Fall, 2002

"Jackson K. Stenborg"

who arrived at New York's NYU Medical Center, Tisch Bldg.(right in the heart of New York City) on the eve of August 12, 1999 at 8:15pm EDT! Baby Jackson weighed in at 6 lbs.,8.4oz andwas 20" long at birth. Jackson was born to parents Tammy and Derek Stenborg and this is their very first child. Derek and Tammy were married back in Tammy's home town of Davenport, Iowa and in August, 1999 they celebrated their third wedding anniversary. Both of them are involved in the performing arts. Tammy loves to sing and act and Derek has his band he regularly plays with .During the time of Jackson's arrival, Derek was working with producer Tim Burton on a film based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and helped to paint the scenery.

Fortunately for Derek and Tammy, the two "grandmas" were able to come and offer their very needed help. Myra Kreiter(Tammy's mom) arrived from Davenport, Iowa right before the baby was born and in fact assisted in the delivery. Margaret arrived later on August 23 and was able to stay until Sept. 2 to help Tammy especially right after Myra returned to Davenport.

The two "grandmas" Myra and Margaret with Jackson


The rest of the Texas Stenborgs were able to meet Jackson for the first time in November, 1999 when Derek, Tammy and Jackson spent Thanksgiving in Houston. Margaret noticed already how Jackson had grown and gained weight since first seeing him in NewYorkThe entire Stenborg and Schwender clan gave their new relative a royal welcome, and especially his cousins, Sergio and Sierra. Unfortunately,Derek, Tammy and Jackson's stay was all too short, but everyday they were here in Houston, there was some new activity. Beside the very festive Thanksgiving celebration Mimi and Papa had in their home with 20 guests invited, Jackson was also baptized the following day by our long time friend and priest(now retired) Msr. Leroy Braden. Then on Saturday, November 27, 1999, "Papa" Rodney presented his Farewell Recital celebrating more than 40 years on the professional operatic and concert stage. Jackson didn't even wimper through the whole program, in fact he slept all during the recital. Unfortunately, Jackson didn't have the opportunity to meet his great-grandmother, who was unable to come to Houston for the gala celebration.

UPDATE 2000! Papa did get to see his nine-month old grandson again right before he attended his alumni reunion 75th Anniversary celebration at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, during the weekend of May 12-14.2000.Rodney arrived in Brooklyn on May 9 where he spent a couple of days visiting with Derek, Tammy and Jackson. Then he took a train tirp from Penn Station, NYC to 30th St. Station, Philadelphia to attend the alumni reunion. While in Philadelphia, Rodney enjoyed the hospitality of staying with his niece, Anya and her husband, Tarik. It was back to NYC on Sunday to celebrate Tammy's first "Mother's Day" before returning to Houston on Monday, May 15.

Derek and Jackson surprised Margaret with a visit to Houston during her 60th birthday celebration, Sept. 29.Margaret's actual birthday is Sept. 28, but Rodney arranged along with his daughters Jeanne and Julia a special catered affair prepared by Rodney and Margaret's favorite Chinese/Thai Restaurant "The Lotus Palace". Then came a second visit as Derek, Tammy and Jackson celebrated Christmas 2000 with all of us here in Houston.

UPDATE: 2001!

We made a trip to New York during little Sergio's Spring Break in March 2001 as a special birthday gift for his 10th birthday to visit the "Big Apple" and see his cousin, Jackson along with Derek and Tammy. We drove from Houston to New York in Mimi and Papa's new 2001 Ford Focus 4-door sedan with passengers, Jeanne, Sergio and Sierra. Our road trip only took one and a half days before we arrived. It took less time returning to Houston.

Derek, Tammy and Jackson visited us in Houston only for a short time during the end of March, 2001. The purpose of their trip was to sing for a friend's wedding in Austin, Texas. We loaned them our Ford Focus to drive to Austin and the grandparents along with auntie Jeanne and Jackson's cousins baby sat Jackson while his parents were in Austin.

UPDATE 2002

During the end of July we were able to bring Derek, Tammy and Jackson to Houston for a week's visit. We used our vacation savings to do this as we put on hold a planned European trip plus a visit to Grandma Stenborg in Michigan for next summer. While they were here we also treated them to see a performance of The Lion King, which had been sold out for months in advance. We also visited Kemah, Texas which is located near Galveston Bay. Kemah has become quite a tourist attraction as they have added a boardwalk to accomodate the many shops and seafood restaurants. Beside these attractions, Kemah harbors many fine sailing vessels including some elegant yachts. As always Derek, Tammy and Jackson's stay was all too brief. Nevertheless, it was an opportunity for them to see the latest arrival to the family namely Jackson's newest cousin, Samuel Marcos Ortuño, who was born June 7, 2002 about a month and a half before their Houston arrival.

Sept. 11, 2001 -

A tragic series of events came from terrorists who attacked New York City and Washington DC destroying the World Trade Center and part of the Pentagon building in Washington. We mourn for the surviving families who lost their loved ones in this horrific tragedy. New York will rebuild, because there is no other city in the world like it.

 

 

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