A celebration not to be denied!

This past Saturday Melissa and I set off for a long planned and much needed night away in Sonoma at a place called The Lodge to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We dropped the kids off with our trusted friends Jamie & Amanda along with their three kids. We new the kids were in good hands and we did not have a care.

In preparation I cleaned the car and even filled it with premium gas.

It was a beautiful sunny day with a high in the mid to upper 70s and we drove up the very scenic I-280 which has to be one of the nicest urban interstates around.

When we hit San Francisco we decided to go through the city on 19th street which cuts through to the Golden Gate bridge. It turns out a lot of other folks had the same idea and the traffic was pretty bad and we would often have to sit through the same light two or three times. Our progress was painfully slow and I had to work hard to keep myself from getting frustrated and I thought back to the other times I had been stuck in traffic on 19th street. I stayed zen though and we started to get close and have a glimpse of the bridge.

We were about three lights from breaking through when I heard the cooling fan of the car come on and run. I knew it was hot and we had been in traffic for a while so I was not too concerned really. We made it through one more light with just a few to go to freedom when I looked down and saw that the radiator light was glowing orange and the temperature of the car was peg in the red at 120 degrees C!! I knew I had to act fast so we pulled over on Geary which I knew was a semi-major road because I hoped there might be help near there.

My second thought was disappointment because I knew that this could be a serious blow to our night away and the spa that awaited us.

We were able to find a free space along the curb (which was a small miracle) and pull over and stop the car. I opened the hood and looked at the reservoir and sure enough there was no water registering in the system, bone dry as they say. Fortunately we were right next to a small corner store and I thought I would just go in and get some water and we would be on our way.

After securing a couple of gallons of water I started filling up the radiator only to have water start running out from under the car into the gutter. Not good, not good at all!

At this stage Melissa suggested calling AAA to get them to help. In the mean time I bent down under the car to see how bad things were. a quick inspection indicated that the water was coming from somewhere around the bottom of the radiator. I reached under to discover that the hose had become disconnected from the base of the radiator. Fortunately the hose seemed to be in good shape still. The bad news was that the clamp was broken and there was no car parts store in sight (only ethnic restaurants).

I went back into the local shop and tried to find something that could be used to clamp the hose.

In the mean time Melissa got through to AAA but they only offer gas, towing and battery charges. I did not want to take the time to tow the car so I told them I would call them back if I needed them.

The shop had nothing (without getting all MacGyver) so we decided to scout around to see what we can find.

The first thing we found was a tire shop but they didn't have anything to help us however they did point out that 7 blocks up there was an auto parts store.

We decided to keep going and came to a Midas muffler shop and Melissa decided to go in and give it a try. It turns out they had a clamp that was about the same size (I was carrying the broken clamp) and they sold it to us for $5.

We headed back to the car and the little shop (i needed to buy screw drivers too).

I fitted the new clamp on and we refilled the radiator. Upon starting the car we saw that there were no leaks!! We watched it for a few moments just to make sure. With no leaks we turned and went on our way!

Below is a picture of me enjoying a beer in Sonoma with much relief on my face! Our trip to Sonoma and our anniversay celebration was not denied!

I'd do it all again...

Happy 10Th Anniversary to Melissa and Me!!!

We just watched our wedding video and my weren't we allot younger then (and so were many of the people who read this and appeared in the video!)

What a wonderful, busy, hectic, challenging, exciting, rewarding, emotional, satisfying, mystifying 10 years it has been. 3 kids, 3 continents, 4 jobs, 5 houses, dozens of visits, thousands of miles flown and one great experience!

Melissa and I kicked off our marriage in a whirlwind ending up in Australia and it continues to be a beautiful supportive, trusting and respectful relationship after all these years. I am so very proud of her accomplishments, appreciative of her support along the way and happy with how things have turned out for us with our large (ish) family that we have created and dragged around the globe.

What a wonderful experience and 10 years it has been and I look forward to the rest of the adventure together.

We hope that everyone can make the most of their short time on this earth and appreciate each and every moment.

Thanks for all of the support from friends and family who have helped make it possible for us along the way. We love and appreciate you.

John & Melissa (10 years in!!)

View of Things to Come

The other night we had a brief glimpse of things to come around here. Julia received her first phone call from a friend "just to talk"! It was her classmate Kayla and they had just seen each other earlier at school and apparently they had more things to talk about. I overheard some of the conversation and it circled around all things Pokemon. These things cannot apparently wait of course.

They talked for about 20 minutes and then hung up. I think I heard Julia say "talk to you again soon!"

I can imagine hours of time on the phone with us saying "Julia, please get off the phone" about 100 times before it takes affect.

