To my dearest niece Brandie,

I wish I could be there today to celebrate your 19th Birthday. I hope that your surgery and recovery go well. I pray that you recover quickly and are able to go home this week.
I think of you offend and pray for you daily. I deeply miss you and wish we could live closer so I could come over and harass you and your mom more. I can't wait to jump on an airplane for a visit.
Many blessings are sent your way today.
Happy 19th Birthday!!!!
Love and miss you greatly,
Your favorite aunt.

Colds and Carpets

Tis' the season for the Caetano household to catch colds and strep throat. Both the children have a cough and a runny nose. Luckily, I do not have a sore throat but if trends continue I will end up with one some time this month. Running every night in each child's room is a cool mist humidifier. Each child has vapor rub on his or her chest and feet. Not a lot of coughing is heard at night, thank God.
Many of you have heard me complain about my flooring. Two things that I hate are my tile and the carpeted stairs in my house. Not much I can do about them until I come upon a large chunk of money. I did rent a carpet cleaner this weekend. The carpet, especially the stairs look much better, but would look really good with something different on them. All in time is what I keep telling myself.

Today is the Superbowl...GO SAINTS!!

Tip of the day: Do not drink coffe on newly shampooed carpet!

Brandie will be at UCLA tomorrow for surgery to remove her kidney stones. Please pray that everything goes well.

Dance and Jersey

Just a quick update on what been going on around here.
Reece went to a dance class with a friend at Dance for Joy and loved it. She is signed up to go once per week for a hour. Finally something girly.
Fredy is getting to be really independent. Last night he took his diaper off and sat on the kids potty and went pee. He wanted water in the bowl like the big toilets, so some was put in. Then he used a lot of toilet paper and dumped it all in the toilet and flushed. I think he might be getting it or he just wants to flush the toilet. Whatever works! He is also into basketball or hoops as he calls it. Now the story is that he wants to wear a jersey everyday and night. We only have a few and I can not seem to find any that are not NBA label and cheap. Does anyone have a suggestion? Consignments do not carry any. Fredy also went to the Dentist for the first time and did really well unlike his sister. I took him to Dr. Eric Piper, what a great guy and staff. Reece might be going there instead of Dr. B.
Terry is home from China and thank God. I almost checked myself in to a clinic last Saturday. Thank God for Godparents.
This week is packed with playdates, appointments and fun.


Tip of the day: enjoy the sunshine while it is around.

Brandie is in the hospital sick and will be having surgery on Monday. Please think good thoughts for her and her parents.

Home Again, Home Again

Well we survived our trip to and return from Bakersfield. Flying with two children and all the stuff needed for a trip is exhausting. We spent 10 days in California with family, my husband's side, and had a great relaxing time. Terry and I did what was needed and wanted from the family. We were there to help out in any way that we could without getting in the way.

My theme for my blog right now is on hope because hope is what is needed for Brandie to heal. I put up some vinyl lettering on her wall, that her mom picked out that said, Everyday has the possibility for a miracle to happen. I am not sure that is the extact wording but you get the meaning.

Here are the top 10 (not in any order) things about our trip according to Reece (almost 5 years old)
1. Feeding the horses carrots
2. Playing with all the cats
3. Jumping on the trampoline
4. Playing with her cousin, Bailey
5. Spending time with Nana
6. Flying on an airplane
7. The sunshine
8. Riding on the Polaris with Uncle Brian
9. The presents from Aunt Bonnie
10. Helping with Brandie

I thought those were pretty good for a young child.


Today's tip: don't say something to someone unless you mean it.

Computer Savy

Finally, I have figured out how to do a few extra things on this blog. Do you see the words on the picture? Not hard just time consuming. How about the music? This is not hard at all. The only thing hard about it is picking the music. I am going to pick the song that is my fav of the week.

Terry is off to Korea for the week. Please pray for a safe trip and for my sanity!

Our neighbor has a photo shoot in Seattle on Tuesday so the kids and I are going to join her and her son. We will be spending the night down there on Monday. While she is at the photo shoot on Tuesday, I plan to take the kids to the Children's Museum at the Seattle Center. The 3 kids and me, yikes. I use to have 23 to 30 at a time, so this will be nothing.
I will keep you posted on return.
Have a wonderful start to your week.

Update on our niece Brandie, She has finally come home. Please keep her and her family in your prayers as they adjust to their new life style.

The Return

Oh the return of fall and all the things that go with it. I am not a fan of this season for many reasons:

1. It gets dark early

2. The start of school-(more when I was teaching)

3. Football season

4. The endless days of rain and gloom

5. The fact that I have to be indoors more

6. Wearing sweatshirts, jackets and shoes with socks

Ok, I know that I am complaining but it just seems that summer was here one day and the next it was fall. I spent nap time yesterday putting away the pools, swim gear and water toys. Very depressing for me but my daughter did not seem to care. She must be related to her dad who loves the fall and all that comes with it.

UPDATE:

The four of us will be leaving next week for a quick trip to LA and Bakersfield. We are going to visit family especially our niece Brandie who is still hospitalized in LA. We will stay a few days to visit her and then head to Bakersfield for the weekend and return to visit Brandie before leaving. Our return home will be on Monday, September 21st. Please continue to pray for healing for Brandie, wisdom for the doctors and nurses working with her and safe travels for the four of us.

An Escape

To escape the everyday madness we headed to Seattle Friday night. After Terry's work picnic, we packed the car and headed out. Terry made all the arrangements because he had a test to take for his weld inspector card on Saturday morning. He pulled up to the Double Tree by the airport and went to check in while the kids and I sat in the car. Upon return, he informed me that this was the wrong hotel. We were staying at the Double Tree Suites by the mall. We checked in at the new hotel and headed up to the 7th floor to room 1708 and Terry discovered that the keys did not work. UH Duh, wrong room. 1704 not 1708. He was on a role. I told him that he better review his information for his test to make sure that he had the right time and date.

The hotel room was nice, let's just say way better than the last hotel! Reece slept on the pull out while Fredy slept with us in the king bed. I ended up trying to sleep with Reece who kept waking up. A pull out is not my idea of a good night. Terry had trouble sleeping, but Fredy slept through the night. As some of you know that is a rare occasion.

Terry headed out early in the morning to take his test and the kids awoke soon after. We had plans to go to the Aquarium when Terry finished his test. We were close to the mall and after looking outside at the rain I thought we should go shopping for some coats. I remembered that there use to be a Burlington Coat Factory by South Center. For every one's information, there is no longer one around the mall. We did find a Toys-R-Us next store and a few other stores to spend money at. Upon return to he hotel, we saw a Terry walking out the front door finished with his test.

Seattle Aquarium bound, after having lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory. Two things about the Aquarium: Great for those who do not live in the Pacific Northwest and lots of starfish and sea anemones. Not a place we will go again in the near future.

Prayers for miracles for our niece Brandie are still needed and much appreciated.

Niece

As some of you may already know, our eldest niece has had some serious health issues this last year. She is now at UCLA hospital with Sepsis. She has been sedated since last Saturday at a hospital in Bakersfield and was flown to UCLA today. We are waiting to hear when they will do surgery. I am not sure what type of surgery but her kidney, stomach and bladder are infected.

We have many family members here in Bellingham and friends all over praying for her and the knowledge of the doctors that are working on her. She is a strong kid and has always pulled through her health issues, so this will be no different just tougher.

Please keep Brandie, her parents, her siblings and her doctors in your prayers as the tough days of waiting and healing continue.