A Special Message to Pepaw

Click above....

So, Pepaw has Shingles....which sucks, mom usually gets them on her back (which is common)...I get them in my left eye (which is uncommon) and now my father has gotten them in his throat (which is so rare they believe he is the first case in Texas...at least this year)> Mom is still here for a few more weeks...so dad is going it alone. We are thinking of you!

I'm two weeks old!!!!

So she is two weeks old and still a sweetheart. She has developed some gas cramps and that makes her feedings a little longer...but she is still as sweet as can be. I got out of the house yesturday for 2 hours and went to the mall with mom...without the kids!!!! That was nice but draining. We got Jacob a pool and his friend Emma came and played with him today. They are learning about sharing...it's a process!

Things are going really well.....

Well, my mom made it in on Friday night after a very pleasant 17 hour flight between two screaming babies. So she got ZERO sleep on the Emirates flight. She hit the ground running though and Jacob thinks that she came just to see him and is thrilled. We celebrated Easter on Saturday. Memaw brought all sorts of goodies for the kiddos and Clifton and I got Jacob some Crayola crayons and coloring books (I can't find them here and all their crayons are crappy). Our new nanny/maid even got some Easter candy for Jacob...she is very sweet. We took Maddie out on Friday morning to her first outing which was to Ric's Kountry Kitchen. She did great. Jacob was pissed because we had to wait for a table and then he was pissed because we couldn't sit at the same table as we did last time and THEN he was pissed that we left and the bus boy took away our plates. But he was angel inbetween all those times :)

I am still extremely sore and having pain and swelling at the incision site. I am ready to feel better...I am ready to drive and work out and pick up my son...but I will have to wait a few more weeks to do all of that.

Clifton at Ric's

Easter!!!!!

Memaw
Bundled Up

We have a new number

It is 979-314-1035 It has voicemail and everything. This number actually rings to a handheld phone in our house. NOT to our computer....so, when calling us from the states...call 979-314-1035. We still have 979-633-4554 as well. This rings to our computer...which we turn off at night, but we have voicemail there as well. So if for some reason there is a glitch in the first number, or you have an emergency or something...then dial this second number. But we are paying an annual fee for the 979-314-1035 number and not a minute by minute, so I prefer you use that number first. Once again I would like to remind everyone that the phones are not magic and they do not erase the massive time difference between us and y'all...so if you are going to call me between 11pm-6am my time (that is 3pm-10pm Texas time)...please have a damn good reason.

Hugs....

Oh, I will post pictures later of Maddies first outing...we of course took her to Ric's Kountry Kitchen....yehawww!

Well, what a difference a few days makes

She went to the doctor's today.....she is no longer jaundiced...she has not lost anymore weight and these pictures should prove how Jacob has taken to her. She still doesn't cry. She stll likes to sleep. She obviously read the breast feeding manual because she is a pro at it and she doesn't care if it comes from me or a bottle. We happened to find a new nanny/maid while I was in the hospital. She is full-time live-out. Her and her husband have been here 20 years and she has only taken care of western families. We LOVE her...this woman is incredible with the house, the kids and me...She cleans to Clifton's standards and may be more OCD than him.....it's amazing!!!! She is very friendly and sweet and I can see her with us our entire duration.

We are home...I'll post more later

Sorry guys...kinda exhausted. We are all home. She got to come with us...which is awesome because she is jaundiced and losing weight and they don't have home health over here...we take her back tomorrow morning for a hip scan and check on her jaundice. She is perfect though and honestly Jacob is having a hard time. But he is really sweet to her...just not us :) He will settle in, I know.

My mom will be here on Friday...thank god!

Clifton got his Tahoe

She's awake...gotta go

Oh 20 inches long (50%) , 5lbs 8oz (5th %)...jacob was the same length and 3 pounds heavier :)

I will also add that she is an eater...she has loves food in whatever form it may come in, so I think she will be a fatty in no time.

