The Amazing Paul

This is not my entry about our vacation..I am too tired to attempt that. However, this entry is about my little boy. Ever since his surgery the end of April, the child has come alive with language. I guess those tubes really help get rid of all the fluid in the ears. Praise God!

I wanted to share his daily school reports for this week...written by his teachers...Ms. Laura and Ms. Gwen.

5.27 - "Welcome back my Paulie Wallie. Paul was so happy to be back with his friends and teachers. He was cooperative and made good choices. Please send pictures of your trip to share with this class."

5.28 - "Paul enjoys playing with stuffed animals. Paul is talking more and more each day -- yeah Paulie Wallie!!! Paul is loved in our class and has progressed so much in the last 3 months. I am grateful for Paul."

5.29 - "Paul made a lion face and enjoyed dancing. He made good choices and was awesome today. He refused to eat breakfast due to being upset."

Paul is already in bed. He actually asked to go to bed. He wanted to read 2 books and then said, "ok, night night." Alrighty then----and off to went! I have lots of things to get done tonight and the Spurs play. Danny is at CFP study group.

Here is a pic of Paul playing with a bubble machine his cousin gave to him while we were at my Aunt and Uncle's home north of Detroit.

Peace out peeps....

Survived Not Reading Emails, Reading Blogs or Writing a Blog Entry...For 9 days!

We left for Michigan May 17 on a 9am flight to Detroit, MI - my birthplace...if you didn't know! My Mom and Wayne live 4 1/2 hours away and picked us up. Yes, there is a smaller airport 45 min from their home....but we saved $1200 on airfare! We left there May 24 and drove 3 hours to Frankenmuth, MI. Spent a few hours there and then drove almost 2 hours to my aunt and uncle's house north of Detroit along the St. Clair River. We spent a couple of days there and I was able to see them and cousins I had not seen for 16 years. We flew home from Detroit today and we are wiped out. Paul is in bed and I am headed to take a sleeping pill and off to dreamland. Back to work tomorrow..and dealing with a plumbing issue here at the house..and my car again is not working like it should..and Danny has to fly to Houston tomorrow...but other than that.........!!!

My entry on our fabulous vacation will be a long one..but super fun. So, come back ya all!

Does Life Ever Slow Down.....

I don't think so....

We had a good week in the Niño house... Our 8th wedding anniversary was Tuesday. We celebrated by going to PF Chang's for lunch and of course another gala event that night. The Southwest Mental Health Center for Children was honoring Charlie and Cathy. We attended to support our boss and his lovely wife. It was a nice event outside with food and drinks. A young lady age 18 named Vanessa gave a heart warming testimony on how the center has helped her the past four years. I knew nothing about this incredible nonprofit who helps children ages 3-17 with depression, low self esteem and other mental illness issues. Society always talks about cancer, diabetes and heart disease...but what about mental illness?! I totally agree----it should
not be a taboo subject...it is real and affects millions of people..adults and most especially children. Kudos to the center to their programs and services!

Wed night was GNO at Michelle's house. I have not been to GNO for at least 5 or 6 weeks. I missed seeing the girls and all the laughs. I love Michelle's house too----lots of room and decorated very nicely. Can we move in? Or, can you help me decorate my house to be more cozy like yours?! Knowing I had to get up and go to work, I left around 10:30..but really wanted to stay and visit more--but ya know....I am almost 39 and need my sleep in order to be productive at work.

Thursday and Friday were spent busy working and going to St. PJ's Children's home to decorate for the Red Shoes Gala--which was last night. Paula Miller (husband Doug is the son of Bill Miller BBQ) is on the board with Danny and was heading up the decorations committee and I was helping. It was a bigger effort this year as the gals took on more and had incredible ideas and these gals are workers!!! Paula is sweet and fun to be around. On Friday she and I were decorating the bathrooms...that's right--these ladies wanted every space to be colorful and fun! We hung fabric in the bathrooms that looked like the sky with fluffy clouds and lots of colorful flowers hanging from the ceiling. I had the idea to place the cut out of The Wicked Witch of the West in the men's bathroom and last night our emcee, Bill Taylor, commented on her being in the men's room and what was up with that?! That was my idea...are you surprised? Paula and I laughed as we were situating her in the right spot! We were going to put her near the urinal..but then the men would have to move her or pee around her. The RTEC gym and lobby and bathrooms were decorated like the Land of Oz...colorful and oh so awesome. It was breathtaking last night!!!

The St. PJ's Red Shoes Gala was a huge success and I will be anxious to know what our profit is! We had a silent and a live auction. And during the live auction, Valero stepped up and donated 2 court side seats for the SPURS playoff game tonight..row 12! I think they went for $3000! Thanks Valero for thinking of the kids of St. PJ's! They thank you for your support and kindness! If I am correct with my math--the live auction items brought in $35,000 -$40,000. Bill Taylor and our auctioneer, T-Bone, did a phenomenal job! Thanks guys!!
Rick Cavender and his band were the entertainment and performed many songs and were a lot of fun! Overall, a fun evening with lots of fellowship and warm hearts! And MANY generous people who we owe much gratitude! Beautiful people in our community!!!

The creative centerpiece we manually put together on Thurs and Friday--41 of them!! No easy task either.... And the huge wall hanging to cover the bleachers...love it! And my BFF Lori and her beau Shawn. Lori is on the St PJ's board with Danny and we work together again!

I slept in today until 8:00am and Paul and Danny were anxious to give me my cards and gift. Paul got me a Woodhouse Spa Gift Card for 3 treatments. A scrub, facial and a special pedicure..awesome! I had no idea Danny knew about this place. He must have asked a gal at work.....super nice and I was very surprised. Then I went to Starbucks and the grocery store. Danny has taken Paul to the park so I can relax, write this entry and listen to my favorite songs on ITUNES as I type this entry.....I have it super loud!!!

I am going to do a few things around here and then head to the gym at noon. Danny is going to meet his CFP buddies around 2 for a study session.

With that--Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommies!! Have a blessed day!

The Basilico Visit

My Dad and Jean arrived in SA on Thursday. My little Paul has been battling a nasty infection this week and I had to call the doctor and get a more serious antibiotic. The one he was given after his surgery wasn't doing the trick. I made dinner at home for the four of us as Danny had CFP class. I worked a half day on Friday and was able to spend some time with the parents and Master Paul in the afternoon. They say things happen in three's.....so Fri afternoon, our home AC went out, my car wouldn't start and Danny's AC went out in his car. So, we rented car Fri night and on we went. Saturday morning I took Paul, Dad and Jean up to the Wildlife Ranch. It is our drive through safari and it is way cool. Paul loved it of course and Dad and Jean had fun too. It has been about a year since we were there...and this time was more fun with the lad. Paul even fed the baby goats! Oh and an ostrich stuck its head in the window and my Dad almost cut off his head trying to get the window up quickly. Too funny really!!

Our wedding anniversary is Tuesday...eight years! So, Dad and Jean took us to dinner Sat night. Paul behaved well and enjoyed his pizza and spaghetti. We went to mass Sunday morning and then we all headed to the McKenna Children's Museum this afternoon. It is located in New Braunfels. It was an awesome place and Paul had a lot of fun and ran all over the place. Afterwards, we went to Dairy Queen for some ice cream.

Dang--sorry peeps, but it is after 10 and I have to get to bed. I will post for about the weekend tomorrow night. SOOO many fun things to share about Paul and his antics with Grandma and Grandpa. Whew..I am tired thinking about all of it.

I have to take Paul to school early...then get Dad and Jean to the airport around 7:30 and go on to work.

Peace out....