I'm Back!!

Well, as you have probably guessed, I returned from my visit with Kate and her family but I didn't keep you posted on my whereabouts. Life has gotten in the way of blogging but I have made a new resolution to blog and add pictures every Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock. We'll see how that goes.

I am going to jump back in time and catch you up on the trip to England and then slowly wend my way into the present.

Logan in his bee Halloween costume. He put it on after Halloween to show me what he wore. He even had his jammies on under the costume the night of the candy giveaway. Kate said he didn't trick or treat but he helped to hand out candy.

Logan and Lily posed for me on the couch. Logan was really happy to be holding the TV remote. It is one of his favorite banned toys.

Kenny, Kate and Logan posed for me before Logan went off to bed.

Lily posed, too. She was in her carseat inside her pack 'n play.

One day we took the kids to the indoor playground. Logan especially liked the mirror.

Lily went to bed wrapped up like a little burrito. By having her hands down at her side she slept better; she stayed warmer by having the blanket attached to her, too.

Kate and I didn't travel much this time but one night we decided to take a short trip the next day to Norwich (about 1.5 hours away to the east) and then go on to the coast and see the North Sea. Our plans changed as there was a surge wave coming toward that area of the coast the next morning. It actually was calmer that they predicted but there was flooding and the wave was about 6 feet tall. We did visit Norwich but not the coast; but it was very windy and cold. Above is a picture of the library in Norwich. You can see the reflection of the cathedral behind me. We visited the large indoor mall (they don't have many).

Logan feeding himself banana pieces and peanut butter sandwich bites.
Instead of a high chair he has a booster with a tray.




Kate and I installed this pot hanging rack while I was there. It wasn't easy but we did it.
I guess about a month later it fell down and Kenny had to re-attach it.




Before I went to Kate's I attended a home ec club meeting and we were taught how to make photo albums for Christmas. They fold out like origami and are really neat. While I was with Kate we made 15 more to give as gifts. Here are a few of the ones we made.




One morning Kate found Logan up on this chair; he hadn't been able to climb up on anything before, not even the couch.
What a growing boy.

Happy New Year!!! My hour is up so I will be back next Saturday.
Love you all.

I made it safely to England

The trip from home to Chicago took six hours:
*1.5 from home to the airport
*2.5 waiting in Indy for the plane
*2 hours on the plane (it should be an hour ride so I was mostly sitting on runways) (plus not able to count an hour's time change)

If I had booked the 9 o'clock flight leaving for London from Chicago, I would have missed it. Better to miss and take the next plane 2.5 hours later that evening than to spend the night in a hotel and catch the 9 a.m. plane the next morning and arrive in London in the late evening (11 p.m.) and not be able to take the Tube all the way to Epping where Kate will be waiting with children and a husband who should all be in bed (that happened in December 2006).

On the plane to London (a nine hour flight) I had an aisle seat with an empty seat next to me on the inside. That was really nice. I was so tired I didn't even wait for dinner (served at 1:30 a.m. Indy time; who eats that late?) and I went right to sleep with my Raider blanket and my stuffed dog as my pillow. I slept until the flight attendants served a breakfast of croissant, jelly, yogurt, juice, and tea with milk and sugar. We had about an hour to waste after breakfast before we landed. I had bought a Sudoku puzzle book, a crossword puzzle book, and a Popular Science magazine about food at Indy so I worked a few puzzles. Then I read about half of the magazine. It was really interesting about how flavors are detected and reproduced as synthetic. There was even a recipe for salsa using pears and strawberries in place of onions and tomatoes. I'll have to try that sometime.

The best part of my trip came when I got to Heathrow Airport and got through customs and found my luggage. I had arranged to call Kate so she could leave her base at the same time I was leaving the airport on the Tube (the underground subway). I whipped out my iPhone and just found Kate's number in my contacts and pushed on her cell number. In a couple rings I was talking to her without having to do anything special to make my phone work. YEAH!!!! That is just incredible. I can even connect to the Edge network (Internet) if I am willing to pay the data charges. Needless to say I'm not.

I have tried to connect my iPhone to a couple wi-fi networks-Kate's and Jennessa's-with no luck. Kate and Kenny can't figure out how to hook up their network. Eric and Jennessa couldn't remember their password. Soooo...Kate took me to the Bob Hope Center near home today where there is a wi-fi network and I checked my email while Logan played on the indoor playground.

Anyway, Logan has grown into a little boy (he is 13 months old and weighs 24 pounds). He hasn't done much talking yet during his short little life, but the first night I was here he copied me by saying "this." He won't say "mama" or "dada" or anything. He just babbles. He started walking about the time Lily was born (2.5 weeks ago) and is doing a great job. He can climb the stairs on his hands and knees and likes to empty the Tupperware cupboard.

Lily likes her pacifier. She sucks on it harder than The Simpson's' Maggie. She is a good sleeper as she sleeps most of the night and rarely cries, even during the day. She weighs over nine pounds and is wearing size one diapers already. She looks best in pink and looks not so good in purple. She is a spitter-upper and a burper.

