Christmas

Christmas was so great this year.  A bit different with our pending move, but was the first time we were able to relax because our house was all packed up...

Katie bug.

Sugar cookies!

I made Sam and Elli pencil cases and coloring books this year.

Nana got all the girls mini american girl dolls (and real ones...) 

Abby wasn't feeling great on Christmas Eve and spent some time in the kitchen by herself playing....She wasn't so interested in presents....

Elli was the champion bow remover!

Super Dad!

Sammi LOVED her doll.

Jen wrote a book....A beautiful story and made it personalized with abby's name.

Abby got a bean bag chair and she LOVES it.

Abby loved Sabrina!  Loved her...

You can't have a family occasion without wrestling.

My beautiful cousins

With more to come!

Abby saw a picture of Elli's silly face....Made her own.

Merry Christmas!

Andy and Brit are so creative!  Loved the cards!

Finding Omaha Steaks in the basement freezer!

Grandma and Grandpa got great books for Christmas!

Potty!

Christmas is the best.

No joke....This is what Steve started driving to CO in....

One last family picture before we move to CO....Minus Brit :(

Overall, Christmas was great.  I loved spending Christmas Eve with the Kacins, Christmas with the Kacin/Klenke's and Paul's bday with the Klenkes....Even with things like IVIG on Christmas and Steve and Paul driving to CO on Pauls bday, it was a great few days!

A word of encouragement...

My family is great...They pray for us all the time. A few days ago my aunt Laurel came over to let us know about her prayer time for us.

Did you know that the Bible has 365 "fear nots?" One for each day of the year?

Her word for us was this:
Steve, on Dec 26, Dec 28 and Jan 2: fear not
Carey, on Dec 25 and 27: fear not

When the Israelites were looking to remember something, they piled up stones....God is encouraging us to list out the ways He has provided for us...It will build our faith.  He has set up every single step for us, when things get messy or hairy, we need to remember the way He orchestrated this move.

Thank you Laurel for interceding for us!

IVIG 11

Last week I did some searching and found a few other blogs about others who are doing IVIG.  It was nice to read about their stories and also hear I am not the only one who deals with these headaches...One blog even pointed out how much water she drinks to avoid headaches and even counted up how much IVIG has been pumped into her system thus far....I don't have the patience for that....It's a lot. A lot of water, and  a lot of IVIG.

This week I got some homemade vanilla extract from one of the nurses (so fun!) and was able to catch up with other nurses who stopped in to say hi.  I can't wait to use that vanilla!  Thank you Joyce!

I am going to miss the staff here.  I feel like we are friends that get to catch up every week...I know about their kids, they all know our story and really, it is just fun to hear about their lives.

Today the Klenke's, Steve and Abby came to visit and brought me Chicken King for dinner!  So delicious!  I love having visitors!  It was nice to show my family off to everyone.

Tonight I even met someone who has a niece at the AFA!  She is a senior this year...Crazy small world!

Tonight was a tough night on the L&D floor...I don't know everything or really anything that happened tonight, and don't need to.  I just know it was a tough night for the nurses and some of the patients.  It's so heavy....Makes me realize I could never be a nurse in L&D and respect and appreciate those who do work here even more.

Only one more week left here at St. Joes...That makes me so sad.  They are wonderful here. Fabulous really.  They make my day all the time.

IVIG #12

My last IVIG at St.. Joes....I am trying to enjoy every minute of this even though it is Christmas night...I love that my nurses are so helpful and on top of it.  I have Sumer again, she was one of my nurses at the beginning of all of this and understands my desire to get out of here ASAP.

The best part of tonight was having the Klenke's bring me dinner again.  We got Chinese food because, really, what else is open on Christmas day?  Chinese was delicious, Abby loved it and ate almost all of mine. But, sharing dinner with her isn't a hardship...especially when I get to cuddle her in her Christmas PJ's.  

One of my old nurses left me a note in my bag full of IVIG fluid....She knew today was my last day and it was super sweet of Joyce to think of me one last time.  I can't wait to send the nurses here a picture of our healthy baby girl!  

IVIG bottle #1 took forever today because the machine was messed up and air got in the line...Which is a pain in the butt and a troubleshooting nightmare.  However, Sumer fixed it and when we got it working, it all went really smooth.

Tomorrow Steve leaves for CO, I leave early on Thursday morning for the airport.  A move is really happening.  My fortune cookie tonight said, "You will soon be reunited with old friends...." Ironic?

Root beer and a letter from one of my favorite nurses....Merry Christmas!

At least I got special visitors on my Christmas IVIG!

Last time for glass bottles...They do plastic bags at Memorial.

Already missing my old "room" at St. Joes....