The Amazing Lauren Alles Basilico

My niece Lauren is 7 and lives in Denver. She is an incredible swimmer and again this summer is on a swim team. She swims with 7 and 8 year olds. She called me yesterday afternoon to tell me her results from the morning.

Two highlights- 3rd place in the 100 meter IM; 1st place in the 25 backstroke (just missed All Star qualifying time by about 1/2 second). Her best stroke has always been the backstroke. She also got 6th in the 25M freestyle..out of 19! And her relay team got 2nd in the 100M free relay. Awesome performance! She works hard at swimming and I am very proud of her!! She will be here Thursday night! I wish we lived there so I could attend her swim meets each week.

Getting Ready for the Basilico's Visit

Whew--another busy week for the Niño's. Danny is busy with work and studying for his big CFP exam, which is next month. The usual for me...work, Paul, chores, errands, etc.

I went for an eye appt on Friday. I had not had my eyes checked in about 5-6 years. I am completely and utterly squeamish when it come to anything to do with the eyes. I cannot even stand to watch people use eye drops or put their contacts in or out. Nothing related to the eyes please....please no! So, here we go....

The initial testing was basic...10 feet away from eye chart..covering one eye and reading the lines. Line 11..nope...line 10..still could not read it..line 9..uh no..now I was laughing at myself..line 8....a couple of them...line 7--we have a winner. That was using my right eye. The left eye was better..I could read all of line 8 and some of line 9. Then a couple of other minor tests. THEN, in to see the doctor. Twenty feet from the eye chart....so much more difficult. Diagnoses.....slight astigmatism and some near sightedness. Given all my headaches the past few months, he wanted to check my eyes further..yep, you guessed it--he had to put drops in my eyes to test. Everything looked good..although I was rather tense from getting those drops! THEN he says.."your pupils are not dilated enough and I need to see the back of your eye and the optic nerve"...and I said.."oh no...more drops right!?" Now I was really tense and nervous and squeamish. I survived the drops going in..sort of. Then it was out to the waiting area for 20 min so my pupils could dilate. Oh about 5-7 min later..I broke out into a sweat, became VERY dizzy, felt faint an nauseated. I was beginning to sweat like a pig....completely soaking in my clothes. I made my way (I guess) to the front counter and asked for water. The gal took one look at me..jumped up and walked me towards the bathroom..I informed her I was going to throw up. We didn't make it to the bathroom..I began to pass out..she had to lift me and yelled for help. I sat down and then threw up in the trash can. The nice gal got me cold towels for my head and neck and chest..did I mention how soaked in sweat I was..... The doctor says..."the drops didn't do that....her anxiety did!" Probably true indeed. Can you picture all of this?! The drinking water and cold towels helped. Oh about 10 min later..back in to see the doctor. Everything looked normal..I said, "oh, I am far from normal!" He laughed. And now I was rather weak..so I tried to muster up the energy t drive home by trying on frames..yes, I need some glasses. I narrowed it to 2 frames and need to go back..maybe take someone with me for their opinion. There you have it...Susan's escapades at the eye doctor. Never boring with me around!

So last night, today and tomorrow, we are busy getting ready for my brother, Alleson and Lauren's visit. They arrive late Thursday night. Washing windows, yard work, putting things away, throwing things away, cleaning out freezer and refrigerator, etc. And it's super hot as usual in SA!

I am getting a pedicure at 2:30..yeah for me! Danny is heading to the UTSA library around 4 to study for 5 hours. Our babysitter is coming at 7 and I am headed to the Mylar's for a wine tasting event...fellowship too of course! I have to remember to pick up a bottle of Pinot Grigio.

Danny is resting on the couch while little man Paul watched THE WILD DVD. Grandma and Grandpa Basilico gave it to him for his birthday. I am off to fold some clothes before I head to my appt.

Keep this in mind friends.....
From John Chapter 2..."We take the good days from God---why not also the bad days?"

And someone told me this recently...When life is overwhelming and difficult, God wants us to have a faith that trusts and waits.

And this too.....
When we think about problems
Trouble grows,
When we think about God
Trouble goes.

I Live With a Three Year Old

Paul turned 3 on June 16. Hard to believe three years have passed since my stay at Methodist. The night before, early contractions, having a horrific reaction to some medicine....the phenogren, the pitocin, Dr. Gallagher breaking my water at 8:30am, the intense off the chart labor pains every 2 min...an no epidural, the epidural....but having to stay still through intense contractions...the labor with the epidural..ahhhh, the news Paul's neck was hyper extended and his little face was being pushed hard against my cervix, the decision to have a C-Section, the anesthesia that made me nauseous...seeing my little boy covered in "stuff" after Dr. Gallagher pulled him from my gut, seeing Danny love on our new son while I was being sewn up, the recovery room where Danny laid Paul on my chest and he calmed instantly, the anxiousness of being in my room and waiting for them to bring me my son to hold for the first time, the first time I held my little man...so sweet!

I have to abandon this post right now as my little three year old wants to play trains and he wants his Mama to play too! Here is a picture of Paul at his birthday party. We had it at The McKenna Children's Museum in New Braunfels. It was wonderful and I do believe everyone had a fun time. The other pics are Paul and some of his girlfriends......Anissa, Caroline and Mackenzie.