Kenny has been working twelves for the last few days but has the next three days off. He and Kate recently moved to a new house so Kate and I have been organizing, hanging pictures and unpacking boxes. We have also been doing lots of child care and resting.

If I download pictures from my camera to Kate's computer, I will put pictures up before I get home. I did send a few pictures from my iPhone to Flickr this afternoon, so use the link on the left to get there.

I miss and love everyone at home. Have a good week.

Introducing Lily Grace Thomas!

Lily was born Wednesday, October 17 in England. Her parents, Kate and Kenny Thomas, and her brother, Logan, are very excited to have her come live with them. Lily weighed 8 lbs., 6 oz. and was 20.25 inches long. She is at home and both she and her mother are doing great.

Audrey, Addison and Lucy Together

Audrey, Addison and Lucy got together Sunday night on Joey's lap for a picture. Lucy is visiting with her mom and brother, Jonah. Andy starts his job Monday morning in West Lafayette but the little family hasn't found a place to live yet. Their belongings are still in Minnesota but they hope to find an apartment this week and get moved down soon. Meanwhile Amber and the kids are staying with us in Middletown.

Addison was trying to sleep but Audrey and Lucy were trying their hardest to wake her up with their crying. Also I think Addison looks like a pope.

Twins Are Almost Eleven Weeks Old

William and Valerie babysitting Audrey and Addison on Wednesday afternoon.



Addison and Audrey last Wednesday afternoon.

The close-up of them holding hands while napping. AHHH!

Updates in the Cooper Kitchen

I recently bought an 8-place setting of L.L. Bean dishes. They do not replace my Corelle whites; we have been using the blueberries for Sunday dinners and special occasions. The place setting includes a mug, rice-type bowl, salad or dessert plate and a large dinner plate. I also purchased a serving set which includes a serving bowl and a serving platter. I love the blueberry design and the bowl-type plate.

We (Drew mostly) have also repaired the kitchen ceiling, painted, and downsized on the number of shelves by 12 feet (which meant I had to Goodwill some infrequently-used cooking stuff). We also replaced the pegboard behind the stove and then polyurethaned it to make it easier to clean the grease off.

Addison leaves the hospital
to join Audrey at home!

The twin girls are nine weeks old.

Four pound four ounce Addison came home on Sunday to a house full of welcoming relatives. The girls love being together; when one cries, the other cries but on the other hand when one stops crying, the other stops, too.

This is Grandma holding the twins;
Addison is on the left while Audrey is on the right.

Carrie brought them to the photo studio on Monday to have autumn photos taken. They were cute laying around with pumpkins near them. Monday night they both slept most of the night.

Grandpa and Grandma visit
Jonah and Lucy in Minnesota



Grandpa holding hungry Lucy.

Seven day old Lucy sleeping on Grandma.



Lucy wants to hide in the curtain with Jonah.

Pretty Lucy.

Jonah showing Grandma a leaf after his walk.

WELCOME TO LUCY MARIE COOPER!

Lucy was born Sunday, September 23, 2007 at around 10 p.m. in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her proud parents are Andy & Amber, and her brother is two-year-old Jonah. Lucy weighed 6 lbs, 13 oz. (same as her brother when he was born) and she is 19 inches long.

Here is the fine family. Congratulations everyone!

Jonah holding his little baby sister. He's not quite an expert yet but just wait until tomorrow. He will get much better.

Aunt Hannah holding Audrey

Audrey is Home!

Audrey has been home for about an hour and she has already had lots of visitors. Her Mommy and Daddy brought her home with the help of her Grandpa Cooper (he drove Joey's truck home from the hospital because both Joey and Carrie had driven separately). Aunt Molly and Grandma & Grandpa Julian were there to hold her. Great Grandpa & Great Grandma White came in from the field to kiss her and Uncle William and Aunt Valerie visited her for the first time. As they aren't 14 years old yet, they weren't allowed to visit the girls at the hospital so they have only seen pictures. They were very anxious to kiss and hold Audrey.

Uncle William holding Audrey but she was wiggly and grunting.

Aunt Valerie holding precious little girl Audrey. She was sleeping on Valerie.

Mary Cassatt's Mother & Child Paintings in a Serving Tray

I bought some postcard-size reproductions of some of Mary Cassatt's Mother and Child Paintings. I tried to find a wall frame for the five of them but could only find a serving tray with nine openings. I bought the tray and found four other Cassatt paintings amongst my old calendars and I sized them in Photoshop to fit the openings. Here is the result:

Joey's Birthday Presents

On Joey's birthday, September 8, he was able to hold Audrey and Addison together for the first time. Audrey is closer to him and Addison is on the outside. The girls were six weeks old on Joey's birthday.

Seven Weeks Old

Audrey being fed her bottle by her mommy Carrie. My friend Karyn and I visited the girls on Monday, September 17. Audrey weighs 4 lbs 6 oz. As I write this Tuesday night, Joey and Carrie are on their way back to Middletown with Audrey.

