Happy Birthday Kizzy

I've been meaning to sit down and commit a few lines to the lovely and wonderful Kizzy Davidson. Her birthday was something really special to celebrate; well, so special that we took her back to the hospital for a hearing test (poor kid... to receive the announcement that you've got a hospital appointment... on your birthday... what a drag - I'm sure she would say if she could... ). And just fyi, there's nothing wrong with her hearing... she's got full hearing on even the lowest levels - so no reason NOT to listen to what Daddy is saying...

Oddly enough, Kiz's appointment gave us the motivation to go and visit the special care baby unit (SCBU) where she started life and to see some of the people who took care of her for so long (really weird to think that it was a year ago that she came to us). It was a lovely time. We bottled visiting the unit on previous appointments because it was all a bit much, but coming back on her birthday just seemed right. It was great to see some of our friends there and it was great for them to see how much she's grown - and how much a 'baby' she is... it must be hard seeing babies like this.. just not right... but to see how Kiz has grown and is such a lovely baby.

So in true style, we took Kiz and Jesame away to celebrate in the best way for children to celebrate... we went camping! We headed Dorset way (it was where the forecast was looking the most promising to have some episodes of good weather) and the camp site we landed at - a lovely place with covered swimming pool (most key!) delivered a very family friendly feeling with lots of other little ones running about. Now, something that we've always known is that camping, generally, is tiring: camping with little ones is EXHAUSTING! My goodness... I have to say, it was a great time! Jesame and Kiz really enjoyed their first experience of camping life - as did we... but you just don't have down time... and it's really tiring! i think it took me a couple or three days to get back right after that.... and you know what? we loved it so much, we're doing it again on the weekend commencing the 14th September.













Pics above are of Jesame on the weekend away. I actually think that Jesame's idea of 'on holiday' involves touching sand... so I'm glad we could accommodate. She had a great time building sand castles..seeing the Red Arrows (the Blue Angels equivalent) rehearse their show above the beach... and touching the water (though the water was a bit cold and I don't think she REALLY enjoyed it).

Here's a few more:











Generally speaking, we're doing well... we're getting older bit by bit (my birthday coming up on the 6th, and Dawn's on the 13th.. fast approaching 40 - which has got to be weird for mom and dad...yes, your children are nearly all over 40 - but I'm enjoying my last year of sub-40ness... unless i'm 40 this year... I can never remember how old i am... each time i think about it, it just seems wrong....

Well, going a bit out of character here - as i don't have anything silly to draw people's attention to here; so you're just gonna have to wait for the next posting.

So, in the mean time, be good one and all and keep posting! Much love and most monstrous smoochies from all of us over here. Missing you all like crazy and looking forward to visits up-and-coming (Mom and Ross in October and Becky in the New Year).

Happy Birthday to Kizzie

Miss Kezia looks fabulous! So glad that tomorrow is a happy birthday, after all she has gone through.

Chicago is hot and humid and the summer progresses. The farmers markets have wonderful peaches and blueberries, and in two weeks the Honey Crisp apples should appear. I've been going to the Green Market - the organic produce is pricey, but it's worth it. Saturday the market is a summer festival. Music -people doing food demos - lots of kids and dogs - people eating the made on the spot crepes and veggie rolls and PIE - oh the pie. One of the bakeries that come to the market sells whole pies and slices. There is a cheese and egg guy from Wisconsin.

My Christmas plans have firmed up. I will have the 30th, 31st and January 1 with Todd and Dawn and kids. I have sold my apartment and will probably be moving in January. I haven't got a place to go, but it's not a problem...if I have to store and rent for a couple of months, it will be okay.

My Cancer Board work continues and I am working extemely hard. I am heading up the merchandise committee for the Live and Silent auctions - I have a staff of 24, but they are volunteers and not everyone has the same work ethic that I do. The big fundraiser is November 10. Dick and I had committed to taking a table before he left, so I am doing a black tie girls night out. Marianne will be there, Laurie will be there and I have invited Carol and I am hoping she can work it out to get to Chicago that week-end. The rest of the table is friends, some of whom know know Carol and are looking forward to spending some time with her.

I went to NewYork. I had a great evening with Tom and Sharon and Doug and Maria. Doug is in good health after his surgery and Maria is her wonderful self. Tom and Sharon were on their way home from a golfing trip to Colgate - an annual thing.

I'm still hoping to learn to post a picture - I want you all to see the new slimmer me, with short grey hair.

Love to one and all. Becky

Back again!

Well, this is what the Botley Road looked like not too long ago; we were never under threat from the rising tides (living, as we do, on the top of a biiiiig ole hill - thank goodness we live in Cumnor. Life in Oxford did get a bit difficult as roads were cut off, buses re-routed... took much longer to get home... but the Oxford flood was much less problematic than other areas (Gloucestershire and Witney looked much worse). Another weird thing... when the army brought in deliveries of sandbags and water, people reacted in a way that you would imagine humanitarian aid deliveries to war torn areas - groups of people appearing from nowhere, grabbing more than they need and stealing sand bags from their neighbours over night.... just weird...

On a lighter note, week of summer has finally arrived and I've just got my first burn following a couple hours of weeding in the back garden (I'm normally so good about sun block... it was the middle of my back... I couldn't reach, and being the guy that I am, I didn't ask for help.. never mind, aloe is good for stuff like this and I promise I won't do it again.

Work continues and I'm still keeping an eye towards the door - and job sections. The NHS is a rather hard place to work at the moment; for some reason, despite being funded more than ever, most hospitals are really struggling (ours included) and we're currently undergoing 'restructuring'.. 'Restructuring?! In the NHS?! This really is a foreign word in the world of the wonderful NHS and has been resulting in job some job losses (not mine... I'm ok... but, man, a bit of a hard time...). But this is not what I'm really here to write about. We've got some great new piccies which really need to be shown.

On Friday, we went to a wedding.. the weather was glorious, Jesame had a good number of her friends handy (not to mention, there was a travelling creche that was brought in... not that i love ditching my daughter, but it was great putting her in safe hands whilst we carried on (well, i carried Kiz most of the time, but that was ok...). Speaking of which...

Kizzy is fast approaching her first birthday (on 15th Aug) - which is wonderful, but will also bring back a few difficult memories. Developmentally, she's on track for the 8 month corrected age that she is... she's sitting up.. .she's babbly (saying 'Da da' all the time...which I'm sure it's because she knows her dear old dad... until you show her a primary coloured soft cuddly cow or spoon, which she also calls Da da... she's bit confused, but when she says Da da to me, I'm certain she knows who she's talking about...well, in my mind, anyways).

Special thanks to Chad and Laurie for sending through the Cheeky Monkey t-shirt... it's very cute and had a good outing the day it arrived... whoops, hearing a baby girl waking from a nap... gotta run... will be sure to post more soon.

love from all of us.

and as per usual, here's a bit of silliness: becky barry
(they're all funny, but the bottom one about demolishing her school is particularly funny)

Vacations

We've had a wonderful time this past month, taking 2 vacations- first to Benzie County for a fun, down-home 4th of July, complete with parade, fireworks, and many trips to the beach.

Then it was Frisco, Colorado, for a fantastic time in the mountains hiking, biking, swimming, horseback riding, and not the least of all seeing Grandma Carlin, Uncle Palmer and Aunt Lee Carlin, cousins Bridget and Bob, and the newest Carlin, 4-month-old Francesca.

We can't wait to come back to Frisco again--summer or winter.