Diary of Stay at Home Dad: It was a hairy bear, it was a …

Schoolhouse Rock Bear

Schoolhouse Rock Bear

For whatever reason the picture of the bear by the grave stone of our Linda Claire has generated some interest.  To recap, my nephew Sean put the bear there on the day of the funeral.  Tracy and I took Anne Marie to the cemetery this past week on her birthday and the one year anniversary and were surprised to see the bear still kneeling there.  He’s weathered man. He’s been through some serious storms, snow, all kinds of stuff.  But there he kneels.

I didn’t know until today that one of my sisters, Susan, took a picture of the grave on the day of the funeral.

Be advised I’m not implying any spiritual symbolism or that the bear is somehow watching over Linda Claire.  We’re secure in our faith and we know where Linda Claire is.

I just think it’s an interesting circumstance that the little bugger is still there and upright. Several laws of physics have been violated and proven at the same time.  Not to mention the law of the cemetery, which is roughly: if you put something nice down by a grave stone, rest assured someone will take it.  As you may note in the top left of the first picture someone took the flower pot from that other grave.  That may be the most amazing thing of all, that no one grabbed him up after an entire year.

So anyway here are the pictures for your comparison and wonder.

March 2012

March 2012

March 2013 - still standing.  Or in this case kneeling.

March 2013 – still standing. Or in this case kneeling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s it.  No deep insights, no philosophical conundrums, no spritual underpinnings.

He’s just a bear.

And he’s still there.

Diary of a Stay at Home Dad: Anne Marie – Year One

I’m not going to use the phrase “we made it” because that implies we’re done.  In reality it really has only just begun.  However, having said that, we have reached a milestone. Anne Marie turned one on Friday, 22 March.  It was a birthday we weren’t sure we would ever get to.  So we went big.  Big cake, big party, big decorations, big food.

The following pictures are a small recap of the year that was Anne Marie.  For those unfamiliar with her story, you can go to the archive calendar on the right side of the blog and go back to Marc of 2012.  Thats where it all started.  Well actually it started with this post in December of 2011: Twins!?! Really!?!  So start there and read forward to catch up if you like.

For now here is a pictorial review: Anne Marie Year One

Day 1.  22 March 2012 1lb 12oz 12 in long

Day 1. 22 March 2012 1lb 12oz 12 in long

Great grip for a baby 3 months pre-mature.  Another golfer I think.

Great grip for a baby 3 months pre-mature. Another golfer I think.

What do you mean "we're Italian?"

What do you mean “we’re Italian?”

"I got your 1 pound baby right here bro." BOOM

“I got your 1 pound baby right here bro.” BOOM

Hey, where's that breast milk I ordered!  And turn up the heat, it's freezing in here!

Hey, where’s that breast milk I ordered! And turn up the heat, it’s freezing in here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You just refuse to cut those nose hairs, don't ya.

You just refuse to cut those nose hairs, don’t ya.

It's been one of those day.

It’s been one of those days.

Ok dad, I'm bored.  Can I go home now?

Ok dad, I’m bored. Can I go home now?

Big brother's first contact.

Big brother’s first contact.

Going Home can I get an Amen from the congregation!

Going Home! Can I get an Amen from the congregation!

Actual first contact.  We told you she was real Frank.

Actual first contact. We told you she was real Frank.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's looking at you kid.

Here’s looking at you kid.

Bath time.  Who farted?

Bath time. Who farted?

Don't mess with the premie!

Don’t mess with the preemie!

A preemie stands prematurely.

A preemie stands prematurely.

Share?  Share what? What is this, the collective?

Share? Share what? What is this, the collective?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birthday time!  To the NICU with cupcakes stat!

Birthday time! To the NICU with cupcakes stat!

And to see Nurse Paula.

And to see Nurse Paula.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then to see sister and say thanks for saving me.  The bear is still there after a year.

Then to see sister and say thanks for saving me. The bear is still there after a year.

The cake.  Dad's not the Boss, more like The Cake Janitor.

The cake. Dad’s not the Boss, more like The Cake Janitor.

Eh, it makes him happy.

Eh, it makes him happy.

Finally go time on the smash cake!Happy Birthday to me!

Finally go time on the smash cake!
Happy Birthday to me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wait I could have this instead of puree'd squash all this time?

Wait I could have cake instead of puree’d squash all this time?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a year.  It flew by.

Next step – walking, and then a golf club.

Thanks to all who have helped get us to this point.  A particular Franks Place shout out to Becky and Peter Kraslawsky, Marisa and John Stone, and Paul Hahn, without whom we literally would not have made it through those trying days before and immediately after that bittersweet day.

 

 

 

Diary of a Stay At Home Dad: I told you so…

Man, I had no idea.  I’ve mentioned it several times in posts about being in the NICU but I really had no idea how true it was.

Nurses are just badasses.  Two of my sisters and the NICU nurses who saved Anne Marie were my only frame of reference to this point.  Now a friend recomended a blog by an oncology nurse at the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania, also known as CHOP, who had cancer as a child and twice as an adult costing her a leg, found out she was pregnant in 2010 when that should not have been possible, and is now dealing with cancer again.   If you read anything this weekend, read this blog: little lisa lollipop

The Author: Little Lisa Lollipop

The Author: Little Lisa Lollipop

If you like what you read or feel the desire; hit her tip jar on the way out to help her in the fight.

As most of you loyal followers are aware, we like smarts at Frank’s Place, but we also like tough.

This girl has both in spades.

Badasses, there is simply no other way to say it.

Go read.  Go donate.

little lisa lollipop