Today she has been sunbathing by the window...soaking up the vitamin D and breaking down the bilirubin (jaundice). She never cries unless she is hungry or dirty and I would catagorize it as more of a whimper than a cry.

Pics Tres...

THe Pics say it all..part Duex!!!

The pics say it all!

Im in the lobby of the hospital

stealing the interwebs...just kidding, they have one computer available. I decided to go for a walk and wanted to say that I'm doing great "itty bitty" is doing great and Clifton is the best father/husband in the world (and no I haven't had pain meds in 24 hours...so I really think that) hope to be home soon so I can return all the emails and phone calls.

Maddie Mae's Third Day!

Maddie and Molly are still at the hospital, but they are doing well. Maddie Mae is a litle Jaundus, but it is not bad. They are feeding her often and hopefully, by keeping her system flushed out, she will be okay...without having to be under a light. Molly has been up and about a little more today, and is ready to eat some real food and come home! I believe that she will probably be there until Sunday, but maybe not. Daddy got to change his first Maddie diaper today, which was cool...of course, I probably won't be calling it cool about three months from now after about 500 changings!!! Jacob is still trying to get used to all of this, "new Sissy" business. Today he and I talked about her alot before we went up to the hospital, but he still is not interested in getting too close. You can see in one picture that he did sit in my lap for a minute while I was holding Maddie...but only for a minute. That's progress, and considering how much his world has changed the last few weeks, he is doing great! FYI - he does love the water well outside the entrance to the hospital!

Few More

Of the family!

Maddie's Second Day Pics (4th try)

Here ya go!

Maddie Mae's Second Day

Maddie and Mommie are doing great! Maddie spent most of the day in the room with us! She actually breastfed a little and took some formula from a bottle as well. For such a little tiny thing, she knows how to eat! We have only actually heard her voice (cry) a couple of times today, but I'm sure that will change! Molly is feeling better with every passing minute. She is still on liquids, but she was able to get out the bed three times to use the potty! She is pretty sore, but not having to be on pain meds much.

Jacob vivisted his baby sissy tonight, and while he liked looking at her, he was not intersted in really getting too close and he got pretty upset when Daddy tried to hold sissy! After Maddie went back to the nursery, he spent some time brushing Mommie's hair and sitting next to her on the bed. We are confident that he will be a great big bother, but it wil take a little time!

The Doc says the Molly will problably be in the hospital for at least a couple of more days. These doctors, nurses and staff are incredible! Its the best healthcare that I have ever seen! The US heathcare system could certainly learn a lot from these folks! The doctors actually TREAT the patients, they talk to you, they spend time with you...its great!

I'LL POST MORE PICS AS SOON AS THE CAMERA CHARGES!

SHE"S HERE!!!

That's right! in typical Doha style, Miss Madelyn Mae Griffin arrived at 3:30 this afternoon. She wasn't scheduel to come for about two-6 weeks, but she had different ideas! We went to the hospital thi smorning to try and get miss Maddie to flip, but she wouldn't ! Instead...about two hours after the flipping procedure was over, se decided to come on out! Of course, since she was still upside down, they had to perform an immediate C-Section. Molly and Maddie are doing great! I just got home to retrieve Jacob from our neighbors! He likes to pics of mommie and Maddie, but I'm not sure he knows what he is in store for! Anyway, more later! The adventure continues!

Everybody does it...(Clifton's 1st post)

