There is a local priest missing from his home in Nuevo Laredo. Fr. Jesse Euresti from Cristo Rey was found missing and the house in a state that officials think he may have been murdered.
Please keep him and his family and parish in your prayers.
Just in case you missed out on all the fun…
Before the sun came out the street was also a blanket of white hail stones.
Here are some of the larger pieces of hail. The kids had fun collecting them after the rain stopped.
It doesn’t appear we had any damage to the house. Thankfully Adam was at work and the Scion didn’t get hit. Unfortunately, the grape vines took the worst beating. It looked as if we were going to have a large (over 20 clusters per vine) crop of grapes. Who knows what’s left.
This afternoon we made it out to the Life Chain in Pflugerville. October 5, is the National date, but today was the alternate date. There wasn’t a huge crowd–maybe 30 people– and the only familiar faces we saw were part of the Pojman family and some others that I have seen praying at the abortion clinics.
This was a very peaceful presence. The organizers–who are protestant– had signs already made up with some great scripture reflections and prayers on the back of the posters (since they don’t pray the rosary 
). And everyone pretty much just held up their sign along the intersection of FM 1825 and Wells Branch Pkwy. Most of responses from the cars passing by were quite positive. The organizers we talking about doing this maybe once a month. We’ll let you know if that comes to pass.
We highly recommend the Elgin Christmas Tree Farm Pumpkin Festival. You can just see all the fun we had this year! We went last year, but forgot our camera. And I don’t remember it being so enjoyable…maybe because this year I didn’t have a newborn and I have two-thirds of the kids potty trained…that really makes a big difference for me.
All of us on the hay ride.
What a cutie!
Fulton on the hay tractor.
Muffin with the scarecrows (and a pretzel in her mouth).
Therese and the great pumpkin patch…
and on the antique tractor.
Before we consider buying a new play scape, maybe we’ll just get some bales of hay instead. Just look at Fulton’s face!
Fulton driving the boat. Have you noticed a trend with Fulton and large vehicles?
Just the girls.
The princess and the pony.
To see more pictures, you can visit our gallery.
Is tonight. Did you go out in your neighborhood and meet the neighbors, see the insides of large law enforcement vehicles, and pick up all kinds of goodies (like those blinking lights to attach to your bike or walking gear when you’re out in the dark)? Of course the kids stocked up on a few pieces of candy too.
It’s our annual visit to see a helicopter…
…fire truck….
more fire truck…
and inside of the constable’s car–complete with shotgun–except my kids don’t really know what that is so they didn’t ask about it too much.
At the beginning of the summer I decided that I wanted to pull my retirement accounts out of JP Morgan Chase for moral issues. They financially support things as a company, that as a Catholic, I do not. So I met with a financial advisor to find another company to transfer my funds to.
Well, since the end of July, my largest fund transfer has been “lost in the mail.” Chase sent the new investment firm an affidavit to sign to cancel the check that was sent. However, this new firm called Thursday and said they may not be able to legally sign it! My frustration continues to mount! I will receive confirmation on that this week hopefully.
The only blessing in this is that it happened before the stock market fell and so I didn’t get a hit from that.
Has anyone ever had this happen to them? Any suggestions?
St. Matthew, pray for us.
So last weekend we went on the Texas Alliance for Life Family Safari at the Texas Disposal System Exotic Game Ranch and Pavilion. There are 1600 animals from 30 different species. Yes, and it was right next door to a landfill…but it was clean smelling landfill. You wouldn’t know it was there if you were just going by your nose. The walls inside the pavilion were covered with stuffed animals that either died there on the ranch or were imported in.
Fulton: “Mommy, mommy, mooooommmmyyy! Oh look! It’s a bus!”
On the bus to see the animals on the ranch–just being on a bus was a big adventure for the kids! Oh and where are the buckles (seat belts)? Big concern for Therese.
Inside the pavilion with a big stuffed bear.
And a croc. Gianna hanging on for dear life!
This was our first outing since the surgery and it was nice to get out!
Adam came home yesterday! It’s so great to have him back. His swelling has gone down a little but not much and that’s his major discomfort. It’s also been difficult for him to sleep well since he still has to sleep propped at a 30-45 degree angle and sleeping on his back isn’t his favorite position.
The kids are adjusting out of necessity. Unfortunately Adam isn’t talking very well because of the numbness and swelling. So he can’t read to them. And he can’t pick up the kids as his weight limit is about 20 lbs. Dr. Quaroni only really gave him permission to pick up Gianna. Since she’s a squirmy worm, it’s probably not a good idea if he even does that. He’s not supposed to bend over or even squat. So “playing” with the kids is quite limited.
Meal time is fun. I know I’ll never open a restaurant! 
HA! Adam is on pure liquid diet for at least a couple of weeks. This mean everything I make has to be strained of fibers, seeds and the such. We don’t want to risk getting any particles in his incisions that might cause an infection. So between Adam’s meals, Gianna’s diet restrictions (since she’s not a year old yet there are still some foods to avoid), and the other kids, I’m having to keep up with a lot of meals. We got our first meal from the Care Calendar today and that was a blessing! Thanks Mary!
So far Adam hasn’t lost any weight, in fact maybe he gained a couple of pounds! Heehee…could be all that cream and super fortified milk (milk with powdered milk) I’m using in stuff! He’s supposed to get around 85 grams of protein a day to help in his healing and recovery. I found a protein powder “meal replacement” that has 38 grams. Hopefully that’ll do the trick.
Adam is a great dad and a super help when he is well. I’ve really come to appreciate even more all the things he does for me and the kids when he’s home.
Adam is doing really well today. He did a little bit of walking and sitting in a chair. He was awake for the most part with a short afternoon nap.
We had a good visit with Dr. Quaroni tonight. Because I wasn’t sure, I asked what exactly was holding Adam’s jaw together. Answer: Titanium plates and about 30 screws! I guess he’ll be making the metal detectors at airports go off for the rest of his life. Dr. Quaroni is very pleased with the progress that Adam is making. In fact, Dr. Q said, “You don’t even look like you had jaw surgery yesterday.” To which I replied, “Well, we had a whole convent of nuns praying for this surgery!” Thank you Sister of Mary! And thanks again to all of you for your prayers! Adam is doing so well because of heaven and our Blessed Lord have been flooded with your prayers!
If he has a good night tonight, Adam will be able to come home tomorrow!
Dr. Quaroni came by this evening to check in on Adam. Since the two previous times I’ve met with him, I have never seen him smile so much! I think he is well please with the work God did through his hands! So are we!
Adam is doing great. His face is numb still, but he is regaining sensation in his low lips. His color is good and a lot of the bleeding in his mouth has slowed down considerably allowing him to drink fluids now. He’s a little nauseous but taking meds to curb that. His swelling doesn’t seem “that bad” to me and he may swell a little more, but Dr. Q agreed that he looks really good. He should be on ice packs through tomorrow.
Adam took his first drinks of juice and broth this evening. He is drinking through a syringe with a rubber hose at the end. This is so that he doesn’t have to suck anything out. He really can’t drink out of a cup yet. His jaw is not wired shut but he is wearing strong rubber bands to keep his mouth closed.
Tomorrow, he will start drinking hourly, walking a little and sitting in a chair.
