Tyler's Update

As many of you know by now -- Tyler was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) the end of April.

He had a severe asthma attack that Craig and I couldn't manage at home. We took him to the Emergency Room were he was quickly evaluated then admitted.

During the first few hours he was sedated with anti-anxiety medications to try to get his lungs to relax enough to move air. This attempt was unsuccessful so he had to be placed into a drug-induced coma using paralyzing drugs, pain relievers, anti-anxiety meds and others. It took extremely high doses of medications to get him to relax but it finally happened after about 36-hours of trying. In addition, he was placed on a ventilator because he was completely paralyzed.

Fast-forward to today -- Saturday, May 9, 2009 -- and Tyler has been off the coma-inducing drugs for nearly three days. Because of the high amount of drugs in his system -- he is responding slowly.

In the picture posted above you can see that Craig is reading Tyler his favorite story books while he rests quietly.

Tyler is responding appropriately with works he knows from the book and is giving Craig kisses on the cheek.

It's still a long road ahead for Tyler but like Craig and I have always said:

"If Tyler has the strength to get through this illness -- then we have the strength to get through it with him."

Please bookmark this site and I will post updates every evening to let everyone know how Tyler's progress is moving.

Tyler was dangerously close to not making it through this illness. His energy level is very low and his stamina is slight. Unfortunately he's still not out of the woods just yet but Craig and I remain hopeful.

Big Red / Little Red

I always thought it was very special to have a red-headed, curly-haired daughter. Now our family was blessed again with the addition of yet another pretty baby girl.

Christi will share her secrets of red, curly hair and the importance of sunscreen to ward off the freckles.

I like freckles.

Bernie's Little Red Wagon

What do you do with the little red wagon from your youth?

Well, you could throw it in the dumpster. You could give it to a charitable cause. You could give it to your children. Then to your grand-children.

Or -- you could leave it in the backyard playhouse where your daughter left it stand for the last time more than 15-years ago. The rain will come and dampen the wagon turning the bottom into rust. The sun will shine causing the paint to fade. And the heat will endure causing the tires to crumble.

But, still there it sits.

Then, two little kitties come along and discover the joy of a little red wagon. They don't care about rust, faded color or flat tires.

They only care about a secret hide-out. Someplace to sit and watch the bugs fly by and the birds land in the trees.

Remember we are under the influence of Leo so all the lions, lionesses, and simply domestic kitties are feeling the need to roar their little roars.

So as Bernie sits in her newly-claimed little red wagon and roars -- she lets everyone in the neighborhood know that she is the boss.

At the Pub

I had the opportunity to attend the Diamondbacks vs. Nationals tonight at Chase Field.

Tickets were in the lower section with access to the bar underground behind home plate.

Not only did we win the game but I had a great time watching baseball, drinking ice-cold beverages and cheering on the home team.

Note to self -- don't wear a dress to the ball game.

Artist Studio Open House vs. Working in the Backyard

I had the opportunity to attend the Sedona Artists Open Studio Tour this weekend. However, plans got scrapped.

Imagine being up in the cool pines of Sedona, touring artists studios, going out for lunch, getting a pedicure and enjoying a day of solitude.

Well, that didn't get to happen this weekend for Vicki. Instead the hubby made plans for cement and brick to arrive along with two other friends to help.

You can see (hopefully not very well) that I awoke to a mess in the back yard and guys running around while my curtains were wide open.

Well, at least I had pajamas on.

The upside is now that the backyard is nearly complete I will be able to have friends over for dinner and entertain on our new brick patio.

I guess that was worth the sacrifice of Sedona.

I was there...

At the Tuesday night game of the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. the Houston Astros -- Max Scherzer made his major league debut.

Fortunately for myself I was at the game.

In the first photo shown above is Max throwing his first pitch/first strike in his major league career. The second photo shows Max at his first at bat/first out in the major leagues.

When we left for the game I had no idea I would be witnessing the beginning of this young mans career with the Diamondbacks.

Lucky me.

Going to the Game

OK -- a weekend in San Diego.

Anyone who knows me in the slightest knows I have a true love of baseball.

You may also know I have a love of all things large.

Large as in planes, trains, ships and trucks.

So, while spending the weekend in San Diego I had to make a choice between taking the train to Petco Ballpark to watch the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the San Diego Padres or go to the Natural History Museum to see the display of Pompeii, Italy.

The very obvious choice for me should have been the baseball game but I decided to go to the museum with my daughter.

The artifacts were thought-provoking and very interesting.

However, my husband and son returned from the ball game and shared with me the details of the game.

1 - the seats they were given were (handicapped) directly under the press box where Mark Grace was calling the game for Fox Sports.

2 - they were sitting directly behind home plate.

3 - a foul ball was hit and bounced directly in front of my son, nearly hit him and was retreived by my husband for a souvenier.

Now I would never say I made the wrong choice by going to the museum with my daughter but doesn't that sound like it was an extremely good game to go to?