We have had an extremely busy couple of months! We are condensing a lot of activities into this one post, so bear with us!
On June 6th, 2014, we drove to Colorado to visit my family. We decided to take the northern route this time, because it promises to be an hour shorter, though I have never noticed an observable difference between the northern and southern route (which is an honest 18 hours). However, we thought, if it saves us an hour with a nearly 15 month old baby, it's worth a shot. It ended up, with traffic in Denver and the distance that my parents live from the interestate, being about 18 hours. Go figure!
Our first day of travel was pretty good: Jed took two tiny naps in the car seat--totaling about an hour--but we figured he'd catch up on his sleep once we got to the hotel. We stopped in Richfield, UT. However, our plans went awry: Jed didn't sleep. He just cried and stared at us in his pack 'n' play. Finally, we put him in bed with us. He talked and talked. None of us got any sleep that night, which made for a VERY difficult second day. It was very unlike Jed to do that--he normally sleeps like a dream. The Super 8 had a very loud air conditioner that kept turning on and off, and that is the only thing I could attribute this to, other than just being in a new environment.
Because we got no sleep, we left the hotel at 5am the next morning. Here we are very early the morning of our second day of travel, at a rest stop half way between Richfield, UT and Grand Junction, CO. Vern taught Jed how to throw some pebbles, and they enjoyed looking at the open vistas.
Finally, we arrived in Colorado Springs on the afternoon of the 7th. It was so great to see my family! I miss them so much, all the time. It is always a breath of fresh air to walk into my childhood home and my parents' waiting arms.
The next morning, Vern, Jed and I went for a walk with my parents. Here we are goofing around--he wanted to see how my sunglasses worked.
My parents took us all out to Red Lobster. Jed LOVED the cheddar biscuits. He insisted that my dad feed them to him, promptly, and without delay. Jed also loved our waiter, Omar. He would watch him bring us things, shriek and wave at him, then watch until he was out of sight. Here is a picture of my dad, feeding Jed.
My family also took a trip to Manitou Lake, which is in the Rockies, near Woodland Park, CO. Here are some pictures from our time there. Jed LOVES the outdoors!
This next photo is special, because it is a reenactment of a photo taken when I was in 7th grade (or so). My mom took the original photo, and in it, my dad is showing me something in the distance. That photo has been up in our house since it was taken, so I can't show it to you here. But suffice to say, Vern took this photo of my dad and me, in the same pose, more than 20 years later. It's pretty awesome, especially if you've seen the original.
Jed liked looking at the trees. On the way home, he conked out.
The next day was a day of visiting with friends and family. It started off with a visit to our hairdresser's. Her name is Karin, and she has done my mom's hair since she moved to Colorado Springs in 1977. She also did my sister's hair all through childhood and my hair all through childhood. Perms, Prom up-do's, you name it, Karin has done it. She is now a close family friend. When my dad was in the hospital, both times, she sent flowers and cards. She gave my sister and I graduation presents when we graduated high school. She sent me a gift for Jed when he was born. She is a wonderful woman. Here we are, visiting her. Jed loved her, and she loved Jed.
Later, my Aunt Jeanie stopped by for a visit. Jed has always been quite smitten with her. She brought him a wooden truck, which he LOVED. She and her husband also got him a "baby's first piggy bank." It is really cute, and it sits on his dresser in his room, now. Here Jed is, charming my Aunt Jeanie.
Here is a photo of my sister, Rachel, my mom, and me. The ladies of the house!
A selfie with my sister! I love being around her. We're happy.
Our third visit for the day was to my best friend's house. Her name is Debbie and we have been friends for almost thirty years (having met in first grade). She has a lovely family, and her daughter is in 4H in Pueblo, CO. She was raising rabbits, so Debbie brought one in for Jed to see. Here is Jed, seeing a live rabbit for the first time in his life.
Debbie and I have been friends for a long time. I look really tall here. How did I get so tall?
When we got home from visiting Debbie and her family, my dad barbequed some yummy food. I love this picture. My dad doesn't let rain slow him down!
