We love you! Keep your chin up! Big HUGS and KISSES from MN!! The kids are wishing we had snow!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

We'll have a quiet Thanksgiving Day - Sam is working and I'll be getting ready for Friday. We're going to Clermont/Elgin on Friday and will have Thanksgiving Dinner with The Roberts on Saturday. Krista and the kids will be there on Friday (Ken is on call) - we're having adjoining rooms!! That will be so much fun - can't wait to see them all. We're so looking forward to seeing Stacy, Dave & Karen, Terra & Tony and their new babies, Kinzie & Kylie, and can't forget Katie & Dustin and their kids Dylan and Averi. Can't forget Margaret! It will be so nice to get together with everyone!!

I'm not half way into radiation, and it's kicking my butt. I would say the Chemo was easier than this. I am so tired all the time and it seems to get a little worse every day. The good Dr. says to rest - that's all I can do. There is some tissue soreness and that is getting worse each day, but no burning, which I'm thankful for. Each day seems to be a new challenge. But, it will soon be over and a new, better year will begin.

Please keep our neice & her husband, Steph & Sal in your prayers. Their son, Jaden, was to undergo open heart surgery, but it has been postponed because of infections. Steph is staying at the Ronald McDonal House at the U of MN while Jaden continues to be hospitalized. Sal, Ashley & Ethan are at home in St. Cloud. This is such a stressful time for their family, all prayers are appreciated.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving - enjoy the time spent with your family and loved ones.

Love,
Karen

Hey everyone!

It's cold & rainy here today - a good day to stay inside. The forecast for the week doesn't sound too impressive, but then it is winter, isn't it? The Festival of Trees parade is this Saturday, and we had talked about going downtown for it, but the high is only supposed to be 46, so we'll maybe pass!

We went and saw Sam's mom this past week-end, and had such a nice time with her. We went to TJ's in Clermont for pizza on Friday night and always see someone that we know. On Saturday a.m., we took her to my cousin, Deb's, for a haircut, then for a drive around the country side, then met my Uncle Henry and Aunt Karen for lunch in Elgin. Margaret is doing about the same - won't remember that we were there, but had a good time while we were there. We're all (us, Krista & kids, Stacy, Dave & Karen, Terra & family & Katie & family) going up the Saturday after Thankgiving for our Thanksgiving dinner with Margaret. Karen's sister has opened her home to us, so Margaret will have lots of her family with her. She'll espeically love all the little kids.

I'm doing o.k. This week-end kind of got the best of me, because I didn't get the rest that I need, but I'll catch up. Started radiation again for another week. There's no burning yet - just some soreness that can be controlled. About the only side affects right now are extreme fatigue and bad joint pain. The Dr. assures me "that's just part of it!" We'll both be glad when Dec. 22 comes and this is all over! What a great Christmas gift that will be!!

Sam's work is having their Safety Breakfast (can't call it a Christmas Party) on Dec. 2. Wal-Mart is really big into donating to CMN - Children's Miracle Network. So, I'm making a fleece blanket to donate to the silent auction at the Breakfast. One wife comes and does all of her Christmas shopping there - one stop shopping, and it's tax deductible!!

Have a great week-end, and stay warm!

Love,
us

Hello Everyone!

Hope that you all had a good week-end! Ours was spent at home, quiet for the most part. Sam did some work outside, of course Maggie helped!! Then he went to work early yesterday morning - first to Milwaukee, then a stop or 2 in Chicago on his way back, and he ended up in Davenport with a Sam's load at dinner time, so we had dinner together last night, then he was on his way again. Don't know how he does it - I sure couldn't!!

I just got home from my 3rd radiation treatment. They tatooed me today! I thought they were kidding, but first they put a drop of ink in 4 different spot, then stuck me with a needle in those spots, so they weren't kidding! It hurt! I can feel a little heat from the radiation, but that's it. I have lotion to use afterwards and they said to use Aloe too, so that's what I'm doing. No burning yet, but they said it will take a couple of weeks.

We're hoping to go up to see Sam's mom this week-end. We haven't been up there for quite a while. Stacy spent the day with her this past Friday, and Dave & Karen were with her on Sunday. She got to go out to eat both days, and she loves getting out and about, so I'm sure that she was happy.

Have a good week!

Love,
Karen

Hi All!

Well, tomorrow, I start radiation. I'm a little nervous about it, and don't know why. They said that it will take me longer to get undressed & dressed than the actual radiaiton. Maybe it's the whole burn thing. I'm not looking forward to that!! I went in today, and they took more x-rays and marked me some more, so I'm ready to go. The side effects of this will be the burns and fatigue. I'm already tired all the time, so what else is new!! Sam will go with me every Friday - he can watch on the screen from the next room, so he feels good about being there.

I've been working 3-4 hours a day this week. woo-hoo! It's good to work, but I'm tired! One of the office gals is quitting, so I've been doing payroll every morning while the other gets trained on other things. Makes for a longer day for me, but I come home and nap,and that helps.

Stacy is coming this week-end for a couple of hockey games. It will be good to see her. I couldn't talk Sam into going to one of the games, so she'll go with friends.

Keep the prayers coming this way - I have a feeling this will be a difficult time.

Take care.

Love,
Karen