Merry Christmas

During this holiday season, I love to reflect on what the past year has brought to our wonderful family. We are blessed in so many ways. Certainly there are bumps in our road, but that is just who we are. Somehow I usually manage to be a strong optimist. My theory is that the glass just HAS to be half full. The only way something can be half empty is if it was once full and someone forced it to change. If the glass had lip marks or lines from the liquid, that would mean that someone had changed the liquid in that glass. It is my goal to not let anyone, anything, including myself, change my state of being to a half empty kind of person. Being happy isn't just something that happens. Sometimes we have to make it happen. Life is all how you look at it.

Thankfully I am surrounded by wonderful family members, awesome neighbors, and fabulous friends. What more could I ask for? Certainly it would be great to be in remission. That being said, I am probably the best I have been in 5 years or so. I am still taking Cell-cept (an immunosuppressant) 2 times a day, Mestion 3 times a day, and I go to the hospital just about every 2 weeks for solumedrol (IV steroids). We keep trying to get me off the steroids, but so far not much success. Anytime there is anything "extra" in my life, all the symptoms come back. Being a mommy, wife, friend, sister, daughter- human being- pretty much means there is always some thing "extra" going on! So would I change my life? Absolutely not. I would love to modify the MG- but still, it is part of who I am. It is getting much easier to manage it, and I am so glad we did the 2 years of chemo. I am absolutely certain that those poisons changed something in me- made the MG so much more controlled. I continue to pray that I will improve and live my life without meds and trips to the hospital all the time. Our doctors and nurses are some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. I don't know how I would be continuing on without all the love and support that I feel. I thank each and everyone of you for all your love, support and most especially your prayers. God is listening. I don't know what He has in store for me, but with His love, and all the incredible people in my life, I know we can handle it.

So I have decided to be a little forgiving of myself this year and not send out Christmas cards. Sometimes being SuperMom takes too much time! We have so enjoyed seeing all the cards come in! Thank you everyone! Next year I will get on it earlier so it doesn't stress me out :) This is the season I think people are the most strained, and I don't want to join in that. The kids are having a great Christmas season. We have had so much fun with decorating, shopping, wrapping! My parents got the kids this awesome advent calendar with little books that come out each day telling the story of the trip to Bethlehem and Christ's birth. Each book is then hung on a little tree we have set out. It is such a joy to see them anticipating the biggest birthday party in the world! Of course they are wicked excited about Santa coming, too!!!

So a quick recap of our year:

Maggie, our wonderful pug, recovered beautifully from her knee surgery. She has even lost a pound and a half. The vet, Jason and I consider this quite an accomplishment, considering she spends her summer days laying in the sun, and her winder days laying in front of the wood stove.

Penny, our geriatric cat, has finally discovered the pleasure of being brushed, so the kids are having a ball with that. It has really helped clean up the house, too!

Katherine is LOVING first grade. She has had a hard couple of months, swine flu, pink eye, another flu (just in time for Auntie's beautiful Vermont wedding). She is a trooper, though. She has become a great little swimmer and is working on perfecting her butterfly. She is also taking piano lessons. I am thrilled with that- maybe someday I will have my own personal accompanist.

Thomas is still having a ball at Acorn school. He also got sick this fall, but he bounced right back. He loves all his friends, and I do too! If he is home alone with me, I have to be barbie all day, and all his stuffed animals come to visit me!

Jason was awarded the position of Chief of Training at the squadron, and though it is a lot of work, he is really enjoying it. He can't wait for his "Christmas in April" out on our new boat. It is in storage right now over in Manchester, and although we love the snow, can't wait to go skiing, we are so eager for spring this year!!!!

Please during this season take some time from all the pressures of holidays and remember why we celebrate Christmas. Love your family and your friends! God Bless and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!