September 2017-Lyla 6 yrs old-Abigail Bat Mitzvah

September began with a wonderful trip to Nashville for Abigail’s Bat Mitzvah. Wayne and I picked up Lyla at school on Friday, September 1. Wayne saw Lyla’s school for the first time! We stopped for cake and bathroom at Edgar’s Bakery and then drove to Nashville in a lot of traffic (it was Labor Day weekend) and a lot of rain. It made me very nervous. Maybe it was because Lyla was with us? I also realized the rain was bringing in cooler weather and I had not packed appropriately! We made it on time for the service at Temple Ohabai Sholom. Lyla was so sweet and very excited. After the service the family ate together at the Temple and celebrated Eli’s 7th birthday. It was fun to see the cousins play together. Jacob and Abigail are always especially sweet to Lyla when they’re together. Angela, Brock and Willow joined us at the hotel. The Bat Mitzvah on Saturday was long but meaningful and Abigail did an amazing job! Brock with Willow and Strud with his son (Willow’s age!) entertained the little ones outside during the service. The weather was beautiful and the little couple started a relationship which continued at the lunch at the temple and party in the evening on the 23rd floor of the Sheraton Hotel. There was a moment when I was dancing with a delighted and happy Willow on some steps in the hotel lobby that I was overwhelmed with joy of the gift of being with Willow at a time she seemed to also be bubbling with joy. It is also a gift to have the extended Stuedeman family of Kristina’s Mother Mary Rae as a part of our family. There are times the reality of what Mary Rae has missed sobers me and makes me grateful for what this group of people has added to my life. The Saturday night party was another place I got to dance with Willow…and watch her and Lyla have a fun time. I left the party early to watch Willow’s monitor while she slept in her family’s hotel room. In three to four more years when Jackson is 13 (he is a “September Baby” so his Bar Mitzvah made be more than 3 years away?) we will have another reason to celebrate in Nashville! I’m at a time in my life I’m not anxious to have time pass quickly. I try to slow down and enjoy every day. September included my first trip to Mobile since March. It was wonderful to see my mother after 6 months. She had moved to a new room due to mold “overtaking” her previous room. Although it was quite an ordeal for my sister Linda to do so much work to get Mother set up in a new room, it was really a pretty and comfortable room. While I was in Mobile hurricane Irma hit Florida. Nitza and Koplan were not affected but many people were. Schools in Birmingham closed but there were no significant storm-effects in Birmingham. And of course, September was Lyla’s 6th birthday. Her parents hosted the family party with some friends at their house. We had a good time with extended family and close friends of Angela  and Brock on the Saturday the 16th before Lyla’s Sunday birthday. Lyla spent the night with me after John Mitchell’s birthday party Friday the 22nd and the Friday before Nathan’s party on September 30. Both Friday nights we stayed at the Mt. Laurel Park until dark and Lyla seemed to have an awesome time playing with old friends as well as new kids she met at the park. Lyla is not shy about meeting playing with kids at the park. Friday the 29th we went to Sweet Frogs for yogurt before going home. There was a large group of kids there including a HMS friend and Lyla had a wonderful time. We were after 9 pm getting to my house! The last day of September I took Lyla to birthday party for a classmate, Nathan, at the new “Pump it Up”. As usual Lyla seemed to have a great time playing with all of the kids. And I enjoyed visiting with Nathan’s grandmother, a comrade in the delightful time of life which includes time with precious grandchildren. The month included several days each week of waking up Willow and taking her and Lyla to school. It is such a good feeling to watch Willow walk into her classroom holding her water bottle and lunch box. She never looks back. Children hold our hands for a short time, but we hold them in our hearts forever.

September 8, 2017-post written July 2016!

I’m writing this in September 2017. As I went back to catch up on my blog, starting with November 2015 and ending with August 2017, I suddenly realized too late I had gotten my “styles” backwards! Previously picture albums included a detail of dates I was with Lyla and Willow. But the blog included more thoughts and feelings rather than specific dates. However it was only AFTER I completed almost two years of blog postings and submitted them to be published in a book I realized I had transposed my thoughts with detailed dates! There are too many dates and repetitive details included in my blogs! However it was too late to change so I’m going to try to include some “thoughts” in my picture albums. My last picture album ended right before Willow was born so I have had a LOT of thoughts and feelings and MANY pictures since then!

