Swimming In The Family

Austin son sent Fiorella a picture of himself taking Baby into his wife's family's pool for her first swim, and all I could think of--aside from how sweet my son is and how cute my granddaughter is--was how my mother, who never learned how to swim, was determined that her daughter would learn. Somehow Mom, who didn't drive, got me to lessons at a big, scary auditorium-type pool in Akron, and then, when we moved to Texas, enrolled me for lessons with the local YWCA.

And now, here's Mother's great-granddaughter being introduced to swimming when she is just six months old.

Birthday Girls

 Because Fio's birthday was last week and Daughter's birthday is next week, they combined their celebrations and met at Central Market in Austin. That way, Fio didn't have to drive too far from Georgetown and Son and his family didn't have to drive too far from their home near Bastrop. The party lasted about two hours, so it's safe to say that a good time was had by all, but Fio was especially thrilled that, when she got to hold Baby, Barbara made a grab for Fio's nose, sucked on Fio's finger, and pulled an earring out of Fio's earlobe.

A special treat was that Daughter stayed at the table for a while after Son and family left, and she and Fio had a searching talk. Fio is still glowing with pride about the thoughtful, straight-seeing, compassionate young woman that Daughter has become.

Where Credit's Due

Thursday, and Fiorella is late again, but she's been gadding about. To thank Minnesota son for coming to town to help take care of Husband and rebuild his automobile, Fio took him out to Friend Patricia's horse ranch to meet her friend's Arabians. Son has always been a horse nut, but he hasn't had access to one in several years so this was a real treat for him. For Fio too, who read a lot of Walter Farley in elementary school, but never got to meet a horse up close until she took a college class in Horsemanship (at which she was a total failure).

Anyway, Patricia was a charming and infirmative hostess, and Fio thinks the visit was the crowning glory of Son's visit, a glory he deserves, because Fiorella couldn't have survived these past few weeks without him.

Medical Miracle

Fiorella's second son was a medical miracle after four years of waiting, and he made up for the lost time by being so big that her obstetrician had Fio x-rayed for twins. So big that a stranger in the Sears Roebuck parking lot told Fio that she was the biggest pregnant woman he'd ever seen. So big that her shoe size went from an eight to a ten--permanently. But Fio loved every moment of her pregnancy.

The birth, though, was another matter. Son got stuck and Fiorella had to have an emergency c-section without anesthetic, but son--all eleven pounds, six ounces of him--was perfect. And in Fio's eyes, he's been perfect ever since.

 

Tripartite

When the speed limit is 70mph and you are busting down the highway at 80mph and you're still being passed by every car on the road, when you have such extreme claustrophobia that you can't take an MRI without being knocked out cold and a concrete highway wall is hugging your left side, when your baby car is is suddenly surrounded on three sides by trucks as tall as skyscrapers--then you have experienced what Fiorella did when she was driving into Austin yesterday to meet with friend Evelyn at Starbucks.
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Yes, Fiorella has finally figured out how to download photos onto her blog. It was by accident, of course, as all great discoveries are made. After she had posted a baby picture onto her Facebook timeline, she wondered if she could copy a pic from there and put it onto her blog. What the heck--might as well try. AND IT WORKED--expect to see more illustrated Fio in the future. Now to look for other problems Fio can solve just by fooling around with them.
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Fiorella and son are planning to display examples of their art in the church art show this year, the one she bombed last year. It should be--uh--interesting.

PS: Think kind thoughts toward Fio. She's driving into Austn again this morning to get her false vocal chords shot up with botox, the only known way to combat essential tremor.

Holiday Preparation Reformation

Fiorella is planning to do something strange and wonderful this holiday season--finish Christmas decorations by the 17th. Usually she's hanging ornaments, flinging around tinsel, and pasting together paper chains till Husband finally pulls her off the ladder at midnight of the 24th, but this year, because she saved last year's snowflakes (for the windows), she doesn't have to spend a couple of days cutting them out, plus...she has a secret weapon. Actually it's four secret weapons. Austin son and his wife came over last Saturday and decorated the tree for her (THANK YOU!), and nephew Barrett and his wife are coming over today to help get the wreaths and swags up (BLESS THEM!)

