Mom

There has been a lot of things happening here since we moved in with Mom and Dad. The most important of which is the health of Mom. I wanted to clarify somethings and I think this is the fastest and best way to do it.

She has Chiari Syndrome which is the compression of the spinal column by the cerebral tonsils at the base of the brain. This causes pressure to build in the spinal column and the brain as the fluid is not moving thru the canal as it should. This has caused a cyst to grow in the spinal canal. She has also developed a slight compression of two or more vertebrae in the her neck.

One doctor says she needs decompression surgery on the brain to relieve the pressure and to allow the cyst to disolve. Another doctor says she needs decompression surgery on her neck to allow the same thing. Either way the surgery will be risky, as is any surgery. But again, until two or more doctors can determine which surgery is correct they will not be cutting on her.

She has some tingling in her arm and can hear the fluid as it moves in and out of the brain. However, this condition is not uncommon, as a matter of fact, I was diagnosed with Chiari syndrome several years ago. The problem is hereditary, most of the family may have it. The symptoms I have are migraines, vertigo (dizziness) and occasionally problems with vision or tingling in my arms and legs. Sometimes the problems can be controlled with medication, as mine are for now, other times, like Mom's, surgery is required.

For more information on Chiari syndrome, please search for it on Google, we have and find it most interesting. Please keep our family in your prayers as we go thru this most confusing and distressing time. I will try to keep you all posted in here as things progress. I will also be reachable by email at zehrfamily@msn.com.

God Bless Everyone!

Changes

Things are changing so fast in our lives and some of it is not good. Things like not having our entire family together for Christmas. Elizabeth has chosen to stay in Trinidad not only to graduate with her class but she will be having Christmas with Derek and his family. This will be the first Christmas we won't be seeing her face on Christmas morning. I knew this day would come eventually, I know someday the kids have to leave the nest. I just didn't think it would come before she turned 18.

I know what it is like to share this time of the year with the extended family. I had to split my time with David's family and mine before. I know that eventually all three of my kids will be married and will be spending holidays with their extended family. I want that for each of them. It is just too darn early for me to be in full acceptance mode of this change. I am not ready for empty nest syndrome...LOL!

The one good thing about this holiday season will be that for the first time in several years, we won't be traveling to spend it with my family here in Aurora. It means not having to worry about the weather, the crazies on the road and whether or not we can make it back in time to work.

It is also very hard to be jolly at this time with no money to be able to give the gifts we would love to give. I know that this is a time to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, I am doing that will all my might. But, I would also love to be able to participate in the giving not only to my family but to others who might be less fortunate than we are. Yes, there are others who are worse off than we are and I pray someone is going to help them get thru this time, like my family is helping us.

Change is good and it is bad but most of all it is necessary.

God Bless Everyone!

Family Happenings

Since the last time I posted, Ben has now been school for five weeks at Hinkley. He seems to be doing well, misses his friends of course, but he is making new ones. He has signed up to play Lacrosse during the winter season which involves practices thru the week with games on Saturdays. I look forward to watching him and learning more about the sport, it will be nice to see more than one or two games like I did when James played.

Beth seems to be settling in at Derek's home and with school. She has had a few problems with some of the girls at school but I think the plan that Mrs. Mason and Beth worked out for next semester will benefit all involved. She is going to be attending her core classes in the mornings and have the afternoons free, hopefully she will find a job so she can stay busy until graduation.

James is almost done with this first semester at TSJC (Trinidad State Junior College) and has applied at Aurora Community College for next semester. They should be able to transfer all his credits and financial information to ACC so that he can just come up here and enroll in classes in January. We haven't determined whether he will work or not when he gets here, I think it will depend on his class schedule and how much homework is involved.

David is finishing his semester at TSJC, then he will move up here to find a job. If things work out for him to go back to school part-time in the evenings then he will apply at ACC. First things first, he has to get a job. We have been sending him emails with some prospects, not sure what he has done about them. I do know that he has been so preoccupied with moving, cleaning and school that today, he backed into another car causing a dent in the door. Then of all things, he didn't leave his information for the person he just went off to school to take one of his finals. He arrived home to find a police officer waiting for him with two tickets. Now he has to face the judge to see if he can keep his license as one of the tickets was for leaving the scene of an accident and is 12 points. I pray he gets a really lenient judge that will forgive him.

Things are going slowly for me, I have posted my resume with several companies and have tried to get an appointment with the temporary agency but have not been able to speak with them or have them return my calls. I am not giving up! I have also put in some hours with my online company to help get some income coming in, but with all that I have to complete for moving, looking for a job and other things, I have moved slowly getting that done.

Gotta run and take care of things, God Bless you all!!

Packing part 3...the final packing installment

We did it! We got the apartment packed and all of it into storage except what we needed here. As I looked at the storage unit one last time, until we unpack it to move it here, I couldn't believe it all fit. As we were packing it, Dad had to keep telling me " it will all go!" Mom and I discussed it on the way home, it would not have worked if we had put the boys beds and Beth's things in there. We were lucky that she needed and took all of her furniture to Derek's house.

As we left Trinidad, of course the tears flowed. It was very hard to say goodbye to all my friends and the "family" we had made in the 14 years we were there. Leaving Trinidad was as it had been when we moved there. I remember those first few years, I was so miserable without my family and my friends, that I begged David to take me home. Now I would give anything to be staying there. Don't get me wrong, I am glad to be here with my family and those friends I still have here, but there is nothing like small town life. The closeness with those friends and our church family is such a heart warming thing it will be hard to be without that. But I know that just as I got used to life in those first years, I will adjust to life in the big city again. For now, it seems overwhelming and suffocating but it will get better, part of that will come thru prayer.

Goodbye Trinidad!! We will miss all our friends, please keep in touch!

God Bless you all!

Tis the Season...

For our families this is not only the beginning of the holidays but it is also our birthday time of the year!

It all begins with my sister and brother-in-law's anniversary on Nov 19th...I know it is not a birthday, but it is a celebration! They have been married for four years! Then comes my Mother's birthday on Nov 24, Mark's (brother-in-law) on Nov 27, mine on Nov 28, a nephew's on Nov 30, Ed's (brother-in-law) on Dec 1, nephew's, father-in-law's and sister's on Dec 2 and finally David's is Dec 9. Then we have Christmas and Beth's birthday is Jan 26.

With all we have been thru it is nice to celebrate the happy things and try to forget the money and moving stresses.

We are getting settled in Aurora, still no job but more hope for one than we had in Trinidad. Still living with Mom and Dad, little crowded but getting by nicely.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! God Bless Everyone!