Friday, September 19, 2008
Kodiak came to San Antonio
Our friends from Kodiak invited us into their home for dinner while we were in San Antonio. The kids picked up with Nicole and Ali where they left off 2 years ago. Thank you, Dave, for a wonderful meal!
Allen's first Jr. High football game
In the first 5 minutes, Allen managed to stop the other team from scoring. YEAH! Unfortunately, he fell on his right wrist and was out the rest of the game. In some ways, school being closed until further notice for this hurricane may be a good thing for him. He has time for the injury to heal!!
Surprise, surprise
Matt wrote his name recently all by himself with no prompting and reminding. And it is legible!!
Going back to Cali
We arrived in CA safely and with all original members. The kids were thrilled to see dad. We'll spend a few days sightseeing and trying to relax.
A few people have been able to check on our house. Still no power in the neighborhood.
I realized on the drive through southern California, which was brown and windy, that this spur of the moment trip is the result of all of the days I sat in Kodiak and complained I had no roads to drive on. "I just want to be able to drive somewhere!" Well, somewhere has been TX, NM, AZ and CA this past week. Not so much of a complaint now.
A few people have been able to check on our house. Still no power in the neighborhood.
I realized on the drive through southern California, which was brown and windy, that this spur of the moment trip is the result of all of the days I sat in Kodiak and complained I had no roads to drive on. "I just want to be able to drive somewhere!" Well, somewhere has been TX, NM, AZ and CA this past week. Not so much of a complaint now.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Small world
The circus pulled into Benson, AZ tonight. The drive was beautiful and familiar. LOL!
What a small world, though. I had someone knock on the camper door to tell me she is one of my neighbors in Pearland. Apparently the campground host shared our address b/c we're on the same street. She says, "Y'all live in the house with the pool next to so-and-so and came down from Alaska. You're house flooded, didn't it?" Can't go ANYWHERE without someone knowing us! ;)
My theme song is now Jimmy Buffet's "Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On."
If a hurricane doesn't leave you dead, it will make you strong. Don't try to explain it, just
nod your head. Breathe in, breathe out, move on.
What a small world, though. I had someone knock on the camper door to tell me she is one of my neighbors in Pearland. Apparently the campground host shared our address b/c we're on the same street. She says, "Y'all live in the house with the pool next to so-and-so and came down from Alaska. You're house flooded, didn't it?" Can't go ANYWHERE without someone knowing us! ;)
My theme song is now Jimmy Buffet's "Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On."
If a hurricane doesn't leave you dead, it will make you strong. Don't try to explain it, just
nod your head. Breathe in, breathe out, move on.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Cross country trip anyone?
Changed my mind this morning and we're headed west to Petaluma to see Michael graduate from the USCG Chief Petty Officer's Academy next week. We were due to fly out there in a few days anyway and it made no sense for me to try to tackle the house damage on my own.
I have someone arriving at the house this week (Thank you to Kristen's husband!!!!) who will start tearing out the flooring, so the house should be clean and ready for new flooring when we get back.
It seems like it was just 3 months ago when we took a trip cross country.....oh wait! It was 3 months ago!
We're all good and making the most out of all of this.
I have someone arriving at the house this week (Thank you to Kristen's husband!!!!) who will start tearing out the flooring, so the house should be clean and ready for new flooring when we get back.
It seems like it was just 3 months ago when we took a trip cross country.....oh wait! It was 3 months ago!
We're all good and making the most out of all of this.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Another update
Friends were able to get into my house today. The entire first floor is flooded. All fences are gone. A gutter on one side is gone. A couple of trees are down.
Apparently a twister went down our street and the neighborhood is severely damaged.
I'm thinking about going home soon and we'll use the camper with a generator for A/C and sleeping at night.
Ugh. Thanks for the wam welcome to the south, Ike.
Apparently a twister went down our street and the neighborhood is severely damaged.
I'm thinking about going home soon and we'll use the camper with a generator for A/C and sleeping at night.
Ugh. Thanks for the wam welcome to the south, Ike.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Update
What a week this has been for Tribe Vorholt. Nick has walking pneumonia and was running very high fevers - over 105. The doctor wanted to admit him to the hospital, but agreed I could treat him at home. He's feeling better after 5 days of antibiotics and round the clock breathing treatments, but still has the nasty cough and crashes at least once a day. Several days were spent in the doctor's office and I longed for Kodiak where I could have taken him to the ER and received care quickly instead of driving back and forth b/w the doctor's office and an emergency care facility for chest x-rays with a feverish, lethargic, vomitting child in the backseat. I would not have worried about not making it home before the other kids got off the school bus, b/c my support network would have that covered.
In the middle of this nightmare with Nick, we had a flooring company scheduled to tile the two upstairs bathrooms. I am proud to say that Allen and I removed the vanities, plumbing included, and prepared the rooms by removing baseboards and door jams. Mr. Tiler failed to complete a closet, apparently thinking it wasn’t included and had already left before I made it home from one of Nick’s appointments. So his return to complete the job has to be scheduled….
Allen’s first football game was Wednesday evening. He made a great play in the first 5 minutes, but fell on his right hand in an awkward way and was out for the remaining time. It’s not broken, but hurts a great deal.
Now for the hurricane news.
The kids and I evacuated last night b/c of Ike. I packed the camper and truck and we spent 6 hours on the road (200 miles) with arrival into San Antonio after 10:00 PM. We are at a campground and are joined by at least 100 families. This place is packed! The usual happy camper is not found here and I think every site has a yippee dog (one of those little ones that barks nonstop).
My neighbors boarded up their windows before leaving yesterday and I felt so unprepared in the "secure the house" area, but it would have been impossible for Allen and I to put up specifically cut plywood. I did the best I could and am hoping for minimal damage.
