Happy Thanksgiving, Joy!

We Are Such Bad Parents.

Eva, in a bag.
"Hey, guys, it's me!"

"Seriously, let me out!"

You Know You Have Good Friends.....

.....when you get this e-mail in reply to your "Thanks A Ton" e-mail:

"Oh, you are so welcome! We had a blast!
And don't worry about Eva's toy snatching! LOL--I'm sorry Shirley is an eye-poker. Yeesh.
And no, there's no WAY I'm going to take your money--we're friends. I had so much fun, that the next time you need someone, I'd better be your first call! Emma is SO sweet! She wasn't too thrilled to wake up to me. She said, "I want my Cara and Josh." It melted my heart! But she was happy to help with Baby Surrey and Eva was just so incredibly sweet.
Thanks for a fun morning!
E."

Thank you, Erin and Surrey. We love our Auntie Erin....., and can't wait to return the favor!

Erin, can I have permission to post this?

Stuff.

A lot of busy-ness has been going on--here are some updates.

~My brother-in-law, Jon, is now home and is being treated for a fungal pneumonia. Please pray for continued healing. Thank you to all of my prayer warriors for getting our family through this trial.
~My grandpa does have Lymphoma, which they are not going to treat. It seems to be slow-progressing, but in his frail state, we are praying for comfort for him. I hope to see him one last time over the Christmas holiday.
~I have SO MUCH to be thankful for.
~Josh is awaiting news about his future career endeavors. OMG.
~I now have a house cleaner. I cannot tell you how wonderful this is. I feel so liberated, and able to be more effective when I am home.
~Our Nanny is amazing. We love Joy all around.
~We have 30 people to buy Christmas gifts for. I am over half way done. Go me.
~I have been treating a lot of patients out of my house. Love it. Love helping people. Love it.
~I have SO MUCH to be thankful for.
~Emma has been reciting her ABC's for about a month now. It is hilarious--make sure you ask her about it when you see her. Oh, and ask her to sing, "Ring Around the Rosie" while you are at it..... You won't be disappointed.
~Eva's new nickname is Roozer, short for "Squish-A-Roozer."
~My parents, sister, and nephew are coming this weekend for the Thanksgiving holiday. Can't wait--but I foresee a blog on Monday morning titled, "My Townhouse is TOO Small." Watch for it.
~I have SO MUCH to be thankful for.
~We are going to join a gym--just don't know which one yet.
~My favorite class of students graduated this past weekend from Northwestern's College of Chiropractic. I miss them already.
~I have SO MUCH to be thankful for.....

"Eva, Show Us Your New Teeth!"

"Nah, but I'll show you my big blue eyes..."
"Can you see them, Mom?"

"No, please don't squish my cheeks open."

"How 'bout my tongue, wanna see that?"

"Hey Mom, I'll show MY teeth!"

Pizza Debachle

Josh and I were taking a very important phone call upstairs this past weekend while enjoying our weekly "Pizza & Movie Night." We left our smorgusboard sprawled on the coffee table. A few minutes into the intense phone call, Emma came running upstairs:

"Guys, Eva's eating pizza!!!"

We hurried downstairs to find Eva enjoying her first few bites of heaven--and laughing! She had apparently gotten out of her seat (she was enjoying a bottle when we left), crawled over to the coffee table, reached the pizza box, pulled it down, smeared and picked at pizza, and enjoyed her feast..... Needless to say, we had a huge mess--but a content baby!

Emma's Favorite Place to Watch Cartoons.....

An Answer To Our Prayers.....

Update: Now ALL biopsy tests have come back negative, yet they are confident that something is obviously wrong. They are sending his biopsy slides to the University of FL, and will present his case at a conference on Friday for collaboration. Please continue to pray.....

Preliminary results of Jon's biopsy are indicating that there is no detectable cancer in his body, and that his health concerns are likely due to a bacterial infection that is secondary to a fungal infection of his lungs. He is going back home to IL tomorrow! Praise God. Thank you all for making this miracle a reality for our family. Jon, we love you, and can't wait to see you well again! Come visit us on your time off from work! :)

When It Rains, IT POURS.

