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Celebrating Father's Day and 37!

• Key lime pie for breakfast
• Rainy morning
• More homemade cards than you could shake a stick at
• Lounging
• Beer
• "Dad's the boss....today"
• A movie and too much popcorn
• Ice cream and sticky hands
• I love yous
• You're the best dad

Thanks for being my partner in this, for sharing this life with these boys.  Happiest of birthdays to you, my love.

Oh yeah

We celebrated Charlie last week!  We certainly didn't forget Dada and his birthday, although the man didn't know how old he was.  And to think we thought Hans' birthday might get lost in the shuffle of Father's Day and Charlie's birthday in June.  Ha!

Happy birthday, Charlie.  We love you and look forward to another great year with you.

35

Happy Birthday!

Hans cannot take his eyes off the cupcakes.

Here's to another great year!  We love you.

Commencement

 

Charlie defended his dissertation in August, and his degree was conferred in December, but there was this little matter of commencement.  Commencement occurred this past week, and Charlie was present.  It was a big moment for him that I thought he shouldn't miss.  He did earn a PhD, after all.  He was game since it meant a few calorie packed days in New Orleans, his home for the past 13 years.

Charlie and Dr. H, his mentor

I know graduations are boring. Just ask Freddie...

Watching a movie on his ipod

But I think there are a few folks out there who didn't make it but may be interested in some of photos.

Charlie getting "hooded"

The entire Health Sciences Center in New Orleans graduated.  That's 600+ doctors, dentists, nurses, researchers.  It was a long morning.

I kept telling Freddie to listen for Dada's name and asked if he knew what Dada's name was, and sure enough he said "St....," Charlie's last name.  

Charlie smiled and didn't trip as he walked across the stage.  He represented well.  

I just don't want a buzz cut, he says.

Days later I'm still finding hair on the floor!  The man has some hair.

 Sorry, Charlie.  The woman at Supercuts made it look so easy.  I was doing pretty well until my attemps at blending resulted in a slip of the hand...the hand holding the clippers. 

Don't worry, I'm not giving up.  I'm watching even more YouTube videos and will be ready when your hair finally grows out.  I LOVE you!

It's Dr. Charlie to you

Charlie and his lab members

Dada's got a PhD.

He defended and walked out of school today with a letter in hand to certify his credentials before the diploma arrives in December.

Some lessons learned:

• Get a job, and you've got yourself a deadline.
• Have a job waiting and your committee will get you out the door.
• Give yourself six months to write the dissertation and it will take six months.  Give yourself a month to write the dissertation and it will happen in a month.
• Requiring your wife and family refer to you as Doctor makes it all worth it.

Congratulations, Charlie.

Dedicated and Ready to Defend

I dedicate this work to my greatest joy: FCS, III.

I never knew it possible 

to love so much.

Charlie's defense is in one week.  He's ready to go.  He said he's not even nervous about the questions I've prepared concerning the outliers.

Freddie and I couldn't be prouder of our Science Guy.  I've even handed over the crown.  He's the new family genius.

His Birthday

• Cake for breakfast
• Walk along the High Line Canal

• Royal Red Robin Burger
• Cheesy grins

• GPS lessons
• Playground exploring

• A family picture
  
• A teary goodbye

My Valentines

Still sick

My two sickies, watching movies in bed...


Freddie had his first sick visit with Dr. J today. He had some fever weekend before last, and has been battling congestion all week. When his temperature shot up this weekend I figured a secondary infection was at work.

Yep, says Dr. J. Right ear is infected. His chest sounded clear enough to her, although his congestion is definitely migrating from his head to his chest. She said his lungs were fine and thought some antibiotic for the ear should take care of it. She said the congestion from a virus (cold) typically lingers for 10-14 days so hopefully we'll be seeing the inside of his nostrils without having to pin him down one day real soon.

Amoxicillin twice a day for ten days. The kid slurped that pink stuff out of the syringe. Yuck!

And the little peanut weighed in at 17 lbs 11 oz today.

After coming home early from work today, Charlie's headed to the doctor first thing tomorrow. He's been congested for a while too. I'm predicting a sinus infection, although his symptoms are a bit flu-y.

The Mama had one sick day, complete with some fever at bedtime, but I am feeling pretty run down at the end of each day. Thankfully I am managing to stay relatively healthy. Hoping we get these germs out of our systems before the weekend, as things are about to get pretty exciting around here.

