MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We had a really nice day with my parents and sisters. We went out for a late lunch and then came back to the house for cake and ice cream. My sisters and their families stayed for awhile and visited. I think we wore Dad out but it was nice to get him out of the house for a bit.

We've had lots of snow here this past week so we are definitely having a white Christmas. We have somewhere between 6-8 inches on the ground--maybe more. It's been fairly cold--so it's not going anywhere for awhile.

Well, have a Very Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

Happy, Happy Birthday to my amazing, beautiful mom! I'm so grateful for all she is to me and my family and so glad she is a part of my everyday life. My sisters and their families are coming today and we are all going to break bread together to celebrate her birthday! My mom works so hard everyday taking care of my dad and helping keep my little ones on the straight and narrow. :) I'm glad we have a day to celebrate her! You mean the world to me mom! I LOVE YOU! Hope your day is fabulous!!!

MISSING LOVED ONES

It's been a while since I've posted. I apologize. Rob's mom died a little over a week ago and while she hasn't been super healthy, I can't say we were expecting it. We spent the last week having a service for her and being with family. We have had a month or so filled with losses--She is the third.

We lost our older daughter's Grandma on their mom's side but she claimed our younger ones as well. We called her Grammy. Thankfully, we went to visit her  (and Poppy) last year in CA. She had Parkinson's and had been sick for a very long time. I'm glad she is no longer in pain.

When Grammy died we went to CA for the funeral. Megan and Julie went with us and Sara flew in from Portland and met us there. We were able to spend time with Poppy, who isn't well either, and her sons and some of the kids' cousins/ It was nice to see everyone.

No sooner had we returned home than I got a message that my friend Venice, one of my closest, dearest friends had passed away. She was like a mother, sister, grandmother and friend all wrapped up in one person. She was also a grandma to my kids. I was and am still devastated by her loss. I had just checked on her before we left for CA. The kids and I had gone to visit her and I didn't have any idea she was so close to leaving.

Well, that's where I've been. Haven't felt much like writing. Just been feeling pretty sad about all the sweet people we've lost. 

PEANUTS ANYONE?

Today was a FANTASTIC day!! It was our first taste of freedom. Remember the scene in The Princess Bride where Inigo outsmarts the kidnapper because he's "spent the last few years building up an immunity to Iocane powder." Well, my son has spent the last few months building up an immunity to peanuts. Today for the first time--he ate his poison and he did not have a reaction. 

We are only at a dose of one peanut and we have to make it to 24 peanuts before he is free but this is truly a modern miracle!! Hallelujah! Thank you so much Douglas H Jones, MD!! We are so grateful we don't have to live in fear anymore! Thanks for all your hard work and for your wonderful staff! We love you!

Jono holding a peanut for the first time about to eat it!

Jono's medicine for the next week! A peanut - twice a day.