Coping w/ the unexpected...

Last week, hurricane Ike rolled through Columbus before it slowly died to the Northeast of Ohio. We experienced 80-90mile/hr winds - which hindered my soccer game at 1pm only a little but left cooking on the grill only a few hours later a much more difficult endeavor. Needless to say we lost power on Sunday evening - and would not have it restored until Friday afternoon. We stuck it out for a couple days & nights (me having to use the breast pump in the car!) - but after losing hot water had to find an alternative. Makayla's daycare also was w/out power until Thursday morning. Thankfully we had family to lean on and the week was only mildly disrupted - Mak P stayed at Lita's house (grandma Cecilia) and we spent nights w/ Aunt Kristy and Uncle Andy. We are extremely grateful - and looking back enjoyed the change of pace...
This week, nature took a different course - unexpectedly taking my grandmother Dorothy from this great planet. I am struck cold w/ guilt, remorse and great sadness all of sudden - and most especially in the midst of the monotony of my work day. I should have called more, written more, visited more - did she know how important she was to me - and how sad I am that Mak P won't get to know her? I can only hope... that those things which she instilled in me: Scrabble has rules ("no you can not look up a word before playing"), putting together jigsaw puzzles has rules (border pieces together first), LIFE has rules... I have fond memories of camping and spending summers w/ Grandma & Grandpa. I carry many of the qualities and pasttimes they held true - strongheaded, driven, kind, honest and a great love for animals, the outdoors and traveling...
I miss my childhood... I miss them...
Nature tears through your life leaving a path (physical or emotional) along the way. As I get older and now have a child of my own, I am left feeling utterly more vulnerable and protective, yet more appreciative for every day I have with the family & friends in my life...

Back to work

Mom & Dad started back to work recently. It's been an adjustment from the lazy days the 3 of us were able to spend together for a wonderful 12 weeks this summer. Everyone in the family is adjusting well - Mak is spending 3days/wk w/ abuelita Cecilia and 2days/wk at daycare near Mom's work. Jay is working at JP Morgan Chase again - although hours our long, he enjoys doing what he knows and is good at. Courtney has taken on a new role at work, but is glad to be back and is striving to keep her work day to no more then 8hrs (not an easy task!).
Mak is really enjoying her time w/ abuelita Cecilia and playing w/ same-age friends at daycare. She can now hold her head up, and will stand w/ our help. She is extremely curious, attentive and talks to us very often. She LOVES Arnold (our eldest dog) - she goes into fits of laughter when she sees him beg us for attention. She has a strong personality which is beginning to slowly come to light - she knows what she wants, when she wants it and will tell us w/ out hesitation. However, she (just like her daddy) does not complain for no reason - she is pointed in her demands and (just like her mommy) is direct about what she wants....
We are in BIG trouble...