alive and well...but out of power

It has been quite a while since a post, but with good reason. Houston finally took a direct hit from a hurricane and fortunately it was only a category 2. But that much wind can cause lots of disruption in a city. We left town and decided to brave the storm further inland. According to stories, though, the eye of the storm passed directly over our home. No damage, fortunately, just had to empty the contents of the refrigerators and freezers. As the city is still putting the pieces back together, we are still refugees. Without power, there isn't much for us at home. We are working remotely and making lemonade with the lemons.

As I know everyone like a good picture of the Champ, attached is my most recent favorite. This was taken while we were housing Gustav evacuees, enjoy...

the aftermath

As Hurricane Gustav just recently passed through South Louisiana, I am very grateful that all of our families are safe. I did not experience Gustav intimately, but living through a hurricane is truly memory creating. The weather itself is only one piece of the equation. The rest is much more colorful including extended family all huddled in one home. Everyone gets quality time together but cabin fever does set it. It is especially interesting considering that it is September in south Louisiana and there is no power. My memories from Andrew years ago are fresh in my mind of working for hours to clean up our yard, then each of the grandmothers and neighbors and so forth only to enter a hot, dark house and have a cold shower. Cleaning out the refrigerator and freezer were another unforgotten moment, I can still see these peas that were in the refrigerator going into the large garbage can placed in the middle of the kitchen. It was not a pretty sight or smell.

Through all of this recollecting, I would just like everyone in the path of this storm to know that my thoughts and prayers are still with you all. There is still far to go, but somehow the world seems a little brighter on the other side.

anna

getting into trouble

So the little guy has not officially taken his first independent steps, but that has not prevented him from exploring and finding trouble. I have decided the best way to illustrate his new mobility and how he likes to explore...great pictures.

My favorite spot:


Feeding myself:

the jet setter

Today was an interesting day. I have been planning to travel offshore for some planned work on our offshore platform. All of the company can see Gustav entering the Gulf, but they said head out there and we will make a decision Thursday. Well, the decision to hold off the work happened at 8:58 am. That was 2 minutes prior to my 9 am take off and about 2 minutes after I had turned off my cell phone for the flight to New Orleans. As I was picking up my bag from luggage claim, my colleague was calling to say the trip was off, he too was in N.O. and had already secured a flight home.

I walked to the ticketing desk and had to rearrange my flight. The sweet Southwest attendant asked, did you miss your flight this morning, I said no I took it, that is why I am here. She curiously asked and you want to get back on a plane? Yep that is right I came to NOLA to see the airport for 2 hours then return promptly to the planet Houston. Fun day, but both of my flights were on time, no traffic...it beats sitting in the office all day.

Well, I am home, safe and sound. Now I get to kiss both of my boys goodnight.

anna

Wow, what a year!

Okay, so this is way late but happy birthday to Champ!

I have been horrible about finishing this post, so I just decided to let the pictures do most of the storytelling...

It has been an amazing, educating, eventful, (you get the idea) year... Champ has grown up a lot. I still have fond memories of him laying in the palm of my hand.


Obviously he has changed quite a bit, and I would never get him to sit still enough for that picture again. He has taught me so much over the last year. He is such a joy to watch develop, and I thank God everyday for blessing Anna and I with the pleasure of raising him.

Champ had an awesome poolside bash at Maw Maw and Paw Paw's house in Lafayette. All had a good time, and we took the traditional pictures of him to record the event...

The cake


Champ preparing to pounce


Champ with cake beard


The little guy enjoying his new birthday throne


We love you Champ! I wanted to share some of these images with all of you who are in love with the Champ as well.

-jeff

last minute courvilles

The Champ marked the big 1 year birthday! He turned 1 on Sunday and celebrated with family. The will be a further post that chronicles the details of his day and celebration, and this post will set the context.

So the printer at the envelopes...and I didn't get back to fight with it. I have to admit I attempt to keep some old-timey things going, such as send out invitations by mail. Well with Champ and the time crunch of life, this is becoming increasingly more difficult and impossible. Since the printer didn't work, I went more high tech and scanned the invitation, edited it in powerpoint and emailed it out...at the last minute. Well on Friday with the party planned for Saturday morning. A couple of computer glitches later, the invitees were actually able to see the invitation. This was to set the tone for my little man celebrating year 1.



The other last minute Courville, would have to be Champ. He has been drinking water from a sippy cup on a regular basis, but he refused milk. With the doctor's visit last week, I asked him about the timing to take bottles away from Champ. He said now, at a year. He said cold turkey, he'll learn. It might take two weeks, but he will figure out that you are not giving in. As the great parents we are, we decided to wait for this transition until after his birthday and our return home. I guess Champ was listening. Saturday morning, with his blueberry pancakes, he drank milk from a cup. Not only drank, but chugged. From that moment forward, he has not touched a bottle. He quit cold turkey when he was ready. It shouldn't surprise me, but it does. He is more like Jeff and I on a daily basis.

Life has gotten simpler in ways. Jeff and I don't have to wash and sterilize the many pieces to bottles regularly. Champ eats completely from the school menu and no more formula to purchase. He is just getting more independent...I am just bracing myself for when he figures out the walking thing.

I do leave the story incomplete...but pictures from the big day will soon be posted.

anna

a mother's intuition...

and a great pediatrician. Champ has been battling a cold. Two of his previous colds have migrated to his chest causing coughing and slight wheezing. A week ago Monday, following a trip out of town, We brought Champ to the pediatrician to examine his cold. We had to see the doctor's partner as he was on vacation. I explained over the weekend he had seem to be breathing hard. She reassured me it was just a cold. Well it didn't get better just slightly worse. I was calling my mother to get her to explain the situation with my brother and his wheezing. Something didn't seem right. I tried his inhaler which seemed to help, but we ran out of meds.

Yesterday we brought him back to his doctor. Jeff and I kindly refer the the doctor as the "baby whisperer." The whole time the doctor examined Champ, he sat perfectly still. He smiled and flirted and was amazed by the cord on the stethoscope. No fussing even when prodding his ears and throat. The doc explained that no wheezing is heard during his normal breathing, but babies have one problem. They don't quite understand or respond to "take a deep breath." So in order to make them breathe deep the doctor applied a little pressure to his chest to make him fully exhale and yep, there was the wheezing. He looked at Champ's chart and realizing his birthday was around the corner, promised him to be healthy for the big day.

I explained to the doctor, my "mommy radar" was sensing something last week, but the other doctor had told me everything was alright. He said listen to your intuition, it was right.

The more I visit doctors the more I realize that the good ones are so valuable. I will always hug my loved ones and listen to my gut.