Jules Baptism

Julianna was baptized last Saturday. Here she is looking happy and angelic in her baptismal dress. She was joined by 12 other babies, but as Julian said, "I looked at all of them and Jules is the most beautiful." He is not at all partial I'm sure.


This is St Frances Xavier Cathedral in Phoenix which is their church. You can see all the families up front. Notice the small stained glass windows overhead in the dome, Jules couldn't keep her eyes off them. We were waiting for the ceremony to start and there she was looking straight up focusing on those blue squares of light.
Here are her Godparents, Jess and Matt
Faye, Javier and Jules
Javier holding Jules for the christening. I wonder if there is a reason that the priest used a shell?? Part of the water came from the Jordan river in Israel. It was a beautiful service.
This is a delphinium. I saw it at the nursery and thought I'd try growing it. I got 2 and put them in pots, so I can bring them in when it gets too hot. There is a poem by AAMilne about delphiniums and a dormouse which Mom read to us many times when we were little, so I was excited to see what delphiniums look like. They are really beautiful. "There once was a Dormouse who lived in a bed of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red). And all the day long he'd a wonderful view of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue). A doctor came hurrying round and he said: Tut-tut, I am sorry to find you in bed. Just say Ninety-nine, while I look at your chest....Don't you find that chrysanthemums answer the best." Anyway it is a long and sad story about how they replaced the geraniums and delphiniums with chrysanthemums (yellow and white) and the dormouse was very sad, but the doctor really thought he had recommended the right change. Anyway, I really love AAMilne poems and that was the first thing I gave to Jules.

Talking about Julian, he is doing pretty well all things considering. He had IV chemo yesterday and will take chemo pills, Xoloda, for the next 2 weeks. Then he will have a whole week off till he has to start another 21 day cycle. He will have 5 of these before they reevaluate (probably with another PET scan).

Retirement!

My last day at work was Sept 1. Towards the end of the day, Marilyn ran into my office saying one of the kids fell off the bleachers, she can't get up and her leg looks bad. Well, I grab my wheel chair and we head to the gym. I walk in and much to my surprise the whole school all 850 plus kids and staff are there for a retirement celebration! I have never have been so happily surprised in my life. The principal gave a little talk about how long I had been the #1 school nurse for 21 years, etc and the kids hooped and hollered and stamped their feet. The teachers gave me a framed picture of a tree that said, "Nurse Ayraud, Thanks for being our giving tree." They said, "We know how much you love gardens and love teaching others about them. Madison #1 is going to plant a tree in your honor on our campus. We appreciate all your nurturing and giving throughout your years here at Madison #1. We love that your passion for growing and giving will last a life time on our campus." I could only remember what they said because they wrote it on the back. I spoke about how much I love this job and that I love all you kids and will miss you. I spoke of how blessed I have been to be here all these years, etc. I started crying and the kids kept cheering and stamping their feet. Then several teachers stood up and said that they wanted me to know that they won't forget my most famous phrase, "don't touch blood". Julian, Mom, Faye and baby Jules were there. It was the best retirement party I could ever have had.
Jules and Nana (that would be me)
Jules and Grandma Coral
Jules and Jules
Ryan and Jules. He changed her diaper right after this. His expression changed from this cute smile to apprehension to determination to surprise (when he realized she had a dirty diaper). He did a great job. Didn't even stick Jules or himself with the pin (oh, wait that would have been 30 years ago).
Here is Jules working on a pot which he gave to Larry as a thank you for bringing him wood last year and this year.
Beautiful, Huh!
The story about this rose is that he almost carved it off because he didn't like the first finished he put on it. He sanded all the old finish off and ended up using linseed oil and paste wax to get this beautiful finish.

Larry and Jules

We went to Flagstaff for Labor Day weekend. Mom went with us and this is a picture of a meadow filled with wildflowers.
Faye, Javier, Jules and Grandma
Here is our family picture in honor of Larry's visit. Notice me retiring on the table practicing for my retirement. I haven't really done the best job at relaxing so far but I can always dream.

Happy Birthday Julianna Luna Gonzalez!

Baby Jules was born on July 15 2010 at 7:06 in the morning. She weighed in at 6 lb 7 oz and was 20 and 1/2 inches long. Poetry in motion, personality plus, cute as a button! Just look at how beautiful she is!
Faye and Jules taking a very needed rest.
Nathan, Niko and Maceo getting to know their little sister.
Papa Jules meeting baby Jules
Uncle Ryan visits. I know he held her after we left however, I will have to get that picture later.
Just look at that cute little face
My sister, Jacki was visiting for a week and we were hoping that Jules would be born while she was here. Well sometimes hopes and wishes come true because she decided to come into the world a week early. It was great having Jacki here she got to see Faye while she was still pregnant and get to see Jules shortly after birth!
Taking a well earned nap
Great Grandma Coral meets Jules. Jules was born on the day after my Mom's birthday. Faye went into labor on Mom's birthday!
Four generations
I was so blessed to be there for labor and delivery. These pictures are actually backwards in time. The last were soon after birth. They were all taken on her birthday or the next day.
Faye and Javier
The first picture of Mom, Dad and baby Jules together
She has long fingers and toes
Grandpa Nick holding Jules. She was so alert for the first couple hours after birth, so she got to meet all of her Grandparents and Great Grandma while still awake and looking around.
Nana and Tata Gonzalez meet their new granddaughter.
This was taken minutes after her birth
Faye did an amazing job of labor and delivery. She was so brave and athletic. After she was 10 cm dilated and the doctor had arrived, Faye pushed through 5 or 6 contractions and Julianna was born! Jules had her eyes open when she was only part way out. It really reminded me of Faye's birth because Faye also had her eyes opened and was looking around during birth!
Love at first sight!