My Gosh It’s Been 3 Years October

[doodlemommy]

Oct 10, 2020 7:18:14 GMT -6 Taitai said:

August Blooms and doodlemommy Happy Thanksgiving weekend! I am glad that both of you will be able to spend some time with family, and yay for the negative COVID tests!

doodlemommy - Wow, I also can’t believe your baby is already 1! How mobile is he? Walking yet? Glad to hear you are getting into a routine with your H being on parental leave.

August Blooms Oooh - I love that plant! Is it mother-in-law’s tongue? Maybe that is not a plant name in the USA, but it definitely is the name of a plant that looks similar out where I am! We have a bunch in our house, because they are supposed to be particularly good at improving air quality (for a plant).

Hope you both enjoy the family time and eat lots of tasty things. Anything dishes you are preparing or really looking forward to having?

DS2 is crawling fast but not walking yet. He will pull to stand on anything and everything but isn’t cruising or trying to stand by himself/walk yet. Considering DS1 walked at 10.5 months we appreciate this 😂

[cythe]

E is 3! Every year I'm genuinely surprised that her birthday is the same day as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. The details of my loss get fuzzier and fuzzier as time goes on, but the memory of what could have been never does.

But! Today is also her day! Time is going so fast

[Taitai]

cythe Happy birthday to E, and hugs on the loss and infertility awareness day. I also have experienced both of those issues, and I am sure today was very bittersweet for you. Loss and IF is never something that leaves you.

I hope you have a nice time celebrating E turning 3, and hugs again from me. 🤗

[cythe]

Birthday girl! We will actually do the celebration with my mom in a few weeks. H's birthday was the 13th and we ended up with two cakes so I figured a third cake would just be insane.

[duskymonkey]

Happy belated birthday E cythe , and doodlemommy Taitai  ....gosh! how is your littlest one already 1 wow! Hope you were able to have a good family Thanksgiving and your MIL is responding well to Chemo. 
August Blooms that plant is gorgeous. I had that and other indoor plants and over 20 orchids! I gave all my plants away when I moved to NYC but kept my orchids and gave half of them to my sister when I moved here. My first orchid I've had for over 20 years but hasn't bloomed since DS was born. curmudgeon , contrary to what many people think, they are fairly easy to take care off. Mine has been neglected and they are sort of alive lol! I would love to get a nice grouping of Tillandsia ( air plant ) going but refraining myself, I have enough to take care of outside. They are very easy to care for although I did kill 1 and only have 1 currently. danvers , you can start with those! It's so arid here, outside plants even have a hard time.
Speaking of whiney kids, OMG! I totally thought of you Taitai when lil fella cried ( tearless ) throughout bath and then rolled on the floor all because big bro took the crab into the shower and he had the other 5 sea creatures but he really absolutely needed the crab! Sorry lil fella... we share in this house.
cythe big hugs... my heart goes out to you and others who had to go through that. I can only imagine; the disappointment with all our failed IVFs was devastating enough. Big hugs and big big hugs to E. Love that picture of her! her hair is so long. Did you ever give her a trim or a cut? Is she loving school?

[duskymonkey]

Oct 7, 2020 2:31:01 GMT -6 cythe said:

Oct 6, 2020 23:37:03 GMT -6 duskymonkey said:

cythe , everything good with E in school? I know you had a scare but sounds like it was taken care of quickly. You're feeling better about getting a little bit of me time while she's in school? Also what network is GBBS on? I don't have cable and it was on PBS before but I haven't seen any new shows for quite a long while. I adore that show!

Its on Netflix!! They release episodes weekly, as opposed to all at once per Netflixs' usual MO.

School is great, Ev is doing well. So far no further spread from the child who had Covid. She is doing PT remotely now since the therapist is quarantined.

Awww man! They used to have it on PBS! no NetFlix for us. We're pretty bare bones. We only have Amazon Prime and we're making Jeff Bezos richer, more so due to the pandemic.

