Christmas Cookies - - Sort of

After a busy week, I had decided Alexa and I would take it easy at home tonight.  Yesterday I had bought some Christmas M&M Baking Bits, so I thought it would be fun for Alexa and I to bake sugar cookies - - from scratch, no less.  I had even picked up some new Christmas cookie cutters for the festive night of baking.  However, I quickly realized that it must not be my baking that has won over Alexa's heart.  When I grabbed the mixer from the cabinet, Alexa told me that it was Daddy's mixer (he uses it to make waffle batter), and she asked me if he knew I was using it.  Point taken - - I need to cook and bake more.  To add to Alexa's lack of confidence in my kitchen skills, I had no idea that sugar cookie batter had to chill for a couple hours before they could be baked.  Oops - looks like the cookie baking will span into tomorrow.....

I am happy to report that Alexa did like the macaroni & cheese that I made for dinner (Annie's boxed variety).  At least I didn't strike out completely in the kitchen tonight!

An eager helper (and kitchen gadget watch-dog).



Back to 'Normal'

This week I returned to work after a three-week hiatus; it has been a nice return to a sense of normalcy and provides a productive distraction for myself.  Granty is still in the forefront of my mind and I have constant reminders of my little guy - - his birth announcement is in a frame on my desk, and his pictures are the wallpaper on my computer and Blackberry.  Even giraffes have a presence in my office, as the Brownie troop of a co-worker's daughter created a giraffe poster that the girls colored with bright, cheerful colors.  The giraffe poster on my whiteboard is a much more welcome sight than my dry-erase 'to-do' lists.  It's a great feeling to know the outpouring of support continues in the workplace too...both Damon and I are extremely lucky these extended support networks.

The 'new normal' routine is like a backwards time-warp, in having to deal with only one kiddo.  It's a very odd feeling to simply head to the Montessori school after work to pick up Alexa without having to go straight home to see my little boy.  Alexa and I have been staying busy with gymnastics, ZooLights, a quick pop-in to drop of a gift that turned into dinner, etc...  Tonight we discovered our friends' neighborhood is much more festive and decorated than our own, so it looks like Alexa and I will be cruising Scottsdale to view Christmas lights and decorations (the inflatables are definitely her favorite) tomorrow night. :)

The background of my computer - - one of my favorite pics of Granty.

Pseudo-Sisters

Tonight Damon and I took Alexa and her BFF (yes, they actually call each other that) Gabriella to a pizza dinner and ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo.  The girls were so excited for their evening together - as if seven hours together at school each day isn't enough.  Somehow the girls even managed to convince one of their teachers that they were going home together; the plan was working until Gabriella's dad wised up to it at the afternoon carline when Alexa was waiting for him too.  Oye.  When we came to get Alexa about 45 minutes later, I could the dynamic duo must have been talking about their ZooLights plans with everyone because all the teachers seemed to know about their plans for the evening.

Alexa and Gabriella are absolutely hilarious together - - they act like and resemble each other enough to be mistaken for sisters.  Their conversations span from the most mundane (wiping in the potty) to pretty heavy topics (Alexa reminding Gabriella that Granty had died) in a matter of seconds, but it's a riot to listen to them talk because they use the exact same phrases and inflection in their voices.  I can only imagine what their teachers hear on a daily basis.....

The girls were well-behaved during the course of the evening, and the highlight of the date was a ride on the merry-go-round at the zoo.  The night was a good jolt for Damon and myself to start to get into the Christmas spirit.  Although the animal sightings were very limited, we did get some reminders of our Granty through a few giraffe displays :)

The BFF's - - waiting for dinner to arrive.

A talking giraffe.

A giraffe family in lights - - rather fitting.

The Cool Carts

Shopping with Alexa is always an adventure, and it's even more interesting when we go to a store that has "novelty" shopping carts like the kiddie car-carts at grocery stores or the huge double-seater cart at Target.  For anyone who hasn't had the 'pleasure' to push one of these through a store, the carts are absolute beasts - - they are cumbersome and real steering challenge because they are so massive.  I will do anything to dissuade Alexa from picking one of these carts or attempt to distract her when we enter the stores just to avoid grabbing one of these monstrosities.  I know....I'm a real stick in the mud. ;)  

Tonight after I picked Alexa up from school, we went to Safeway to pick up some pudding (don't ask), and of course, I had to convince Alexa that we didn't need the kiddie car-cart since we were just running in quickly for one thing.  As we were on our way out of the store and passing by the carts, she exclaimed, "Oh no!" and started to get upset.  When I asked her what was wrong, she said she was sad because Granty won't ever be big enough to ride in the carts with her.  Ugh.  However, in normal Alexa form, she was able to get over it in a split-second, asking how soon she could eat pudding.

It makes complete sense - - I had always told Alexa that Granty had to get bigger before we would need the big double-seater cart from Target.  I simply didn't realize how much the prospect of the two of them together in one of those massive carts excited her.  For Damon, Alexa and myself, it seems that sometimes the most unassuming objects (i.e. the sighting of a grocery cart) provide the most crushing blows and blatant reminders of Grant's absence.  However, taking a cue from Alexa, we have to continue to move on and get through the sadness.  I'd better stock up on pudding...... :)

Hopefully heaven has shopping carts.

