Great News!

We took Karissa to Duke yesterday and the doctor was very happy with Karissa's progress. She is in "Medical Remission" meaning she is symptom free while on her meds. She said if she continues to do this well, they will begin to taper her off her meds in June. It will take about a year to taper her off the meds, but it's a start. Needless to say, we are thrilled! We hate having to give her the shots. It's still very hard on her...and us. Please continue to pray for her and her continued improvement.

It's been a while since I have posted any updates and pics. It seems like we are always so busy. Always something to do. Right now Todd is repainting the downstairs (after 6 paint samples!) He did not like the deep yellow/gold color. Wants it softer, like our FL house was painted. And he hated the window treatments. So, we bought new treatments for the sliding glass door-sheer panels with a garden type print in saiges, gold, rusts and reds. Will hang them with clip rings on a black wrought iron rod. The other two windows will have sheer ascot valances in a silver saige color. We moved the washer and dryer upstairs and now we have a HUGE pantry in the kitchen! HURRAY! Love it! The washer and dryer is now in the master bath where the old shower stall used to be. We removed the garden tub and put in a large custom shower. It's really beautiful and makes such a difference! Dale built it and my brother tiled it. They did a FANTASTIC job!

We decided that we'll send Karissa to public school. We toured the school we're zoned for and really liked it. We talked to other parent's who send their children there it was like a Bethal love fest! They have had nothing but good things to say about it. So, we'll give it a try. They have the multi-age classrooms and lots of extra-curriculear activities. They have a new principal (she lives in our neighborhood-right aound the block!) and she has made MANY improvements in the short time she has been there. If we decide we don't like it, we can always pull her out. We register her next week. I can't belive our little baby starts school in August! She's growing so fast!

We had a great Christmas. It was nice to spend it at home. Karissa received so many toys. If it had a Princess on it-she got it! She still LOVES the Disney Princesses! We went to Orlando for a week in January. We took Karissa to Disney World. It was her first trip and she loved it! She got to meet Cinderella and Aurora. She was so excited she was shaking! I took alot of pics!

Todd got me a new camera for my birthday! It's a red Cybershot and it fits in my purse. I love it! I always have it with me. And it takes GREAT pics! My Aunt came up for the weekend of my birthday. We had a crop at the Scrapbook Store. It was so much fun! My friend Vicky came up from Asheville too. She FINALLY started scrapbooking! Woo-Hoo, I converted another one! We also went to the Ringley Brothers circus. It was an amazing show! Karissa loved it! It was her first time at the circus and she was amazed!

We went to the Melting Pot for Valentines day. We decided to take Karissa with us. She only liked the chocolate. Mmmmmm! I want a fondue set! Todd and I both really like it. Todd got me a dozen red roses, he got a professional whip canister for his cold coffee drinks he likes and Karissa received a little gold chain with a floating heart.

That's it for now! Have a great weekend!

Peace!

Karaoke Cuties

Todd's company had their Christmas party Sunday night. We had so much fun. Todd did most of the planning for it-he did a fabulous job!

They had a DJ and karaoke, so of course Karissa graced everyone with her musical talent. LOL

She sang Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer w/another little girl. After taking a few pictures, I realized my camera also had the capability to record video--although not very good, sorry for the bad quality! This motivated me to learn how to use our video camera and find the charger for it! I'll make that my New Year's resolution! Ha!

Karissa was so funny! She forgot the last line to Rudolph, so she just started the song over...like 3 times! And if you can't tell, Karissa's the one w/the louder voice, or should I say stage presence.

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas!

We decided to go all out with Christmas lights this year. The house looks great! Todd and our friend Dale hung the lights. I was in charge of the front porch. I really enjoyed doing it. It was almost therapeutic and relaxing for me....like gardening. I took pics of the house and wouldn't you know it, half of our wreath went out. Todd's going to fix it tomorrow.

Karissa is so excited for Christmas! She said she wants us to wake her up so she can see Santa and Rudolph when they come to the house. She had her picture taken with Santa on Saturday. I can't wait to get them back-they turned out so cute! She really hammed it up with him! I wish we could have ordered them all, but that would have put us in the poor house!

We had a family pic taken this year. Turned out great! Check it out......

More about us....

Todd finally had a full physical...only took me 5 years to get him to do it! What's with men and going to the doctor? Anyway, turns out he has high cholesterol and hypothyroidism. So, the doc put him on meds. He should start feeling better and have more energy wants the meds kick in. Hurray! He would sleep the whole weekend if I let him. LOL

I'm having surgery on my wrist Dec. 17th. Seems I have a gangleon cyst inside that driving me nuts! My wrist hurts all the time. The timing could not be worse, with Christmas right around the corner, but I met my deductable so it's now or never if I don't want to pay for it. Oh joy...wish me luck!

Karissa is doing well. She's had a few episodes of her knee hurting. I think it's from the change in weather. She's learned how to write her name. SOOOO CUTE! She is a singing FOOL! This morning, when I dropped her off at school, she had to go to the "ladies room" . While she was taking care of business, she was belting out the song "A Whole New World" from Alladin. Now mind you, the door was shut, but you could still hear her singing. Everyone in her class could hear. It was so cute. She is destined to be an entertainer. I remember singing like that at her age. I didn't stop singing until my senior year in high school.