[duskymonkey]

Guys, my heart sank tonight when I went out to pick up groceries. As I was driving out, I could see the fire that's been raging since August! It's so devastating. It's one thing to see the glow from it but I can actually see the flames coming over the mountains. Totally unreal and so awful. As I was driving and if you've driven at night when it's snowing, you can see the snow through the headlights...except that it wasn't snow but pieces and chunks of the burnt forest. I am super duper down with everything, Covid and being surrounded with so many Trump supporters...I really feel sick to my stomach with everything. 

[duskymonkey]

So we now have another fire in the foothills about 15 miles from us which started this afternoon and it's 7K acres. 2020....I am just like legit crying over here and eating last year's Halloween's candy.

[cythe]

duskymonkey, I'm so sorry that you're so close to it. The mental toll widescale destruction like that can do is so real. I hope you and your family remain safe from it.

[Taitai]

duskymonkey Oh no - That is devastating to see, and I can’t imagine how much worse it feels to live so nearby. I will be keeping you and those threatened by the fire in my thoughts and prayers. Ugh - how horrible. Stay safe.

[Taitai]

We decided to take a quick weekend trip to the beach, but it was not the greatest weather - lots of misty rain and (for us) pretty cold. My kids and I are such wimps - swimming in 78 degree weather is kind of hard for us now. We’re used to it always being in the 90s or 100s. Anywho - there were several breaks in the rain, and we got in a few trips to the pool/splash pad. We also had an amazing seafood dinner at this open air restaurant we always go to. The seafood is so fresh and clean - you can see all of the fresh catch still alive in various tanks when you come in. We ate sooooo much.

There’s a lot of unrest here as well, which I can’t really comment about due to the local laws. But, we’re safe and just trying to make sure we are back home by 3 or 4pm each day, so as to not get caught in a pop-up protest or stuck somewhere away from home when the mass transit is shut off/major streets get shut down. I’m not worried - interesting times for sure though. 2020 has really, really been a crazy ride.

[duskymonkey]

Taitai I was thinking about you all over there with what's going on too but didn't want to inquire...we have similar laws in my country as well. Glad to hear you're safe and feel safe. In general, the majority are peaceful likely from their beliefs and way of life. Despite the weather not cooperating, glad you were able to get away. Also how was your cake. I bet it was delicious. The boys would love an oreo cake. I actually crushed up oreos and TJs cat cookies to make the dirt on lil fella's cake. Duh...it never occurred to me to do that lol!

[duskymonkey]

Ugh...another fire exploded this afternoon just SW of the one yesterday. It's so sad, I drive through this area to work that is all burning now. Hubs used to bike up to the top daily pre kids and we go hiking in that area a lot. A lot of ranchers and farms and livestock in the area too. So much damage. It blew up to 10K acres today and the new one which started is over 300 acres last I read. Climate change isn't in the future, it's here now it just blows my mind how some people think it's a hoax and a lie and continue to support and defend leaders who don't believe in it.

[Taitai]

duskymonkey I’m so sorry to hear about another fire. I totally agree with you on how absurd all the climate change denying is - obviously it’s happening. Just look at the poles and the rising sea levels. Where I live is one of the most flooding prone cities/countries in the world - and flooding is always a bigger and bigger problem each year, due more extreme weather from climate change. This whole city is expected to be under water by 2050 . So sad that there are many who just don’t care.

[danvers]

Taitai like was for the trip away. I have to imagine when you all come back to the US for visits our water isn’t that warm to you either! Glad you could get away though. 2020 sure is.... something.

[danvers]

DD2 was acting sick on Sunday. Tired, not eating, cough and runny nose, seemed to have an upset stomach so we decided I would stay home with her today because: 2020 (2019 me would totally have sent that kid to school).

She woke up at 8 and played the whole day, ate lunch, skipped her nap, no cough or runny nose at all. So here’s to hoping she doesn’t figure out that acting sick is day home with mom or dad. 🤞 Our Covid-19 numbers are rising so we’re trying to stay extra cautious.... even if it seems like no one else is 😑

[CoachTsWife]

Happy belated birthday to E, cythe .

My stomach sinks when I read your fire updates duskymonkey . I hate that it is happening, and also that it is so close to you guys.

