I have been here, just drowning in life. Since August life has been crazy. The main event was the stressful birth of my new granddaughter Saydee. She was born to Courtney, my middle child. Courtney has always been physically fit, an All Star Cheerleading Coach by profession. She is not a complainer or someone who gives into pain, etc. I thought she would breeze right through her pregnancy and birth. Wrong! I forgot about the drama side to Courtney, it seems to follow her. At 27 weeks she was put on hospital bed rest with sever preeclampsia. She was so sick that I was concerned for her life. She held on for three long weeks of spiking blood pressures, sever head aches and terrible nausea. I spent much of the time at the hospital with her so her husband could continue working and because you want your mommy when you are so sick. Finally at 30 weeks the disease progressed to the point of no return. The doctors did an emergency C-section (which is the only cure for preeclampsia). Saydee was fine, very little (2lbs 12oz), but fine. After 7 very long and stressful weeks in the NICU Saydee finally came home. She now weighs almost 7 pounds (at her original due date) and is such a blessing. 
This was the first time I got to hold Saydee.
I'll try to write a little more often. I have missed my blogger friends and have been wondering how you all are doing. I will try to read and catch up on the happenings. Sindee
Just wanted to post a few of the pics from the Frio River. This is our little cabin at River Band. It is really nice with a full kitchen and sleeping porch. We just love staying here. The people are so friendly and it is a family oriented camp. 
Sunday morning was relaxed. After breakfast for the last time on the deck of the Great Outdoors we looked around our room for anything left behind and closed the door for the last time. We disembarked about 10:00am and hailed a taxi. He was a very nice gentleman. We told him we would like to go to a movie to kill time till our flight at 5:40pm. He drove us to a movie theatre downtown and gave us his number to call when we were ready to head to the airport. We watched "My Life In Ruins", cute flick, then went across the street to the Cheese Cake Factory for a late lunch and to kill a little more time. We had originally planned to sight see when we got back to Seattle, but fatigue got the better of us. After lunch, no cheese cake (too full), we called our taxi driver. He was busy so his brother, the taxi driver, picked us up. He was equally as nice. He told us of his country, etc while driving us to the airport. We bid him good bye and went into the airport. We did a little shopping in there...very cute stuff...then went to wait for our flight to be called. Maxine came through again and we boarded first. A few minutes into our flight the captain said to look out the left window (just happened to be my side) to see Mt. Rainer right next to us. Here is the incredible shot I got. 
I stepped out onto my balcony and there almost directly below me was the Aleutian Ballad. She is beautiful and now converted for tourist.
I hurried to dress, eat breakfast and scurry down the gang plank (above you can see that it took me almost right onto the Aleutian Ballad). We were welcomed aboard by Capt. Terry, Chief and Kiwi (all former Bering Sea fishermen). I got a seat in the front row (better for pics I thought) and waited to begin our journey. I had been slightly concerned about the sea sick issue being on a smaller boat, etc. But I needn't had worried. The waters we were is were calm as glass. It was wonderful. They entertained us the whole time with stories and facts and there was always something to keep your attention. This was easily my favorite excursion. Kiwi and Chief taught us about long lining and caught some nasty fish. I can't remember the name of it, but I know you never want to come in contact with those spines.
They are so fast it is very difficult to get good pics of them. They will be flying right at you and then roll over and dive for a fish. They a simply amazing and beautiful! 
The colors of the glaciers are just amazing. White to blue to turquoise to grey to black. 
As we were sailing out of Glacier Bay Jackie and Betty went to take a nap but I couldn't bare to miss anything. I sat in the Spinnaker Lounge at the front of the ship. It has big floor to ceiling windows with comfy chairs and couches all around. I sat almost dead center and almost felt if I were sailing the ship myself. We watched with binoculars and camera lens for whales and other signs of sea life. We were fortunate enough to see many sea birds, Otters lying in the water cracking open there treasures on the tummies, seals lounging on small islands that dotted the bay. We also saw 2 whales playing in the bay. They were too far away for the naked eye, but I saw them breach and blow dozens of times. 
After dinner we went back to our room. The movie that night was Twilight. I have seen it, but the Bells hadn't. I showered and went to bed. The Bells kept waking me from my "twilight" sleep to ask me questions about the movie. I told them it would spoil it for them and turned over. I melted into my comfy bed and slept right through everything else. 
It was really beautiful. The views were spectacular. The engineer saw a bear, but the time my car got to the spot it had already retreated into the woods. Zero for 2 on the bears.
