Daughter Remembers 15th Anniversary

"Happy Anniversary!, 15 years ago can you believe it!? Thanks for always being there for me. Even when you were dealing with your own worries/anxieties you managed to teach me how to deal with difficult situations and come out of them a better person. So to honor this special anniversary, take some time to be grateful for how lucky and blessed we have been and to laugh a little bit today. Because laughter was always the best medicine. And dad, don't even think about spending all day stressed in front of the computer!!!I love you both very much!
Daughter"

Fifteen years ago Daughter had surgery to correct the scoliosis of her spine. More years have passed since the surgery than her age at the surgery. The surgery is in her background and she is better for having it. No longer are her ribs in such torsion that they could affect her heart or her lungs. This year she sought help from new doctors to prescribe some physical therapy so that she could get the physical training to do exercises properly to keep her back and core muscles strong despite sedentary desk work. Not only did she get them but she does them twice a day! You go, girl.

Cousin Marcia Had a Stroke or Aneurysm

Christy sends this urgent message.
I just wanted to let you know it looks like Marcia has had a massive stroke. I tried to email all of you before I left to go to N.C. but evidently our email was down.
Pat, her husband, called Dad late Friday afternoon, saying they were careflighting Marcia. At that time they thought she might have a brain aneurysm or a stroke.
Dad and I left Saturday mid morning for North Carolina. We got to see her at 8:00 p.m. that night.
She is paralyzed on her right side. She seems to know who you are, and can only say yes and no at this point. She can move her left side, kick her leg, move her arm and wrist and fingers of her left side. Her right side is completely paralyzed.
Dad and I got to see her again the next day (Sunday) before we had to leave as I had to get back to work. No change
Yesterday(Monday), Pat called and said they did a Probe. They went in through her groin and went into the brain. They said they would not have to fix anything in the brain. He also said they have moved her to the Neuro Unit, so she is out of the Neuro ICCU unit now. That is good news. He also went on to say that they got her up and with Jim's help she was able to stand for 2 to 3 seconds. She was able to brush her teeth with help too.
Time will tell, and she has a long row to hoe, but knowing how she has a lot of mom in her and dad's stubborness she will do it. We are so thankful she is left handed.
I have everyone at school praying for her and I know my friends have sent emails to scores of others, but more prayers for her couldn't hurt, I'm sure they would help. I think her son Jim is taking it the hardest, mainly because he is most like Marcia. Lori is there too, but she doesn't talk about what she feels, she holds it all in like Pat.
I will keep you all updated as we know more.

Mom's Heart Condition

The date for Mom's surgery will be Jan 9, 2007.
Mom is a candidate for surgery to replace a heart valve, repair two others and do one coronary artery bypass.
This summer she had several appointments with her cardiologist and participated in tests that the cardiologist suggested. She used Toprol XL as part of the treatment since the worst valve is the mitral valve. Her Florida cardiologist wanted yet another test before he sent her records to a heart surgeon. At the December 11 appointment with the heart surgeon, he told her that time had come to schedule the surgery.
I had not yet broadcast this information because more information was always forthcoming.
She has been feeling pretty good as long as she rests more frequently and limits stair climbing to essential travel. Dad is in good health.

Christmas with My In-Laws

The second weekend in December has become the traditional weekend for the Christmas weekend with Host's Family at the home of his parents. Son's family arrived on Friday night. Our carload arrived on Saturday in time to watch three basketball games while we caught up on family news and ate cookies. The rest of the family arrived in time for the 6PM traditional feast of tossed salad, baked chicken breasts, dressing, cheesy potatoes, green beans, and dinner rolls.
Host takes pictures of many combinations of family groups, even if his niece grows impatient with the delay of gift-opening. He used a tripod to get himself in the family shot but Grandson is hidden behind Daughter. The digital image on the camera could not reveal that problem until he downloaded it to the computer at home.
Gift-opening order was selected by the month of the birthdays. My Staples gift card paid for the photocopying of my Christmas letter this week.
Grandson looked adorable in his Santa bib and also in his Santa's Helper suit.
Dessert was cheesecake and a raspberry log.
Sunday activities was a gathering at home of Host's Sister. A 1500-piece puzzle was started and left incomplete by those of us who had to travel distances yet that day. We learned to play "Shut the Box" and had two good games of Left-Right-Center. She fixed a brunch-feast for twelve people. Her husband had to work but that empty chair was filled by Niece's Special Friend who happens to be a guy.
We arrived at our home by 9PM.

Cousin Andrew Graduates

Cousin(FC1R) Andrew graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from University of South Florida on December 16.

Daughter Discovers a Waterfall

Late Saturday night, Daughter thought she heard water running and she went to the bathroom to see if the faucet dripped. She was horrified to see water pour through light fixtures and vents in her bathroom and storage closet.
She called Emergency Maintenance, and he arrived after midnight to check on it. That worker went to the upstairs apartment to turn off water supply. Water was ankle-deep in their bathroom. He shop-vacced up that water before he returned to shop-vac much of Daughter's problems wherewater also came through all vents in an additional closet and bedroom.
The crisis abated and the only damage to her stuff was to some cardboard boxes stored in her storage closet.
Fans were set up and professional carpet cleaners were scheduled. There is no schedule for the repair of the ceiling and walls.
She just thanks God that this happened while she was home. She was able to move her stuff out of the way of the waterfall.

Damage from Windstorm

The windstorm on Dec. 1 took out one and a half cedar trees along our driveway. They did not do any damage to anything else as they fell. They have been removed and chipped the following week.