Jed and my dad were quite the pair. Immediately upon our arrival, Jed insisted that my dad carry him around to whatever places he wanted to see. Mostly, he wanted to see cars (he points and says "Cah! Cah!). Here's a photo of Jed and his Grandpa, looking at the cars.
Jed and his Grandpa, hanging out. Jed fed my dad some banana treats. Yum!
Jed giving Grandpa a kiss goodbye, when we left CO. They are quite the dynamic duo. Then again, Jed's middle name is David, after my father. So perhaps they were destined to be two peas in a pod.
From left to right: Jed, my dad, Vern, me, and my mom. This is right before we left. I can't stand leaving. It breaks my heart, every time.
Back in California, Vern had to do some yard work. This is a picture I took of Jed and myself, while we watched his Papa work. I love his expression.
On June 28th, Vern, Jed and I went to the wedding of Vern's childhood friend, Kimberly Steig. It was a great day, and we were so honored to be there. We got to get Jed all dolled up in his best wedding attire. Here he is, all snazzy and darling in his fedora and bow-tie.
The wedding took place at a country club, and Vern found an errant golf ball. Jed adored the golf ball, and had a lot of fun bouncing it around. I got this picture with the golf ball in mid-air, after Jed bounced it. Pretty cool.
After the ceremony and the yummy reception, there was some dancing. Vern's not a big dancer, so I took Jed up to do a turn around the dance floor. His hat was falling off, so I put it on my head for safe-keeping. It's hard to hold a baby AND a hat. Jed loves to dance.
On July 2nd, my sister, Rachel, arrived in town. She was coming to visit me and to help out with Jed, since Vern was leaving for a 50-mile hike in Yosemite on July 3rd. Rachel arrived and the next morning, Vern left. Jed cried and cried when his daddy left. What made it even sadder was that he was crying AND waving good-bye at the same time. Luckily, my sister was there to help ease the transition, and Jed LOVES his Auntie Rachie.
On July 4th, I had a little get-together at my in-laws' house. They were out of town, in Utah for a Shakespeare festival and some family gatherings, but they were kind enough to let me use their hot tub and pool for a 4th of July party. Attendees were: my friend, Rebecca; Ara (Jed's godmother) and her boyfriend, Kevin; my college theater frineds, Jay and Erin and their two darling kids, Sebastian and Percy; and Rachel, Jed and moi. It was a nice day. We had rotisserie chicken, potato salad, salad, dessert and watermelon. We also went in the hot tub and soaked. If you see the pool in these pictures, it is green. That's because the filter wasn't on since my parents-in-law were out of town. But it was chlorinated and totally swim-able. Getting that spa and pool ready for a party is hard work! I have TONS of respect now for what my father-in-law does every time we go over there! I never knew how much work it took to take care of a pool, but I certainly know now! We enjoyed being there and had a lovely day.
This is a picture from the 4th of July--just a general feel for what a relaxed and easy-going day it was. This photo seems like it could easily be the subject of an impressionist painting by Renoir or Seurat. Maybe I'll paint my own version, someday soon.
Jed and I in the hot tub. He was a bit nervous about the jets in the spa, so he cuddled up close.
Jed and I, missing his daddy.
We took a dip in the pool!
Jed's godmother, Ara, let Jed have her cell phone and she fake "talked" to him. He had so much fun! He talked all of his sweet baby babble to her. When he puts the phone to his ear, he says "Haa!" That means "Hi!"
After the party on the 4th, Rachel and I took care of Jed and put him to bed. There were a lot of fireworks in our neighborhood on the night of the 4th, and our cat and dog were very nervous. Rachel and I figured out a way to take care of both pets: we brought Dana, our German Shepherd, inside and she slept in the bedroom with Rachel. I slept in the living room with Billy, my cat. That allowed both pets to feel loved and safe, without having to come in contact with each other.
The next day, Rachie and I had a peach juice cocktail in the backyard. So summery!
I'm going to brag about Jed for a minute, because I think he's the best. According to all the books, babies his age should be able to stack TWO blocks. Well, here's one of his stacks--TEN blocks. He did one that was thirteen blocks high right before, but by the time I got my camera, this is the one he had created. I think he's a smart little fella, but I might be biased.
