Gone to Soon

Shyla and Madisyn

On October 19th my nephew's and his girlfriend, who was 39 weeks pregnant got into a car accident.  My nephew Josh was driving and they were T-boned on her side of the car.  She and the baby died at the scene.  My nephew had only cuts and bruises, and the 16 year-old-boy that hit them walked away with no injuries at all.  They were planning to get married.  She had just finished school for her CNA and the week before.  They had so much to live for and it was all taken away in a moment.  It just doesn't seem fair.

His life has been full of so much tragedy and loss.  He's 24 now, but when he moved into our home he was 14.  He and his brothers and sisters were taken away from their mom by the county and we and other aunts and uncles assumed the responsibility of raising them.  When he lived with us he did well, but once he turned 18 he moved out and never finished high school.  He's got learning disabilities and social problems do to his childhood, but Shyla saw past all that.  She was able to see the caring, loving, great guy he is.  We always said how great she was for him.

Today, Shyla and Madisyn were buried with family members in a small cemetery in Central Minnesota.  I worry how Josh will ever heal from this devastating loss, but I know the pain will ebb eventually, and I am determined to do everything I can to help and I know my husband will to.

Gymnastics

Our little girl starts gymnastics lessons tonight.  She is extremely excited.  I told her on Monday as we were getting into the car after I picked her up at school.  She screamed so loud that everyone on the playground must have thought I was kidnapping her or something.  It's a good thing I had gotten out of the car and talked to her teacher before we left, so at least they would know I wasn't doing anything illegal.  In the car she couldn't hold still and was bouncing on the see.  Then she said something a bit disturbing.  "Hurry up and get home, I need to break something."  -huh?
So, it seems that she has a problem redirecting good energy/emotions as well as the bad emotions.  I helped her through it and offered her options to this excitement and need to break something.  She jumped around in the yard until she fell down and had to rest .
A little bit of disappointment, because she's coming down with a cold, but I am hoping she can still enjoy herself and is not feeling too bad  when I pick her up from school.

Sorry

I want to apologize to everyone that I have been gone so long.  I will make a more lengthy update later.  All is alright with us.  We have much news to report.  Gigi was able to spend some time with her sister Hope a few weeks back.  We have also been able to spend some time with our Duluth family and a bunch of our friends.  School is going well so far.  She's happy with her class and her teacher, but is having some problems with disrespectful behavior that bleeds into our home life as well.  She just started back with Girl Scouts and was thrilled to catch up with all her friends.  More to follow...

Osowski Family Picnic

This past weekend weekend was very busy.  On Saturday we had our second annual Osowski family picnic.  Gigi was so excited, and so were we.  We had a great time last year, but this year was even better.  We had a better  turn out and we were at a park that had a beach and a boat launch, so we were able to do water activities.  My mother-in-law even had games and prizes for the kids to do.  They had a wonderful time

We were all really tired after being outside for 12 hours in the sun, but we had Sunday to recuperate!

Update

Just a quick update to say that all is well at our house.  Gigi has been able to talk to her sister almost daily and we have plans to see her in August!  Seems she now lives in a different state, so it's not so easy to get the girls together.

She's enjoying her summer program and they have been keeping her very busy.  She's gotten to do a bunch of fun things, like water parks, and crafts, and things like that.  It makes me feel a bit better about her not having the summer off like other kids do.  I seem to remember being pretty bored during the summer when I was a kid, so maybe that's not such a bad thing.

Finally

I finally tracked down Gifti's sister's daddy.  I had a text conversation with him today and he promised that Hope would call Gifti tonight.  I tried to pin down a time where we could get the girls together, however that was not confirmed.  He did say that it would be fun, but didn't want to talk about it anymore.  I hope that we can get a meeting together soon.  It's been far to long since they have been together.

Jerry's Cousins

This past weekend we had a visit from Jerry's cousin Shannon and her husband Mike.  We have awaited this visit for a while now, but our schedules have not made it possible until now.  Shannon has a half sister, Kierra, that older then our Gigi, but had a bunch of stuff that she had saved and wanted her to have.  We have been fortunate that they like the same things.  Kierra gave Gigi about 50 books, some clothes, winter jackets, toys, and even a bike that is just like new.  We are so blessed to have family that are so generous.