Oh boy!

The things kids say - Nicolas edition

Sometimes our kids say the funniest things!

This little conversation occurred today between Nicolas and Melissa on their way up to the school to pick up the girls:

"Mommy -- when I get married my wife and I will live in my room. We will have bunk beds. The top one can be hers and we can make it pink". I said that was a good idea and that Julia & Lea's husbands can sleep in bunk beds in their rooms too. He said, "yea, and all of our children can sleep in the loft. You and Daddy can stay in your room".

It sounds like we should plan for a houseful one of these days!

Congratulations Melissa & Crew!

Melissa and her refugee volunteer friends Elsa and Andrea have just been selected as finalists for Catholic Charities USA’s 2009 Volunteer of the Year Award!!

This is wonderful recognition of the incredible dedication and hard work these ladies put in for those men, woman and children in need. They tirelessly give their time and energy into making these folks lives better and I am proud of all of them (but especially proud of Melissa of course!)

Right now a distinguished panel of judges is undertaking the tough task of selecting the winner of this year’s award, which will be announced during National Volunteer Week April 19. The recipient will be honored at the Catholic Charities USA’s Annual Gathering in Portland on September 26. So if they win they get to have a trip up to lovely Portland to receive the award.

Keep your fingers crossed as we will find out in a little over 3 weeks. They are already winners in my book though because they have touched so many lives in such a positive and caring way.

Great job Melissa!!

Happy Birthday Lea!!

It is celebration season here at chez Kreisa and today we are celebrating Lea's 7th birthday!

She already had part of her present by going to the basketball game and today we will be going and getting her some good sports shoes and doing what ever she wants. Tonight we will have a BBQ with friends and her grandparents Ray and Louise who are visiting and continue the celebration!!

As we have always done we read the kids birth stories on their birthday.

Léa Rose Kreisa – Birth Story
March 21st, 2002 (First Day of Spring!) Paris, France

7:50 AM Left the house for the taxi stand down the street – ‘Gare Henri Martin’. Julia playing happily with Mel’s parents. The weather is cool, cloudy and dry. Not any cabs at the stand, which is unusual. Melissa getting anxious, John proposing to take the RER train in. Not the way Melissa wants the baby’s birthday to begin (crowded, underground train)! Taxi finally comes after 20/30 minutes. It is a Mercedes! Wahoo!

Still don’t have a girls name picked out! By the time we get to the hospital, we have agreed on Lauren, Anneka, Jenna or Léa. Last minute, JK says Léa doesn’t work for him. We are down to three…

8:35 AM Arrived Hospital American in Neuilly-sur-seine. Checked in and paid 5,000 Euro deposit – yikes! John breaks into a tiny sweat (probably only half the cost). The admissions people speak broken English, but we did pretty well understanding… Not too nervous. Up to the room (466) with a nice view. Everyone so far very friendly and helpful.

9:10 AM Nurses and midwife stopping by with instructions. Anesthesiologist too. Melissa unpacks (she is getting nervous now). Flurry of people in and out of the room. Mel has a shower with pink betadine. She thinks the gown should open in the front, not the back. Rather see boobies at this stage in her life… She agrees with John to go with the ‘back view’. Not very chic…

9:15 AM Head to the monitoring area to check baby’s heartbeat, contractions, etc. All seems ok.

10:00 AM Back in room. Nurse brings in meds. Neither of us understands instructions (French). Call nurse back to make sure. Mel takes 1st ‘happy pill’ but feels sick right away. Takes the stomach calmer and all is well again. Mel very relaxed. JK still discussing a name for a girl.

11:00 AM Still waiting in room. Mel dozing. JK reading magazines sent from Maguires (thanks Paul & Sheila!).

11:25 AM Orderly comes to take us upstairs (5th floor, top). Mel on gurney, goes in to surgical area. JK goes in to small waiting area. Looks like an old sunroom. Very bright with rooftop view. JK happy there is a coffee machine and a wooden box of fresh baguettes (not kidding!). JK figures out how to use the machine (no instructions) – very good.

Mel having different experience in operating room. Getting VERY nervous and a bit shaky. Four or five people all chatting very quickly in French. Putting in tubes and spinal anesthesia. Hurts a bit but mostly just a freaky, unsettling sensation. They lay Mel down and put the drape up. Mel can see what is happening in the reflection of the light on the ceiling. Nerves have turned to panic. Blood pressure drops then shoots back up. Mel starts crying. Doc says, “those don’t look like tears of joy”. Anesthesiologist very comforting and calming. JK comes in dressed in scrubs. Mel mouths that she is scared. JK starts telling Mel how no French scrub sizes were big enough for his male American hiney. Says he is sitting next to Mel with plumbers butt. Mel feeling better =).

