The Hoovers are back in action!

Alright so my first promise that we'd be right back didn't quite happen, but this time, maybe this time, the Hoovers will truly be back in action. The second half of 2010 was a little rough for all of us and well, the first half of January 2011 isn't turning out to be so great either. We've been handed our share of hard times and have plowed through. So with all of it behind us we march on.

In June, poor Sam spent nearly a month on and off (more on than off) with an unrelenting stomach virus. Poor Matt managed to catch it twice. We were constantly changing sheets and outfits - both Sam's and our own. After many bottles of Pedialyte and a trip to visit me at work for IV fluids, Sam eventually bounced back just in time to make our trek across the country to visit Delaware. By mid July, Sam was gaining back the weight he had lost and was back to his busy self.

Over the summer, we made the difficult decision to sell our house. With the economy struggling and the housing marking in Phoenix tanking, we had to get out. So we spent the month of August packing up our house. Sam celebrating his first birthday amongst mountains of boxes, but that didn't stop the cake eating festivities. With everything bubble wrapped (including Sam) and all boxes taped up, Matt and I spent our second anniversary moving to our new house. Maybe we'll actually get to go on a date for our third anniversary. Third times a charm, right?


We were started to get settled into our new house and use to having a mobile toddler when Mom-mom starting getting sicker and sicker. October was met with her passing. She had 90 healthy years that included a great love, a successful business, great adventures, many days fishing, dancing, and beachcombing, and shared her life with two daughters, four grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Who could ask for anything more for their grandmom? But we will still miss her.

As if the day Mom-mom passed away wasn't hard enough, Matt and I spent that evening in the ER with Sam after our curious little man hunted down a scorpion and was stung. While Matt knew something was wrong, I refused to be "that mom" who brought their kid to the ER for crying. The kids are always fine by the time they get there. After two hours of unconsolable screaming, I finally noticed that he refused to open his eyes. Sure enough, that were beating back and forth - a serious sign of a scorpion sting. So we loaded in the car and rushed off to the hospital. One dose of antivenum and 30 minutes later, Sam was back to normal. The next day, you would never know anything happened to the little guy. I mean seriously, he was only 13 months old as he'd already had two ER visits.

2011 came and we thought it would be a new year. We truly felt like we had had our share. We made in through all the drama plus croup and a double ear infection which may seem minor but definitely make life with a 1 year old rough. But it wasn't over. Matt had to make the tough decision to put his faithful companion of almost 16 years to sleep. Poor Garci just wasn't the dog he once was. He could no longer get up on his favorite spot on the couch, no longer chased his toy, and spent most of his days sleeping. It seems he was suffering from complications of liver failure and left us yesterday for the meaty steak in the sky.

They say every cloud has a silver lining. With that in mind, we're moving forward. I've taken some time off in December and January to get caught up and regroup. Matt has found himself busy once again in real estate. Sam is happy and healthy and has turned into one busy, mischievous little boy. We were lucky to have Matt's dad and Laurie move just 15 minutes minutes away from us, and there is a rumor that Sam has a certain Gram moving in the next few months. Even more great news in grandparent land, Dad and Carol and celebrating Carol's victory over colon cancer. We are looking forward to our search this summer for a new house - one with a landscaped backyard and perhaps a pool (even though I can't believe I have to pack again.) Despite all of trials over the past 6 months, we are truly fortunate for all that we have. We have not been the victims of any natural disasters or mass casualties. We have not been stricken with any serious illnesses. We are employed, healthy, safe and most importantly have each other. We are so thankful to have wonderful friends and loving and supportive families - those that are no longer with us, those that are here with us now, and those that will join our crazy clan in the future (no I'm not pregnant.)

So this blog is dedicated to Garcia and Mom-mom. We love and will miss you.

March 1995-January 2001

November 1919 - October 2010

Mom-mom, I hope you're up there telling Pop-pop all about Matt and Sam. I know he would have loved them as much as I do, and I'm so sorry he didn't get the chance to meet them. OK, I know this is a stretch but if you see a little gray shaggy dog up there named Garcia, pat him on the head for us or at least throw him his toy.