Baseball Firsts

Isabelle has finally made it to her first baseball game. When Ben and I were talking about it, we were both a little sad because last year she did not make it to a single Rangers game. After all we were moving during baseball season last year as well. Amazing how things stay the same! But she has now seen her first game and I think she really enjoyed the game. She would clap when everyone else did and got all excited when the rest of the crowd was excited. She even managed to take a short nap.

Roadway had a special event for some of their larger accounts and since they help to promote the Negro League Baseball Museum, it seems perfectly fitting that they should sponsor a day at the ballpark. We managed to get some tickets on the back side and really enjoyed our time at the game. We saw the Giants and Diamondbacks play and it was a game until the end. They were tied coming in to the top of the ninth inning and the left fielder for the Giants made two wonderful catches to stop the Diamondbacks from hitting in any more runs. So into the bottom of the ninth we go. The Giants send in their first batter, he swings and it is a homerun. The Giants win by one, 3-2. The excitement never ends.

Ben could hardly believe that people were leaving in the eight inning with the game tied. Never in the history of baseball would he ever do that. I think someone would have to very sick in order to make that happen. Needless to say he was pretty happy to get to spend some time with his fellow coworkers one last time. He missed last year’s games in Texas and in California due to the move, so he was pretty excited.

After the game we made our way down to Pier 39 for some seafood at Bubba Gumps. That’s right some ingenious person thought to make a restaurant based on the film. The food was pretty good. Isabelle enjoyed her Mac and Cheese and of course all the attention from the other diners. She draws them in like a fly trap. But who could resist those blue eyes and that infectious smile.

Returned Once Again

Salt Lake City was a success. I was able to find us a house to live in temporarily until we are able to figure out where we want to buy a house. And then if we want to go ahead and build a new house or not. I guess it all depends on what we can do after we move again. The ironic thing was that I did not find a house until Sunday. I had found one earlier in the week but I lost it because I waited until the morning to call on it. But that same company had others that we really liked and were able to get it all locked in. Yea! Now I don’t have to move our date back to pack and move stuff out. That makes me so happy. Ben and I will be back together sooner rather than later.

Now for the fun and exciting news, Missy had her baby while I was there. I was so happy to be there for her babies birth. Ariana was born April 22, 2006, so she and her mom share a birthday. What a special gift! Missy and Jory are wonderful parents and will have a great time raising their little girl. She is so cute, but so small. I forgot how small they can be when they are born. I hope the diapers I made fit baby “O.” Only time will tell. By the way, Isabelle loves the baby, so I know she will do great with our new bundle of joy.

On that subject we are still hoping that my placenta will move enough so that I do not have to have a c-section. I keep wanting my belly to get bigger because I know that will help. I think we should know the final verdict shortly after I return to SLC. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers, that we will be able to have a natural birth. We were even able to find a doctor and register at the hospital while we were in SLC. The doctor is very close to where our new home will be located and the hospital is not too far off from there. We hope that everyone will be able to come for a visit.

The things that make me sad about leaving California are . . . not being able to leave with more wine. Leaving behind the best place to shop for food, Trader Joes. And of course the new friends we have all found through work, for Ben, and playgroups for me. But alas we will be able to make new friends and find new and interesting places to shop for food. Until then, we are all still happy to be leaving California. After all gas prices are already over $3 per gallon, who wants to pay that? Pictures will be forth coming, I was only able to carry one backpack with me and that happened to be the diaper bag.

Our Trip so Far

Our trip to Salt Lake City is going well. Everyone arrived safely via whatever form of transportation they took. And we have been busy looking for housing. My goal is to find some place to live before I have to leave and go back to California so that Ben does not have to worry about it.

Easter went well, we spent the day with Missy’s sister and her family. Isabelle was a huge hit for Jessica, she just wanted to play with her all day. Which of course Isabelle did not mind at all. The day was beautiful and sunny, just a little bit of wind. Why do I mention the weather you ask? Well let me tell you Monday it snowed; big fat, wet snowflakes the covered the ground. It was pretty cool but at the same time strange since it is April and you would not expect there to be snow on the ground. Either way things are going well.

I even have a doctors appointment set up to meet with a new doctor, which is great since I am on a little bit of a time clock here. This doctor was recommended to me by Missy’s midwife so we should have a good one here. We’ll have to wait and see. I just need to formulate all of my questions again. Since I left them all at home like a goof. Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and I will talk to you all again soon.

Isabelle has checked out with flying colors. The doctor I think was surprised at how independent she is and how well she is developing. They had me fill out a survey and she is doing all but two of the items they wanted to know about. Those are running and taking her clothes off by herself, which did not include socks and shoes. We are very happy with that report and she is getting taller by the day, she is 31 ½ inches tall. My goodness she will be three feet before we even know it.


Her stitches came out today as well, which I do not think she minded one bit, they were just a distraction for her anyway. One fell out on its own the other day; I guess it came untied, because it did not look like it had torn through her skin at all. Now I just have to watch it and keep her arm out of the sun for the summer and hopefully it will not leave a very big scar.

