From Mom:
My husband just reminded me that nothing has been put on the Website and January is over half gone. So.....
We spent the weekdays in December reading all your good Christmas mail! Thank you to all of you who still use this tradition as a way to keep in touch with friends and family.
On Christmas morning, we invited Scott to have breakfast with us and open the "Santa sock" that we had filled for him. Breakfast was eggs, sweet rolls, waffles coffee and trimmings, so I am sure we feasted very well. The next day on 12/26, we had the local family in for dinner and gift exchange--everyone brought a contribution for the meal, so it was easier for me, and most enjoyable for everyone! I did most of our Christmas shopping by mail or by email, from catalogs --- only had one trip to the mall with friends in late November.
Win and I have spent much of Jan. playing host to some respiratory bug that we picked up. We both had a flu shot in December. i went to the doctor and got put on an antibiotic early in the process and a Rx for cough medicine that helped me sleep at night. So I am doing quite well by now and feeling/sleeping just about normally. Win did not get on the antibiotic, so he is still coughing occasionally, although he got out this weekend and did quite a bit of shoveling, snow blowing and is keeping the bir feeders full. Shawn was down late Saturday evening and plowed us out, which is appreciated.
So that is how we are doing in the snowy northeast. I am not enjoying the wintry weather. It makes it harder to get out and walking is out of the question these days, but I am doing exercise every day on the "health-rider" apparatus. I think that is good for my legs and especially for my left arm and shoulder, that is still somewhat impaired. I am doing 120 repetitions on that machine almost every morning, which is better than just laying in bed or in the easy chair recliner where I spend much of my time.
I have also started a list of anique and family related items that we have in the house, so the kids will know where the items/furniture came from and something about its history and potential value, both monetary and sentimantal. Win has an idea for me to do concering some family history and memories, but that is a bigger project than I am wanting to start right now....maybe someday soon. I guess tha is the score for now.
Love to all,
Connie 1/24/05
From Dad:
It was amazing how connie took in a number of events during the holiday season: from family get togethers, afternoon teas, to ball games, agency marathon dinner travel including Lights on Onondaga Lake event.
Then came after the holidays....deep chest cough, fever, weakness. I was very concerned and it wasn't long before I had the deep chest cough and hacking for weeks, but no fever.
Connie is now back into the health rider. Up to 120 repititions form a beginning 80 two months ago. And we recently purchased a recumbent stationary bicycle ( spread out in the basement to be put together by the numbers) . She is shaping-up! When we went to the Doctor for the antibiotic prescription, her blood pressure would be the envy of a marathon runner.
Finger stretchers go on several times a day and for longer periods. With health rider and finger extending, the left arm, shoulder and fingers are slowly coming back. And perhaps not too long down the road some longer periods of the talented piano playing.
Barnes and Noble cleaned jp on us before the holidays when she discovered NY TImes crossword books. We bought several volumes. Really into them everyday. She is my walking, breathing dictionary and appropriate wordsmith!!!
From Shawn:
She's our walking miracle and demonstration of God's grace!