Everybody does it….at 42 years old, I have done it several times….it usually doesn’t hurt too bad…just a little…and the feeling afterwards is absolutely thrilling…that’s right, buying an automobile is a great experience. Well! Its been an adventure that keeps on giving! It started last wed when Michael took me to meet Sunil, the used car salesman at Jaydea Cheverolet. I’ve always been a Ford guy, but since we are in the mid east, lets be different, right! Sunil is the typical salesman…hustler, I mean! He’s cool, and he knows it! What do you know, Sunil has the perfect vehicle for us…a 2006 Tahoe! You gotta have a big vehicle cause like Michael says, “We just gotta get out here and get big!” That’s Doha talk for driving in the absolute mess of traffic on Salwa Road and C-Ring….its wild!!! Anyway, I digress. Sunil and I talked for about 5 minutes, and I drove the vehicle around the block…once. “I’ll take it!” The Tahoe needed a little “work” nothing too bad, just some rubber replace around the roof seem, a little scratch/dent fixed and a major cleaning. So we make the deal…by shaking hands. Sunil says that he will get the truck sent off to get detailed and we leave. Of course, while we are eating lunch afterwards, feeling good about my “good deal,” Sunil calls, “you got the key…damn! Yep! I got it! SO! I have to go back to give him the key. I decide that I will do it the next morning because I really need to get some work done. Next morning, I drive ALL THE WAY back to give him the key…only to find out that he has another key, “I forgot to call you,” he says. So. We started talking about the details…like final price, insurance, financing, etc. Of course, being good hustler, Sunil has got all the answers. “You give me 4300 Riyals (about $1000) cash and I’ll take care of the insurance and registration.” Sounded good to me. So now, let’s talk about financing. I have opened an account at Qatar National Bank (QNB). Sunil agree after some grousing to use QNB. Apparently, his contacts at QNB are not that good. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MY FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE! Anyway, he finds a QNB card and calls the number about ten times…no answer. He digs through his numbers and finds another number, calls it talks in Arabic, cussin in English and finally he says that his “very good friend” needs to finance a Tahoe. He then produces a quotation letter complete with a “seal” (these folks love letters with seals…don’t know why…but they do…and you got to have it to get anything done). He gives the letter and “directions????” “You get on C-Ring…go through three lights and start lookin for a COMMERICIAL BANK (remember, I bank at QNB)…turn into the slip street and “right behind’ that bank is a building…you take this number for Abdul…and when you get there call him!” Like a good fresh-off the plane Ex Pat, I go on my way. Its about 11:30 am and the traffic is INSANE. I drive, almost get run over 10 times and FINALLY, I see the Comm Bank, I turn and …right behind the bank is….that’s right …a big ass hole in the ground! Cool, huh? So, I drive around the block, which is a nightmare…I get back around the other side of the bank and start calling Abdul…atleast 5 calls at two different numbers …no answer…yes, there was cussing in the air at this point! So, I call Sunil, he calls Abdul, calls me back, and I call Abdul…no answer…At this point I am behind a “lady” that is sideways in the street trying to park…a guy pulls out behind her…I duck into the spot and she is pissed! After a minute, someone is honking at me because I have blocked them in…the lady is only half way in the street at this point. So, I pull out, speed up past her…with the cell phone ringing Abdul’s number…he answer’s but I can’t understand him. Finally, he says, “park and go in bank” So, I decide to “get big” in my Toyota Lancer…I make a u-turn, go the wrong way on the slip road, dodge some oncoming traffic, turn bank into the side street. Someone is pulling out of a makeshift spot across from “the lady” …about the time that she is about the make her move, I speed up and pull into the spot…Doha style, baby! She is REALLY pissed at this point, but I gotta go! So, I go inside, call Abdul…no answer,,,finally after about 5 times, he answers! I finally manage to understand that he is “outside” So, I look outside and finally see him across the street waving at me. I go to him, we go in a building that looks nothing like a bank. We go up some stairs and into a room that looks like a large warehouse with carpet and bunches of desk and people everywhere. Abdul introduces me to Serehan and he disappears. Serehan starts talking to me about the loan and gives me her card. She looks at the qoute letter and asks me for a “salary letter.” (You have to have a letter for everything, did I mention that?) I tell her that they took the salary letter when I opened the account. She says that I MUST have another letter….DAMN!!! is going through mind repeatly at this point. She says that once I get the new letter, we can “do loan” Of course, we can’t “do loan” until the evening when she comes back to work…did I mention that everyone here takes about a 3/4hour break during the day and returns to work about 4:00???Yeah! So, I drive back to TAMUQ, I get the letter, and call her back. We determine that we should “do loan” in the morning. Okay! So, this morning, I go to work for a while and drive BACK to the insane part of Doha…I get to the warehouse building….aka “bank” Serehan is smiling when she sees me! This is a good sign! So, I give her the letter. She takes it to the “manager.” After about ten minutes, she comes back…not smiling….So, she proceeds to tell me that I must have ANOTHER LETTER with my QNB number and ID number written in the letter. Now, you gotta know that I have the letter, my QND account card, my ID card, all of it, with me…BUT that’s not good enough….SHITT!!!!!SHITTT!!!SHITTT is now going through my mind as I plead me case, but all she says is” don’t be sad…its just business….” So, back through the traffic again….to TAMUQ …get another letter, and start trying to call her back….no answer for two hours…Finally, she answers and says that we have to “make loan this evening” So, we proceed to try an agree on a meeting place. I get her to agree to meet me at the Al Alhi hospital at 7:30 because I know to get there easily! I go to Al Alhi, she calls me at 7:20 asking me to meet her “outside!” I look for her for 20 minutes. Her finance’ calls and ask me to meet them outside the gate. “Okay!” I find them and she has many papers…in Arabic…I give the letters…she smiles again…”Good!” So, I sign about ten times on the hood of the truck. I have idea what I am signing and I don’t care at this point!! We finish and she says that she will “ call me tomorrow!” SO…to be continued…