Jed loved having his Auntie Rachie visit (and so did I!), but on July 10th, Rachel had to leave. When we dropped her off at the airport, Jed started screaming and crying, and he grabbed her thumb, in an effort to keep her here. Alas, she had to go. I think the good-by was doubly hard for Jed, because he had said good-bye to his daddy the week before. Where was everybody going? Poor baby.
But Vern had an amazing hike! He hiked with his friend, Andre, for 50 miles through Yosemite National Park. It was difficult, strenuous, exciting, beautiful and challenging. Vern met the challenge. He took a ton of photos of his trip, but I just wanted to include one that his friend took of him on the trail. He reminds me of a photographer for National Geographic in this picture. He looks strong, and determined, and he's holding his camera. I love this photo.
I was excited that Vern got home a day earlier than expected. He was originally supposed to be home July 11th, but at one of the campsites, there was no water, so they had to move on, thus fitting two days of hiking into one. It was rough, but it brought him home to me (and Jed!) sooner. We were so happy to have him back. He got home later the same day that Rachel left, so I was hardly alone at all, which was great.
On July 12th, Vern celebrated his 39th birthday. We drove to Claremont, CA and went to Rhino Records, a really cool record store. Vern got a new record and we ate out at a restaurant with Jed. The next night, Vern started having a rapid heart beat. He has had it before, and was diagnosed as having panic attacks seven years ago, so we waited for it to subside as it usually does. It wouldn't stop. At 2 a.m. that evening/morning, Vern went to the E.R. I stayed home with Jed. The next morning, Vern still wasn't home. He called and told me they clocked his heart at 212 beats per minute, nearly four times the resting heart rate of a normal person. It turns out he was never having panic attacks. They didn't know what it was yet, but it definitely wasn't a panic attack.
On July 14th, he met with a cardiologist. He said Vern should have an angiogram, so that they could try to determine what had caused this episode. He had the angiogram that day. It was one of the hardest days of my life. Not only was I worried for Vern's health and safety, but I had a baby to contend with. Add to that, my father had heart troubles from the time he was forty, and here Vern is, just turning 39. It was all too familiar. Vern's parents were great, and came and watched Jed for me during the day, for the next few days, while Vern and I dealt with this new development in his health.
The angiogram was successful, in that they were able to determine that Vern's heart was in perfect condition with no problems EXCEPT for one that had been there from birth, that we never would have known about if not for this ER/hospital visit: he had what the doctors described as an extra nerve, and it was misfiring and causing the arrhythmia. The Yosemite hike had nothing to do with this problem. The panic attacks were never even panic attacks. They were always this arrhythmia, that had been with Vern since birth. They recommended Vern have an ablation and on Wednesday, July 16th, he did. They go in through a catheter in the groin, and cauterize the errant nerve. It was scary, but we got through it. Vern was a champ, the cardiologist was great, and I kept everything running. Vern's parents watched Jed during the days; at night, I had great friends come help me out so that I could be with Vern until visiting hours were over. Jed is always asleep by 5:30, so there's not much to be done in terms of "babysitting,' but I had to have someone there with Jed (and the hospital wouldn't allow any visitors under 14 years old). Ara and Kevin came over on Monday night to be there for Jed, if he needed them; Rebecca came over on Tuesday night; and our friends, Robert and Michelle came over on Wednesday night. They are all such great friends and I am so thankful for them and for Vern's parents.
Here is a picture of Vern in the hospital. Poor, sweet, young Vern.
Vern got to come home on Thursday, July 17th! Jed was happy to have him back again, and I was so grateful to have him be okay. Vern is still recovering from his catheter sites in his arm and both legs, but luckily, pain doesn't stop him from being able to play guitar. Here is a picture a couple days after Vern's return from the hospital. Jed is turning up the amp. He likes music. A LOT.
And last, but not least, amidst all of this hullaballoo, Jed started walking! He walked across the living room, out of nowhere, on July 19th! I'm so glad it happened when Vern and I were BOTH home! Here is a video of some of his July shenanigans. I love my family. These past few months have been a real whirlwind of fun times and stressful times, but in the end, there is always this little boy that I love. And Vern. We love Vern.
