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Yolie,

It was quite an eventful week with plenty of ice cream and well deserved awards and recognition for Taylor's hard work and accomplishments. Tootie in a tutu is a real killer. Of course she looked adorable in her tankini too, how could she not? She's Tootie and the cutest by far no matter what she wears.

Love,

Maria :friends:

Wes,

Looks like you had a beautiful week. Great pictures, I can almost hear the music. It was nice that couples got married for your entertainment ~ really sets the tone for a nice romantic week. Deb does look good in corn rows. Maybe next time you should try it so you don't have to be an old man telling stories of things you wish you'd done.

Maria

Yolie,

It's as though the inspiration for that song was Tootie's amazing little will and spirit. For Taylor there'll never be any mountain high enough to keep her from doing great things. Thank you for always taking the time to share her journey and accomplishments with us. She is not only adorable, but inspirational, motivating and a joy to watch grow up.

Love,

Maria :mwah:

Karen,

Congratulations! She's absolutely beautiful! Much love, joy and God's blessings always.

Maria

Ann,

No one has earned and deserves it more than you. Glad you're enjoying it.

You did really think that the same brain that can still clear the crowd in one fell swoop was going to let you escape unnoticed. As you again see you can never underestimate your precious husband's ability to "control his circumstances" and know what's important to him. More than simply his caregiver, he pays close attention to his loving, beautiful wife at all times.

Maria

Katrina,

Congrats on the grades chicklet, you did an outstanding job. As always you have quite a list of accomplishments and have earned the right to be proud of each. One accomplishment which should not be overlooked and needs to be recognized by no one but from within yourself is how you've achieved all this despite what your initial emotional state and outlook was about school this year. You not only righted yourself to see clearly and not settle for mediocrity, but continued to strive in true Katrina fashion ended with accolades and acknowledgments for jobs well done and noted implications of a bright and promising future.

Very important to recognize because come September ,when you return it's Junior year, you're off the high of now and you begin again. Keep in mind then every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end (gee I wish I'd said that) but very true. You may need to think back to where you came from in June to see you may be starting from the same clean slate as last September but certainly can do it again.

Love you sweetheart,

Maria :mwah:

Leah,

Good for you. Enjoy all the rest and relaxation you can. We'll miss you and promise to keep your seat warm. Hope you have pics to share when you get back.

Maria

Donna,

It's great Kristi is getting the intervention and help she needs. it will make a big difference ~ great...inherited it from her father disclaimer lol.

Hope you get the Walk-aid there's only so many plops that poor little tushy can take, be careful.

Good for you with some pampering and the make over. You deserve it. Enjoy, savor and suck up every minute of it!

Love ya,

Maria :mwah:

Doug,

Please accept my heartfelt sympathy on the passing of your mother. Although no words can really help to ease the loss you bear, just know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Maria :hug:

Yolie,

Great programs like that are only beneficial to the kids whose parents care enough to keep them actively involved. The results of both your and Taylor's hard work is clearly evident in her continued progress.

It's always a delight to see how far she's coming along, and how proud she is of herself for doing so in that beautiful little face. Her perseverance and spirit is an inspiration to us all. Thank you for letting Taylor's journey be an enriching part of our lives.

Maria :friends:

Bruce,

Great to see that you started a blog,have taken the plunge into the blog community and are benefiting and enjoying the site. We're happy you're here with us too, unfortunately under the circumstances, but it's great you're a part of us nonetheless.

Maria

Rich,

You're very fortunate and blessed to have found the rare great therapists in the area and can avoid the stress of the schlep of trip up north. Good luck with your therapy, and enjoy garden, and new home on the beautiful Jersey shore.

Maria

Yolie,

Thanks for sharing the pictures with us. It's unfortunate Taylor's DPT is moving away, but the obvious tremendous progress she has made with her makes it clear how blessed she's been to have been under her care all along. I'm sure she'll continue to progress as well with whomever takes over. Tootie is a determined. strong willed little girl who will always make you proud.

I'm sure despite the poison ivy as always, you looked just as beautiful as the other ladies in your family.

Maria :friends:

Doug,

Glad to hear you got the affirmation that albeit you have brain damage, as we all do, you do have friends and support.

Cool you're getting a tan despite the snow. With the warm weather really starting to emerge I'm sure Teddy with be

anxious to venture out to seek out treat givers in his new neighborhood.

Maria

They are all so cute. Most times you look out in the field and the players are all sitting down playing with the dirt.

Sounds like she did great.Can't wait to see the pictures

Maria :hug:

Janine,

The surrealism of the memory is not difficult to understand. Larry's stroke for you was no less catastrophic than the Twin Towers and certainly does equate on a smaller scale because it happened to your world. Don't minimalize the tremendous hit you took and were able to recover from because of the incredibly strong woman that you are.

We're glad we could be here along the way and will always be here for you.

Maria :friends:

Phil,

You're off to a great start. You're probably an excellent story teller as I'm sure we'll see when you're relentlessly nagged to do so as I was. Welcome to blog world.

Maria :friends:

Doug,

Glad you're enjoying your new independence especially now with the spring coming. In the meantime be careful on the snow and keep us posted on how you make out with the steps.

Maria

Wes,

Too funny. One of those things that as you're standing wallet in hand you're thinking. Man, if I'd only thought of this, I could have made a fortune selling buckets of dirt. but let let's see you think nah I would have thought....come on, what ninny would ever buy dirt? Then you fork over the cash. As Donna said it's an outing. True it's the price you pay for a nice day out, a few good laughs, and you're Deb and Sabrina's hero. Got a dog?...come on, who would ever buy? We'll wait for your next adventure.

Maria

Sue,

It's great everyone is enjoying a well deserved respite. Would be very difficult to be convinced you were a murderess in any light.

Hope you enjoyed your time with the grandchildren as well. Stay warm, well, and dry in all that rain as you prepare for winter.

Maria

Jan,

That was very sweet. I'm sure it will mean a great deal to Sammie to see that you took the time to write and dedicate a blog to her. Your master plan to spring her gave the diversion she was looking for from thinking about her surgery this morning. Knowing she was thought of long after is sure to let her know just how special and important to us she is to our community.

Thank you

Maria

Funny I was talking with a friend the other day as we waited to meet with guidance counselors to have our little ones classes scheduled for high school next year. As we commiserated about how our babies were no more and older sons one year before graduation and off to college. We commented on how it seemed like only yesterday we met on the T-ball field. Savor every swing, the years go way too fast.

Sorry to hear Taylor had an ER visit and hospital stay, but I agree it was a blessing. More than just the long ride averted, the levels were checked sooner than to wait for and get her to an appointment if they were off.

Love & smooches to you and Tootie,

Maria

Doug,

This shall all pass. In a month or so you and Teddy will be comfortably settled in and all will be a fleeting memory. Raunchy clothes would be a lot worse if coupled with when you were displaced and showerless. You can shower and have clean skivvies ~ so life is good.

Some steps, a leash, desk, and clean clothes-things are looking up buddy.

Be well,

Maria :friends:

Doug,

Sorry you're having such a hard time with Teddy and your sleeping arrangements. Hopefully the steps should work. Teddy's a smart cookie, he'll figure it out.

Sorry to hear your mother is not feeling well.

Maria

Thank you Bonnie for the explanation, but no swirley arrows. You guys will just have to continue to muddle through life without anecdotes from the adventures of the dull and mundane. Happily with you up and running we can look forward to living vicariously through you.