Fio will still have enough to do to keep her busy because she'll be the one decorating the wreaths and swags, and she's also the one who sets up displays on every surface in the house. But what about Christmas dinner, you ask?  Well, Fio's only contributions are boiled potatoes and chocolate pudding. Husband takes care of the rest (THANK GOODNESS!).

Fiorella Indominatable

With Husband in and out of the hospital, Fiorella has been burning the candle at both ends, taking care of everything at home, then running off to visit Husband with rolling suitcases and plastic bags of requested items. But today she took a vacation. Minnesota son has come down to Texas to help, and he gave Fio the day off. While he visited with his father, Fio took care of the dregs of the tax returns for 2015), cleaned up more of the den and bedroom, and arranged for appointments with all the medicos she had had to cancel for Husband and herself during this time of crisis. Lots more to do, but she's hoping to be able to start writing again at the end of the week. Wish her well.

Minnesota Son's Birthday

Today is the birthday of Fiorella's oldest child, and Fio can't help but reminisce a little. Minnesota Son was a big baby, just over ten pounds, with black hair and blue eyes, and, as the nurses had said, exceptionally pretty for a newborn.

The dark hair soon fell out, and medium brown hair came in at about the same time the blue eyes turned brown. Fio's brown-eyed mother was thrilled.  She held Son in her arms and, with her blue-eyed daughter standing beside her, said, "I think dark eyes look more intelligent."

Son was a good baby and slept through the night so early that it scared Fio the first time. He was an early walker too, but the talking came late, probably because, as Husband and Fio finally discovered, he needed tubes in his ears.

He was a very active child, learning to ride a two-wheel bike when he was three, and he loved playgrounds--always trying to figure out how things worked, like when he hunched down and peered at the motor under the merry-go-round. Later on, he learned how to fix anything mechanical, and now he can take on anything electronic.

He's good with animals and was always musical, a  talent that has blossomed through the years, as has his art. And he  has a great speaking voice and vocabulary and uses good grammar.

But most important, Son has a good heart and loves his wife, his family, and his God.

Fiorella is blessed.

Here He Comes to Save the Day!

Fio's reporting in late this morning because (1) she got caught in a dastardly plot to invade her computer and (2) when she grabbed her laptop, jumped in the car, and turned the key, nothing happened.   She couldn't get any further than control-alt-delete, and she couldn't drive over to Click for help.

Stymied.

Then, with perfect timing, Austin son burst through the door.  He had come over to get Husband's signature on a legal document, but he also rescued Fiorella (control-alt-delete, then use task master to remove the offender), and now he's working on the car.

Our hero.

Christmas Day

Minnesota Son and wife arrived about six yesterday, Fiorella finished her decorating by about seven, and the rest of the evening was spent cleaning up and planning for today.

The kitchen crew will have its hands full--ham and turkey and salmon, green beans and broccoli and mushrooms, potatoes and dressing, salad, pies and pudding.  Husband, Daughter, and Daughters-in-Law will take care of most of the cooking, with Fio boiling the potatoes and baking the salmon--she already made the pudding last night (smart girl).  

God bless our table and our family. And God bless you and yours.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

TV-Deprived

This is Day Four without television, and it still feels strange.  On Monday, the old corner cabinet got torn out, which meant that a lot of electric wires were cut.  On Tuesday, standing wall shelves replaced it, which meant the wires stayed cut.  Then Fio and Husband spent last night working on what the handyman hadn't finished off.

Husband will probably hook up the TV again tomorrow--or maybe he'll leave it for Minnesota Son to do when he and his wife come to visit next week.  Gotta entertain them somehow.

Austin Memory

When Fiorella visited Minnesota Son and his wife this summer, she helped them frame her painting of the Seaholm electric plant on Town Lake (now called Lady Bird Lake) in Austin.  Anyone remember the scene?

Twice-born

Younger Son was twice-born, first when he was ripped quite timely from Fiorella's motherly womb, and again when she brought him back to life.

In explanation, Son's first birth was a C-section delivery,

The second event happened when Fio and Husband were asleep in bed with Son between them. She suddenly awoke to realize that Baby, smothered by Husband's pillow, had stopped breathing. Husband tried to say something soothing to Fio, but she refused to let this precious baby go.  Thrusting him above her head, she shook him hard.

His responding wail was the most beautiful sound she has ever heard.

HAPPY BD, SON!