I'm not sure how long we'll be here and for now the plan is to stay until Sunday afternoon.
We spent the day at the Alamo and Riverwalk and tried to forget the nasty beast that is Ike that is threatening our home. Tomorrow we'll head to Sea World with the thousands of other people from the Houston area......
If I looked at the big picture, I'd have an anxiety attack. I have been taking my days an hour at a time lately and feel as though there are not many areas I have left to be tested.
In the middle of this nightmare with Nick, we had a flooring company scheduled to tile the two upstairs bathrooms. I am proud to say that Allen and I removed the vanities, plumbing included, and prepared the rooms by removing baseboards and door jams. Mr. Tiler failed to complete a closet, apparently thinking it wasn’t included and had already left before I made it home from one of Nick’s appointments. So his return to complete the job has to be scheduled….
Allen’s first football game was Wednesday evening. He made a great play in the first 5 minutes, but fell on his right hand in an awkward way and was out for the remaining time. It’s not broken, but hurts a great deal.
Now for the hurricane news.
The kids and I evacuated last night b/c of Ike. I packed the camper and truck and we spent 6 hours on the road (200 miles) with arrival into San Antonio after 10:00 PM. We are at a campground and are joined by at least 100 families. This place is packed! The usual happy camper is not found here and I think every site has a yippee dog (one of those little ones that barks nonstop).
My neighbors boarded up their windows before leaving yesterday and I felt so unprepared in the "secure the house" area, but it would have been impossible for Allen and I to put up specifically cut plywood. I did the best I could and am hoping for minimal damage.
I'm not sure how long we'll be here and for now the plan is to stay until Sunday afternoon.
We spent the day at the Alamo and Riverwalk and tried to forget the nasty beast that is Ike that is threatening our home. Tomorrow we'll head to Sea World with the thousands of other people from the Houston area......
If I looked at the big picture, I'd have an anxiety attack. I have been taking my days an hour at a time lately and feel as though there are not many areas I have left to be tested.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Kids & School
We're into the second week of school and all is going well. Allen has a full load with pre-AP classes and football. He's trying to make honor band, too. The questions about Alaska are finally slowing down for him; he was being stopped in the halls by kids asking him if he was the kid from AK.
Allen had to do an "All About Me" poem for a class complete with pictures and he used one of Michael and the bear. The teacher glanced at it and asked, "What kind of dog is that?" Allen told her it was a bear. She didn't hear him and asked, "How big does that kind of dog get?" Allen repeated it was a bear and then came the surprised comments. Can you imagine what that poor woman was thinking in those few seconds she thought it was a dog? "Gee, they really grow them big in Alaska, don't they?"
Both Allen and Emma say they are tired of being asked, "Is it cold there?", "Did you live in an igloo?", "Did you go to school?" With the Palin announcement and Alaska making front page news daily, their classmates are getting a full lesson in The Last Frontier.
Emma has made several new friends and is loving her advanced track classes.
Jessi likes her teacher and classmates, but the homework not as much.
Matt is being the usual rascal in his school, about 40 minutes away, and has recently caught on to potty training. However, he usually asks for the potty when he wants to get out of doing something. His teacher is using a good deal of sign with him and I'm seeing carryover at home. He wrote his name yesterday on HIS homework. Yahoo!
Nick thought the start of school was fantastic and then those mean people keep expecting him to sit in his seat and do his lessons. So, the behavior went south quick as he attempts to test the limits until he realizes his teacher and aids aren't going to let him get away with doing his own thing. Apparently, the aid took him outside of the class one day last week to have a little chat about his interruptions and he threw himself on the floor and reached out screaming "HELP ME" to anyone walking by. He's such the drama king.
Allen had to do an "All About Me" poem for a class complete with pictures and he used one of Michael and the bear. The teacher glanced at it and asked, "What kind of dog is that?" Allen told her it was a bear. She didn't hear him and asked, "How big does that kind of dog get?" Allen repeated it was a bear and then came the surprised comments. Can you imagine what that poor woman was thinking in those few seconds she thought it was a dog? "Gee, they really grow them big in Alaska, don't they?"
Both Allen and Emma say they are tired of being asked, "Is it cold there?", "Did you live in an igloo?", "Did you go to school?" With the Palin announcement and Alaska making front page news daily, their classmates are getting a full lesson in The Last Frontier.
Emma has made several new friends and is loving her advanced track classes.
Jessi likes her teacher and classmates, but the homework not as much.
Matt is being the usual rascal in his school, about 40 minutes away, and has recently caught on to potty training. However, he usually asks for the potty when he wants to get out of doing something. His teacher is using a good deal of sign with him and I'm seeing carryover at home. He wrote his name yesterday on HIS homework. Yahoo!
Nick thought the start of school was fantastic and then those mean people keep expecting him to sit in his seat and do his lessons. So, the behavior went south quick as he attempts to test the limits until he realizes his teacher and aids aren't going to let him get away with doing his own thing. Apparently, the aid took him outside of the class one day last week to have a little chat about his interruptions and he threw himself on the floor and reached out screaming "HELP ME" to anyone walking by. He's such the drama king.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Space Center Houston
We went to the Space Center Houston this weekend to see their Star Wars display before it ended. The kids were thrilled to see storm troopers as we walked into the building.
One of the actual Jedi starfighters used in the movie.
Even though those in the Space Center seemed unaffected by the hurricane possibility, the center was very much prepared. 
You could "touch the moon"; a real moon rock!
5.......4...........3...........2.........1 Blast Off!
Nick practicing his landing skills.
Houston, we have a problem.
Emma and Jessi trying their trapeze abilities.
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