Thank you!

For all of your prayers and best wishes.  We returned home Saturday night.  2057 miles in three days.  TL stated that in three years he can help with the driving.  I'm looking forward to that day!!  I was exhausted.  Sunday we cleaned out the truck, which was trashed, and my hubby did some laundry for me.

Yesterday I didn't do anything.  Nothing at all and it was wonderful.  We really needed to dig back into school since we've lost so many days with our traveling, but I was too exhausted to see straight or dig out the school work. 

So, today we're hitting the books. 

My neice is doing better.  She has bronchitis right now.  It got really warm when we were in Iowa and then the temperatures plunged and now they have snow.  Tomorrow she has surgery to remove her pins, which will be so wonderful!!  I was always afraid the kids were going to hit one of them!

One of the things I noticed when we were in Iowa was my kids needs for scrapbooks.  Back when I had the time, I had made some scrapbooks for my in-laws and my kids devoured them.  I realized that TL and Princess have one, Bug-a-bug has one started, and the two littlest have nothing.  I have tons of photos printed and in storage.  I have at least two years on my computer.  So, I decided one of the gifts for them this year will be a scrapbook for each of them.  This way they can look until their hearts content.  I'm going to download a computer program this weekend and get started.  I probably need to sit down and figure out what I have and how far back and plan their books out.  I hope to keep this year current and perhaps do the last two years.  The last year may be more reasonable, but we'll see. 

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

An amazing young woman

That's my niece.  She's so strong, physically and mentally.  She is able to use both of her arms now.  The doctor wants her to hold off on using her left arm over her head until the clavical fully heals, but because of the surgery to it, she's able to use it well.  She is able to move herself from her bed to chair to the potty chair quite easily. 

Next week, she has surgery to remove her pins.  Once those are gone, life gets much better.  We have to be so careful not to touch her pins.  After the surgery, she'll be bedridden for two more weeks and then they will start physical therapy.  The physical therapist will be coming to the house to see her.

And since they really don't need us and the kids are bored, we're heading home tomorrow.  Grandma and Grandpa gave up their house so we could stay together and have been staying with Grandpa's sister.  I'm glad that they will finally have their house back to themselves.  The cousins are so busy with activities, sports, and school that they haven't had much free time.  And I still can't believe that we didn't have any snow!! 

We'll be heading out early in the am and driving for three days to get home.  I'm longing for my own bed and I know that the kids and I are anxious to see daddy. 

Iowa

and no snow.  Its February here and no snow.  My kids are clamoring for snow to come so they can play in it.  I even bought snow boots before we came.  Hopefully it will snow before we leave!

Our niece is doing better.  She went to the doctor and got her pain medicine switched back.  They had changed hers and she was nauseous for about a week.  Now she feels much better.  She's able to swing herself almost completely over to the chair using just her arm.  Her left arm is on the mend and hopefully she'll be able to use that soon. 

We're busy with cousins and doing school.  We're still getting used to the time change.  We stay up late and get up late.  I may just keep us on this schedule for when we go home.  Hopefully we'll be able to leave in a few weeks.  She has surgery on the 16th to remove her pins.  We call her the Bionic Woman, but its totally lost on her cause she has no idea what we're talking about.  We've been examining her xrays, looks like someone dumped a tool box inside of here with all the screws in there!

Have a wonderful weekend.