Making a Difference

Today I called the Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation to get some general information, and I simply began the call saying, "My son passed away..."  Before I could get in another word, the woman who answered the phone asked, "Are you Connie, Grant's mom?"  That was all it took.  Brooke, the woman at the foundation, expressed her gratitude for our very generous friends and family and mentioned donations in Grant's name have been coming in daily.  She was so thrilled that we had elected PCH as Grant's charity and excited about the prospects of what the funds raised could do for the Neuro-Oncology and Critical Care departments.

I was talking to my sister Julie tonight and laughing about my new "project" of getting involved and preserving Grant's legacy at PCH.  Growing up, I absolutely hated selling Girl Scout cookies and wasn't the most diligent kid about bringing the UNICEF box on Halloween.  However, because of our experiences at PCH, it's very easy to become passionate about a cause that became so personal to us.  I knew something had definitely changed in both of us when even Damon was very disappointed to miss the Ignite Hope Walk on Saturday.  My how this little boy affected both of us, not to mention hundreds of others, in a very positive way!

One of Damon's favorite pictures.

I have received a few questions about donations since the obituaries in the newspapers did not contain the full detail (we quickly found out that obituaries are quite the revenue-generator).  As long as the donation is tagged with Grant's name, it will automatically go to Neuro-Oncology and Critical Care (PICU):

By Mail:

Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation

2929 East Camelback Road, Ste 122

Phoenix, AZ  85016

Online:

https://secure3.convio.net/pch/site/Donation2?df_id=1468&1468.donation=form1

Support - Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders, Note - Neuro-Oncology

In Memory of Grant Hovannisian

Phone:

(602) 546-GIVE (4483)

Not So Swimmingly...

Sundays are pretty relaxed here in the Hovannisian household with only one item on the agenda - Alexa's swimming lesson.  For a little girl who begged daily to go swimming in our pool during the summer, she absolutely dreads her Sunday swim lesson.  She has always liked her coaches (all guys - Grant [coincidence, not our Granty's namesake], Anthony and Nick), but she is petrified when they let go of her in the water.  Today was no exception, as she was crying and curling up into a ball even before we left the house.  I thought there was no way she could continue crying for the 30 minute duration of the class, but leave it to Alexa to prove me wrong.  She cried the entire time - - oye.  I think Papa Hovey was more entertained watching me sit helplessly, trying to use mental powers to coax Alexa through her lesson.  Thankfully Coach Nick is a very patient teacher, and he still had a smile on his face at the end of the class, while I was mouthing an apology at the viewing window.  Of course, Alexa was smiling and laughing by the time she hit the showers, and she gave Coach Nick a big smile on the way out.  We'll see what happens next week...

I can only speculate what Granty would have done in a swimming lesson; my little boy loved his baths and didn't even flinch when Alexa would dump water on his face.  Damon and I would always ask Alexa what sport Granty should do, and, probably thinking of her Swim Coach named Grant, she would always say swimming - - pr play baseball for the Cardinals.  We Hoveys dream big :) 

Granty in one of his favorite places - - the bathtub.

3.4 Miles - - No Problem!

Tonight Vernon, Alexa and I participated in the Ignite Hope Walk for Phoenix Children's - - it was a very nice event and much more emotional that Vernon or I ever expected.  The starting plaza had plenty of entertainment and food - Baskin Robbins ice cream, Dunkin Donuts donut holes and every kind of cookie and granola bar you could image - quite the pre-walk festivities.  The food array made me think of the spread that we'd would always have after a cross country or track meet :)  The 1.7 mile walk to the hospital (although on the drive there, Vernon swore it seemed like 7.1 miles - it was all straight-away) went by very quickly, and Alexa walked about half and spent the other half on my shoulders.  When the crowds gathered in front of the hospital holding up the candle flashlights and a Sarah McLachlan-like hymn played in the background, I could not help tearing up.  It was very sad to see the place where we had spent so much time; I easily identified the windows of Granty's PICU rooms - 6105 and 6108.  It was comforting to see all of the kids pressed against their windows, knowing the joy the crowd was bring to them and also that most of those kids will be able to go home some day.  It seems like forever since we left Phoenix Children's, but it will only be two weeks tomorrow.  I really miss my little boy....

Despite the moments of sadness and reflection, it truly was a good event.  Like I told Vernon, there aren't too many places where you can schedule an evening walk in the first week of December.  I'm very proud that both Alexa and Vernon wanted to walk back to the car instead of taking the shuttle bus;  Alexa, being the mini-me that she is, even ran part of the way back while holding my hand.  That's my girl!

Thank you again to everyone who supported us.  Through your generosity, we catapulted to the #8 slot in the fundraising for tonight's event - - wow.  I'm so proud that Granty's legacy is helping such a wonderful cause :)

Team Hovey!

Enjoying some quality time with Papa Hovey.

Hanging out with Miss Phoenix.

Ready to walk for a great cause.