Thoughts written July 2016: When I first started a blog, I called it “My Time with Lyla”. Time is an interesting concept. Everyone has the same number of hours in each day. It is one thing that truly is given equally to everyone…in a way. Of course there are people who die prematurely or have to spend an excess amount of time working or commuting or being sick or are involuntarily separated from loved ones, etc. When your mother was growing up money was in short supply in our family and I spent a lot of time working multiple jobs and earning a PhD in nursing. I spent a lot of time away from her. And she spent a lot of time in daycare and afterschool care. She has memories of being the last child picked up at daycare. And even remembers teachers telling her that could go home earlier if I arrived before the deadline of 6:00 pm. As I look back I regret it however I’m not sure what I could have done differently. Fortunately since I started work at University Hospital in 1990 and married Wayne in 1993 I have had a little more time and money and hopefully I've made it up a little bit by sharing both with your Mother. As I look at her I’m proud she is such an amazing person; a wife, mother, nurse and daughter--despite all of the many mistakes I made. I have been given such a priceless gift to be able to retire early and have time to spend with Lyla and Willow. As I’m writing this it’s a day I have no specific responsibilities; I’m not helping with you two and I’m not in Mobile with my Mother and there are no major chores pending. What do I do with this gift of time? It makes me a little restless. I don’t want to waste it because time is precious. Maybe I should exercise or clean house or watch the Democratic convention or catch up on the shows which are recorded or on Netflix or visit with friends, etc. I have not yet gotten used to having so much “free time”. Even though I’ve been completely retired since October 1, 2015, since Willow was born soon after, and because your Dad is off work in the summer and  your mother is working part-time, this is the first time I haven’t spent big blocks of time with you or my mother. It’s not the end of July yet so I’m not officially working on my July blog. So right now I think I’m going to go on a walk. And look forward to tomorrow when I’ll be with Lyla and Willow again. --posted Sept 8, 2017

Aug '17-Lyla start 1st Grade-Willow start preschool

Jumping Rope

Showing Granny her foot



La Paz at Mt. Laurel



Coloring at Granny's house



Artist at Work

Serious talk with Thomas at Mallory's House





Celebrating 8th Anniversary



Willow at School!

Lyla 1st day of school



Growing up--Bars Easier now

Piano playing on same piano Granny used growing up



Sweet Willow with Granny!