[CoachTsWife]

I have an addition to the growing list of reasons that #2020sucks.

SPOILER: Click to show

{TW death}My FIL passed away last Wednesday. He had been under the weather for a few days, and was originally told on Friday 10/2 by a physician assistant that it was allergies and/or could also be recovering from a bug. Well he slept all that weekend and MIL thought he just needed that extra rest but she took him back to the dr on Monday 10/5. He was immediately sent to the ER due to jaundice, ER immediately transferred him to a hospital that has excellent liver doctors. Initial CT scan showed spots on his liver and a multitude of tests followed. By Thursday that week he had a liver biopsy and that was about the last day he was halfway alert and able to talk to family (or doctors). The following Tuesday (last week) we received the news that he had Stage 4 Adenocarcinoma that originated in his liver bile ducts. By then he was on a feeding tube, we think he could hear us but he wasn't responding, he could hardly open his eyes. Drs told MIL to call family Wednesday and he slipped away about 8:30 last Wednesday.

3 weeks ago TODAY FIL was coaching a JH football game. The past 3 weeks have been so difficult. It all happened so fast, his decline was so quick, literally every day we received worse news and we could see him declining before our eyes. DH was really close to his dad and is doing ok but taking it hard. I took off quite a bit of time from work to be at the hospital with MIL because DH has so few days off from school, but we've both been off the last week or so. We buried him yesterday so I'm trying to work today but I'm so behind and struggling to focus. Work just seems so unimportant right now.

It breaks my heart that DS2 probably won't remember him. MIL would come over and DS2 would say "Did you bring Grandpa??? Where's Grandpa?" He was one of DS2's favorite people. FIL had a trailer he pulled behind his mower and the grandkids (mostly DS2) BEGGED him for rides on his "tractor". We're sure going to miss him.

[cythe]

I am so sorry CoachTsWife, for your loss, for your husbands loss, for your childrens loss and for the loss of all the memories that would have been made. I can't imagine how hard it is to lose someone so quickly. Hugs.

[Taitai]

CoachTsWife Oh no - I’m so, so sorry for your family’s loss. All of that is heartbreaking, especially as it happened so suddenly. Please take time to be kind to yourselves and grieve. I’ll be thinking of you and your family from this side of the world. Hugs.

[Taitai]

We’re up in the mountains this week, away from the city and all of the unrest going on there. It’s been nice to take a break and visit the countryside/see lots of animals. We also visited our nanny’s rural village today and the kids loved getting spoiled by everyone in her family. They don’t have foreigner visitors in this village very often, so it was a special event for everyone. The food was awesome, as it always is in this region of the country.

Tomorrow we’re going to some farms, and the kids are looking forward to getting pony rides/making ice cream from scratch. It’s really beautiful here - PDQ:

Poof!

[duskymonkey]

CoachTsWife I am so so terribly for you and your family's sudden loss. How awfully unfair. There's been so much your family has endured I feel this past year. Sending much much love and thinking of you all. Thank you for asking even when you're grieving but we are far enough away ( I hope ) from all the fires.

[duskymonkey]

danvers how is DD2 doing? Hope you all are doing well and hanging in there. DS is deep into the Magic Schoolbus and every time I see Ms Frizzle, I picture you lol! I am legit scare we'll run out of the series to read. He's already gone through half a dozen in just 2 weeks! *head smack

[duskymonkey]

It's October and we now have 2 of the largest fires in the state burning. If no one is following. Here's the scenario. So this other fire aptly named East Troublesome fire started a week ago. yesterday it was around 20K acres and by evening, it blew up to 70K with emergency evac in Grand Lake. Today it somehow managed to jump the continental divide which is barren tundra (*mind blown ) and above tree line and is now burning into the East of RMNP which prompted mandatory evac of Estes Park mid day. Last report the fire is over 170K acres. So in 36 hours it has charred through 150K acres. The other fire NE of it and now apparently 10 miles apart has been burning since mid August and is over 200K acres. It's incomprehensible and no one expected it to rage through the speed it has and the 12,13,14K feet peaks could certainly contain and definitely slow it down but it didn't. Its just very sad and depressing out here. It's raining ash. A group of people with a firefighter are gathering items to get the crews care packages so I got a crap load of socks and I am getting at least 1K worth of lip balms to them. I told hubs we should never complain about our jobs ever. These guys and gals are truly selfless heroes. The conditions they have to endure is pure hell. We will be getting snow this weekend which will help slow the fire but brutal for the firefighters. It's already below zero at night up in the mountains. I cannot imagine. I am just gutted. RMNP could be a pile of rubble and ash by tomorrow. So much devastation to people and wildlife.