Today is Minnesota Son's birthday, and, for the first time in years, Husband and Fio will be able to celebrate it with him.  Yes, Son and his lovely wife are in Texas right now.

The nuclear family got together last Sunday for a pre-birthday celebration at Longhorn Steakhouse in Georgetown.  Then yesterday, Son and his wife, Fio and Husband met with part of the extended family at Frisco in Austin.  And today Fio and Husband will again have most of the nuclear family together, this time for cake and ice cream.

Yeah, birthdays are a big deal in Fiorella's world.

Minnesota to Texas

Sonia Dog is in seventh heaven.  Minnesota Son and his wife are here, which means there are two more people to anoint with her love juice, two more laps to snuggle her bulk into, and four more hands which should be engaged in petting her.

Let's hope she doesn't realize the Minnesotans have their own doggie hiding out in the guest room with them.

Thankfulness

Daughter and Austin Son&Wife, complete with food and fireworks, came over to spend the evening of Fourth of July with us.  It was a classic family scene--Norman Rockwell to the core.  Fio went maudlin.  This is the sort of family get-together she has always dreamed of, but has only recently begun to happen.

God is good.

Husband Speaks

Fiorella is out of town, at a writers' conference in Atlanta.  ATLANTA?  Hey, give me San Francisco or Las Vegas or Colorado Springs, or even Philadelphia.  I would even find more to do--and a lot better food--in Fort Worth, right up I-35.

Of course, everything is right up I-35, or over on !-35W.  Elder son and his wonderful wife live right up the highway 1500 miles north, in Minnesota.  Yes, Texas is the center of the world.  From here, you can go anywhere.

The Night Before Christmas Snippets

Fiorella woke up about 4:30 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep so she watched television for a while, then, at 5:00, took advantage of the siituation and stationed herself with a book near the front door, waiting for the sweep of headlights that would tell her the newspaper delivery man was racing down the driveway.  At 5:55, she dropped her book, ran to the door and yelled "Stop!"  Fio handed the delivery LADY the envelope, wished her merry Christmas, then headed back into the house.  Mission accomplished.  
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As you may have figured out, Fio overspoke when she glowed at you about how everything holiday-wise had been taken care of.  Since then, she's been out shopping for more gifts, wrapped and wrapped and wrapped, and finally taken care of the newspaper tip.  Just one more gift to buy (if it's available) and she can start glowing again.
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Fio and her family belong to a church but are not regular in attendance--except on Christmas Eve when they sometimes even manage to round up stray relatives to join them.  But this Christmas Eve will be special because Younger Son's fiancee will be accompanying them.  And this is the church she and Son will be married in.  Fio's heart is happy.

Pre-holiday Snippets

Fiorella has a tree.  Son finished constructing it for her after her hip gave out, and yesterday he and his fiancee decorated it with lights and ornaments.  Last night it was bright and twinkling.  Fiorella's heart is happy.
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When Fio was out shopping yesterday, the traffic was heavy, but polite and accommodating.  True holiday spirit.
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Fio has a problem--she can't get hold of the name and home address of the guy who speeds through her driveway every morning at 5:30 a.m. to deliver the newspaper so how can she give him his Christmas tip?  Set her alarm at 5:00 and lurk about on the front porch in her thick winter robe until his lights cut through the gloom, then hurl herself in front of his car with check and pen in hand?  Put up a trip wire that attaches to a mechanism that lowers an envelope containing a twenty-dollar bill in front of his windshield?   

Happy Birthday to YS

Today, 12-12-12, is Younger Son's birthday.

Thirty-seven years ago at five o'clock in the morning, Husband took Fiorella, who was two weeks overdue, to the hospital for induced labor.  They had faithfully attended the Lamaze classes, but such was not to be: the pitocin didn't work so later that afternoon Fio was wheeled into the operating room for an emergency Caesarian.

No wonder--Younger Son turned out to be a whopping eleven pounds, seven ounces.  He was king of the nursery.  The staff had to send out for larger-sized diapers, and his neck muscles were strong enough for him to lift up his head when the nurses photographed him.

Son's taking the day off from work today, and the family is getting together at Austin Land and Cattle tonight to celebrate the first day of the rest of his life.  Things are looking up for him right now--but then, he's always been an up-and-comer.