My grandfather the Combat Pilot

My grandfather: Edgar deZuna

My family lost a great man yesterday when my grandfather, Edgar deZuna - better known to us grandkids as Papi, passed away. Papi was my mom's father and he lived a pretty remarkable life. He was born in Budapest, Hungary into a family whose history he and his brother would later trace back to the year 1,000 AD - all with their roots in Europe, but with the deepest roots in Hungary. Papi served in the Royal Hungarian Air Force as a reconnaissance pilot during World War II and he married my grandmother, Denise - aka Nana, only shortly before they had to flee the country for Austria and a displaced person's camp. They later made their way to the UK and finally to Canada where they made their home in Montreal and later Ottawa.

Papi chronicled his life - at least in part - in a book he wrote on a typewriter for my family called "Combat Pilot." It's been a long time since I've read it, but vivid stories of crashing into a field of sunflowers during a combat mission, losing their first child - a boy - in Austria because of the lack of food as they fled their home country and later moving north of the Arctic Circle to Goose Bay Canada where my mom and dad would meet stand out in my mind. I can't wait to read his story again.

We lived far from our grandparents (both sides) growing up so we weren't as close to them as some kids might be, but I have really wonderful memories of Papi convincing me as a little girl that I had a bumble bee living in my belly button, making "mixed drinks" out of raspberry syrup and soda water for me and my sister, and Papi's "Bun In The Oven" nightshirt that I think he secretly knew was a maternity shirt - but heck, it fit his belly pretty well so it was a good time to pull the "English is my second language" card and settle for comfort!

Papi and my cousin Sandy

Papi gave me a reason to be really proud of my Hungarian heritage and it was an amazing blessing to be able to visit the building he grew up in when I lived in Hungary as a college student. My music teacher invited us to his apartment in Budapest and, although I can't remember how the pieces came together, there was a sudden clarity that my grandfather had run the halls of the beautiful old building as a kid and I was overwhelmed by the connection.

Papi had an amazing life and I'm only sorry we weren't closer and that he never got to meet Baby F. But - I am convinced that Baby F sees angels (he's always smiling and pointing at things I just can't see!), so I'm certain they will know one another in a way that will be special to them. I will miss you, Papi. I loved you very much, and look forward to being reunited with you again someday.

Poop

Image: Sura Nualpradid /
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I have seen more poop in the past few days than any one person should have to see in a lifetime. Poor Baby F has been on antibiotics for an ear infection and I was told the antibiotic could cause diarrhea - but I had no idea it could be like this. I can literally hear it from across the room, and it makes puddles in no time if you don't clean it up immediately. So gross...

Not helping the situation, Baby F also got a stomach virus this weekend which led to vomit and diarrhea from the hours of 10 p.m. to midnight. I remember when the weekends were so much more glamorous!

At least the past few days have taught me that I'm not phased by surprise poop or vomit - and I think I'm on my way to earning my Doctor Mom license.

Other important lessons learned:

• The advice of girlfriends who have been down the mom road before you is invaluable - and they're willing to take your calls or texts anytime!
• Sick babies want their moms. Sorry dads. Your help is invaluable to mom, but moms, get ready - if you have a sick baby you have a lot of cuddle time with a cranky baby on your hands!
• Slippery poop goes quickly up the back or up the front of a diaper. Be prepared for lots of diaper changes and loads of laundry.
• Babies don't really like the taste of Pedialyte... 
• After hours nurses are awesome.

It's only Monday and we're not quite out of the sickly woods - but here's hoping that by this time next week we're singing a happier song and dealing with less poo!

Doctor Mom

Image: Jeroen van Oostrom /
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I've always been in awe of parents who do an amazing job without a strong support network - but after the past 48 hours of dealing with pink eye (me), an ear infection (Baby F), a fever (also Baby F), and now a cold (me again!) I have no idea how people without a partner or other help get by. Thank goodness for my husband who took Baby Duty last night while I fell into a Nyquil-induced coma (which I'm on my way to again as soon as the drugs kick in!)

I stayed home with Baby F yesterday in accordance with the school policy of no fever within the past 24 hours and it was tough! I thought he would cuddle up and take a nap with his sick mommy and all he wanted to do was crawl around and get into trouble.

