Aunt Karen

Our family took a great loss last week. We lost my mom's baby sister, Aunt Karen. She was a young 59 years old and had been battling Alzheimer's disease since her early 40's. Hard to imagine Alzheimers affecting someone so young. It's an ugly disease. We have spent the last 10 years slowly seeing her decline. Eventually, she lost the ability to walk and talk and in the last two weeks; she could no longer eat. I never knew how cruel of a disease this was until it happened in our family. I thought it was a disease that elderly people got. I never realized the magnitude of the effects it had on someone until it happened to my aunt. We are heart broken at the loss of my aunt. But we know she is in heaven with our Lord. She is free from pain and disease and she is happy. We will always miss her. But we have been missing her (the real her) for years now. I have so many people I can't wait to see again in heaven! 

Christmas break

Just a few pictures from the last week. Ryan's best friend, Sam, came for a visit. The boys had such a great time together, as they always do! My sister and her husband were also in town along with their boys William and Luke. Poor Jorie is so outnumbered! So funny how when I was growing up, it was all girls! Now it's all boys! :-)

A new year!

What a way to end the year! December of 2013 will probably be remembered as one of the hardest months we have ever had. Ryan is doing better all the time. He is starting to adjust to his new diet. He still isn't thrilled about it. But he's more accepting of it than he was at first. He is battling a urinary tract infection currently as well as a bacteria called pseudomonas. These bacteria are difficult to get rid of and he's on a heavy duty antibiotic to kick them quick! He's battled metabolic acidosis, dehydration, severe weakness, nausea and vomiting, low blood pressure, 2 PICC lines, a yeast infection, vasal vagal attacks, fever and now a UTI and pseudomonas.  Poor kid! His best friend is here visiting this week and has helped boost his spirits a bit. Thank The Lord for good friends AND family!! Where would we be without them!