In memory of my brother Robert

Anson Vosco Call

When we lived in Texas we did so much with my brother Robert and his family and my little sister Lee and James.

When I took Anson for his two week check up after he was born, I also took Brianna for a well check because I had that mother's intuition that something was wrong. Also, she had lost so much weight very rapidly. The doctor thought Brianna was healthy and dismissed her after her check up. Before I left the office I asked the nurse if they could draw some lab because I just had a feeling that something wasn't right. A little bit hesitant, he gave me some lab orders. That night the pediatrician called me and told me that our 8 year old was diabetic and that she needed to be hospitalized for insulin therapy immediately. The doctor told me to take her back to the office, fasting, the next morning to double check. Dick was at a speech meet in Houston, Texas. Luckily I had my brother who would come see me every day. He was visiting that night as usual. Him and his family would spend the evening at our house almost every night. I remember going to Robert in tears, telling him there must be some kind of mistake. He held me tight and so did his sweet wife and reassured me that all would be well. The next morning while Richie and Giselle were at school, Robert picked us up and took us to the pediatrician. I remember him caring for Anson so tenderly while I went with Brianna to have her lab drawn again. Our worst nightmare was true. Brianna was diabetic. I had just recently lost my mother to diabetic complications. When the doctor told Brianna she was diabetic, she fell apart. She thought she was going to die like my mother. The doctor told her, "It's okay, you'll just need insulin shots for the rest of your life." Not a very kind doctor. I remember trying to comfort Brianna as my brother tried to comfort me. He kept reassuring me that we would get through this and not to worry about leaving Anson with him and his wife, Liz. He took Brianna and I to the hospital and took Anson with him to his house. He also called Dick so that he could fly back home. I remember feeling at ease about leaving my children and my newborn with my brother because I knew they were in good hands. When Dick returned, he took the older children home but left Anson with my brother and his wife. Anson stayed there for two weeks while Brianna was in the hospital and while we adjusted to teaching her how to prick her finger and give herself 5-8 insulin shots a day. We had to learn to deal with her highs and her lows and we also had to learn a totally new diet plan. Robert would come to the hospital 3 times a day to get my milk that I would save for the baby. In the evenings they would bring Anson to me so that I could nurse him and then they'd take him back home.

(I am so thankful for these pictures. These were the days that I didn't take very many pictures. I have these photos because of my brother Robert.)

During this experience, needless to say, Robert bonded with Anson like no other. 

My sister in law, Liz did too.

Stephanie, their little girl, referred to Anson as her little brother.

I think Liz changed his diaper more than me.

This was at their house and they taught him how to hold a bottle with my milk at a very early age.

They would spend every evening at our house.

July 4, 1995 (Independence Day) 

We were watching the fireworks from the roof of our house on Harvey Street/McAllen, TX

Dick is playing Santa for the family on Christmas Eve. Notice who's holding the baby?

Anson would spend a lot of time at their house. They would come visit, and he would go home with them.

Sometimes when Robert would come visit he would say it was time for him to head home. All of a sudden Anson would disappear and a little while later we would find him standing by the front door, holding his blanket, ready to go.

I love this next group of photos. They were also taken at Robert's house.

Anson's first birthday.

He didn't want to play at his birthday party even though we hired a cute clown. He wanted to cuddle with Robert.

Robert would always pull his hair back and call him Steven Seagal.

We'd go to the ocean almost every weekend.
 In fact it was in South Padre Island, a few days after Anson was born, when Robert noticed that Brianna
 couldn't quench her thirst. (The 2nd picture above.) 
That was the first thing that made me wonder 
 if something was wrong.

Shortly after this picture was taken, we moved to Burley.
 When we first moved here, Anson would go around calling for Robert and Liz. Always looking for them.
 We have him in a home video doing this.

Miles and miles kept us apart. I firmly believe that a relationship that doesn't get nurtured constantly fades away. But the memories will always be there. These memories and the memories that I carry in my heart of when I was a little girl. Him and his first wife would take me and my other two sisters to the beach quite often. I spent a lot of time with him, his ex-wife, and his two children when I was a kid. Thank you dear brother for everything that you did for me and my family. Thank you for loving my family but especially taking such good care of Anson when I needed so much help.

Robert was diagnosed with liver cancer last year. I think around November. Robert passed away on June 30th at the age of 62. He was surrounded by his dear wife, children, and most of my siblings. I love you Robert and I know we will meet again. Give Mom, Dad, and my two brothers a big hug and kiss for me and tell them we'll all be together one day.

The picture of Anson with the red t-shirt that we used for his graduation announcement was taken by Robert and Liz. He was playing at their house.

Princess Festival

Aubrey and I had a girls date with Miss Sophie and Miss Grace.
 We took them to the 2013 Princess Festival at Thanksgiving Point. 
Aubrey and I woke up at 4:30 and left Burley at 6 am.
We arrived in Logan at 8 am and woke up the girls. 
They were so cute!
When I woke Grace up, she kicked the blankets off of her and stretched her arms so that I could carry her. 
It was fun helping with their hair and helping get them dressed.
We stopped at Walmart in Brigham. I told the girls that I was leaving the car running because they were to stay in the car with Aubrey while I ran in to get them some water and an apple. I got the girls some super cute sunglasses and some sparkly flats which they weren't even expecting.
They were so cute and so grateful.
About 20 minutes before we got there, both girls fell asleep. It was a 2 hour drive. When we got to the children's garden at Thanksgiving Point, I woke them up.

We probably saw about 20 event banners for the festival as we drove towards it.
Every time we'd pass by one, Grace would yell at the top of her lungs, "Grandma! Princess Festival! It's getting closer!"
We got there an hour and a half before their session started so we had lunch with the girls.

 This wasn't a very good idea because we were told not to bother the princesses because they were also having their lunch break.
 The girls were ready to go on their adventure
 so they had to be very patient for over an hour.
It was pure torture for them! 
We decided to let them play in the water to cool them off while they waited. It was 110 degrees.
 Playing in the water also kept them busy.

Ready or not... Here we go!!!

First you get sprinkled with a little fairy dust. 
Sophia didn't want some but Grace asked if they could do it 3 times. 
I think she liked the twirling.

 This is the first person we saw and the girls were a little bit worried.

 When we first got there, they gave the girls a wrist band, and a Princess Kadesia story book. In the back of the story book there were places for the children to get the princess' autographs.

  At first Grace was unsure what it meant to get an autograph.

 I love Miss Sophie's expression in this picture.

The little princesses decided they wanted their faces painted.

Our beautiful Call girls. 

Sophia kept telling Grace she was a princess and Grace would respond with, "No! I'm a cat!"

 Grace became an expert at getting autographs.

 We noticed that the little girls that were standing in line in front of us to get autographs from Cinderella didn't want anything to do with Prince Charming.

 When Cinderella asked Grace if she wanted Prince Charming's autograph she said, "Yes!"

 Yes! Grace became very comfortable with the autograph thing and introducing herself.

 Robin Hood

 Princess Kadesia's story

 Two very exhausted princesses.

The girls worked up an appetite with all the walking and the heat.

This was a fun McDonald's for the girls. 

 I wanted to give my granddaughters a princess so that they could always remember this special day.

I loved how the young women who portrayed all the princesses were very simple. They didn't have tons of makeup, glitter, and ribbons. They were all different sizes. After all, a  true princess is not a diva. A true princess is a young woman who shows compassion, kindness, honesty, integrity, and self respect.

Just like my Aubrey ;)