Fathers Day

A lot of men can make babies, but it takes a very special person to be a father to their children. I am thankful to have two amazing men in my life who are just that: my husband Armando and my own stepdad George. Thank you Armando for being such a wonderful father to Esperanza and thank you George for being the best father I could ask for. I am a lucky girl!

Esperanza and I met my sister Mary and my mom on Fathers Day at the VA rehab center where George is currently at, recovering from a toe amputation. He's getting stronger by the day but his 'toe' is not healing very well. Unfortunately, the infection has gotten worse and has spread into the bones in his foot & part of his leg. The very sad news is that he will be loosing that foot and part of his leg soon. The doctors have gone back and forth on this decision several times over the past month, in hopes that it would heal and get better. It sounds like they can't wait any longer though, for fear of it getting even worse. Please send warm and positive thoughts and prayers his way. It is a serious surgery, a long recovery and a life changing event. On Fathers Day we brought him some snacks and visited with him for awhile. Towards the end of our stay, Naomi called his room and wished him a happy fathers day too. That was the first time he heard her voice in many years.

Esperanza is soooo happy to see her aunt Mary again!

Mary, Mom, Esperanza, Me and George

Esperanza snuggling with Mary

George's dragon tattoo on his arm that Mary really wanted me to get a picture of (she will be replicating it into a 'dragon in the moon' tattoo on her back one day)

Armando is still in Greece, going to school and vacationing. He's having a wonderful time and I am so jealous. Esperanza and I are able to use Skype to talk to him and see him every few days. It is 10 hours ahead where he is so there are small windows of time that we are both awake and able to 'call' each other...and the internet connection where he is doesn't work very often. He really wishes we had gone there too, and there is a huge part of me that wishes we did go. But I still firmly believe that the LONG plane ride alone with Esperanza on my lap would have been REALLY bad! If we could just be there at the snap of a finger, that would be great. he's staying in an area of Greece that is pretty remote, 2 hours away from Athens. It's not touristy and no one speaks English. We missed him on Fathers Day (well, every day for that matter) and he really misses us too. Three weeks to go...