Who wants to have lunch in a brothel?

Just about a week ago, Michael and I flew out to IL to visit Frankie. We had an amazing time! We got to take her on a hotel visit, and have her all to ourselves for the entire weekend for the first time in over a year. It was so wonderful. A piece of us is always missing without Frankie here. She'll be a lot of work when she comes home, but she is worth it all. The only person missing was Adam (but he'll get to go with us soon).

We got to Chaddock at around 10:15 on Saturday morning. We had a fairly quick family therapy session, and then gave Frankie the news about going on a hotel visit. She was so excited! We packed her bag and headed out. Our original plan was to head over to Hannibal, MO to visit the sites of Mark Twain's childhood home and stomping grounds, but the weather was truly icky. Instead, we ended up getting our nails done (Frankie & I), having lunch at TGI Friday (the brothel part comes later), and shopping for a dress and new sneakers for Frankie. We had a nice dinner and then headed back to the hotel. Frankie took a shower, I dried her hair, and we sent her to bed.





On Sunday, we got up and had breakfast, and then headed to church. We really like the Quincy, IL ward. Latter-Day Saints who live outside of Utah are always so grateful to have new people around. The members of the ward are so sweet. They always go out of their way to smile at us or welcome us. The first time we went, we were even asked to move there! It's so warming to the soul. After church we grabbed some lunch at a local Mexican place. We went back to our hotel, and Michael and Frankie took a swim while I took a rest. Then we headed back over to the Chaddock campus and made dinner for the staff members and other girls in Frankie's cottage. After dinner we headed back to the hotel and read books to Frankie and put her to bed. Then Michael and I worked on packing up so that we wouldn't have to worry about it the next day.

Monday morning we joined Tammy Teel (our Family Liaison at Chaddock) for breakfast at the Village Idiot ... I mean Inn for breakfast. Then we took Frankie for a haircut. Well, I did - Michael went back to the hotel to finish checking out. Frankie got an amazing haircut. It really transformed her face! She walked in looking like a 12/13 year old and walked out looking more like a 14/15 year old. It's kinda refreshing to have her look her age for a change. We like to see the outside reflecting positive changes in her.



I also had her eyebrows waxed (her first time). She was such a trooper.



After Frankie's mini-makeover we set off for Hannibal. We had lunch in a brothel (well, a former brothel) called Lulabelle's. Michael and I shared a drool-worthy hamburger (the best I've had in a long time). Behind our table was a framed set of easy-access Victorian undergarments (We did not point this out to Frankie). Our menu contained a history of the building, which apparently was one of the only buildings of the time to be built specifically for the purpose of entertaining gentlemen:



"111 Bird Street has a long and somewhat infamous history. Built in 1917 by an enterprising madam from Chicago named Sarah Smith, it was the only bordello specifically designed and constructed for its intended purpose....On the occasion of Sarah Smith’s death in 1932, another renowned madam, Bessie Heolscher, bought and refurbished the bordello in a lavish Spanish motif; very popular during that period. Like the madam herself, “the girls” were reputed to have been highly respected citizens; purchasing quality goods, paying their bills on time, and using discretion with their clientele."

After our delicious lunch, we headed off to the famous cave Mark Twain wrote about in his books. It was a just the neatest experience. It adds a whole new dimension to those treasured childhood books to be in the cave he wrote about. The cave is so special to the locals of Hannibal that our tour guide had even held here wedding there. I'm certain I wouldn't want to hold my wedding below bats, but I can understand her attachment. The cave is always a cool 52 degrees, and we were told that before air conditioning, locals would go there to sleep on many a hot summer's night. Creepy to me, but hey when you're hot, you're hot. Details of the cave are highlighted by modern electricity, but we also got to experience certain areas by candlelight. I can't imagine exploring the cave that way (the way Twain did). If you're ever in Hannibal, don't miss the cave visit!







(To quote Frankie, "Dad, I love you, but not like that. That would be sick and wrong.")

After Hannibal, we headed back to Quincy to drop Frankie off. It was sad to leave, but it was such a great visit. Seeing her growth is so validating. It's hard to be apart, but we have great hope for it having all been worthwhile.

We arrived home on Monday night, exhausted, but happy. We are still hoping that Frankie will be able come home in the not too distant future. It's all up to her to do the work, but we've seen some very positive changes.

Next week, my family comes to visit. I'm very excited (even if getting the house ready seems like a lot of work when you're pregnant). They're worth it though. We don't get to see them nearly as often as we'd like. I'll write about our upcoming visit soon.

Until next time...

Congratulations, it's a...

So, we had a vanity sonogram performed yesterday. Here in Utah, you can actually go to a sonogram facility and pay for a sonogram so that you can have extra little snapshots of your baby in gestation.

We knew it was a little soon (when I was 16 weeks along with Adam, our vanity sonogram indicated we were having a girl. Since most of you have met him, and know he's not a girl, you can know that he turned out to be a boy two weeks later at our "official" sonogram). So we knew we wouldn't be able to be certain of the results unless we saw a little, well you know...

What you about to see, ladies and gentlemen, is a picture taken from underneath and in between the legs. Three lines would indicate a girl. Three dots would indicate a boy. Surrounding the indicating parts you'll see a little bum and two legs. Without further ado, I give you....















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(okay, maybe a little further ado after all)











Thomas Cazier Hooten is due to arrive some time in mid-September. His middle name, Cazier, is the last name of our dear friends, Don Louis & Patricia Gaye Cazier. The Caziers are the missionaries that introduced us to our church. Even more importantly, they have served us as two of the greatest examples of unconditional love, kindness, joy, peace-giving, and service we have ever had the privilege of witnessing. Don Cazier passed away about five years ago, and we still miss him terribly. In the tradition of the Jewish faith, (which is my heritage) it is considered bad form to name your child after a living relative. Although we wish Don could be here to share in our upcoming bundle of boy, we are very grateful to be able to honor his memory in this way.

For those of that would care to see more than little Thomas' privates, here is a view of his sweet little face. I am predicting that he looks more like me than Michael. I was correct in predicting (via sonogram pictures) that Adam would look like Michael, so we'll see what happens.



We pray that this pregnancy will continue to progress smoothly. So far, all is well. We will continue to keep you posted.

Until next time...