Holiday Update

I am sure that by now you are all thinking where has this woman been..........I will be honest with you and share that I've had a hard time staying positive and just getting out of bed, this whole ordeal with my back has taken a toll on me. I am starting to bounce back after these long 4 months and finally some positive news from the new neurosurgeon. He has determined that my condition has gotten worse since the MRI that was taken on 8/29 and will be doing surgery on January 10th at 4:00 PM at Norton Suburban Hospital in Louisville. I should only be in the hospital for a couple of days and back home to recuperate. After a couple of weeks then I will start therapy so that we can try and get some of the strength back in my left leg.

Now onto other notes......Christmas has come and gone for another year. I think all the kids were pretty happy with their gifts. Santa brought Darryl a reed kit (it will allow him to trim his reeds and hopefully they will last a bit longer) and a metronome. Rachel received a portable DVD player and iPod Shuffle, while Isaac received a Harely Davidson remote controlled truck and a "humongo" remote controlled John Deere tractor - complete with turn signals, headlights and a variety of sounds! Rachel and Darryl received a variety of other gifts, school hoodie sweatshirts, pajamas and miscellaneous clothes items. Isaac received a wide variety of John Deere tractors and implements to go with them. He has decided that he wants to move up to "bigger" tractors. Up until recently he had been receiving smaller tractors. The one gift that did not come, thanks to a horrible experience with Best Buy (and it will be a long time before I visit their store or make an online purchase), is a keyboard. We are also getting Rachel and Darryl piano lessons. We really want to get a true piano, but right now that is just not possible. Right now Isaac has absolutely no interest in sitting still long enough to learn how to play. We are hoping that it will come in another year. He is way too happy to be outside and "working".

Both Darryl and Rachel continue to excel with their musical talents. Darryl has more natural talent when it comes to playing an instrument, while Rachel has more natural talent when it comes to singing.

Russell is registering for college this week in order to get all of his credits transferred and take a couple of classes. His goal is be able to start substitute teaching once I get better (6-8 weeks after surgery). Not only is our school district having a hard time getting enough subs, but so are a couple of other counties within 10-15 minutes of us. We are really thrilled that Russell will be able to sub and it will be enough to help us get some major improvement projects completed and allow him to be home with the kids in the summer and when they are on breaks from school.

Darryl tried out for All-District Band and made 1st Chair Oboe and made the 1st cut for All-State. Unfortunately, he did not make All-State, but like we told him it is an honor to make it to the 2nd round for a freshman. Rachel has had several opportunities to sing the National Anthem at the Middle School Boys Basketball games and then she and the Middle School Choir sang for light up Bedford.

Both Darryl and Rachel had their holiday concerts and they went really well. Rachel sang a solo and played a solo on her flute. The concerts were nicely done and well attended by not only parents but the community.

We hope that you all had a joyous and happy holiday!

Love,
Tina, Russell, Darryl, Rachel & Isaac