spring break and Easter past

Mia and "I Love My Mommy" Book. The mommy is giving the sick baby a purple popscicle!

Mia and balloons along with other stuffed friends

So many things going on and I haven't taken many pictures lately. Went over to the hospital to relieve Jaime on Sunday so she could get out for her birthday. 29 years old! I remembered two restaurants near the hospital on Davis Island.

Jaime and Sean, Karin and Alan went to Estella's Mexican restaurant and sat out on the patio and had Sangria. Jaime seemed to really enjoy it. Just a few hours away from constantly watching Mia. I had brought my camera, but we were all so tired, NO ONE TOOK PICTURES. As for me, I stayed behind and watched the baby, did the "Mommy and Me" video two times in a row, pulled the pillow-lined wagon with Mia through the hallways singing "Mommy and Me." I didn't mind. She was so cute. When it said, "I love you, Mommy!" on the video, she cuddled up to me and said, "I love you, Grandma!" She also loves a book we found called, "I Love My Mommy" which features an elephant Mom and baby. She is a mommy's girl right now for sure.

Jonah stayed all night on Tuesday. He wanted to stay just him since Jill stays all the time. Since we had no ice cream in the house, Jonah and I had Slimfast milk shakes and watched (guess what) "Jurassic Park!" He was asleep almost immediately but I watched for a while for old time's sake. Jonah and I know all the dialog by heart.

Jill coloring Easter Eggs

Yesterday, Mia and Jaime came home from the hospital again with lots of supplies. It is Easter break and the kids are out of school. Jonah decided to stay at home and missed coloring eggs with Jill. So, I will have to color more eggs today.

Last weekend we finally finished cleaning out the Zephyrhills house. It is empty now. One step closer to resolving all our issues. I would not move again if someone put a gun to my head!

My neighbor, Sylvia, has been having a blast with her new boyfriend and Sean has a chance for a permanent job at the hospital doing drywall repair. I am so hopeful for that to happen!

April, Ken and the kids are vacationing in Orlando and will be coming to visit us on Friday. I hope Jonah and Jill and Mia will get to meet Roger's grandchildren at last. Maybe I will take the kids to the movies today. Roger still has passes we haven't used. It is rainy and cold for the zoo. Very unusual weather for April in Florida!

Happy Easter Pictures from years gone by:

Happy Birthday, Roger!

Yesterday was Roger's birthday. 72. We had a quiet dinner the night before with his brother-in-law, Bruce, who was in town to take care of some business and to take care of his son who is in the hospital here. Bruce and Roger's birthdays are 1 week apart and they have always enjoyed celebrating together.

We had bacon-wrapped filets, baked potatoes, salad, rolls and strawberry shortcake. Not very original, but a great meal. Bruce and Roger were going to walk across the steet and hit some golf balls but we had our first chilly, rainy day in weeks. That would have made a great picture. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of them together which doesn't happen that often anymore since Bruce and Roger's sister, Mary, moved back to Michigan to be near the grandchildren and for Mary's medical care. We miss them. Roger misses them.

On his actual birthday, we went out for brunch and to Border's bookstore where he still has a gift card from his son. We had a replay of dinner from the night before except I had chicken since there was only one little steak left. He also got a foot and back rub. Happy Birthday!

Jill and Nibbles

Nibbles hopped up in Jill's lap for the first time. Friends.

Cory and Stephanie - 2 years together

Stephanie and Cory - Together 2 years

Pictures taken at our house. They had gone out to celebrate. They first went out two years ago at Roger's surprise birthday party on St. Pat's Day. (Tomorrow, March 24 is Roger's real birthday.)

Jonah and Brandon

Jonah and Brandon (my neighbor Sylvia's grandson)

I have lots of pictures of Jill and Savanah (Brandon's sister) but not many of the boys together. I guess I need a pictgure of Sylvia and me someday for the record -- someday, not now.

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.