It's 2008 Already!?

Yes, we're still here & kickin'. We've been so busy the last few weeks it's been impossible to keep up on the blog. Mostly because I was focusing on & enjoying the moments, and not writing about them. So in that way the silence has been good. Thanks for hanging in there with us.

So, lets see, what's all happened:

• Jordan had a very uneventful trip to the geneticist, who once again shook his head & said he didn't know what to look for next. Of course I had a few ideas, so she will have another blood test in the new year (for CDG). We'll see. . . .
• Avery & I went to grandpa Gary's house for 4 days before Christmas. Aunt Jill was visiting from Alaska, and seemed to bring the weather with her -- lots of snow, and even a 4 hour power outage. Uncle Jon Paul did lots of snow plowing over those 4 days, and Avery was always ready to head out to play in the snow. Aunt Jill & aunt Jessie even helped her make "Frosty Crusty" the snowman (Jill wanted to call it Crusty, but Avery had her heart set on Frosty, so they compromised).
• When we got home on the 20th, grandpa Earl & grandma Linda were here for a visit before heading south in their RV for the next few months. We celebrated Avery's 4th birthday on the 22nd with swimming at her favorite pool, and lunch at her favorite restaurant (Sweet Tomatoes). This was for family (including Kelly & Kate of course), as we're saving the "kids' party" for 4-1/2, in June).
• Jordan actually fought off a viral infection (along with a super high fever), and didn't even need to go to the "Hotel Emanuel." We spent Avery's birthday morning at the doctor's office, and Christmas Eve morning at the lab & on the pediatric floor (4 hours for 3 ml. of blood). But, no ERs and no admits, which I consider a milestone! And despite the sickness & the fever, we still haven't seen any seizures, she continues to amaze us with sucking, tracking, and even smiling here and there. She's doing great!
• We had a wonderful Christmas Eve of "make your own pizza" with grandma Linda, grandpa Earl, nana Noma, Kelly, Ed, & Kate. The girls got to open a couple of presents, and they loved the most their ducky backpacks for "school." In fact, we had to drag them away from "school" and backpacks to get them to open some of their other presents.
• Avery was very relieved on Christmas morning that Santa had made it. Of course none of us caught him, thankfully we were all sleeping hard so we were rested for the day. He brought Jordan a stocking and some gifts, too, and left a note that the girls should share. Avery has really taken that to heart, and saved the note in one of the books that came in her stocking.
• On Saturday we had the neighbors over for wine & cheese, and sneaked in a tray of chocolate cupcakes for Jordan's second birthday on Sunday. Jordan's second birthday was a real milestone for us, since many of her doctors have said since the beginning that she wouldn't make it to 2! But here she is, and she's doing better now than she has been for months. We don't know what the future will hold, but we do have a special appreciation for what we have had for the last 2 years -- the good & the bad.
  
• Devon and I celebrated our 7th anniversary last night in the city -- dinner, dessert, fancy hotel. And best of all, an 80 GB ZUNE! It was sooooooo time to update the music situation in this house. It should only take us ~6 months to get all of our CDs copied on to that thing, but luckily we can listen to the radio in the mean time.

Of course, pictures to come!

And it hardly needs to be said -- HAPPY 2008!