Good Riddance 2008!

The pictures above show my "giddy delight" at the end of this year! I am kissing it good riddance! :o)

E-mail from my Mother in Law about my Father in Law

Greetings everyone. I haven't updated much about Larry (father in law), but he is still sleeping. We do have concern about the fact that he has not woke up. Although we have been told another man slept for 3 weeks following the procedure. I will attach an e-mail from Elaine (mother in law).

Update on Larry

Dear Family and Friends,

Larry is doing a little better. Praise the Lord! Every little change is encouraging! They canceled the CT Scan. Hallelujah! He raised his right arm a little bit by himself and he moved his shoulders. For some reason he likes to wiggle his nose....like a bunny....it looks cute.

I want to thank those of you who have sent back encouraging words. They have been a blessing. I keep reminding myself that God is in control and He has a purpose for everything. He also promised to NEVER leave me or forsake me. Praise His Name Forever! That doesn't mean I don't have some "down" times. But because of your prayers, I am able to lift my head and continue to trust in the Lord. He is Good....all the time!!!

Until next time,

Love ya,

Elaine

We appreciate all your prayers.

New Beginnings

I know my last post was pretty negative, but I must say I am so thankful we get a new beginning with the new year. This year 2009 is like a seed. A mystery seed. I don't know what kind of year it will grow into until December 31, 2009. That is refreshing! I hope you will come along for the ride.

2008 has kicked my teeth out!

We saw Larry on Saturday, Dec 20 and Sunday the 21st. He was doing well the the Ballon Pump. It is called a Intra-aortic Ballon Pump. He had to lay flat on his back until his surgery on Monday. He had the LVAD put in (aka Left Ventricular Assist Device). This procedure is a "bridge to transplant". He was in surgery for about 12 hours. The doctor spoke to us. He was very honest about the situation with Larry. He would not have lived for two more weeks without the surgery. His chest was left open.... I can't imagine. He was having bleeding and the doctor needed to watch the right side of the heart to make sure it continued to function. He had surgery again on Wednesday, Christmas Eve, to close his chest. He remained under anesthesia until Friday. On Saturday morning all sedation was removed around 9 O'Clock. He is still sleeping. It is Monday, December 29th and he is still sleeping. I am a worried. I saw him yesterday. I pray he wakes soon. He can't be placed on the transplant list until he recovers from this surgery.

The year 2008 did not turn out the way I expected it to last New Year's Eve! I would not have imagined it would have held so much pain, grief and suffering. I am normally a very positive person. However, this year has "knocked" it right out of me. I do not deal with depression so I truly feel for those in my family that does deal with depression. I do not know how they have survived this year. For those of you who have followed my blog you know the sorrows we have seen. For those of you who are new... a few of them.... the biggies.... my dad's illness and death, Sophia's injury, and now Larry... my Father in Law. Okay, enough of the "pity tree". The positive..... Larry is able to have this kind of care. It seems strange that so much can be done to save his life. He is a Veteran so he is getting his care through the VA hospital in Richmond. I am thankful for his care!

Looking forward... I would love to tell you I expect 2009 to be a better year.... but alas I do not. We have a long road ahead with Larry. I pray he gets his heart transplant soon. As my dad has said for years.... " I've seen it go like this for days and then get worse."

I will try to be more positive from this post forward... no matter how badly I feel. I feel as though life has "kicked me in the teeth".


My dad also said.... "count your blessings instead of your sorrows". I pray I can do better at that in 2009.

Merry Christmas!

Vacation

I don't want to seem like I am down in the dumps. I just don't like changes. This year has been a major turning point in our lives. This year is just different than any other which impacts me.

We are going on vacation over Christmas. We have done this for the last two years. This will be our third year. This is the first year we don't have family joining us. For this reason or that it didn't work out.... thus my post yesterday! ( Lynn, thank you so much for your prayers for Larry! We can use them!) The pictures above are from the two previous years.

I can really use the relaxation! I know it seems crazy to vacation over Christmas, but it is one of the times we all have off from work and school. We can count on this week no matter what school the kids go to (year round or traditional). It has changed the traditions we do, but it is worth it. The place we go has an indoor water park, tubing and skiing (just to name a few). We haven't taken the kids skiing yet because of the lack of snow, maybe this year.

We have invited a family we are friends with to join us. The husband is in school and this will be a great break for them. They are joining us for a few days at the end of the week.

Vacation here I come!!

Par for the year!

The above picture is from 2003. Wasn't Khi so cute? I miss those chubby cheeks!

Christmas this year is not going to include a single person from my family. It has been a really unusual year. I will miss them all.

We invited them to come to the ski resort this year, but with everything going on none of them can make it. Just par for the year this year.

Larry (Father in law) had a ballon pump put in his heart today. It is to sustain him until he can have the mechanical pump put in on Monday. The doctor said his heart is deteriorating quickly. We will go see him tomorrow and spend some time with Elaine (Mother in law). She has been by herself for two weeks. I am glad we are able to go support her.

