St Patrick's Day Parade

Some of the ceiling tiles above Mia's bed

All the kids at the hospital wing gathered at the playroom to decorate cookies with green icing and make other decorations. Jonah and Jill came to visit and joined in the fun. Then they all paraded from the children's playroom through the hospital halls playing Irish music and banging on drums and other musical instruments. Fun was had by all.

Mia

I can hardly write this. Mia was attacked by a large dog last week. She is in the hospital and thankfully doing well. The dog bit her from the back and took off a third of her scalp, biting near her right temple. They had to choke and beat the dog to get him off of her. He has been put down by Animal Control.

Her little face is still the same and her eye and ear are OK. She is happy and seems to be doing fine for now, but she faces more surgery and skin grafts. Jaime has been with her every minute and everyone has been very kind. Jonah was there when it happened and he was very, very disturbed and upset but is doing better now that he has seen his sister. Much has been said in the news and we have gone over the story so many times that I can't go over it again.

Let me just say that every time a child is hurt, someone has said something like this: "Oh, he's a good dog. He would never hurt anyone." DON'T BELIEVE IT FOR A SECOND. If you must have a big, scary-looking dog, particularly a pit bull variety, KEEP HIM AT HOME! KEEP HIM ON A LEASH! DO NOT ALLOW HIM AROUND SMALL CHILDREN. PLEASE. I am posting some pictures from the hospital. The big bandage has now been removed, but Mia has more surgery today to replace a thing that has been sewn to her scalp to help her skin grow. Please say a prayer for my little granddaughter and all other children who have to go through this needless misery. We are thanking God that Mia will be OK. Some children do not survive. Sometimes the animal is the family pet who suddenly just snaps.

Trip to the Zoo

Jill is riding a pretend Komoto Dragon here.

Just an ordinary trip to the zoo except we haven't gone in a long time. It is always at the top of Jonah and Jill's request list but it's been too cold, etc. The annual zoo pass is my best bargain all year. It has provided us with many hours of joy. It is about time to renew so that Mia can get in on the fun. She has been to the zoo, but I can't quite manage all 3 of them alone just yet.

It was a school holiday on our last trip and very crowded so we had to leave the car far away and walk through the park and across the bridge where a creek leads to the river. Jonah's favorite place. I have to drag him away from the creek each time to get to the actual zoo. He is just as pleased with a butterfly or a turtle or a snail at the creek as any zoo animal. He loves them all.

After many trips, we have a routine. First a pond where the swans and ducks swim, then the aviary. Next we go by the monkeys and stop to feed the lorikeets (bright colored birds, bigger than parakeets, that land on your hand to drink sugar water from a cup). The lorikeets were full each time we went by so we had to skip that part. Then we ride on the carousel. On very hot days we just go to the Outback Downunder area where the kids can get wet under spraying water and there is food and refreshments, even beer for the grownups. There is music, a playground, pony ride, gold fish tank and lots of shade. Just a great place to stay when it is too hot to move.

Otherwise we go on the boardwalk past many different animals including a white tiger with two cubs until we get to the Stingray Bay where the kids can actually PET the stingrays and the manatee exhibit which is a large indoor aquarium which is AIR CONDITIONED! After that it is a short boardwalk to the entrance area where the kids can again get wet at a little water park area. I've learned to be prepared with towels and flip-flops. Then we have to navigate past the gift shop to get back to the parking lot. This plan skips a good half of the zoo containing the baby elephant, giraffs, etc. but that branch is dusty and hot and too much for grandma on most days. P.S. I included old pictures of Jaime and Mia from last year to show the stingray tank and the indoor acquarium.

New Developments - Mia, Mr. Miagi and friend

Mia is being tested again for her seizures (which she hasn't had with the new medicine) but this time the testing was done at home instead of the hospital. She is much happier at home and it is much easier for Jaime though it is still hard to keep all that hardware on a two year old. The doctor glued sensors to her head and wrapped her head in a turbin (otherwise known as a "princess hat" which is why there is a star drawn on the front) and she also got a "backpack" like Dora on tv. When it was possible to hold her still long enough, she was hooked up to a video camera and became "Robot Baby". Hopefully, everything will be all right and she won't have to do this again for a long time.

The picture above is Mia and Jaime in the hospital last year.


Another new development: two baby kitties at Jonah's house. Jill has a third at her house. Brothers and sisters. They are very cute and sweet and the whole family loves them.

Rick in India

Here is a picture of my brother in India. He is finishing up his second 6-week tour. I'm not sure if he is going back since this has been a rough trip including a bout of food poisoning. Rick is a registered surveyor and is working on something involving oil production in India. I would explain more if I knew myself. Anyway, here is a little poem he sent.

Sung to the tune of Living on Tulsa Time
Livin' on Delhi time
Livin' on Delhi time
I can't stay in the Ramada
Cause I'm stuck in Kakinada
And I'm livin' on Delhi time

Chorus
Livin' on Delhi time
Livin' on Delhi time
The women are so scary
I don't want inside their sari
And I'm livin' on Delhi time

Chorus
Livin' on Delhi time
Livin' on Delhi time
I'm so tired of eatin' curry
Want to come home in a hurry
And I'm livin' on Delhi time

Love to all,
Rick

Yesterday

Yesterday was a 1/2 day at school. We were already watching Mia while her mom and dad were working. The 1/2 day took us all by surprise. I saw the note in Jill's book bag just the day before. I have a fear of forgetting to pick them up. Mia took a long nap in the morning. Jonah took a nap himself after school. Jill and I made some cookies and they all worked on homework. Mia even drew with the colors. She doesn't ever want to be left out.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day Menu

We are going out on Saturday night, but on Friday night we are planning our own private dinner. It is a simple menu but as good as any expensive restaurant -- even better in my opinion. We are having: 5 oz. Omaha Steak bacon-wrapped fillet, baked potato and salad with greens, cucumber, tomato and croutons and Ken's lite Sweet Vidalia Onion salad dressing. Oh. and a glass or two of red wine (Merlot). This is our special go-to dinner since he made it for me when we were dating a few years ago. All our dinners are special. Like having a date every night. But this dinner is the best.

For dessert, I may make a great cheesecake I found in a little cookbook called "Sunday Suppers -- Classic Recipes." This recipe is so simple I have committed it to memory and have made several variations already. This is so easy it makes you wonder why there are so many "no bake" cheesecake recipes and mixes that don't really taste like cheesecake or why people (including me in the past) pay a fortune for a store-bought cheesecake. Here is the recipe. It is called "Philadelphia 3-Step Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake."

2 packages (8 ounces each) Philadelphia Cream Cheese softened (I use light cream cheese)
1/2 cup sugar (Splenda or 1/2 Splenda works fine)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (or other flavoring)
2 eggs
prepared graham cracker crust (or homemade)
3 tablespoons red raspberry preserves (or other flavor)

1. Mix cream cheese, sugar and vanilla together until well blended. Add eggs until well-blended. (The book suggests an electric mixer, but I have done this by hand with good results - not as fluffy.)

2. Pour filling into crust. Dot top with preserves and cut through batter with a knife to create a marble effect.

3. Bake at 350 F for 40 minutes or until center is almost set.

The book says there are more recipes like this at http://www.fbnr.com/. I plan to check out this web site myself. Happy Valentine's Day!