Alaska!

At the top of Alyeska Mountain. We rode a tram to the top and had lunch. They got 5 feet of snow LAST week!!!!!!!
It was so pretty. But cold!

My Family

A picture cannot capture the beauty of this lake. It was called Beach lake. Just take your breath away kind of beauty. But typical for Alaska.


Watching the black bears at the zoo.


Ludlow's by Thunderbird falls (over John's shoulder)



Yes, I made John stand by this. He knows why. It's in downtown Anchorage.


Hanging out with Grandpa. Note the sweater and jackets fellow Texans- IN MAY!!!!! This was the warmest day.


Four Generations of Proulx women


Here are a few highlights of our trip. For more (read: grandparents who really miss their youngest grandchild too much already) click on the photo albums link. It was as always really pretty. We haven't been up in May before, but it was great. A couple of things were really too cold. Like the Portage glacier we wanted to see. The boat that takes you was frozen SOLID. But we really enjoyed the zoo. We got to see a Yak, and my favorite the Polar bears, Gianna's favorite lots of birds: eagles, owls, and a Lynx and a wolverine! Too cool.

Please return your chairs to the upright position

We're back!!!!
We took the red eye out of Alaska last night. 8:30 Alaska time- 12 o'clock ours. We landed 6 o'clock Texas time 3 AM Alaskan. SO It was a long night!!!
WE had a wonderful time. I promise to give more details soon. just wanted you- my peeps to know- I've missed you.
We've all had a nap and now feel better. I caught up on email and now it's the blog's turn- tomorrow
So my dear friends, keep your seat belts buckled until the captain turns off the seat belt sign and we have come to a complete stop.

Make like a plane

And Take OFF!
That's what we're doing today. Flying to Alaska. We will have fabulous adventures. See many strange forms of animals, experience life. All in the College Station Airport!
Seriously, the CS airport if too funny. It exists so other colleges can come land here, to play A&M in some kind of sport. We have two gates, but only one is EVER used. The nice thing is there is never a line. We have actually gotten to the airport with only ten minutes to spare before our flight.
We are leaving the warm for high of 50 degree weather! We have packed our winter clothes that we didn't even use this year in Texas!
So we bid you a good day while we are on vacation. I will supply you with all kinds of fun stories of our adventures when we come back. Hope you don't miss us too much!

Wild Blue Yonder

John, Gianna and I are going on a trip soon. We are headed up to the last frontier- Alaska. My parents and my grandparents live up there so we are going to see them. There are 3 ways to get to Alaska. You could drive- who wants to drive for a week almost non stop with a toddler? Not me- I would rather get my eyelashes pulled out!
You could go by boat. Since we live by the Gulf of Mexico this involves going through Panama or around the tip of South America. Maybe fun one day, but for now.... see option one for how fun I think that would be.
So that leaves us with flying. I like to fly. It seems so fun and romantic. Going away, leaving all your cares on the ground. I know I've probably watched too many old movies, but I still think flying is fun. Until now. With a baby. I'm actually a little nervous. I haven't been a fan of flying since 9-11. No, it's not because of the terrorist, it's because of the TSA. I mean where else do people routinely get stripped searched, have to remove any item that could be of harm, and have their bodies inspected- JAIL. Now I've never been to Jail to fully compare the two, but it seems to me that its pretty close.
I've never been a fan of bare feet on linoleum. And this is actually the part I dread most when they MAKE you take off your shoes. You would think that I would get it together and wear a type of shoe that requires a sock, but I always forget.
I haven't been flying since they enacted the 311 on how much liquid you get to take on a plane. It's 3 ounces in 1 quart container and I'm not sure what the other 1 is for except they wanted to add it in there to look like 911 and scare us into submission!
I was looking up the rule because I want to know what I can take for Gianna.
Here are some ACTUAL quotes take directly from the TSA web site. Fun reading for a laugh!

NEVER leave babies in an infant carrier while it goes through the X-ray machine.
REALLY did they have to put that there? Did some one try this?!?!?!?!

