It's obvious that I have been rather lackadaisical with the blogging, but have no fear, it is a new year and I vow to post more often (all two of you readers out there)!
Mom has been suffering from debilatating headaches since early October. After four antibiotics for a supposed sinus infection, her doctor finally ordered a CT scan. That showed some bad news. Our initial thought was that mom was bleeding on her brain, so of course, I sent the prayer troops out. We got some better news when we found out it was excess spinal fluid, not blood. Still not good, but much better than bleeding on the brain. I of course put out a call for prayers for my mom. She wasn't herself at all, though of course she tried to be. The neurologist did a few MRIs of her spine to look for any possible leakage, but found nothing. She then started feeling better; her headaches subsided, the ringing in her ears went away. They did another CT scan and whatever fluid was seen on the first scan was gone. The neurologist claims she has "healed herself," but I'd like to think that all those prayers had a lot to do with it :)
Thanksgiving was very relaxing, Dan and I cooked our first holiday meal together! Dan roasted a beautiful turkey and I made stuffing, rolls, potatoes and mom brought the corn casserole and applesauce salad. Just the four of us (Dan, me, mom and dad) and it was a really nice time. The weekend after Thanksgiving was spent in Sioux city with Ray and Susan.
We've done a lot of driving in the last few months.
Christmas (as always) was a little hectic. We didn't think we were going to be able to go to Sioux City at all for Christmas, but we were lucky enough to work it out to go the weekend before Christmas. We spent Saturday afternoon with Leigh and Ken and Saturday evening with Ray and Susan. Christmas day was spent in Red Oak with my mom and Dad, and luckily we got there before the blizzard of the century hit! Marley (as always) enjoyed the extra attention from Grandma and Grandpa Gilbert.
After Christmas we had a Spanish visitor! Rachel's Javi came to Iowa from Barcelona and spend a few days with us while he was Stateside. We had a great time talking, plaing Wii, and drinking Mojitos. We celebrated Spanish New Year around 5:00 pm with champagne and grapes. Javi called his family via Skype and we got to see them ring in the new year. New Year's Eve was a really fun evening with Rachel and Javi at the Des Moines Social Club. Bands, acrobatic performers and live artists made for a really great way to ring in 2010!
Other happenings include Daniel getting into physical therapy school at Creighton in Omaha, so we'll be moving as soon as I find a job! Dad will retire after this school year after 34 years of teaching. He told me he's excited to "have time to read the paper at night." :)
And now it's already halfway through January! This year is already flying by. Happy birthday to my wonderful husband today! Here's to a great new year and all things yet to come.