God is Worthy of Our Praise

I am sitting here at the computer listening to songs that lead me to write this post right now as I cry all over the keyboard. Danny, Paul and Oreo are all napping. I talked to my friend Debra yesterday afternoon. It was good to hear her voice. I so wanted to be sitting next to her and hugging her tightly. I felt lead to send her an email this morning and it included these words...

I encourage you to praise God even through all your pain. He is still with you....I promise. I continue to ask God to be with you and help you to understand and when we cannot understand, I ask him to help us to trust. Have the courage to wonder and share your pain and agony with God. I think it's Psalm 91 where it says something like Lord, you are my place of safety and protection..or something like that.

And we are all still praying for a new normal for your family. Revelation says something similar....in Chapter 21 early on in the book. 2 Corinthians also says we are renewed day by day. I believe this...even though we may have days that set us back..keep pressing on sister. God will put a new spirit in you and John....it will take time though.

My friend Pam sent me the link to this blog when she heard of Debra and John's little Logan going to be with Our Lord. Warning--you WILL cry buckets..read this story from the beginning. Sweet Angie Smith--owner and author of this blog---was kind enough to email Debra after I sent her an email asking for any help and encouragement she could offer. Debra said she and Angie had exchanged some emails. Praise God for Angie. Her husband is in the Christian Band Selah. They lost their baby girl born at 33 weeks. Audrey Caroline lived for 2 hours and 27 minutes. They were told at 20 weeks...she wouldn't live and would probably only live a few minutes. Just read her blog.... Angie and her hubby, Todd, wrote a song..I Will Carry You....here are the lyrics...

There were photographs I wanted to take
Things I wanted to show you
Sing sweet lullabies, wipe your teary eyes
Who could love you like this?

People say that I am brave but I'm not
Truth is I'm barely hanging on
But there's a greater story
Written long before me
Because He loves you like this

So I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All my life
And I will praise the One Who's chosen me
To carry you

Such a short time
Such a long road
All this madness
But I know
That the silence
Has brought me to His voice
And He says...

I've shown her photographs of time beginning
Walked her through the parted seas
Angel lullabies, no more teary eyes
Who could love her like this?

I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All your life
And I will praise the One Who's chosen Me
To carry you

Paul Graduates from ECI Therapy

Since Paul turns 3 on Monday, the ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) dept at Brighton must stop giving Paul his speech and occupational therapy. His three lady friends came over this past Wed afternoon and brought gifts, a certificate of completion, and lots of hugs, kisses and laughs. Paul did his best to entertain them.....he did marvelous and eventually even put on the graduation gown Miss Vanessa brought. I have so much to blog about, but it is late for this old gal and I need to get to bed. Below is a great picture of Paul with Miss Vanessa, Miss DeeDee and Miss Melissa. He loves them all so much and I know will miss seeing them on a regular basis. He has come a long way since October. Shoot---those teachers at St. Mark's would be awfully surprised to be around him now. The other is my little man dancing around and being silly in his graduation gown.

Oh and we have Paul's birthday party tomorrow at 10:30am. We're going to the McKenna Children's Museum in New Braunfels. We should have about 15 kiddos and 15 -20 adults. I know it will be a fun time!

Love to all of you......wherever you are!

Crystal Blue Eyes

My friend Debra just sent me 2 recent pictures of Mr. Man Logan. His funeral is set for Tuesday morning at 10am. My friend ZZ found his obituary and sent me this link. http://www.legacy.com/KansasCity/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=111169350

Here is Logan Thomas Howland Burgess. I think he wore the same Baptism gown that Paul wore. I sent it to Debra in Nov..simple, silk gown. I need to ask her sometime to see those pictures.

Help me pray for a new normal for Debra, John, Olivia and the rest of their family. I plan to visit all of them in July.

Precious Baby Boy...Logan Thomas Burgess...Now In Heaven

It is with great sadness and heartache that I share this news.....my best friend from college and sorority sister..Debra.. lost her baby boy to what we think was SIDS. Debra and John have been married for 3 1/2 years and have Miss Olivia who is 2 1/2 and Master Logan came into this world October 16, 2007 and left us to join his other family members and God on June 5, 2008. Debra lives in the Kansas City area. I had visited them for a long weekend in Nov when little Logan was only 4 weeks old. Here is a picture I took of him when I was there.

Debra and John both work for GE and were at work while Olivia and Logan were at their sitters house. Leslie, the sitter, put Logan down for his nap and when she went to check on him after a couple of hours..he had passed. Debra asked we keep her in our prayers too. How awful to discover a baby you love as your own wasn't breathing and was gone. An autopsy was going to be performed this afternoon to determine for certain, but all indications point to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. I had just talked with Debra on Sunday for our usual monthly catchup session. Sometimes we miss a month, but they are always in my thoughts. I have been friends with Debra for 19 years!

I ask you keep Debra, John, Olivia and the rest of the family in your prayers. Pray for comfort and peace during this devastating time. Please pray for the family and friends that will be traveling to celebrate Logan's life and for strength for them as they comfort the family. And remember Master Logan too. He was loved so much and will be greatly missed. I don't think I will be able to fly to KC and attend the funeral. But I did speak with Debra briefly this morning and told her if I could not come, I would make plans to go there in a few weeks. So that is the plan.

As someone told me once...when something like this happens..Jesus is still the same as he was before the tragedy. On some level, that gives me some peace. It is comforting to know that Logan is now being held by Jesus. He is one lucky guy to have this sweet child with Him.