In Memory of Pop Pop

Yesterday, around 6:10pm, Allen M. Starrett, Jr. died at Rappahanock General Hospital in Kilmarnock, VA.  Mom Mom (Shirl) tried to wake him for dinner on Saturday around 5pm and he would not wake up.  He was breathing and had a faint pulse.  She called 911 and he was taken to the hospital.  He never regained consciousness.  Apparently he had an infection and his body had no reserve to fight it.  He had finished chemotherapy on Monday, May 24th. 

Chris went to be with his mother and brother on Saturday evening.  He stayed with Mom Mom overnight and went back to the hospital with her the next morning.  He came home around 4pm yesterday and his brother, Allen, was going to stay with Mom Mom overnight.  Chris was exhausted and emotional when he got home.  He needed to rest but want to see his children so we, along with our friends, the Suydams, took the children to Ashland to watch trains and enjoy the Randolph Macon College campus.  We were watching trains when Pop Pop died.  Allen called Chris on our way back home from Ashland.

I have never known a man that loved trains more than Pop Pop.  Ian now loves trains and Pop Pop really enjoyed that.  He kept a copy of Ian's first Christmas photo on his table next to "his chair" in his living room.  It's a photo of Ian and the train Pop Pop gave him to put around our Christmas tree. 

Pop Pop was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.  He was a police officer, volunteer firefighter, soldier that served in Korea, fisherman, race car fan, and a lover of trains.  He was so proud of Chris and loved Ian and Ruby so much.  He will be missed. 

Update

Last Wednesday was big!  Chris took me to see Travis Tritt at Innsbrook After Hours.  We had a nice meal at Capitol Ale House.  We sat outside and enjoyed watching the mama duck and her 8 ducklings in the pond.  The concert was fun.  He sang a lot of his old ballads.  There was some fun people-watching.  It was great to be with my hubby w/ no kids around.  Thank you to Erik and Landen for babysitting. 

When I got to work on Thursday morning, I learned that my boss, Kiki, had gotten "the call" from INOVA and she had gone to Fairfax for her lung transplant.  Apparently Kiki was really scared and anxious on the way to Fairfax and then she became "at peace" that this was all in God's hands.  Unfortunately, at 2am on Thursday she was told that the transplant was not going to happen.  She still isn't clear on what happened but she and her husband packed up and came back to Richmond in the early morning.  Her daughter had flown from Atlanta to Washington that night and her son was en route by car from Atlanta.  Too bad it was a dry run.  This whole experience has been so emotional.  I am continually inspired by Kiki's perseverance.  Please keep her and her family in your prayers.  I so hope that she will get a new, healthy lung soon. 

Ian had his 4-year-old doctor visit on Thursday, 5/20/10.  He weighed 41 pounds and was so brave while he endured 3 shots.  I can't believe how grown-up he is. 

I wanted to share a few "Ian quotes" from today. We were driving from daycare to Chick-fil-a and Ian said, "My knees have hair on them, I'm starting to look like a daddy!" That cracked me up since I've always said that I know I will have children who are short and hairy. Later, when we were leaving Chick-fil-a, Ian said, "Mommy I want to fly to the moon. I've never been there." I said, "Well, you need to be an astronaut so you can fly in a space shuttle." He said, "Okay, I will do that." At bedtime Ian said, "When I am 17, I will drive a monster truck. Ruby can ride on your lap in my monster truck. It will jump so high that it goes over the clouds."

He is always thinking...

I've really been struggling with his behavior since he turned 4-years-old. Today was a good day. His name was not put on the board at daycare (for not listening) and we didn't have any time-outs at bath/bedtime. Yeah!


Ruby has been exploding with language and is such a happy little girl!  She loves to play outside and sing the end of the alphabet song.  She's not especially fond of the whole alphabet song, just the end...  Every afternoon she gets in the car after daycare and says, "Chick-fil-a?"  I say, "not today."  She says, "Oh man!"  So funny. 

We had a good weekend even though Daddy worked OT on Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday afternoon we went to our neighbor's birthday party.  It was a party for their 2 children who are turning 7 and 4.  Ian goes to daycare with the 4 year old boy, Marco.  It was a fun party because they are Filipino and Marco's father cooks a great Filipino foods.  We got to meet a lot of people and the children had a great time playing.  They even sent a plate of food for Chris to enjoy when he gets home from work (12:00 or 1:00 am). 

Sunday morning was nice because Chris let me go shopping in the morning alone.  I needed a new bathing suit and as my dad says, "I'd rather lie on nails.."  But, I went anyway and found a suit at Kohl's.  It's not my favorite but it will work.  I'm going to look some more later but this will do for now.  I also found a nice dress and a couple of items at Old Navy.  Later on Sunday I took Ian and Ruby to Crump Park and Erik, Landen, Kate, and Cohen met us there.  Meg was on her way home from Northern VA and helping with new baby, Aislin Alexis Helsley (welcome sweet baby!).  We had a great time but when it appeared that the sky was going to open up and pour rain, we left.  It never rained so after dinner the 3 of us headed out for a walk to the playground and we enjoyed talking and hanging out with some neighbors there. 

Now we're just trying to get through the week.  I'm look forward to a 4 day weekend and we're counting down to the opening of the Magnolia Ridge pool.  I'm also excited about seeing Sex and the City 2.  I'm thankful that Chris will be home all weekend too. 

I've got to get ready for tomorrow...

Mother's Day 2010

We had a nice day.  We went to church in the morning to cover the nusery.  Ian made me a card in Sunday School.  It was really cute.  Then we went home for lunch and naps.  I rested on the couch and watched Chocolate with Johnny Depp.  I had not seen it in a long time and enjoyed actually sitting on the couch for a movie.  Later, Amanda, Chris, and Drew stopped by on their way back from Kerr Lake.  It was good to see them and Drew and Ian played together nicely.  Then, Ian, Ruby, Chris and I loaded up to go to Short Pump Mall to ride the train and then eat at Maggiano's.  The kids and I enjoyed riding on the train.  Daddy took some great photos of us.  Then we ate at Maggiano's.  It was yummy, as usual, but the service was slow.  Our lovely kids were struggling with waiting.  We then got home and called Mom Mom and Meemaw to wish them a "Happy Mother's Day!"  Chris surprised me with his plan to take me to the Travis Tritt concern on 5/19/10.  He was arranging for babysitting and taking care of everything.  That was a nice surprise and I look forward to the concert.