Ben’s first week went well, but he does have his work cut out for him. But I think he will do a wonderful job and will blow the socks off of Roadway. We are all going to be in SLC later this week to look for housing, which will be nice since the holiday is coming up soon. At least we will be together, we managed to figure out a good schedule and it should work out well for us over the next couple of weeks. We will keep everyone posted for when the expected move date will be. I just need to contact the movers and get them out here to survey the house and schedule the move and packing. This has all happened so fast, but I guess that is just the way things go.

Rain, and mpre Rain

Rain, rain go away, come on back another day! That is what everyone in the Sacramento area is saying. We are all very tired of the rain. It never seems to want to stop. I’m sure one day it will, most likely when we are going, but I guess it is just life. Better to have it now then none at all. I do not think that Northern California will have a drought this year to say the least.

Besides the rain nothing too new is going on here. Ben is officially in Salt Lake City, where I hope everything is going well. He keeps saying that there are too many cooks in the kitchen at the moment and he hopes that they all go away soon. They want to come up with their own plans for him to implement, when he has his own ideas. I’m sure it will all work out.

Isabelle is doing great! Her arm seems to be a little tender but that is about it. I’m sure she will make a wonderful recovery and never really know the difference. Hopefully she won’t have a very bad scar. Just a little update to get your through your day, much more to come later, I’m sure.

Going Away Party

Ben has worked with a wonderful group here in Sacramento and they are truly going to miss him. He has only been here for ten (10) short months and has made such a huge impact on the lives of his coworkers. I have never heard such great words coming from his colleagues before as I did last night. I always knew he was fantastic but to hear it from the heart of others makes it all more real.

Jack, Ben’s counterpart, gave him a going away party last night. People had the chance to come by and say their goodbyes and wish Ben luck and his hypothetical move. No one is supposed to know about the change until he is officially in place. There was food, music, drinking and of course bocce ball. I think that everyone had a great time. Many of the wives had never met and so this was the first time we all had gotten together. Kind of ironic that it also will be the last for most of us. I know that Ben has really enjoyed working with this team here in Sacramento and I know that he will build a new team that will be just as outstanding as this one. He had people from all over the operation say wonderful things about him and how much he cares for the people and the company.

I will say that he has some of the nicest coworkers I have ever met and such a great variety. One lady has lived on all seven continents, the chief steward and his wife are world travelers and I don’t mean just Europe, and his service team members are from all over the place. He has helped many of them develop into fabulous employees who now work their jobs differently because he has shown them a new way to look at the whole picture. I hope that his efforts stay with his previous employees and that his new employees will develop well beyond their potential.

We are looking forward to the next chapter in our lives as it begins on Monday. We will be sad to leave behind those who we have come to care about here. But it is a fabulous opportunity for Ben to stretch his wings and prove to himself exactly what he is capable of doing. I can hardly wait to see you all in Salt Lake City.

Our Trip

After four years we are now a pet free, smoke free home. I always see that on E-bay and laugh to myself, but I guess it is important to some people. Anyway, after an emotional evening and a stupid mistake we have decided to put Pudge to sleep. He and Isabelle were together in the hall and I’m sure she tried to pet him and he did not want her to so he lashed out at her. Isabelle is FINE! She has five stitches in her right arm and is super baby. I think that once Mom calmed down, which was probably after Isabelle, I focused and got things taken care of. Yes this was a scary incident and we are both very, very upset that it happened but please just call to see how Isabelle is doing. We feel bad enough already to hear any retorts back about not preventing this in the first place. Instead let me tell you about our trip to the emergency room.

Like I said before Isabelle is super baby. She was calm by the time we left the house and entered the ER. We were able to get in quickly and be taken care of in a timely and professional manner. She read books with Dad while Mom knitted, I had to do something or I might have burst. Now it is time for the numbing agent for her arm. A huge syringe filled with something, the doctor told me but I do not remember, was injected into the wound site. I’m sure she would have been fine if he had not have jammed it into her pour little arm. But she held on like a champ and cried for only a couple of minutes after they finished. She continued to read and then she got to “play” in her arm “bath.” They cleaned out the wound very hourly to help prevent infection and ready her arm for stitches. She mostly thought that was pretty cool. The little arm tub filled up with water and she splashed around a bit and just had fun. Once her arm is clean they were able to stitch her up I think that if they had let Ben hold her, she would have been fine. Once she was further away from her security she began to cry and did not stop until they were done. The doctor was fast and efficient and had her ready to go shortly after he started. Then we got her dressed in her night clothes and went home. I think we were there for about an hour and half, which was pretty fast considering the fact that there were random people just standing around all over the place.

Isabelle has made it through her first emergency room event with flying colors. None of the doctors, nurses, staff or Ben were injured for causing my baby harm. I think she will be a little be cranky today and needy but over all should be back to her regular self by Sunday if not sooner. We are very regretful that this has happened and will be correcting it as soon as possible. The important thing to know is that Isabelle is fine, and will hopefully not remember what has happened. Her stitches come out on the 10th, which works out perfect because we have to go in for a regular check up that day anyway. I expect to hear from some of you soon, so do not hesitate to call.