get to take any, so we took their dress clothes to the portrait sitting. I couldn't resist this one of Gabe. This was soon after he tapped on the shoulder of the photographer (who was at the time shooting Paloma) to say, "Actually, I don't like having my picture taken very much."

On my summer to-do list, which was really only in my head (and a little in my palm pilot) so I wouldn't feel like a failure when I couldn't accomplish everything, one of the last important things I wanted to do was have the kids' portraits done for their 4th and 6th birthdays and of course, Paloma, too! Sunday marks her eleventh month with us, and she's been an absolute joy!

Portrait Innovations took these pictures and I thought they did a marvelous job. We went in on a Thursday morning (the day before I started back to work) and it went very well. Gigi and Mason popped in to help us with changing their clothes between shots.

At lunch, C & G met some kids and made fast friends with an outgoing little girl named Karlee and her brother, Nicholas. We adults started talking and their mother is starting her first year of teaching social studies, English & yearbook! Carmen asked about something in Nicholas' ear and his dad explained that Nicholas is deaf.

This is Gabe's first drawing-post, I think. We were thrilled to get him to draw, but he wasn't satisfied until he had also labeled his drawing.

I thought some of you would enjoy seeing this US map. Carmen drew it in Feb. or March, I think, when the kids wanted to read "Daisy Head Maysie" all the time. (It has some rhyming states in it!)

Carmen lost her second tooth while we were on vacation! These are the notes she wrote for the tooth fairy.

Paloma drank her milk out of a cup today. Last week she climbed the stairs for the first time.

I am slacking on the picture taking, in part because our camera is in the shop. I'm days away from not having a camera from school anymore. Also, we upgraded our iPhoto and it now catalogs the pictures differently; they are no longer organized by date. That stinks because that was how I found things.

Friday was my first day back to work and she refused a bottle all day--never had anything to drink! When I got home, she nursed and nursed. Later, she cried. She was just beside herself, upset, and we had a bad night, too.

Saturday David took Carmen & Gabe to Six Flags since Carmen had earned a free ticket for reading at school last year. I will post pics later--they took a bunch with Looney Tunes characters, which apparently was the best part of the day. I'll let David tell the Six Flags horror story on his own at some point...

Paloma & I went shopping instead, although because it was tax-free weekend, it wasn't as much fun as it should have been. I have NEVER seen crowds like that at the mall. I avoid malls in December and the day after Thanksgiving. So I was shocked to see Grapevine Mills. It was so crowded that in one of the large bathrooms (25+ stalls), there was NO toilet paper.

On Sunday we stayed at Mom's from lunch until 6 o'clock... we swam and just when it was time to get out, Paloma fell asleep.