Skip to main content

Announcing . . .

I know, it's been awhile.  So here I am, last night in CT with the fam for the holidays, finally posting an update with a few photos for good measure.  Now, where to begin?

Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh
At the end of September, John and I headed to India.  We spent a week in Delhi with a day trip to the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort up the river from the Taj, and Fatehpur Sikri which was the abode of the grandfather of the man that built the Taj Mahal.  It was just what John expected in a visit to India -- so many colors, sights, sounds, and smells.  We also visited lots of old friends and spent a leisurely Sunday as I used to: going to church then having lunch with the Pillai family.  We stayed with the Pillai family in Gurgaon and enjoyed wonderful times of visiting and hearing about their recent trip to visit relatives in Kerala.
On day hike above Dhel Meadow
Evening in Dhel Meadow


Following a frenetic time in Delhi, we escaped to the Great Himalayan National Park for a seven day trek from the Sainj River Valley into the Tirthan River Valley.  Our wonderful journey was punctuated by evening campfires, a crew of five that did everything from cook meals to carry our portable toilet seat (yes, really), and a death-defying journey across a hail-covered ledge that was no wider than one's foot in some places.  This was the India that John had not anticipated and my favorite part of the trip.  One particular evening in Dhel Meadow stood out as the highlight; we enjoyed a roaring campfire, amazing food, and a view of the snow-covered Himalayas as the sun set.  It was a perfect celebration of our one-year wedding anniversary.
14-1/2 week ultrasound
When we returned to the US, we learned that I was pregnant (I'd actually been pregnant our entire time in India)!  We knew John would deploy in December for six months.  While the exciting news settled in, we also mourned the fact that John would miss much of the pregnancy.  We now pray he'll be home in time for the birth in mid-June.
Thanksgiving Day "baby photo" although I wasn't really showing yet
So there's a quick recap of life since September: India - pregnancy - deployment departure - holidays in CT.  I've enjoyed a 2-1/2 week stay with my family in CT, enjoying lots of laughter, x-country skiing, and meeting my brother's and sister-in-law's new puppy McKinley.  Time to head back to St. Louis . . .

Comments

The Hines said…
How did I miss this! :) Love it!

Popular posts from this blog

Rare Disease Day 2024

Today's Rare Disease Day. There's sometimes a particular weightiness to life with a rare disease. All the appointments, emergencies, traumas, doctors, therapists, medicines, opinions, schedules and upset schedules. My touchpoint is being mom to my precious girl with Wiedemann-Steiner Syndrome  (WSS). You'd have to spend a day or week shadowing me to know what it's really like. Doesn't that sound alienating? As though you couldn't possibly imagine if you're not living it? Well, maybe. But think about a time of immense grief you've lived through, or a time when your world seemed to be falling apart around you and it felt like everyone else was completely unaffected. I suppose it's a bit like that. You might have thought that those around you couldn't possibly know how that experience felt to you. A couple weeks ago, I started keeping a list of all the extraordinary things that happened in my life due to my daughter's rare disease. I learned a c

How I Got a Blister from a Cowbell

The bullhorn sounded and he was off, swimming his heart out, across a 50m stretch of lake as deep as his arm is long. My youngest, William, competed in his third year of the  Race4Chase  triathlon in August. When we first applied, I reflected on how I hoped this triathlon camp would allow Will to do something that was entirely his. It would be an opportunity to spread his wings apart from his sister's influence. For siblings of kids living with disabilities, this kind of autonomy is life giving. Back at the lakeside, I was watching Will from a distance and ringing a cowbell like no ones business. Will ran up from the waterfront and we cheered him on. He transitioned to the bike portion and we cheered him on. When he came into view at the end of the bike and transitioned to the run, the final segment of the race, we cheered him on. All the while, that cowbell was clanging. When Will sprinted across the finish line, there was no stopping him (or the cowbell). Thinking about that mome

Startup Day 875: piloting in New Haven

Iteration is emblematic of startups. For example: From last year's pilot , we learned that parents and adults with disabilities were looking for recommended resources.  We built the Empowered Together app and tried crowd-sourcing those recommendations.  In our New Haven pilot, we're bringing database building in-house by listing accessible food, arts, and recreational businesses in greater New Haven.  Thankfully, we have thought partners in this endeavor at the City of New Haven and at community disability orgs. We are working with a Quinnipiac student and awaiting word on additional grant funding. We're taking the right next step in changing the social system to be accessible and inclusive of People with Disabilities.