I am so looking forward to the New Year. It's been a VERY tough year. I'll give off some highlights. I keep looking back and what we've been through this year and am amazed that we have come so far and how well we're doing despite our obstacles that we've had to overcome. So here is the top ten of the good the bad the ugly and the good!


THE BAD
1. We started last year with Carls parents and his sister moving into our house after being in the house a week and half and his dad getting the screw stuck into his foot.
(I can't count buying the house that was more 2007 at the end of Dec)
2. We lost Buster in February (with the parents and the sister still living with us).
3. Carl had his shoulder surgery in March. That was good and bad so I'll count it as both. Oh I should add at the same time or not long after that my brother Chris fell off a roof that caved in and shattered his elbow -he's lucky to be here to talk about it and have the elbow replaced.
4. I had that eye infection that was affecting my vision fortunately it was cleared up and my vision restored.
5. I had my heart attack in August
6. Shortly there after I developed some sort of horrible rare rash that covered my entire body. We did get a diagnosis and it cleared up after some heavy medication.
7. we lost Carls grandma in Sept
8. I had my pacemaker put in just before Thanksgiving.
9. We won't talk about the election
10.Carl finishes off New Years eve this year with bronchitis.

THE GOOD
There is good in here I promise!

1. Carls parents and his sister moved out at the end of Feb
2. I was able to visit a little with my family on the trip to Utah in Feb
3. We had Carls bday party/House warming party that was a huge success.
4. we went camping with the cousins in june, that was a nice little break
5. mom came and helped us do yard work and house stuff while I had my heart attack.
She didn't need to but she really went the extra to help us out and we are forever greatful for it.
6.We found out this year that Shea&Angel, Chris&Michelle AND Mike & Jen are all expecting little ones for 2009!!!
7.Mom and Laura came down again for my pacemaker and helped out again so we got to see them three times this year!!
8. Even through all this medical difficulty both Carl and I have good jobs and great people to work with. We couldn't have done it otherwise.
9. We got Maggie (our lab) in late Feb on that trip to Salt Lake - THANKS LIZ AND DAVE!
10.I survived my heart attack. We're both still here!!

The good definitely outweighs the bad. I am glad that this year is coming to an end!! I am very relived that we can talk about our experiences and learn from them. HERE'S TO THE NEW YEAR!! May it be a whole lot healthier than last year!!

It's good -it's good to have Christmas. It's good to feel some peace and happiness and feeling of hope. Things are tight and tough from all the medical expenses playing catch up. But those things are only important for temporary purposes. There are so many other things like family that are first and foremost important.

I miss my family. We enjoyed Christmas eve with Carls family doing the traditional Christmas Eve here. I made little salt dough people that my mom used to make. I made them for each one of Carls family. I made them to look like each person. I was actually quite proud of myself. I'm not an artist by any means but I really like how they turned out. I'll have to take a picture of the one I did of of Carl and I. (since I already gave everyone there's tonight) They were a hit. For Ben and Zane's I painted the shirts blue and white with a Y on it for BYU. For Carl's I did it green and yellow for the Packers.

I am most excited for the gift I made for my parents. I hope they like it. I was really excited about it. I made it too. This is the first year I have made things and I've had a lot of fun doing it. I made me get excited. I think I will do that more often.

I hope everyone has a Safe and Merry Merry Christmas!and don't eat too much! Just kidding okay maybe just a little!

For the first time in a long time I feel almost normal. The swelling has gone down considerably. The thing I have noticed the most is that I have this nice permanent lump on my upper chest area. It's a perfect round shape. I know that the hardware is there. I think the fact that it's there is a little hard to swallow, but that it's doing the job is the most important part. I just would have never dreamed of it getting there.It's kinda strange. But I just keep telling myself it's keeping me alive.

I am really close to finish the family calendar. I've realized today that I've been doing it since 1998!! HOLY cow! Time flies. I also look back at a lot of the others. It's fun to see the changes and it's a good journal for the family! I hope the family has enjoyed them over the years. Mom has helped me in printing the pages and everyone has been so great at sending the pictures!

I have a couple of Christmas projects I'm working. It's helping me stay busy and not use my arm more than I'm supposed to.

This morning I deep cleaned the bathrooms and that was so nice! I even washed the sheets and got the kitchen cleaned. I didn't over do it, I still did most of it with my other hand. I took it slow.

I am excited for Christmas - I'm not sure what we're doing and how we're going to pull it all, but I'm looking forward to it. I have a couple packages to get to Salt Lake.

Hope everyone has a great week- oh and before I forget - HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MATIA!!

Just a few updates...

Everyday it's getting better and I'm slowly feeling like my old self again, but still some what limited on my movement. I still wear the sling at night and at work. I can't lift it above my waist. The scar itself is still pretty dark but looking better every day. The bruising is gone. There is still a little lump at the bottom of the scar from all drainage. One more week of the brace! YEAH!

We got the tree and the decorations mostly up. The trees up, we just need to finish the lights on the outside of the house, if we get to it this year. I'm missing about two boxes of Christmas stuff. It must be out in storage still.

I've spent a lot of time reading and working on Christmas presents and the annual calendar. My goal is to get it done BEFORE Christmas. I usually at least get it done before January of the next year. But everyone in the family gets one. That's 7 copies.

Oh HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Matia (my neice) and Austin (my nephew) who both have birthdays this week! Love you guys! Have a great week!