Tonight my sister will be spending some time with our little girl.  She called last night to ask if she was busy.  I think they will play bingo at her apartment complex, and maybe go swimming.  I am glad that my family takes such an interest in my daughter.  It gives me such a warm fuzzy.

Jerry's Birthday

Jerry's birthday was on Sunday and we had a great day.  We woke up around 9:00am and Jerry opened his presents.  Gifti was so excited for him to open them.  Although, I don't know why because there wasn't anything that she could play with him or anything.  She didn't even help me pick them out, but I am glad she was into it.
Then, it was off to Famous Daves for have brunch with about 12 friends and family.  It was delicious and the company was excellent.  I know that he enjoyed himself as did I.  I know that Gifti was happy because she got to visit with her one of her cousins.
After that we went to Best Buy for some odds and ends and to look for a strap for my camera.  The one that came on it broke.  We weren't able to find one, but I have an idea how to make one.  We also picked up the last Heath Ledger movie and The Book of Eli, which was so good Jerry wanted to own it.
We then went back home and did a bit of relaxing.  Then, Jerry went to softball as he does every Sunday during the summer, and after to OId Chicago.
It was a great day for my sweetheart.  I know that he enjoyed himself, and that's the goal on one's birthday.

Vacation

Some new "firsts" for my little girl over the past week. 

1. First night in a hotel
2. Traveled over the Minnesota border
3. Saw Iowa
4. Saw Missouri
5. Saw the Arch in St Louis
6. Visited Busch Stadium for a Cardinals game
7. Met Auntie Angee, uncle Mike, Bryce, Michael
8. Caught a Roll at Lamberts(a famous restuarant)
9. Pet/fed several exotic animals, like Camels and emus
10. Spent over 3 hours in a car without a break

 We all had a great time on our vacation to visit relatives in the Missouri Bootheel.  Can't wait to do it again.

Today's the Day

Feeding the ducks, originally uploaded by gemjlo.

Today's the day we head down South to spend some quality time with my SIL and her family. We will do things like feed the ducks, go to the water park, eat at Lamberts, and BBQ for the next week. I am so excited to finally be leaving.
I spent the whole night last night shopping, and running errands that needed to be done before we leave. I didn't even go home after work. When I finally did get home at almost 9pm we packed up little G, and that was all the energy that I had. This morning I packed most of my things and headed off to work.
Jerry is working from home today and will pack up the car and do other things that need to be done. Then, when I get home we all jump in the car and start our journey.
We will stop tonight somewhere in Iowa and sleep, then in the morning we will be up bright and early to complete the trip down. It takes about 11 hours to get from our door to theirs(depending on how many pitstops we make). Knowing Gigi we will be making quite a few. I will try to get some blogging in while we are gone, but I'm not gonna promise anything, because I don't want to let ya'll down.

Bon Voyage!

To Missouri we go

On Friday we leave for Missouri!  I am really excited to see my Sister-In-Law, her husband, and her kids.  I haven't met the littlest one Bryce yet and he's already 1.  I can't believe how fast time goes by.  While we are down there I hope to go to Lamberts, the 'Home of the Thown Rolls'.  It's a resturant that throws rolls at you when you raise your hand.  I know it sounds weird, but it's pretty fun. We will stay there until Wednesday, then head back home.  Gifti is really excited to meet her cousins and aunt Angee & uncle Mike.  This will be her first road Trip, but definatly not her last.

Pet lover

This is Cody and Gigi.  They are great friends.  I'm glad that my little girl likes our pets, because they are very important to Jerry and me.  Gigi didn't grow up with animals.  In fact her first time living with one was in the foster home that she was in right before she came to live with us and she was only there for a few weeks.  She told us that she likes our dogs, which are both large, but when she grows up she's gonna have a little dog that can sit on her lap.

Happy First Father's Day Honey

Toy Story 3

We took Gigi to see Toy Story 3 last night.  I thought it was really cute and well worth the 12 year wait.  Jerry said he liked it as well.  Gigi fell asleep.  Silly girl, I think she was very tired from the night before.  I am sure that she and my niece didn't get a lot of sleep, plus she was playing at the park all day.  When we woke her up to go home, she was so out of it.  I think she was sleeping soundly.  She went right to bed when we got home.