[CoachTsWife]

duskymonkey I was reading about the East Troublesome Fire last night. We love RMNP so much and reading the reports is heartbreaking. I cannot believe it crossed the Continental Divide.

After we cancelled our summer beach vacation due to covid, we considered driving to Estes in early August before school started to introduce the boys to RMNP. We have a friend in Denver whose FIL has a house near Estes and we were going to stay there. We ended up cancelling because we were still uncomfortable traveling due to covid; but oh how I wish the situation had been different and we could've taken that trip now.

[duskymonkey]

Taitai really glad to hear you were able to get away and how special for your boys to have the opportunity to visit their nanny's village. I love that for them and your nanny too. I imagine it's much like when hubs came home with me and when my BIL visited. They were like celebrities lol! It made hubs so so uncomfortable. When we went to the market, everyone wanted to give him things. He was offered a whole chicken, a comb of bananas, fish etc. Strangers came up to him to take pictures with him ROTFL! He was like no no I am nobody. I just stood back and watched and laughed. It's crazy how even on the other side of the world, you're experiencing chaos.

[duskymonkey]

Big big hugs CoachTsWife. Estes is still standing. Luckily the winds stayed away most of the day and fire didnt spread as rapidly as it has the last couple of days. Stanley Hotel is currently home to about 500 FF, EMT and emergency personnel. They are ready to protect the town at all cost. No amount of thanks or words or acts of gratitude will be enough for them. I hope your friend's FIL property will stay safe. I've been meaning to ask how has your little man been doing in pre-school? I worry how so attached lil fella is to me and hubs now. I think when the time comes and we feel it safe for him to go to school I am pretty sure we'd have a huge meltdown of epic proportions.

[duskymonkey]

Update on the inferno out here. Fire grew to about 190k since yesterday. A little piece of good news. The other little pocket of fire last week by the foothills was 100% contained! the other larger pocket unfortunately is still burning. Small victories and they can now send out that crew to help the 2 raging beasts. We're also expecting snow Saturday night and I think for the first time everyone isn't going to complain about it and hoping for a huge storm to slow the fire down. Unfortunately before that, it's going to get awfully windy and that will be really bad. I feel so much for these FF and emergency personnel. It's going to be brutal with the freezing weather. They are selfless souls with nerves of steel.

[Taitai]

duskymonkey I’m glad to hear they contained the smaller fire, but I’m so sorry to hear that the East Troublesome fire is still raging - absolutely horrible. I’ll be praying that the weather can help in the coming days/weeks to get it contained. Ok you are right - those firefighters/emergency personnel are true heroes.

As for the story about your H visiting your hike village - I can definitely picture it. Even when we go to Japan, people sometimes will stop my H for a picture because he kind of resembles Matt Damon - not really (to me), but I must be something, because it’s happened to him like 3 or 4 times! People ask to take pictures of our kids too sometimes, which makes me uncomfortable- but I know their intentions aren’t malicious. Interesting experiences for sure.

[danvers]

CoachTsWife I’m so sorry for your loss. ((Hugs)) in this tough time for everyone

duskymonkey I’m glad to read about the small fire containment and hopefully progress can be made on the bigger fire. My students are actually going to be reading about “fire jumpers” in November as part of our “Hero” unit but I think it’s hard for my little rural midwest kiddos to picture what a forest fire and being a fire jumper actually entails. Continued thoughts for all those impacted.

Taitai I hope the quick trip was wonderful and an escape from some of the craziness right now