I have a number of friends whose partners work jobs that keep them away from home either for days at a time (pilots, professors at universities in different states, traveling salespeople, etc.) as well as friends whose partner's work requires they be away from home during prime times like bed time or early in the morning (namely police officers) and I want to tip my hat to those amazing parents who somehow juggle their kids' needs with their own, always putting the kids first.

I guess as a parent that's just what you do. Kids first. It's a lucky choice to have to make, but a tough one when you're sick!

Don't Forget the Hungarians

Today is a huge day in our household - the day of the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and our annual St. Patrick's Day party. I was recounting to a colleague yesterday how my hubby and I have been hosting this party for probably seven (or more) years and it's amazing how it's changed over time. This is our first year to host with a kid (although last year I was pregnant, so I've personally been weaning off the craziness...) We'll see how it goes with Baby F!

Hungarian flag
goeasteurope.about.com

But before we get all Irish - I want to remember my real people, the Hungarians. I am not Irish at all (except by marriage, if that counts...) but half of me is 100% Hungarian (traceable to the year 1,000 AD) so I have to give a shout out to March 15 which is Revolution Day in Hungary. The day commemorates the revolution and the following War of Independence against Austrian Hapsburg rule in 1848-49. Given my grandfather's research into our family's history, surely I had relatives who fought hard in this war.

I was lucky to be in Budapest for Revolution Day back in 1996 and it was a really amazing experience. The city is decked out in Hungary's national colors of red, white and green and people fill the streets while national songs are sung and poems recited on the steps of the national museum.

So while we celebrate the Irish at my house today, I'll be sure to slip in a little Hungarian history for those who will listen. I feel blessed to have a history that runs so deep!

DIY Bulletin Board

I am a co-room parent for Baby F's class and as such, I signed on to help update the classroom bulletin board. I have to admit, my first pass at jazzing up the board was pretty lame (just stapled some 8x10 print-outs to some scrapbook backing...) After his teacher told me she wanted to add some fabric, I went into full creative mode...

I did a quick Google search from my Droid while at JoAnn Fabric and quickly came across the idea of using felt on the board. Did you know that there is a such thing as eco-friendly felt? It's made in part from plastic bottles. Awesome. In addition to being eco-friendly, I thought I'd so something a little springy, so my mind went to flowers.

I tried my skill at hand-cut flowers, which quickly turned out to be a bad idea... So I did another handy Google search and came across this darling pattern for felt flowers.

It took me a few hours - but the outcome was awesome! I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Step one: cut petals

Step two: arrange petals

Step three: glue flowers

Step four: assemble flowers

And fast forward (aka: I forgot to take pictures of other steps...) final product including pipe cleaner stems and some cute felt leaves.

Can't wait to tackle a refresh of the board in a few months - and maybe repurpose this idea for a gift or two... I'm thinking something along the lines of an ocean/fish theme for the next class board. Suggestions?

Go Moms!

I have previously publicly declared my love for Stacy and Clinton from TLC's What Not to Wear, and after catching up on this week's episode this morning I love them even more! They made over Mommy Blogger Amanda of Parenting by Dummies - a really fun blog.


Although I'm sure parts of the experience weren't all that awesome for Amanda, I really appreciate her courage to put herself and her views of herself as they relate to her family (family first...) front and center for all moms to see. In the end, Amanda looked amazing and very realistic - by which I mean she wasn't done up to look like someone else, just an enhanced version of herself: a smart, sophisticated mom on the go. She serves as model for all of us and the show provided a great reminder that while us moms love our families, there is value in putting ourselves first sometimes, too.

Down the blog rabbit hole...

Picture credit: The Stories of A to Z

Thanks to Momspirational for pointing me toward The Stories of A to Z, a blog that has my brain in overdrive about DIY projects... Check out this darling idea for a boy's room! Will have to do this for Baby F as his room has bead board and would be perfect for this design when he's bigger.

After clicking on The Stories of A to Z I started clicking on some of the links within that blog and found some other awesome craft ideas from blogs like Hidden Sisters and A Thoughtful Place.

After...

One week later and it's done! My awesome kitchen makeover is complete and we think it looks great. I took this picture before we put the hardware back on - but it's still the antique brass even though my original plan was brushed nickel. That was the only wrench in my plans, but the door hinges made keeping the other hardware a necessity - at least for now...

Kitchen "after".
How come my floors look cleaner in pictures than in real life?

Next project: painting our bedroom - which has been in desperate need of painting since my father-in-law built us a new closet in May!