An addition to the family

We are proud to announce that The Downes' will be welcoming a bundle of joy in November! Jon and I are both so excited for our new addition.

Here is the baby at about 13 weeks.

We will be having the baby in Ireland, so the little one will be both an Irish and an American citizen (way cool!) As if being pregnant weren't overwhelming and amazing enough, try navigating a completely foreign healthcare system. The maternity care here is free (which still is incredible to me), and the nurses and midwives are awesome.

I will try to keep this updated as we progress. Currently I'm 13 weeks along, but when the ultrasound was done a little over a week ago, the technician said the baby was measuring at about 12 weeks 6 days, so I don't really know where I am now. It still amazes me that I'm growing a little human. Man, life is good.

Hey, Europe!

Phew! The past couple of weeks have been busy, and not just because the end of term is coming up (though that doesn't help). Jon and I have been bouncing around Europe visiting Scotland, Spain, and France!

Scotland was great because we were able to catch up with some Cobleskill friends, and hang out with them for the weekend. Then on Sunday before we flew back to Dublin, we spent the day in Edinburgh. After enjoying Scotland for a couple of days, I cannot wait to go back.

Pictured here from the top left, is my friend Jess, who we were visiting; me and Jon on top of Hailes Castle; and a shot of Hailes Castle. The castle was right down the hill from where we were staying - on a farm. 

The crest at Edinburgh Castle, Jon and I at Edinburgh Castle looking over the city, Edinburgh Castle, and the world's best bagpiper (because it can't actually play- hah!) and Jon.

Spain was phenomenal. We really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere here. We toured around the city, visited another castle, rode in a cable car, and enjoyed a very sunny day at the beach.

We picked up my brother Logan in Barcelona, and the three of us made our way to Paris. We took a bicycle tour around the city and got to see some of the incredible sights. We also enjoyed a delicious crepe for lunch. Logan and I stayed in Versailles, and were able to see the Palace of Versailles (bottom left picture).

Logan and I flew back to Dublin after a slightly disappointing time in France. We were supposed to visit Normandy, but with the Easter holiday, the tour company's wires got crossed and gave us the wrong info. Long story short, we didn't go to Normandy :(. While in Ireland, I took Logan up to Northern Ireland for a day trip to the Giant's Causeway, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, and Belfast. We had gorgeous weather for a day on the northern coast.

I had a ton of fun adventuring around with my not-so-little brother. Hopefully we'll get to do it again in the future. Can't believe that boy graduates from high school in June. Man, I'm getting old.

An ocean away....

I may be in Dublin, but my heart and mind are in Lewis County.

My brother CJ, the 21 year old beast of a guy, has been diagnosed with a cavernous angioma – a small bleed on his brain. Apparently he’s had it since birth, but it wasn’t bleeding, until this past weekend. It’s a slow bleed, and he doesn’t need surgery, because it’s quite small and the extra blood will just be reabsorbed by the body, according to the neurosurgeon. The problem is that it’s been making him sick and literally giving him killer headaches for the past week. He’s afraid to eat or drink, thinking he will just throw it up, and the only thing I guess he can take for the headaches is Motrin or Tylenol, or something over the counter, and once it wears off, the excruciating pain wakes him out of a dead sleep. He’s been in and out of the emergency room several times this week because of the nausea and the pain, but there’s not much they can do. As of now, he's been admitted into the local hospital for dehydration, and they're planning on keeping him over night to help manage the vomiting and pain. It’s scary, no bones about it. What's even scarier, is there’s not a darn thing anyone can do about it.

It’s been tough for him and my mom, since she’s been taking care of him around the clock since Sunday. It’s been tough for all of us. I feel awful that I can’t be there to help; my dad, lord knows I love him dearly, doesn’t really handle these situations the best, and just ends up angry; and our younger brother Logan, well, he’s in senior mode and freaking out about college scholarships. Luckily family (blood and chosen) is close by, and my aunts, family friends, and grandma have deployed to help my mom out. I only wish I could do more than lend an ear. Its times like this that I wish I weren't an ocean away from my family.

I’m not a terribly spiritual person, but please, keep my brother in your thoughts and prayers while he is on the mend.

Here's a picture of me and CJ rocking the photo booth at my wedding in September.

Ducks across Ireland

While we were home for the holidays a retired racing duck found its way into our luggage bound for Dublin. The duck, a former member of the Oswegatchie Adironduck fleet, used to spend its days swimming down the West Branch of the Oswegatchie River. Now, the duck is making its way around the Emerald Isle.

Last week while my parents were visiting, the duck got a grand tour around Ireland.

From the top left: the duck with the infamous Molly Malone, who in addition to delivering cockles and mussels, enjoyed a trollop with the scallops; Me, a leprechaun, and the duck; the duck and it's handsome Irish duck friend; and, my dad and the duck having a blast at Bunratty Castle.

From the top left: the duck enjoying the local libations at the Old Jameson Distillery; the duck along the coast in Northern Ireland; me and the duck at the Cliffs of Moher; and, the duck at the Giants Causeway.

Stay tuned for more quack-tastic adventures of me and the duck. If you're interested in adopting a retired racing duck of your own, give Oswegatchie Education Center a shout. All money raised goes to a great cause - sending kids to summer camp!

Oh yeah, we saw Ireland

Last week mom, dad, and I were able to drink in the gorgeous Irish countryside. We toured the west of Ireland, visiting the Cliffs of Moher, Doolen, The Burren, Connemara, Kylemore Abbey, and Galway. We also were able to head north to check out Belfast, Carrick-a-Rede, the Giants Causeway, and other beautiful spots along the northern coast.

Images from top going clockwise-ish: Cliffs of Moher; me and dad crossing the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge: Dad, mom and me at Carrick-a-Rede; Mom and dad at The Burren; and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.

All of these images are from the Giants Causeway up in Northern Ireland. 

We had a fantastic time seeing everything, but I think the highlight, for me, was the northern tour of Carrick-a-Rede and the Giants Causeway. These are truly beautiful, well respected places - something that's hard to come by these days. And, I can't wait to go back (I think I'll take my brother north when he visits in April).