12:20 Instead of deep breathing (no need) JK “coaches” Mel to concentrate on the view. Very nice of Paris rooftops. Lovely, beautiful distraction. Doctor says it is taking a while because she has to remove previous scarring from Julia’s C-section. JK keeps getting unwanted glimpses from the lamp reflection (yuck!).

12:32 Pace changes quickly and people begin pushing on Mel’s upper abdomen. Doc says baby is “stuck”. There is a lot of activity and out SHE comes!!! We hear her first cries but can’t see her right away. They put her up over the screen. She is cheesy, bloody and beautiful. Doc asks if those are tears of joy. Mel sobbing yes =). They take the baby away, but quickly bring her back wrapped in a blanket. We only get a few minutes to look and a quick kiss. JK goes out with her and Melissa gets put back together. They mark the baby bassinette with “fille (girl) Kreisa” since she still doesn’t have a name! Mel goes to recovery.

1:15 Mel in recovery obsessing on names. Happy with Rose for middle name. Can’t get a feel for the first name. Back in the room, JK is holding baby thinking it should be Léa.

2:00 Finally, all together. Mel tells JK he looks happy – asks if he has picked a name… He has a silly grin on his face and says yes, Léa.

Léa Rose Kreisa . . . perfect!

Game night for Lea (updated)

Last night we had the first of several birthday presents for Lea. She got to go to a Golden State Warriors game against their rival (and playoff bound) the Dallas Mavericks with me and one of her very favorite adults (man-child really :)) Darren.

We had a great time at the game which all started with serious rock star parking thanks to the folks at JustTix.

Our seats were just OK but for Lea she got the whole experience. We saw the teams warming up, all of the other pre-game activities and we stopped by the NBA display which allowed you to compare your feet, hands and height to NBA players. I must say Lebron James has HUGE hands and feet.

She enjoyed many of her favorite food groups like hot dogs, Gatorade, pretzels and nachos! Of course Darren and I were able to stave off thirst with our favorite BEvERage.

Here is a photo of Lea and I at the game taken with Darren's phone camera (and instantly emailed to Melissa at home I might add). The quality is a bit blurry but not the memories!

Best of all the Warriors won the game and they were not favored. They had all of their top players healthy and really gave the Mavericks a hard time inside, outscoring them in the paint 52-36. This made for lots of exciting dunks and gave us plenty to cheer about.

Darren also gave Lea a Warriors shirt at the game which she loves. She slept in it last night and is still wearing it this morning. I am not sure we will be able to get her to take it off!

Thanks Darren for making this a great time for Lea (and for me). She is all abuzz this morning and that is what we had hoped for!

Darren just sent me another phone picture from the evening and it was so cute I had to add it. It is Darren and Lea at the game.

Let the swimming begin!

This past weekend it was so warm in the Bay area that we decided to hit the pool (it is heated).

So I took Lea and Nicolas for a dip. The sun was stronger than I thought we all got a little too much but it was a ton of fun.

I shot some video.

Check it out!

Jumping in.



Diving in (Nicolas where did you learn that!



Lea getting some laps in.

Happy Birthday to Julia!!!

Today we are celebrating Julia's 9th birthday! She has had a pretty big weekend already because yesterday she went to San Francisco to have lunch and see the Broadway play Wicked with her friend Lindsey who also has a 9th birthday today. Then they came back and the two families (10 in all!) descended on Red Robin for dinner where they brought out special birthday girl ice creams. The evening finished with a sleepover at our house. They are upstairs as I write this singing the songs from the play with the help of her first gift a Wicked musical sound track.

We also like to go back and read her birth story. This never occurs without getting teary eyed.

Here it is:

Julia Rae Kreisa – Birth Story

Mar 7th, 2000 7:45 AM: Think you are finally on your way! Mel woke up with a "show". Having what feels like "real", but light contractions. Doctor’s appt at 9:15, so we will see. Taking the hospital bag with us...
6:30 PM Finally!! Contractions are 5 minutes apart, regular and sharp. We came to the hospital and straight into the birthing room. Taking pictures. I am writing while Mel is checked out. Excited, excited!! Called parents, Moxleys and Butlers before we left.
7:00 PM Mel is trying very hard and the contractions are very sharp. The midwife just estimated 8.5lbs -- oh my. (Picture between contractions!!)
7:25 PM Dr. Monroe shows up, ruptures membrane and shows us a piece of baby hair!! It's reddish blond -- WILD!!!
7:35 PM Contractions very, very strong and tiring.
7:40 PM Mel throws up first time. She is having a very rough time.
7:45 PM Contractions too strong!! Dr. Monroe says it's going to be a long night, wants Mel to consult epidural lady when she comes in -- she is down the hall with another woman. Wow! Pain. 8:00 PM I'm a little gassy, Mel not amused =) =).
8:20 PM Mel's face very strained, getting blood pressure taken by midwife Judy. Contractions are so strong. Still waiting for anesthesiologist.
8:30 PM Anesthesiologist arrives, Mel asks her to explain process and risks again. 1/2 way through Mel says "forget it, just give it to me". Another big contraction. Helps when I stand at foot of bed and Mel pushes her legs against mine. Mel has the shakes, trying to smile through it though.
8:37 PM Start epidural.
8:45 PM Mel throws up again, still shaking. Midwife wraps her in a warm blanket.
8:55 PM Wow, epidural working. Mel looks much better, more relaxed.
9:00 PM Another contraction. Mel says there is pressure but not pain. Midwife thinks things are moving along well.
9:35 PM Things on track, 5-6 cm dilated. Midwife stays with us and chats. Called Mel's parents. Mel very philosophical about taking epidural. (Wanted to go "natural" but not worth being so "out of it"!) Dr. Monroe called in, Midwife will call her when head is in view. Amazing how things are under control (since epidural). Mel relaxed, chatting, me writing.
9:40 PM Discovered reclining chair!
10:10 PM Mel tells midwife from the baby class "I don't remember anything from the class"!
10:20 PM Call from Stephen Chapman (Nephew of Ann and Terry Butler) checking in.
10:45 PM All still well. Mel awake, John drowsy!
10:50 PM Second boost on the epidural. The first was 10:25. Mel regulates the machine by pressing a button. Midwives tell us not to let it fade out.
11:20 PM Slept a little. Met new midwife Diane, seems nice. Worked as midwife for aboriginals in Alice Springs for a couple of years. Great stories...
March 8, 2000
12:15 AM Diane says Mel has a "super uterus"! It is contracting as though she has been given drugs. Says she was destined for the epidural, will probably need it for future children.
1:30 AM Had exam by Diane. Cervix not any more dilated, still only 5 cm. She advises us that a ceasar could be needed. She said to get some sleep and she'll check again in a couple of hours.
6:00 AM Dr. Monroe examined Mel. No further dilation, (big baby, small pelvis). Dr. says we could keep trying over next 24 hours -- but could put undue stress on baby and Mel and we might have to end up with ceasar anyway. She recommends we go ahead now. We say yes and they start getting staff together. Dr. estimates we go in around 7:30. Mel can have an epidural block and be awake.
7:20 AM Heading for surgery. Mel being prepped, me in side room getting dressed. I'm set to go in a minute.
8:07 AM Baby is born!!! Hello Julia Rae Kreisa 3.66 KG, 50 CM. Operating "theater" had Dr. Monroe, midwife Judy, pediatrician Dr. Jenkins, an anesthesiologist, a RN Nurse and a Dr's assistant. Kind of intimidating. Mel had oxygen mask on and a screen up at chest level. Doctor didn't really talk through what was happening except when she said "there will be some pressure now". Mel grimaced. Said later it felt like Julia was walking across her insides. We heard a baby cry, Mel said "is that the baby!!??" and Dr. Monroe held her up and said, "you have a new baby Julia" -- so amazing!!!!

Big Burger!

On my recent trip to Washington D.C. we went out to celebrate a very successful event.

We went out for a team dinner and I order the biggest hamburger I have ever had! It was almost 6 inches high! It was an awesome kobe beef burger with bacon and cheese and fresh vegetables.

Here is a picture, amazingly enough I was able to finish the entire thing!

Swimming graduation day

I've blogged several times about the kids swimming at the Santa Clara Swim Center and how rigorous the program is in terms of swim techniques. Of course we are all for this and as a result of going there for a couple of seasons they are all water safe.

Well this past week we learned that Julia and Lea have graduated to the pre-competitive program. This is a great step and now they will have even more focus on fundamentals.

Needless to say we are very proud of them and how they have advanced. This is also this is the year where we learn if they really like swimming.

Congratulations Julia and Lea!

Longish layoff

It has been a few weeks since my last post. I've been spending a bit more time on facebook and been busy with travel etc.

I have a few videos which shows some of the activity here around the house over the last few weeks.

First Julia dancing, and she is quite good if I do say so myself.




Secondly Julia dancing with me and she is quite good if I do say so myself.