Re-cap of June

There is only one way to start a new adventure, hold your nose and jump! So here goes...






Well, summer has officially been here for a week and while it's been pretty hot, it hasn't been Memphis hot. Louisa and I are still able to take walks every afternoon/evening and have even walked to the grocery store a few times. We're hoping to have a mild summer, though we really aren't expecting it.

We've had a wonderful June, 2008! We started with Louisa saying Dada (and meaning it) and a week of vacation at Alex's parent's house on Wadmalaw Island. We couldn't have asked for better weather, the sun shined all day, everyday! The first day we were there all of our families came out for lunch. Louisa had so much fun visiting with her Grandparents and Great-Grandparents--she had a special treat when her Great-Grandmother, Keepa, fed her lunch. We went out in the boat as much as we could and only came back for more beer or naps for the baby (although quite a few naps took place on Mama's lap or on a towel under the bimini on the pontoon boat). Louisa got to play with her cousin, Mary Mac, and other friends her own age (very exciting for her). It was fun to see her playing (more like interacting) with her peers. We had fun times with family and friends, and were really able to enjoy a much anticipated week of relaxation!

At the end of our week, Alex flew back to Memphis while Louisa, QP, and I hopped in the car and drove North to meet her new baby cousin, Thomas. We took that trek up I-95 and stayed in Baltimore with one of my dearest friends, Paige and her husband, Aongus (what a nice surprise that it worked out!). It was a short visit, but so much fun to see the Fadden's, and QP felt quite at home with Ollie and Max. Of course, when we went to leave the next morning my car wouldn't start, so Aongus waited with us while we called USAA and they were there in a heartbeat to jump my car and we were off! Of course, 2 hours later when we stopped for gas the car wouldn't start again (I asked if the gas station had jumper cables before I turned off the car), but 2 seconds and $15 later we were off again.

We drove right past Monnie's farm and headed to Madison, CT to stay with my other dear friend, Laurie and her husband, Tom. We had such a welcomed arrival, Laurie's mother, Barb, and sister, Catie, were there to say hey and meet Louisa. We had a fantastic dinner, it was so nice to just hang out with Laurie and her family--we miss all of our friends so much, it was nice to have time with so many on this trip! Of course, Laurie and I stayed up for a while after everyone left to talk and catch up, Louisa went to sleep pretty quickly--the drive took a lot out of her! (this was also Louisa's 10-month birthday!) That night was one of the best sleeps I've ever had. Maybe it was because I'd driven 17 hours in 2 days, but more likely it was because our room was in the basement and it was PITCH BLACK DARK down there! Louisa and I both slept until 10:00 the next morning! We got up and had a really nice relaxing and fun day visiting with Laurie. I was sad to leave, but couldn't wait to meet Thomas, so after Tom jumped my car (it wasn't a dead battery, it was a bad alternator) we were off again, to Bedford, NY.

Luckily, it is a quick hour to Monnie's farm from Laurie's house and we got there just before a huge thunderstorm! I quickly grabbed the essentials and we ran inside.

It was so good to see Monnie, Anthony, and Gigi--I couldn't believe how BIG Gigi was! It is amazing to look at Gigi and think that Louisa is only a year behind her, I can't imagine what it will be like when she is walking and talking like her big cousin. Shortly after I got there, we put Gigi and Louisa down and it was time to feed Thomas so I got to see him--he is so perfect! He was so small and so cute. Louisa LOVED Thomas and couldn't stop staring at him when she was around him. I loved listening to his little newborn noises.





Well, Louisa and I had a great week visiting with Monnie, et al. I got to watch her ride (yes, my insanely amazing sister was riding horses a week after she had a baby), Louisa got to chase Gigi around the kitchen and play with Gigi's toys. She got to see Monnie's horses and take a tractor ride! It was such a neat visit because on the one hand I would look at Thomas and couldn't believe that Louisa had been that small and helpless just a few months ago. On the other hand I would look at Gigi and couldn't believe that Louisa would be there in just a few months...

Sadly, our visit passed too quickly and we had to head back to Memphis to make it home in time for Alex's first Father's Day! And I quickly learned that what was to be a speedy 17 hour drive home was not that. After some construction and GPS malfunction, Louisa and I drove 2 hours out of the way and what a long day that was! We drove until 3am before we finally stopped in some tiny town near Cincinnati, OH. We checked into a hotel (and snuck QP in--no pets allowed at any hotels, what were we supposed to do?) and slept until 9am. Refreshed and ready, we hopped into the car and called my Aunt Francie as she and Russ live in Cincinnati. We had another fun surprise after she convinced me to stop for a coke and visit. We loved getting to see their (new) house and had a really nice visit. Louisa got to crawl all around and really enjoyed that as she was getting quite sick of being strapped to her car seat all day. Alas, a coke and quick tour of their house was all the time we could afford and we were back on the road--8 short hours later we arrived at 3367 Northwood Dr, I've never been so happy to pull into my driveway as I was then...I promised Louisa she wouldn't have to get into her car seat for a week after that trip. She was such a trooper, we sang songs, she played with her toys, and we drove and drove and drove. It might have been a worse trip, I'm not sure, because when Louisa and I stopped for lunch near Nashville, she looked at me and said Mama! It was so exciting and helped to make me forget that we had been sitting in the car for a million hours.

Louisa and I have been home for about 2 weeks now and are having a wonderful time. Alex has been on an easy rotation and gets home most afternoons around 2 or 3. We've gone on walks together, we've gone to Campbell Clinic parties, Louisa and I have met friends for lunch, it's been a really nice time. Louisa and I are sad that June is at an end because Alex is heading back to the dreaded Med on July 2. His rotation will last for 3 months which means a lot of hours at the hospital and not very many hours at home. We know that it will be difficult, but we also know that Alex is receiving a fantastic education. I have so much respect and admiration for him, what he does is amazing and difficult. He comes home and worries about his patients and calls the hospital to check on them at all hours of the night, even if they have been rude or disrespectful to him. He is so thoughtful and compassionate, it makes me love him even more.