The Happy Jogger

The day of the Jog-A-Thon is here!

It was 103 degrees on Monday and when I took this picture this morning it was 59 degrees. Good weather for jogging.

Ciara is wearing the required P.E. uniform with her permissible Earth Day green tee underneath.

Because of her generous sponsors, she was able to raise $315.00! Thank you to everyone who supported her.

Easter Wednesday

Our second local trip was to the Los Angeles Zoo which my kidlets love. (I think the place needs serious help, a better layout, better management, and should look like it's a zoo in a major metropolitan city. But I digress.)

We had a nice morning looking at the animals that were available and headed home for lunch.





I thought this was a pretty cool shot. My beloved gorillas were camera inaccessible this visit.






I have snapped this same pose for years, but usually they are looking at zebras and not flamingos. Unfortunately for Brendan the zebra habitat was being cleaned :o(







A boy and his meerkats. Usually the meerkats are nowhere to be found when we visit. Brendan, an avid fan of "Meerkat Manor", was most happy to see this twosome.




Little sister dragging her brother through the zoo.

Easter Tuesday

We were able to take two local outings during Easter Week.

Even though Áine was lethargic and not herself, she managed to stay fairly upright in her wheelchair for our relatively brief local jaunts. She was quite the trooper and we thank her for that.

We went to Shoreline Village in Long Beach - which seemed much bigger when I went there in my youth. The weather was beautiful that day. Both Brendan and Ciara rode the carousel and unfortunately I didn't get a picture of that.

We strolled throughout the village and had a very nice lunch together.



I LOVE this picture of Ciara and Brendan!



The sick girl :o(



The kidlets with Nana and Bruce.

Áine Update

No, I still can't get to my pictures or upload them or download them or crop them or fix them or any of that. Sigh. These pictures were taken on my phone at the doctor's office yesterday. Áine had a virus and this was her body's way of reacting to it. Whew. It's amazing what the remaining half of a brain needs to do to adapt. From Holy Saturday through Easter Tuesday she didn't come out of bed and barely moved or had any bottle. She showed "signs of life" on Tuesday, a bit less on Wednesday, and by Thursday we had about an hour or two of the "real Áine".

She is returning to her feisty, demanding, smiling self and should be able to go back to school and therapies this coming week. However she is still recovering and requiring much sleep. Thanks for all the prayers and good wishes for my little one. I hope to post Easter and Easter week pics sooner than later.

%^&*+# EasyShare

There has been a delay in new posts for two reasons.

1. Miss Áine Clare has been terribly sick. She has a doctor appointment today so hopefully we can figure out what's going on with her.

2. Photo/computer problems. Since 2004, I have been using my Kodak EasyShare 3.1 software, my camera, and my printer dock without incident. My Mom kindly got me a new Kodak camera about 6 months ago and I got a new dock about a year or so ago. I decided to christen them during Easter week (see how quickly I move?) and got some wonderful shots. However, when I connected them to my computer and installed the updated software as instructed, things didn't go smoothly. I had to uninstall and reinstall several times. I followed the instructions on the Kodak web site. Nothing worked or helped and not only could I not access the 1000+ photos on my computer (and still can't), I can't get the pictures off the new camera. Sigh.

The good news is that I did manage to successfully install the software last night. But now every time I go the "Add pictures" option, my screen goes back to my desktop. I have sent word to Kodak via their web site. We shall see.

I miss my pictures!

I hope a return to blogging is in my imminent future and I will update on Áine when I can.

Easter 2009 minus one

Brendan and Ciara happily posed for my camera before leaving for Mass with Dad. They would meet Nana and Bruce upon arrival.

You will notice no Easter Sunday picture of Miss Áine Clare. I dropped her off, along with Brendan, at Ability First on Saturday at 9:00am. She was uncharacteristically crying and apparently remained that way until Dad picked her up at 3pm. She went straight to bed at 3:30pm and has remained there ever since. She did decide to eat a bit of cereal late Easter day, but that’s about it in terms of movement. Not sure what is going on with her. I have put a call in to the neurologist as something seems “off” with the littlest kidlet.
I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday.



Big brother and his sister.



Brendan Michael.



Ciara Mairéad in her dress made by Nana.



Here is a picture of Áine Clare after all. This was taken at an Easter Bunny breakfast sponsored by a local Church. She went with Ability First.

I am not entirely sure that this wouldn’t have been her expression no matter how she was feeling. We’re not “big” on the Bunny.

Because every Mom thinks her child is the funniest …

and I am no exception :o)


From the mouth of Ciara...

• "I can hardly wait to hide eggs for my adopted child from Vietnam."
  
• "This is my last Easter as a 10 year old. Where has the year gone?"
  
• While watching “Mamma Mia” with the fam on Easter during the scene when Meryl Streep accepts the delicious Pierce Brosnan’s marriage offer, she says… “I don’t like when they eat each other’s lips. When I get married I am going to kiss like this. (mimics tightly closed mouth kiss) I practice on my pillow.” (She almost sent her father into cardiac arrest with that one.)

How my ego remains intact, I’ll never know.

Some nuggets from Miss Ciara aka the middle kidlet aka the Fashionista ---

Last week she and I were discussing school events. She passionately shared her adoration for her 4th grade teacher from last year and said most earnestly, “She’s like the mother I never had.” Awkward silence. Crickets chirping. “No offense, Mom,” was then added. (One must cover one’s bases.) I assured her none was taken. Then she clarified that she saw Mrs. R. as another mother. Ah, now that’s much better.

+++

Today in the car I was lamenting that I wouldn’t be able to get Brendan’s hair cut prior to Easter. Ciara piped in that “At least you’re getting yours cut, Mom. Because that piece that keeps falling down… well, I’m not saying it’s ugly… it just takes away from your cuteness.” How kind of her to look after me. What would I do without her?

World Autism Awareness Day

This bumper sticker is displayed with pride on my minivan. Enough said :o)