A Very Shaggy Christmas

HO HO HO - Well another Christmas has come and gone and New Year is just days away. So - How did they day go with Jim? Overall very good.

I worked so eventhough Santa came to our house the girls spent the night at Grandma & Grandpa's house. I got off work and picked Mikayla and Ruthie up on the way home. It took the girls and I a couple of attempts to wake Jim up and get him downstairs. The strangest part was Jim kept getting up and walking away while we were opening gifts. It took us about a half hour just to get him to sit and start opening his gifts. Then mid opening he'd get up and wonder off. Not sure what that was about. I did get a few "real" smiles from him when he opened his talking Achmed (the Dead Terrorist/ Jeff Dunham) doll and his inflatable leg lamp decoration.

Christmas was a joy this year because 2 years ago I was scared Jim wouldn't be here - now I can't imagine him not here. Part of the reason for this blog is to tell you how he really is SO - Gone are the Christmas carols, he no longer sings at all. One of Jim's favorite parts of Christmas is decorating - especially his Hallmark tree. He really struggled to "fluff" the branches and hang the ornaments.

Jim has really slowed down the last couple months. So much so my 4-yr-old niece Kaylee asked me "Aunt Shelley was does Uncle Jim move so slow?" Jeannie says she really notices it too since she is not here day to day. I notice it too especially since he needs help dressing almost daily now. He also is no longer able to cut his own food, or do his own buttons. He got all new jeans this Christmas - mostly since he lost about 15 pounds, but also because he has problem with the buttons. I had to get him jeans with bigger buttons and cut the holes bigger.

I think that about covers it! Hope everyone's Christmas was great and New Years is terrific!

The year in review

December 2011

The other day I looked at my 3 month calendar and noticed it still showed October and November. Apparently, I am running behind! Where has this year gone? Guess I have got to get to it and bring myself to start planning for 2012! The last year has certainly flew by! The Metz Family has been busy, busy, busy!

We have enjoyed a couple nice trips this past year. Over Easter break we visited Jeannie and family in Virginia. Mikayla was our travel planner - she wanted to go see George Washington's Mount Vernon and Arlington National Cemetery.

Over Mother's Day weekend Ruthie again got to spend time with cousins Kaylee & Gavin while Jim, Mikayla and I traveled once again to Washington DC. This time we visited the nation's capital for ALS Advocacy Day. While there we visited the Capital Building and met with five Congressional offices to share our ALS story and advocate for research funds.

In July, my mom joined us for a trip to Idlewild Park in PA. We celebrated Jim's 38th Birthday with his Aunt Jean, Uncle Dave, cousins Scott, Megan, Darcy and Matt. Mikayla and Ruthie had lots of fun riding the rides with Jamie and Maddie. Though it was horribly hot - we all had a great time and really enjoyed ourselves.

Mikayla is in 2nd grade this year. Despite her recent diagnosis with ADD she is really excelling in school. Her teacher has been awesome in helping us and supporting her! She loves reading, history and science. However, her favorite subject is still recess! Mikayla's social calendar is the busiest of us all! She is active in Girl Scouts (cookie sales start soon), science club and has just finished her first year of cheerleading. She is greatly anticipating her First Communion coming up on Mother's Day weekend.

Ruthie is busy in her 2nd year of preschool. She is always a ball-full-of energy. Her favorite activity is whatever Mikayla is doing! She is anxiously awaiting Kindergarten in the fall so she can ride the bus with Mikayla.

Jim has been doing pretty good. We are currently working with what I call a collection of "ologists" to manage his health. He will be starting with a new neurologist from John Hopkins in the months to come. Ironically enough, his name is Dr. Appleby - so after years of no mention of Applebee's in our Christmas letter - here it is again. Dr. Appleby specializes in early-onset dementias.

On a sad note, we lost Jim’s grandfather on August 25. Grandpa suffered a stroke last January which started a long battle of declining health. Grandpa was in and out of the hospital and nursing home all year and never returned home. Though we miss him greatly we are happy he is at peace. The girls still toast him at their tea parties and as Ruthie puts it, “even though he is in heaven he still loves us” (and we still love him.)

My mom has been awesome in helping care for everyone. Despite working five days a week Ruthie and Mikayla spend every Saturday sleeping over Grandma's house. Then Grandma gets to have a sleep over at our house on Sunday nights. Grandma then helps get the girls up and drives Ruthie to the school bus.

As for me, I am still working weekends at Hillcrest Hospital. I spend the weekdays at home with Jim and running to and from doctor's appointments. I am currently studying for my ob/gyn ultrasound registry. I passed part of my vascular ultrasound registry this fall and will have one final exam coming up for that in the all-to-near future!

As always - we thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I know in my heart they are what are helping Jim beat the odds! We hope that you and yours are healthy and happy and continue to be so in the upcoming year!

Merry Christmas and God Bless,
Shelley, Jim, Mikayla and Ruthie (Sushi and Saki too!!)