We will spend the week at the resort. I am so needing the relaxation. I haven't worked either day off, so I will take some work with me. I have to if I am going to be done by the time the semester starts.

Merry Christmas!

Changes are bittersweet for us

I thought the pig in the above picture was so cute. I took this picture at the state fair. It reminded me of my sisters.

This morning I walked Biz to the bus. As I was walking back to the house, I realized how many changes we have gone through this year. I know....I know.... I am not supposed to reflect on the year 2008 until after Christmas! I just couldn't help it. We have had bitter and sweet! As you have followed this blog through the year you already know that!

Some of the changes you may not have known are.... no more YMCA before and after school care.... no more track out care... we are a traditional year now... the kids ride the bus... they never did that before.... living in our new house... so close to everything.... 1 mile from Joel's office.... even closer to the kids school.... a mile and half closer to my job.... making payments on two houses and not going into crisis.... instead of visitors saying "this is the smallest house ever" ( yes someone actually said that about our old house) they are saying things like "boy you really moved up" and "wow" (yes they really say those things too).... we just crack up! God is so faithful and people are so funny!

I spent the day with Khi.... he has been sick. I think he is officially better. He will go back to school tomorrow. He has missed most of the week. It was a nice day. I even made a few treats. I made my "homemade" sugar cookie dough. It has to be refrigerated for at least 8 hours. I will make cookies with the kids soon.

The changes have been bitter sweet.... I wonder what Daddy would think about our new house? Joel's Dad is not well now. He is in the hospital being tested for a heart transplant. We are praying for him. The transplant could be a year off once he is approved. We pray he is approved and his heart holds out until he gets the new one. We will go see him in Richmond on Sunday. We will deliver a new robe and slippers. Necessary items for a hospital visit that could last 6 weeks. If he gets the "mechanical pump" put in he will be in the hospital 6 weeks. If this happens he will go to high priority. We will continue to pray for God's mercy. Thinking about a possible transplant is bittersweet. Someone else has to lose their life to save Larry. Bittersweet! Selfishly we are not ready to lose the only Dad and Granddad we have left!

Sophia is doing well. The family hasn't been restored yet, but a new lawyer has been appointed. The next hearing isn't until sometime in March. That is a long time off, but God is faithful. The new lawyer really is working to restore things. The last lawyer was running for public office and very distracted, so the change is good. We are blessed she has done so well and hasn't lost any toes. All the action at Mom's house is good.... it distracts Mom.

WE ARE BLESSED! Truly blessed.

I think often about my Dad's death. It is the normal life cycle. A little more than two years ago a young boy the age of Biz died unexpectedly. His death has forever impacted us. As the kids have been sick the last week each of them asked if the other was going to die. He was almost 9... I think a few hours short of his birthday. His visitation and funeral was the first experience my kids had with death. It helped us when Daddy died because they knew what to expect, but as I said... it impacts them through fear when illness hits. I can't imagine his mother and father's pain. It has to be so much harder to face the death of their only son than the death of my father. I still pray for this family. I pray often for them. I pray I never forget them when I pray! I admire them. They have appeared to be strong! Stronger than I think I could be.

We are Blessed! Blessed beyond what we deserve!

Thermometers

Here is my collection of thermometers. I use them as examples when I teach my students how to do vital signs. I think I have almost every kind possible. I know there are a few I don't have... one is the pacifier thermometer.

I have had them out for the last week. It has made me realize how "prepared" I really am. LOL!

It has been hard with the kids being sick. I hate being a working mom when the kids are sick. I enjoyed my time with them when I was an at home mom. I am just glad to be on Christmas break now. I can actually stay at home with my sick one! Joel took him to the doctor today. He just has a virus. He had a 104.1 degree fever last night. Pneumonia is going around the school, so it was time to have him checked!

I know... random post.

I am Thankful to be on Christmas Break!

Icky Viruses

Nursing sick kids is not fun. We have gone from one of the kids having a "stomach" virus to the other one running a pretty high temperature. We heard today that pneumonia is going around at school, so if tomorrow still holds a fever.... off to the doctor we will go. I am down to my last day of the semester tomorrow. I still have a lot of work to get completed prior to my break, but I have brought it home. I may just work over the break. I will be the course director for 3 courses next semester. We are still short a faculty member and it is making it very busy! Let me just say.... I am THANKFUL for my job.

Joel's office had some layoffs, so we are THANKFUL for his job also. :o)

God is good!

I understand there is a nasty "trojan" virus in the computer world. My MIL had it on her computer. I am THANKFUL for our MAC. You know.... they don't catch viruses.

Tis the season for "icky viruses"!

What are your Christmas Traditions?

Above is our Christmas tree. One of the things we do is lay down on the floor and look up the middle of the tree. It is always so pretty to see it from that point of view..... I should have taken a picture of that. Oh well, maybe later. Try it. It is so much prettier if your tree is real and not artificial.