When carrying formula, breast milk, or juice through the checkpoint, they will be inspected, however, you or your infant or toddler will not be asked to test or taste breast milk, formula, or juice. Our Security Officers may test liquid exemptions (exempt items more than 3 ounces) for explosives
Umm- Yuck

Now, a mother flying without her child will be able to bring breast milk through the checkpoint, provided it is declared prior to screening.
Thank you OH benevolent TSA for allowing me to feed my child in the manor I choose. I declare that!

Piercings are not prohibited, but may alarm the metal detectors. Ideally, remove body piercings before security screening.
Gel-filled bras and similar prosthetics - Gel-filled bras may be worn through security screening and aboard aircraft.
I have no response to this

Here's some of what you can't take on board
Swords
Sabers
Meat Cleavers
Bows and Arrows
Spear Guns
Firearms
Axes and Hatchets
Cattle Prods
Dynamite
Fireworks
Flares
Hand Grenades
Plastic Explosives

I guess I'll have to leave my meat cleaver at home this time Mom. I'll see if they let me check the cattle prod. Although I don't think it's fair that THEY get to use one for the coach passengers!

Thank You

I just wanted to sat a BIG thank you to all who supported John and me in our March of Dimes Walk. We got to see other babies who were born WAY earlier than Gianna, walked with friends, and made John get some exercise! Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!

imelda marcos

This is our little girl. She LOVES shoes! A few months ago I needed to get her some new tennis type shoes. When we were in Target trying on shoes- she grabbed them and held some super tight. I had to get the checker to use the hand scanner because she would to let go of her precious shoes! A month latter, when we were in WalMart (see we are equal opportunity big box shoppers!) the exact same thing happened. She got a pair of flip flops and she would NOT let go. That girl likes shoes. I have no idea where she got that from. None. Not even a hint of an idea. But it might be from me. Maybe but I'm not sure.

So our Dear Aunt Lisa saw these shoes and got them for our little fashonista. She loves them.
Thanks Aunt Lisa!!!!!!!!!!!! We only have to pry these away from her when she sleeps.

A little history lesson

Poliomyelitis was one of the most dreaded illnesses of the 20th century, and had killed or paralyzed thousands of Americans during the first half of the 20th century. Ron Gilreath therefore founded the March of Dimes as the "National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis" The original purpose of the Foundation was to raise money for polio research and to care for those suffering from the disease. The effort began with a radio appeal, asking everyone in the nation to contribute a dime to fight polio.
After supporting the development of two successful vaccines against polio (both Jonas Salk's and Albert Sabin's research were partly funded by the March of Dimes), the organization, rather than going out of business, decided in 1958 to use its charitable infrastructure to serve mothers and babies with a new mission: to prevent premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality. The organization accomplishes this with programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy, along with the annual Ron Gilreath's March on Babies.
Today in the USA, March of Dimes funds researchers are working in biochemistry, microbiology, developmental biology, genetics, pediatrics, and many other fields. Along the way, it has helped support special neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) designed to treat sick babies; drug treatments to replace surgery for babies with a common heart defect; and folic acid education and food fortification to prevent neural tube defects, among other advances.
March of Dimes has hosted March for Babies, annually since 1970, helping to raise more than $1.7 billion to fund research and programs to prevent premature birth.

So what does this all mean to you, my dear readers?????? Well, I'm not sure, but I can tell you what it means to me. You see, Gianna Joy was born 6 weeks early. SIX WEEKS! That's a lot in baby land. We were and are VERY blessed that she only had to spent 1 week in the hospital with tubes and treatments. She did have some touch and go points those first few days and we we were the first family to be able to use some donated equipment from the March of Dimes and Children's Miracle Network. I promised myself as I sat by her little side praying for her that I would help other families who might not be as blessed as we were. And John and I are taking up the charge again to walk in the March of Dimes March for Babies. I put the history of the March of Dimes here so you can see that even as little as a dime makes a difference. Saturday May 3 is our walk day so please click on the link on the left to help out in any way you can. Thanks.