Dec. 28

Sunday we baked cookies with Jodi. We made cream cheese cut out cookies, peanut butter & hersey's kisses, and turtles. We had a great day. And then the toilet overflowed. I was going to title this post as the "poop report". But now I can also add the "puke report" to it! We've had quite a few days. We thought one of the twins put an ornament down the toilet. I couldn't find an angel. But Aaron found it. We really don't know what happened to the toilet. Jay bought two snakes but we still had to call someone to come fix it. And then the boys and I got the throw-up virus that Jodi brought. Jay only got a fever and that over-all sick, run down feeling. Pretty much everyone got it. Brian and the twins and Carol. Only Juli & Grandpa didn't. That's good because he's 90. And I'm not sure how Juli didn't either.

We're feeling better. Tomorrow we're going looking for a new Christmas tree for next year. We have high ceilings and want a taller tree. Not sure if there will be any left.

Christmas day we got about 6-8 inches of snow. We drove up to Carol's, ate dinner and left. The drive was rough. Then we also got snow on the 27th. About another 5 inches. I think I'm ready for winter to be over. Although we're supposed to get 50's next week.

Merry Christmas!

Hello you faithful readers. Let's back up to last week. River, my two-year old nephew, was in the hospital from last Thursday to Sunday with pneumonia. Hailey was also sick but not as bad. Then Juli and Brian got sick. Not a fun house to be in. They are all feeling better.

Nate had three parties to go to at school. He wanted three different treats to take in. I actually got them done. I did not get Aaron's snowman cookies done but he thought giving everyone one for his birthday in January would be OK.

Jay and I have been out for an evening without kids twice this month. It's kind of nice. But I really can't remember the time before these two that we were out alone. We need to go more often.

I've been on the tamoxifen for about a month. I'm having hot flashes. I wake up in the night with them. There's a prayer request-that I could sleep through the night. Men, skip to the next paragraph--girl talk--I found a bra that makes things even. Before the surgery I was uneven one way--now it's uneven the other way. But this bra is fantastic! No more lop-sidedness! It's the small victories that get us through.

Jodi flies in on Saturday. We're making cookies on Sunday. Last year, I went to a baking day/cookie exchange. I missed it this year. So I am ready for a variety of cookies. And it is always fun to bake together.

I gave up trying to get cards out this year. So Merry Christmas and Happy 2008! Lots of love, nancy

Tuesday, Dec. 11

I went to a Christmas brunch today with Kathy's Bible study group. I decided to go back in January. Kathy said she has been thinking of me and this group for a while. I'll give it a try. And it's on Tuesday.

Snow today and last Saturday. The weather again. Hmm. Do I really have nothing else to tell you? I'm sure I could tell you lots of things. Actually--the snow--and snow removal. What is your opinion about someone with cancer shovelling snow? I shovelled the sidewalk and porch today. Oh and the back patio. There must be a rule against people with cancer shovelling. Although I'm still hung up on my place--Do I still have cancer? Well I better not after all that treatment. But is it really gone? Who knows? So if I don't have cancer then I suppose it's fine to shovel. Maybe I'm just looking for a way out...

I'm going to tell you a story...

When I was in high school, I used to own a bike just like the one pictured here. It was a yellow Schwinn. I got it in 4th or 5th grade. I loved that bike. I used to ride all over but mostly to my friend, Pam's house. Then we'd ride to McDonald's or to Murphy's Mart. You know, to get our nugget fix or our candy fix. One day, I was delivering an order of fruit that one of my neighbors purchased from me. We sold all kinds of things for band so we could go on our spring trips. My neighbor said, "Thanks for the bike." I had no idea what she meant. I'm sure the look on my face was quite full of disbelief. So I went right home and my bike was NOT in the garage where it was supposed to be. I don't really remember talking to my mom about it. I thought I'd be taking it to college. Well not anymore. Mom had decided to sell it. Cleaning out the garage kind of thing. In the years since then, we've gotten so much mileage out of this little story. I suffered a deep emotional scar from her selling my bike without telling me. And then, while we were in Boston, on our way to the MIT Museum, there was MY bike!!! It had found it's way to Boston!

Wednesday, December 5

Finally, she writes again, you say. I can't give every gory detail. Every thought or everything I do. I know that's what you want. When you feel like you're in crisis, you just can't write about it.

We got back from MA and Nate had a time of it. He acted out in school and that was my clue that something was going on. We decided to get him back to the counselor. He said over and over-I only have one friend in CO. That isn't exactly true. He did get invited to a birthday party last Saturday which came at the right time even if it was a crazy busy day. We also went with his class to see Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. He sat with a friend. Small things but they matter. He does seem more grounded this week. But a day at a time. It's hard to be somewhere where you don't feel like you have any one to talk to.

I am feeling OK but have more hot flashes. Tamoxifen isn't so noticable otherwise. I have to remember to take it. So I got one of those pill boxes with the days of the week on it. Nice. It's purple. What am I, an old buzzard that I can't remember? I even carry it with me in case I forget. Oh ya. The full effects of it ought to be felt after I've taken it for a month.

A few weeks ago, Big Lots had a small sewing machine for $12. I got it. Then Juli was trying to find a babydoll for Hailey made somewhere else than China. Some doll with no lead, please. She had trouble so I got this bright idea (it WAS!) to sew a babydoll for Hailey. I mean, I have this little sewing machine, why not try it? Off we go to the fabric store. Found a pattern. Figured out what fabric and notions I needed and made a babydoll in a few days. She's really cute. Except that I did far more hand sewing than I wanted because the little sewing machine didn't work right. I took it back and will put my $12 towards a regular, basic, tabletop machine. At which time may start making babydolls. We went to a huge craft fair. Not a doll in sight but the ones used for display. I could make dolls all year and go to this one craft fair and, and, and... I got carried away. Yet it would be something because we had a hard time finding anything on-line as well. Hmmm. Worth some more thought. The sewing machine could be a business write off. I'd call the business "Hailey's Babies." Or "Hailey's Babydolls." The only problem I see with names like that is that if you googled it, you might get some questionable sites back.

And so the rest of life here is filled with laundry. Straightening up. Cooking to a complaining audience. Boys arguing (don't look at me or you're smiling at me or you're breathing too loud). But the other night Jay told them to either settle down or go to bed. They didn't settle, and off to bed they went. That was the quietest evening I've had at home in ages. Taurus and I have been walking. We've had some good weather for it. Back to the weather--gotta end.