Another one of our traditions is that we only give three gifts to each child. Why? Well, there were three wise men and they each brought one gift. I know technically Jesus received lots of gifts, however we don't want over indulged children. Besides, who can really enjoy playing with more than three toys in any one given day. I have watched the children choose gifts for their list carefully. When Aunt Non (Sonderella) asked for a list she got one thing for each of them listed.... sorry Aunt Non! I know that doesn't make it easy... but they know they get one gift from you so they asked carefully! Ha ha ha! We have done the three gift rule for seven or eight years. It seems to be working.




The other thing we do is place a manger under the tree. Did you notice it in the first picture? Our manger is not beautiful. I have looked for a new one each year, but we have used this one for seven or eight years and now it has become sentimental to me. Why empty? Well my husband grew up and did not celebrate Santa. I did in my family and it was great fun. I spoke to one of my really good friends when we were having the "discussion" about having a Santa or not. And she shared some things with me that spoke to me, so I reluctantly agreed. Eleven years ago.... the Christmas I was pregnant for Elisabeth we had this discussion. His family had changed all of their traditions.... his dad threw out all the Christmas decorations and started celebrating Hanukkah .... no they are not Jewish! I told Joel we were going to have very confused children...... Jewish holidays with one set of grandparents and Santa with the other and something completely different at our house. Well, we decided they were going to be well rounded instead. We read a book "Santa are you for Real" which focuses on the real St. Nick and his reasons for giving gifts. The kids have never looked at another kid and ruined it for them... at least not when I can hear. We told them Hanukkah was the way Jesus celebrated the holidays when he was a boy before his birthday was the holiday christians celebrated. Now for the manger.... on Christmas morning.... baby Jesus is in the manger that has been empty, waiting for him. The kids would look for "baby Jesus" before they looked for their gifts! By the way, baby Jesus in not a doll that we play with..... he stays with our Christmas decorations. We feel like this has helped to bring the focus back to Jesus the reason for the season. I don't know if this will be a tradition my kids continue when they are grown, but I know that little clementine box that has been our manger for so many years will continue to sit under my tree. Please know.... our traditions are ours.... we did not take any of his families traditions or mine.... it was a compromise on both parts. I am pleased, but at the time.... I was unsure.

**Update on the Sell of the house**

The house did not sell. We were within a week of closing and the buyer got sick and spent weeks in the hospital. We were told she has a life threatening illness and her "co-signer" backed out. She was upset that she could not still purchase the house.

I have tried not to whine or worry. I have tried to rest in the Lord and know that he has a plan. His word says so! In the process I keep reminding myself none of what I have belongs to me..... it is all his! And in that.... the bills are all his too! I didn't realize how quiet I had kept it! I was not attempting to stop prayer for the sell of our house.... so forgive me and get back to praying! Please!?!

God is good!

The Christmas Party

I threw a Christmas party for the girls in Elisabeth's class at school because I am such a fun loving mother! LOL! It was a success I think. The girls all had a great time. We decorated gingerbread houses, did a gift exchange (white elephant) that I provided the gifts (duds) and played foosball on our newly acquired table. Thanks Uncle Aaron!

Okay, I am not really all that fun. I wanted to meet the little girls in her class. We had 7 of the 9 attend! They were all very nice girls. For those of you who don't know.... we started this new school in August. We left the school we have been so comfortable in since kindergarten! The kids have done super! Now if we could only sell the other house! God is paying the bills so I suppose it is up to him when he discards the second house!

On a side note.... Elisabeth had a stomach virus the last couple of days! NASTY little thing. I think she is officially over it!

Blessings to you! Enjoy your holiday parties! :o)

Quality Time

I don't know about you....but this does not equal quality time to me!

Cookie disaster

I was baking cookies for the Christmas party coming up. They were awful. I usually make homemade cookie dough, but this time I was trying to use store bought. The store bought dough doesn't bake the same as my homemade dough. They looked awful! I ended up buying cookies instead! Oh well. I will make homemade dough when I don't feel so rushed. Sugar cookies are my all time favorite to make, cut, bake and decorate. It was not fun with store bought dough! Making sugar cookies has been one of our traditions for years. NOW.... if I could just find that recipe in all the boxes still left to unpack from the move in August! Hahahahahahaha!

I hope your cookie baking turns out better than mine!

My Christmas Decorations are up

**Disclaimer** The tree pictured above is not my Christmas tree, but I thought it was interesting!

We have a good portion of our Christmas decorations up. I must be crazy, but I am having a Christmas party for the girls at Elisabeth's new school. I thought it would be a way to meet the girls, since I haven't met any of them. We are going to have fun. We are decorating ginger bread houses. So far we have 4 girls coming. We only invited 9. Not to bad to be the new girl.

I have a lot of preparations still. It should be fun. The rest of my weekend is supposed to be for shopping. I am supposed to shop with Sonderella on Saturday and my small group on Sunday. My small group is fifth thru eighth grades. It should be a fun, busy weekend!