August 2017-It was amazing to take Willow to the same classroom I remember taking Lyla to in the summer of 2013! August 2017 was a very good month.
1^st-I picked up Lyla at Gymnastics & we ate at La Paz in Mt. Laurel afterwards. 2^nd-I met Angela & Willow at Chipotle. Angela went to UAB & Willow “freaked out” when she left. So we went “home” to Jimbo’s to eat. She didn’t eat much but enjoyed eating a popsickle on the bench outside with Oliver before going home for a nap. I left after Angela & Lyla got home. 3^rd-got Lyla from gymnastics & drove in hard rain to piano lesson. Fortunately the rain cleared & we had time to go to Edgar’s bakery before class. She was thrilled her father was home when we got there! 7^th-Angela, Lyla & Willow came over to visit & play in the basement. It was fun. 10^th-To Angela’s early am. Lyla went to MBHS teacher workday with her Dad who reported she was very sweet & helpful. I kept Willow & she was sweet too. We went to the Library & park & she had a long nap. After Lyla came home we both went to my house for the night. Annie the dog went too & she was very restless & kept me awake! No more overnights with Annie! 11^th-Lyla & I met Angela & Willow and friends at the splash pad on Sicard Hollow Road. After playing for awhile I took Willow to her house. She cried as we left but quickly stopped. After eating she had a nap & when she woke up I took her to HMS to meet her parents & Lyla & her teachers. 12^th-Cousin Josh Carson (Mallory’s husband) graduated from UAB today. Afterwards, Angela, Brock & girls met us & the Garvers at Mallory’s house for lunch. Later I went to Angela’s to stay while they went out to celebrate their 8^th Anniversary (on the 8^th day of 8^th month!). Willow went to bed easily but Lyla stayed up & slept with me but went to her parents bed during the night. 13^th-Helped with Willow & Lyla while Brock was up & Angela slept late. I had a fun time playing hide & seek with Lyla. She was able to find some great hiding places! I stayed to keep the girls while the parents went to HMS Orientation then headed home. 16^th-first school day I was with the girls! After 6:30 am arrival I got the girls to school before 8:00 am. It was very different to have both girls at school. Saturday I got Lyla for a day of gymnastics but found since she hadn’t pre-registered & the class was full she couldn’t stay. She wasn’t disappointed. We “hung out” at the gymnastics place a while then went to Steel City Pops then went to my house to watch movies & spend the night. Lyla really slept well which was nice. 20^th-Lyla & I did “major shopping” at CVS on the way to her house. About noon Lyla, Angela & Brock left for Tennessee for the wonderful experience of a total eclipse of the sun! I stayed with Willow. She went to sleep easily & slept well; so did I. 21^st-Willow easy to get up & get to school. I went to the park to experience a 92.6% eclipse of the sun. It was pretty awesome. Willow did not go outside. Hopefully she’ll be able to go with her family to Texas April 8,2024 for the next total eclipse visible in America! After school it was too hot at the park & no one else was there so we went home. After supper and bath & reading MANY “Baby Bug” books, Willow went to sleep. I went home after the rest of her family came home. 22^nd-To Angela’s early am. After taking Lyla to school Willow & I went to the park where it was shady & other children were there & Willow had fun until time to go to pediatrician for assessment of her “Hand, foot & mouth disease”. She was very sweet at Dr. Dugan’s office (new pediatrician in the group) & on CVS trip after. It took a lot of Baby Bug books before she slept! Brock got Lyla at school & I stayed & played with Willow until they got home, Then I went home. Friday, 25^th-Got girls up. They were sweet & had time to play outside before school. At 2:00 pm we went to park until Brock came & I went home. 28^th-Early am to Angela’s. Girls sweet before school. Willow cried just a little when I dropped her off in her class. We had a good time at the park after school. Brock got Willow at the park. Lyla & I stayed later. I spent the night. Lyla came to my bed during the night. 29^th-We had a good morning & school drop off. After school we had a short time at the park because Lyla had Dance Lessons. After she & I got back from dance, Brock put Willow to bed & met Angela after work for a night out. Lyla slept with me & was very sweet. I went home after the girls went to school & returned early am the 31st. The girls were sweet in the am & good at the park. Brock picked up Willow & I took Lyla to Piano then took her home & I left as August ended.

July 2017-Summertime continues...

Willow doing some serious coloring!

In Florida

Beautiful Mother & Daughter

Summer time at Steel City Pops with Granny

Starting to lose "baby teeth"

Early Birthday gift from American Girl Doll Store

Sweet "get well" message from Lyla

Grocery Shopping

Another trip to Steel City Pops w/ Granny!

July 2017-The “heart” of summer time! I continued to recover from surgery & The Rotter Family did some traveling. Although I didn't spend a lot of time with Lyla & Willow this month, I felt like I was beginning to get back to normal. My time with the girls is really what makes life worth living! There are times I get tired & frustrated but it is always a joy to be with Lyla & Willow. It seems your parents know exactly how much time I can handle as I'm continuing to recover. And also know how "healing" that occurs as I spend time with you.