Career Change

So Howdy!!!!

First and foremost I have an announcement. Courtney who is the cool friend I live vicariously through, because she is one adventure after another...(and before I get the emails...I know I'm not exactly boring...but Courtney surpasses me 10 fold on the coolness factor and apparently she can braid bacon and I know in ten years she will have her own show on cable...we just don't know what channel, could be Discovery, Travel, Anmal Planet, HGTV, Spice)...ANYWAYS...Courtney got her 2008-2009 academic year internship in SWEDEN!!!!! So she is going to finish up her master's thesis in Seattle and then our lovely Courtney will be off to Sweden to tackle the world of environmental engineering and frolick with her boy Blake who is doing something engineering as well. I am so so so so proud of her and can't wait to visit!!!!

Some of my favorite Courtney shots...

Anyways... as you can tell from my last post, I should become a graphic artist. My mother said that my brother was the artistic one in the family...but I believe that she is wrong. I would have never found my hidden talent if I didn't move to Middle East and become a stay-at-home-mom...but I did and it gave me some time to explore my hidden talents and I think that I will quit the enviromental track and become a full time artist.

I am working on a portfolio...Jacob has been helping...he actually has kind of ruined some of these with his scribbling it is very very sad...but I don't want to hurt his feelings...maybe one day he will have the mad drawing skills of his mother..if he is lucky.

CRANE

TRACTOR IN MOTION

DIGGER ON DIRT

DIGGER COLD AND ALONE

PURPLE

TOW TRUCK OVER SCRAPER AND CRANE

BULLDOZER

FORKLIFT CHASING DUMPTRUCK IN ANGER

DIGGER OR TRACTOR

stepped out on this one....all great artists do self portraits this one is futuristic though

it is called GRIFFIN FAMILY IN FALL

the clue is that the baby is there and apparently i have lost all the pregnancy weight

Finally I give you: TRAIN

I know I know....you didn't know I had it in me. Impressive...it is a good thing I found out now. Think of all those years I wasted at A&M and working....

Clifton is learning how to post on the Blog...he is going through the process of purchasing our first vehicle over here and since he is doing this all on his own without my "help" he will have to tell you all about it. Let me just say it's a doozie of a tale and "we" are still going through the process...I'm not sure if it is hilarious or tragic.

I check into the hospital at 8 am in the morning for the flip. It will be close to your morning time before I can post about it...IF i don't go into labor.