Valley Fair

Yesterday my SIL took Gigi to Valley Fair for the first time.  She spent the night, so I haven't been able to see how she liked it, but I talked to my SIL and she thinks that she did.  I am so glad.  I think the best part was that she was with her cousins.
Sunni, my SIL said that they went on a ride called the Wild Thing.  It's a roller coaster that has a steep first drop.  On the way to the top I guess Gigi started to panic and began to chant, 'I want my mommy' over and over.  Sunni reported this to me thinking that she was asking for me.  I wonder...

Ayreonah

Gifti has so many cousins I haven't tried to count them all, but one day I should.  But, today I am going to introduce you to the one that stayed over last night.  This is Ayreonah.  Her mom is Jerry's step-sister Crystal.  I was just thinking last night how I remember crawling around on the floor with her when she was barely old enough to walk.  Now, look at her.  She's a beautiful young lady.  She's been through some terrible things, but is still a lovely girl.

Gigi is fortunate to have 2 cousins that are her age, and they are really the three amigos.  They would do everything together if they could.  I envy my little girl because she has so many cousins her age.  I only have 6 cousins total and they are all considerably younger and all but 1 are boys/men.  I hope that it helps reinforce how fun family can be, and give her a great support system as she grows up.

Brownie--------->Junior Girlscout!

A few months ago Gigi joined Brownies.  She loves it and I think it's helped her a lot to make new friends and to feel like part of a group.  Last week was the end of the year party, and her troop is moving to Juniors, and they now wear green.  She's so excited.  She's really excited that he has a vest now, instead of a sash.  We did that on purpose because she was only a brownie for a few months.  Now, she will be a Junior for a few years and needed the room for all those patches she's going to get.  Her troop leader is great, and is always giving the girls fun patches that are not merit based.  So, even the girls that don't get the patches that you have to earn have something to put on their vest.

Did I mention that my little girl had grown over an inch in the past 2 months.  Crazy...

Happy Birthday Grandma

Grandma Betsey ~ Gigi

This weekend we spent part of Saturday celebrating my mom's Birthday with her and the family.  I can tell that Gigi is getting more comforatable and is expressing herself more with my family, and I am greatful for that.  She's fitting right in, and I can tell that she's blossoming because of it.

Auntie Melanie ~ Gigi ~ Mom

I try to take extra pictures of her with the family because there will be a time in her future that she will feel bad that she doesn't have photos of herself when she was a baby.  Not that it will make up for that loss, but I hope that she will see how much we love her and glad that she's come into our lives.

Gigi and Daddy

I am also very glad that she's been playing and having more fun with Jerry.  It appears that they are finally bonding and having playful moments.  She shared the Father's Day card that she made for him with me the other day.  It's so cute.  She calls him Dad and says she loves him and that he's the best.  I worry that she says those things because she thinks she's supposed to, but if that's the case then I hope that it will be one of those things that you do so much that it finally becomes true.

One Happy Family

This photo was taken a few weekends back at my brother's graduation party up in Duluth.  Gigi had a wonderful time hanging out with the Duluth family and so did I.  The weather was nice and the food was good.

This week we had a bit of trouble.  First, she was grounded from her bike for not wearing her helmet, then she was grounded to the house on Tuesday for giving her Dad attitude.  Since then we have gotten along fairly well.  I think she's still testing her boundries.  But, I would expect nothing less from a 9 year old little girl.

Toothless

In the past three weeks my little girl has lost 3 teeth.  It's amazing to me that she could have 3 teeth loose at the same time and still be able to eat her food.  She was really excited about the tooth fairy.  Me, no so much.  Jerry refused to be the one to sneak into her room and play TF, so it was up to me.  I woke her up every time.  I told her that I was really excited to see what he left her, and was trying to peek.  She seemed to be alright with that, and graciously let dig under her pillow.  Yesterday, I couldn't get in there in time, and when I did she was already looking, so we told her that since she had just lost a tooth the night before that he must have thought she was putting the same tooth under her pillow.  She decided to write her a note, so she finally came last night and left her some quarters.  I'm glad she trusts what I tell her and doesn't question my reasons about things very much unless it comes to something she wants to do that I won't let her.