I just love my guys

Research Day

It was actually more crowded than it looks for Charlie's 8am talk. He did well holding that laser pointer steady even though Bug and I, sitting in the back, knew he was nervous. We love our science guy, who interestingly enough wore the same shirt last year. This year was better though because he had on a TIE! Perhaps we need to expand that professional wardrobe just a little.

For his fans

More wakeboarding today. He's getting better. He's also heading to Cormorant Store to by more ibuprofen.


Are you a fan?

The progress continues

I know you've all been wondering about that master bath project...the one that was started when we bought the house. The one that was going to be finished before Freddie's arrival. The one that didn't get finished before Freddie came but was definitely going to be done before Jazzfest.

Well, Jazzfest has come and gone and the bathroom still ain't done. But the last few weeks have brought the most obvious progress yet and we may actually be in the home stretch.

We've got sheetrocked walls!

Toilet will go here.

And the walls have been painted.

The shower stall awaits tiling.

The tile guys have been called and we are to set a date for tile installation within a few weeks.

Corner tub just fits here. It was the one and only tub that fit!

Lee came over this past weekend and helped Charlie set the tub. He's got to finish the drain and a few small details to have it ready to be tiled.

Because every post needs a picture of Bug.

No completion date given to me but if I'd have to guess I'd say right after the 4th of July. Perhaps we'll do my birthday toast on the new commode.

Master Bath Progress

Charlie is still plugging away at that bathroom.

He took a few photos so the progress would be noted. Unfortunately I can't give too many details or explanations, but know that he is progressing!

Hot and cold water for the tub and the drain....


The tub will go in this corner...


And the vanity will go here...


He's run the cold and hot water and all of the drain lines. The next challenge is building the tub surround.

The tile has been ordered and guys are in the wings waiting to install.

The tub has been ordered.

The shower door has been selected and will be ordered after tile is in place so dimensions are accurate.

He's looking for someone to do the drywall.

My tasks include finding mirrors, towel bars, and robe hooks.

I am not sure if we are still on track for a end of April completion date, but I am hopeful!

My Valentine

Coffee and the paper this morning waiting for the rain
to let up

He's in need of a haircut and a beard trim, but all in all, he's a pretty good valentine. I love him almost as much as the iphone he gave me...and I know he'd say the same about me!

Progress continues

Charlie has been unable to sleep for the past few nights. One night he had a bit of a panic attack about not being able to bang around with III and this new mama sleeping a weird schedule, and the past two nights he has been up anticipating the day, going through plans in his mind, and just generally being excited about the project. Excitement is good...this is what keeps progress going.

Admiring his work.

Charlie was able to get Lee over here this weekend to help him out wiring the bathroom, rerouting circuits, and to be a watchful eye so he didn't do anything to electrocute himself! Thank you, Lee!

He is quite tickled by the lighted switch in the hall to the bathroom.

They worked ALL day yesterday in the attic and under the house pulling wire.

Lights above the sinks and the tub. I scrapped my designs on
having a mini chandelier type light above the garden tub
and went with the cheaper can lighting.

And today Lee came by for a few hours to help with light installation from the attic. Charlie's still pounding up there, getting in some outlets and another light/heater combo.

There's a light in the shower stall and above the toilet.

He's pretty pleased with himself and what they've accomplished. It's been pretty tricky for him to figure out how to work around previously standard building dimensions from 100 years ago....like having a 14 inch space to work with and a 16 inch light needing to go in that space. Ah, the challenges of working on an old house without gutting and starting from scratch.

I think he still has a few more afternoons to put in before the wiring is completed. I don't know what's next...more plumbing? Tub framing? Shower pan?

There will be updates and we'll see how close this gets to his end of April deadline.

Influence of Impending Fatherhood

He's got lots of new gear this year...

Coming home after his 9th day of skiing

...new pants, new jacket(s), new skis, new goggles.

But the most notable addition to the skiing getup is a helmet. He's going to be a daddy real soon and can't be tearing through the trees with that big noggin exposed.

I suppose come spring skiing will mean a helmet for Mama as well.

My patient

Charlie is still feeling pretty blah after his bout of chronic stomach and back pain late last week. Although he's avoided any severe pain the last few days, he remains uncomfortable.

He finally went in to see the doctor and has had a CT scan and labs, and is going in tomorrow for an ultrasound. The doctor has ruled out anything with the kidneys but suspects pancreatitis and/or issues with the gall bladder. He's scheduled for a follow up to go over test results next week. Hoping the pain doesn't worsen before then and I hope anything serious showing up on the tests means he'll be called in sooner.

This is shaping up to be a low key weekend of catching up on our TiVo line up and Netflix movies, while a pot of chicken soup simmers on the stove.