SHE IS COMING HOME!!!

Addison was resting in her bed and listening to Carrie talk to Audrey. Addison weighs 3 lbs 7 oz. Addison is only eating from her bottle twice a day and the other feedings are through the tube you can see in her nose. The nurse had to put it in her nose as she kept pulling it out of her mouth. She is a little pistol. Addison has to remain in the hospital until she can eat all of her feedings from a bottle or be nursed. She also has to gain some more weight.

Five Weeks Old

Audrey and Addison are five weeks old now. Here is Audrey being held by her daddy and she is wearing clothes.

Here are some photos from the past.

This shows one of the many times the park has flooded.

Cutie boy Matthew eating at Grandma's.

William before opening day for little league.

Patriotic Valerie.

Audrey with Mommy & Daddy
(08-05-07)

Addison awake 08-07-07

Day 10

Carrie with Audrey

Audrey on her side

Addison on her tummy

Wedding, Cheerleader Clinic and Weird Van

Over the weekend I traveled to Tennessee for the wedding of Tim Phillips and Moriah. I rode down in the Ayers' van with Terry Lynn, Briana (12), Cassie (10), and Dawson (8). We caravaned down with Carol Purdy and her kids Luke and Sarah.

The wedding was at the Historic Rock Castle (about 6 blocks from the Phillips' home) in Hendersonville which is just outside of Nashville. The temps that day were over 100 degrees and after the 7 p.m. outdoor ceremony it rained, which caused the humidity to raise to at least 200%. Tim escorted the grandmothers and mothers to their seats before the bridesmaids were escorted down the sidewalk by the groomsmen. Among the groomsmen were Chris Coleman and Josiah Loveland, both from Anderson. Carolyn Phillips and Rebekah Phillips were two of the bridesmaids. Grace Phillips (8) played the violin before and during the ceremony and Libby Phillips & Andrew Phillips were the flower girl and ring bearer.

About 85 friends and family, including the wedding party, attended the reception in the back yard of the Castle. A lasagna dinner was catered by Olive Garden. Just as I finished eating, the rain poured down so we ran under the trees and up on the Castle's porch. I sat with Tim's grandma, Teresa Maher, on the porch bench. While we were talking, we noticed a crowd out at the waterfront (the Castle is on a lake) so we went out to investigate. In advance, Tim had ordered a speedboat to come and whisk his new wife and him away for their honeymoon. They didn't even get to cut the cake!! So, we went and ate cake without them. We hung around for a while talking and meeting Liz's friend Kathy. Later we drove to the Phillips' house to hang out and let the kids play.

Liz Phillips (mom of the groom) and Terry Lynn Ayers.

Van we passed on the way home from Tennessee.

We stopped in Lapel on Sunday afternoon to see the house Travis Ayers is building for his uncle. His father, Terry, and his brother, Mitchell, were helping. All the outside work needs to be done by Wednesday because Travis is getting married on Saturday and will be gone for a few days on his honeymoon.

Here are Karyn's cat Hoblette and dog Simon. Hobs (his real name) was recently in a tragic accident with Simon and received shaken kitty syndrome. He was taken to the hospital and is now home and recovering. He is seen here after the accident. Michael took the two photos with his new iPhone.

Valerie recently attended the week long Shenandoah Cheerleader Clinic. One night they dressed in their blue and gold crazy outfits. She learned to do more chants and cheers and had a great time with her friends.

The Twins at Day 4

Audrey sleeping

Hurray from Addison!

Addison's touchdown!

Boy, do the girls have different personalities already.

Audrey, the older and bigger, is having trouble with stopped breathing episodes. Her oxygen levels go down and then her heart rate slows and eventually stops. They have to watch her very carefully. Joey and Carrie have been allowed to touch the girls but when they touch Audrey she gets too excited and stops breathing. Since she is on a ventilator she will not be fed any milk until her breathing levels out. She is on an IV. She is also been given a sedative to keep her calm so she doesn't open her eyes. She has lots of blond hair.

Addison on the other hand is a fighter. The doctors say that her fighting attitude is usual for the smaller baby since she is used to fighting for nutrients inside Carrie. She is lanky and active. Joey has seen her with her eyes open. Addison was finally fed mother's milk yesterday. Carrie has been pumping every two hours since the babies were born. The nurses said she kept down 1.5 cc. At that rate Carrie will run out of milk soon. She was only getting about 1 cc per pumping. Hopefully her milk will let down soon.

Fortunately the theory on feeding babies has gone back to mother's milk being the best. If the mother can't provide milk, the hospital uses other mothers' milk and in a last ditch effort they resort to formula. YEAH!!

I read in the newspaper yesterday that Indiana is opening its third milk bank, in Muncie. The Bloomington milk bank reports that their freezers are full. The other bank is in Michigan City. When I was nursing and had extra milk I inquired about donating and was told that could never happen as there is too much risk if tainted milk. Well, I guess they have changed their minds. Too late for me, though. Don't think I can start producing now.