Sunday, November 22, 2009

It's that busy time of year again! I mean to update every week that goes by, but I usually end up falling asleep at the computer. My lyme disease is back again since I came down with a sinus infection a couple months ago. Seems that my body can't fight off an infection and keep lyme at bay at the same time. Go figure! This too will pass is what I keep telling myself.

Things have been fun with our three monsters...oh I mean dogs...ruling the roost. Actually little Dani is so sweet and they all get along quite well. She is learning quickly and has picked up on so many of Tod and Riley's bad habits. They are good trainers. You should see me out walking the three of them, I have had some people stop and stare at me. Probably wondering if I'm going to trip and fall while getting my arm pulled out of socket and dragged down the road!

Hannah continues to do well. I had her teacher conference and got her report card last week. Her teacher is so impressed with how well she is doing this year. She is working more independently, is more focused and participates more this year compared to last. She still takes more time to complete assignments during class and homework, but is still keeping up with the class. We all couldn't be more pleased. Looking back, even to last year, it becomes clearer as to how badly she must have felt last year. She missed so much school. This year she has only missed one and a half days total. She was home sick one day last week. She woke up so congested, with a stomach ache and just feeling lousy. She had a bad cold, slept until lunchtime, and felt a bit better by the end of the day. By the next day she was back in school. So many kids here in our elementary and our jr/sr high schools have had the swine flu. By some miracle, neither Colby nor Hannah got it. They both got the shot, so by now they should be protected from it. Let's hope so!

Hannah has been busy with weekly swimming lessons and swim team and horseback riding. Colby just made the volleyball team at school, so now she has travel lacrosse (started this weekend), volleyball, basketball and horseback riding. Think she does enough sports? She wants to do it, so as long as it accommodates her homework and she isn't too tired, we let her. Oh, and that doesn't count her dog agility classes, religion and practice for those sports too!

Today we attended the fundraiser for the Guardian Brain Foundation, organized by our friends the Mardjanis. You all may remember Alec, Hannah's friend from Schneider's with medullo also. It was such a nice event and they raised a good amount for the foundation. I had the opportunity to meet the founder's of the Foundation, Mike and Mary Pallotta. Mary and MIke started the foundation in order to support others fighting brain tumors and their families after Mary's brother passed away from a brain tumor. An organization that started out as a very small grass roots organization has grown to do wonderful things!

Hannah had fun helping me with the raffle table and of course bowling. She asks me constantly to go bowling, she loves to bowl too! Dave, Colby and Hannah bowled with the group and I helped Amy with the event. Hannah won a basket from the raffles-what else, stuffed animals! Great job Amy!

And our biggest project that has been keeping us quite busy-our adoption plan! We have organized 5 family adoptions this year in all. In addition, others have sent money going towards those adoptions, which is a big help. Hannah's Cans for Cancer is adopting 2 families this year, each with 3 children. The gifts will be delivered to the families on December 15th, so we have been shopping in earnest. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm such a planner and like to get things done early. We are almost done getting everything just right for the families, now we will start wrapping. I know Dave is looking forward to that! THANK YOU to everyone who has participated this year in our family adoptions. You are doing a wonderful thing!

We are traveling to Pennsylvania this week to spend Thanksgiving with Dave's Aunt Rosemary. We are also undertaking a new, exciting and BIG endeavor, but we'll save that for next time. So many reasons to give thanks, we hope you all spend the holiday safely with loved ones. Happy Thanksgiving!

♥Kim