Life with Lotus Maria and Lucian Stone

Hey all - So we have a new photo of Lotus as you can see. She now weighs 12.4 lbs and is 23inches. Her health is perfect and she smiles, babbles and yells. These updates really make the time that we wait easier.

We are still hoping we can bring her home in February. We are in Family Court and only have one stage after that.

I saw many of you at my mom's memorial on Sunday, which was a wonderful day. I will post some photos once I get them from my dad. Though this has been a really difficult and trying time so many of your kind words and phone calls have been wonderful and apologize that I haven't been better about getting in touch.

Here is a new photo of Lotus

Our little one has a name... Lotus Maria Stanton Pearl. She is making her way through the court system as we speak. She entered family court on Monday, Nov 14th and we still hope to pick her up in February. I am so happy I have something to look forward to during this tough time.

My mom's obituary was published on Nov. 5th in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. I am copying on to the blog in case you didn't see it


MARY FRANCIS PEARL

A memorial service will be held for Mary Francis Pearl, who died October 24, on November 27th at 1pm at Café Lido in Capitola. Mary would have been 68 on October 31.

Mary Pearl was born in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from Immaculate Heart High. After her high school graduation she entered the Immaculate Heart order IHM and while a nun with the Immaculate Heart Order she graduated from Immaculate Heart College with a Bachelor's in Education and began her teaching career. Her career was derailed when she caught polio and she spent several years rehabilitating while getting her fifth year teaching credential. Eventually she became a principal of St. Gregory's School. Mary left the Immaculate Heart order in 1968. She then began teaching at Bayside Middle School, where she was introduced to her future husband by one of her fellow teachers. She married in 1972 and relocated to Santa Cruz. During her 30 years in Santa Cruz she was a member of the Soquel School District School Board and worked as a teacher's aide with special needs children. She also was very politically active working on many local campaigns and volunteering for causes near to her heart. She loved to travel and she and her family traveled all over the world together. She and her husband moved to Vancouver, Washington in 2001.

She is survived by her husband, Arthur Pearl, her daughters Rachel Pearl of Vancouver Wa., and Esther Pearl of San Francisco, Ca., her stepsons, Del and Daniel Pearl, her brothers, Marshall and Michael Dunne and her granddaughters Kaiya Shalom and Lotus Maria.

Donations are preferred to the Columbia River Adult Day Center, 7409 NE Hazel Dell Ave, Vancouver, WA 98665.

Last night was Dia De Los Muertos in San Francisco and I made an alter for my mom. It was a really beautiful event with tons of different alters from the elaborate to the delicate and personal. My girlfriends Kathy, Leeann, Renee and Ellen, all of whom have also lost their mothers, joined me. We each lit a candle in remembranceof our moms. As soon as the candles were lit a big celebration broke out right near our alter with samba drummers and dancers. I think my mom appreciated that.

Here's our latest picture of our little one. She is doing very well. She is now 10.8 lbs and 14 inches. According to the doctor she is in perfect health.

It has been a very difficult week with the passing of my mom on Oct. 24th. She at least got to see pictures of her the day that we found out about her, but it makes me so sad that she will never get to meet her. I truly appreciate all of your love and support over the past week.

We will be having a memorial for my mom on Nov. 27th at 1pm at Cafe Lido in Santa Cruz.