It has been an interesting week. My brother-in-law, Jon, is still hospitalized in Florida. They have ruled out Tuberculosis, which would have been the most infectious option, but can't seem to effectively rule out metastesis and other infections. He is having a lung biopsy tomorrow, so hopefully a conclusion will be made early next week.

In other depressing news, my Grandpa, who successfully had a pacemaker installed on Tuesday, was told that the post-op x-rays showed a tumor on his lungs, which appears to be a form of cancer called Lymphoma. His biopsy will also be tomorrow, which will predict prognosis and provide a treatment plan.

And to top things off, Josh is absolutely miserable at his job, and has decided that his new career cannot come soon enough. [Have I mentioned that he successfully took professional courses to become a licensed insurance producer (agent), passed his licensure exams the first try, all while working 55+ hours a week, taking classes on his days off, and effectively being a father? Yeah, I am beaming with pride.....]

Yet, the first thing that comes to my mind:

Be still, and know that I AM GOD.

Prayers For My Bro!

My brother-in-law and his beautiful bride have been honeymooning in Daytona Beach, FL this past week. Jon got very ill over the weekend, and has been in isolation in a hospital down there while they batter him through tests to find a diagnosis. The parents have all flown down there to show support and be by his side. Please pray for my family as we await results. And don't forget Megan, who has patiently waited by his side. What a honeymoon it has been (not), and what a terrible way to start a marriage--with thousands of dollars in medical bills. We just pray that the diagnosis will be a curable one, so that the two of them can continue on their journey of marital bliss.

Opportunites.....

My time as a Chiropractic Resident is nearing an end. My contract ends in August. My, how fast three years can go..... While I have been told that there will be an offer for me when I conclude my residency to continue employment at NWHSU as a professor and practicing clinician, I am cognizant of the fact that the economy is struggling. However, I have been blessed with one final departing experience.

Beginning in October, I made a commitment with the Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies to be a research fellow for a pilot study with the Volunteers of America, delivering chiropractic services to 2 very different establishments in Edina and Eden Prairie. One is an assisted living facility, and the other is a facility that houses long-term care patients, memory care patients (dementia and Alzheimer's), and a transitional care unit, which is basically an off-shoot of a post-op hospital setting. I will be collaborating with another chiropractor, a massage therapist and 2 acupuncturists to offer innovative treatments to these populations, beginning in January. In the meantime, I have gotten to be a part of the developmental stages of designing this research project with our renowned research department. A study of this nature has never been completed in this capacity before, and I am blessed to be given this opportunity, especially at a time where experiences on my resume could make the difference for future employment opportunities....

A Message From the Universe?

I worked a 14-hour day yesterday, and barely saw Emma when I got home at 10pm last night, and didn't get to see Eva at all yesterday. I was hurried-ly getting ready for work this morning, and had these encounters with my babies:

Eva: Awoke with a huge smile when she saw my face, then reached out her arms, and hugged me for several minutes. She is 8 months old, people.

Emma: Peeped her head up as I was kissing her good-bye, and said "Hi Mommy. Are you leaving me again?"

Needless to say, I am spending the weekend with my girls.....

Family Wedding Fun

Mr. & Mrs. Jon Clark (Josh's brother)
Emma getting her hair done!

Up-do fun!

Megan and her adorable veil and 'do

Bridesmaids' Fun!

Me and mine

Beautiful Bride!

Flowergirl #1!

All dressed up!

Tired of pictures already?

Me and my new sister!

Sisters, daughters and nieces!

Flowergirl #2!

Attempt 12,654 at a family photo!

Daddy's Little Angel

Kisses!

My Mom & I

Thanks, Mom, for helping so much with the girls! :)

Bride & Groom

Picture time!

My Squish.

Still tired, but still happy!

Papa's Girls!

Emma & Owen (Ringbearer) on the dance floor!

Cute--"best friends" by the end of the night!

Halloween!

Luke and Leia
Crazy girls!

Little Miss Bumblebee

Strawberry Shortcake

We spent Halloween in Chicago for Josh's brother's wedding. We took the girls trick-or-treating in Josh's old neighborhood (!), and then headed to the rehearsal, where we had a costume party in a haunted house! Eek! Meet Strawberry Shortcake and Little Miss Bumblebee.....