Christmas Eve

Our neighbors invited us over for appetizers on Christmas Eve again. It was lovely to spend time with them. They have a tradition of placing luminaries all around our double culdesac but the last few years have been rainy, snowy, or windy, effectively canceling their plans. So this year, we were happily surprised by the site of more than 200 luminaries around the street. It was so pretty and people drove by all night long.

We realize we need to amp up our exterior decorations next year but since our house is behind three big trees, our icicle lights wouldn't be seen very well. So I found this picture online and think next year we should work WITH the trees, not against!

Hippy Chic: Joint Camp

In preparation for my hip surgery in January, Mark and I attended Joint Camp at the facility where I'll be having the surgery. The head nurse on the floor and the PT lead each spoke for about an hour and answered questions. Of the ten patients attending, I was the only one with brown hair and the only one having my hip done. The others were much older and were all having knees replaced.

We talked about pre-op stuff, exercises, medications, check in, anesthesia, PT, recovery, walkers, and how to get in and out of beds, chairs and cars. It was definitely worthwhile, and good for Mark to hear too so he knows more what to expect.

I was surprised to get confirmation that I will only have three PT visits at home after my surgery, while a knee patient receives daily therapy for two weeks, then 3x a week for two weeks, etc. Hips are so much easier to rehab apparently. I already know I will have a posterior approach incision roughly six inches long, and a spinal anesthesia instead of general - also for quicker recovery.

Still trying to line up friends to come and stay with us - to help with driving mostly, because Mark cannot do half days for a month until I get clearance to drive again. In hindsight, I wish I would have had this surgery before we moved away from San Antonio, but our new friends here in DFW are ready to help with meals and rides, etc. Hopefully, I'll be able to drive after four weeks, which is much better than the 6-8 weeks mentioned in some of the literature!

I'm registered at the hospital and have pre-op appointments set up with my PA and operating surgeon in the next few weeks. I got new pajama pants and slippers for Christmas for my recovery outfit. Nothing to do but wait!

American Girl Girls' Day

Sarah's friend Grace comes to Dallas every year to celebrate her birthday at the American Girl store. This year, Sarah and I stayed at the Galleria with Grace and her mom and had a lovely shopping day with the girls.

They had so much fun, we took their new dolls back to the store the next day so they could play on more of the activity sets. We dread the day the girls grow out of this...

Catch Up....

Has it really been more than three weeks since a blog post? Bad!

The first weekend of December turned into a weather fiasco dubbed #IceMageddon. It started to rain Thursday afternoon and kept on through the night. By the time we woke up Friday morning, there was snow on top of a thick layer of ice. Travel was treacherous enough that school was canceled. The rain/sleet/snow continued to fall on Friday and froze soon after, as from that point on, the temps stayed below freezing. Cub Scouts was cancelled. The choir performance at Barnes and Noble was cancelled. So was tennis and the Pinewood Derby workshop.

By Sunday, we all had cabin fever, and a soon-to-expire day pass for the Great Wolf Lodge. We ventured out carefully for the short drive to the indoor water park. Due to the road conditions, they had many cancellations and the park wasn't crowded at all. It was a great way to burn off the cooped-up energy. The temps did get above freezing for a couple hours in the late afternoon and we saw many mini avalanches of snow falling from the roof of the park, not quite as big as this video shows but this was taken at the GWL right before we got there!

All the thawing that occurred would just refreeze overnight. It was bad enough that school was canceled on Monday as well, so we were extra thankful that we got a day OUT of the house.

The following week, we played catch up at school, for PTA, Christmas shopping, grocery shopping ...

Sarah walked in the Flower Mound Christmas Parade with her Girl Scout troop again. It was still very chilly, so those that braved the weather got as much candy as they hauled in at Halloween!

She also got to sing with the choir during the PTA meeting. And Ethan displayed his Pet Parade project - a voluntary project showing the process of selecting a pet, care and maintenance, toys, food, etc. He selected a brown guinea pig (because we used to take care of Fudge - a class pet from Sarah's second grade teacher in SA).

Then came all the class parties at school. Ethan's was a madhouse - there were more activities that we had time to do, but I'm sure the kids enjoyed the frenetic pace.

I helped plan the party for Sarah's class. Much more calmly, we finished the chalkboard picture frames that I had started the week before (painting two base coats and taking pictures of each kid). We also cut out snowflakes for the local hospital to use as tray favors.

Lucas' party was almost done by the time I could leave Sarah's party. But I did get to see him in a reindeer hat and try to eat a piece of licorice with no hands - made more difficult with the absence of his two front teeth!

One more half-day of school to get everything bought (and wrapped, dare I hope) before the kids are out for two weeks!

Sarah - Crohn's Update

After getting back from NJ, Sarah had an appointment with her gastro doctor. She feels so much better than she did a few months ago, and has lost a few pounds since being taken off steroids. The puffy cheeks are gone. She hasn't had tummy trouble in quite some time. We are very pleased and her doctor says we don't have to come back for three months! We will still have to do some blood work over Christmas break to check on anemia and other inflammatory markers, but overall, she's doing GREAT!