1^st-I took Angela to work & she left her car at our house so they could head for Florida directly from UAB Hospital. I took Lyla to Walmart & Johnny Rockets for lunch then took her home & played in the wading pool with Willow. While they were out of town I spent a lot of time watching TV shows & movies including all of Ken Burns’ series on the Civil War & WWII & Netflix “Call the Midwife” & “House of Cards” & miscellaneous WWII shows. I enjoyed the opportunity to catch up on shows but realized I was fortunate to have the more meaningful opportunity to be invested in the lives of Lyla & Willow on a regular basis! 9^th-Wayne & I took Angela’s car back to 1112 Monaghan & I experienced the wonderful feeling of Willow being ecstatic to see me walk into the house! I’m sure Lyla was excited too but probably Willow hadn’t processed her parents telling her I was coming so it was a complete surprise to her. Regardless, it was a delightful feeling! Lyla had adorable “pigtails” and Nitza & Uncle Allen & his girlfriend were there as well as Angela & Brock. 12^th-I met Angela & Lyla at Johnny Rockets for lunch then kept Lyla while Angela did errands. While at my house Lyla lost her 2^nd tooth! She lost her first one at Nitza’s house. Lyla spent the night with me for the first time since April 28. It was a good feeling to have her in the house! The next day she I took her to play at Maddie’s; then I took her to get cupcakes at Edgar’s Bakery before taking her to piano lesson close by. I stayed to play with both girls at her house before going home, somewhat tired! 16^th-picked up Angela early am to take her to work because Brock & the girls would pick her up after work and start their vacation trip. One of their stops was the “American Girl Doll” store to buy her birthday present from me, Josefina. 22^nd-My mother, Great-grandmother to Lyla & Willow, had to move out of her apartment at Crowne in Mobile due to mold! Quite an ordeal for her & my sister to deal with. 23^rd-The Rotter family returned from vacation. 24^th-took Annie the dog back to Angela’s and played with the girls and took Lyla to get yogurt & shop at Hobby Lobby. We got an adorable bus for Willow that played “The Wheels on the Bus go Round & Round” but unfortunately the battery didn’t last very long! 26^th-to Angela’s & kept the girls until noon. Then Lyla went home with me to spend the night. En route we stopped at Steel City Pops. Brock was en route to Colorado to hike & camp & Lyla texted & talked with him as long as he was in range of cell phone service! 27^th-early morning I took Lyla to tennis lesson at Overton Park. It was very hot! We returned to my house to play until going back to Angela’s where Ms. Mary from HMS was keeping Willow. (Angela has been very considerate to not have me keep both girls for very long. I am getting stronger but still not 100%.) Mary took the girls to the park while I rested. Willow went to bed & Lyla stayed up until Angela got home to sleep with her. 28^th-Teresa, a teacher from HMS, kept Willow while I took Lyla to Maddie’s house (note: I’m not sure how to spell her name but “Madi”, “Maddie”, Maddi” are all the same person!). Then picked her up in time for Edgar’s Bakery-Piano Lesson trip. When we got home Mary Michael & Thomas were keeping Willow. We all went to eat at Area 41 Pizza. After Angela got home from work, I went home too. 31^st-Angela & Willow visited at our house after taking Lyla to Gymnastics “summer camp” at MBHS. I picked up Lyla after gymnastics & we ate with Angela & Willow at Area 41 Pizza then I went home. And the month of July ended.

June 2017--Home again!

Beautiful Mother & child



First days at school

Walking out of summer school

Lyla & Annie the dog

Willow



P.T. Exercises

Dancing!



Dinner at La Paz in Mt. Laurel



La Paz in Mt. Laurel

June 2017-5^th-Angela & Willow came to visit me after I had been home 2 days. Willow squealed when she saw me which delighted me. It made me ache to think I’d missed over a month of her life, but was elated to see her. Lyla was in Florida with Nitza and came to see me on Saturday the 10^th. She had grown & matured too. 12^th-was Willow’s first day at Hilltop Montessori School & the pictures were so touching...she was growing up! 17^th-Angela & Lyla visited & Lyla did exercises with me! She was so precious. 20^th-I had a long visit with Dr. Porterfield, head of GI surgery at UAB. He told me I would probably have a colon volvulus again in my life, but I should go ahead & live my life as if I would not. However, I shouldn’t travel anywhere without a modern hospital. 21^st-Angela & Willow visited again. 24^th-I went to Angela’s & we all ate at the new La Paz Mexican restaurant. I got to put Willow to bed! It was a very sweet visit. 6^th-Brock brought Annie & Sunday over early in the morning! 27^th-To Angela’s early am & stayed with Willow while Angela to Lyla to tennis lessons & dancing. 30^th-To Lyla’s to keep Willow while Brock went on errands & Lyla visited friends. This was my last day of Home Health..I was discharged! Kristina & Maggie Rae spent the night at our house en route to summer camp in North Carolina. And June 2017 ended. I’ve made progress after being discharged from the hospital June 3. 

Sisters!