A Quiet Thanksgiving

We had a small but nice Thanksgiving this year. Son Scott flew in from St. Paul, Ashley brought Rylan over, Ginny joined us and, of course, Aunt Janet is visiting from Redmond. We just kind of laid all the food out and let folks serve themselves. We are very thankful that God brought Mema through the very difficult surgery and is now healing her.


All the grans think Uncle Scott is some sort of rock star. I guess because he is from out of town and isn't seen as much.

Here, Rylan tries to figure out how to use Mema's crutch.

Mema shows Rylan some of the nicer things that can be done with Pla-doh.

Mema's Knee - Update

Mema is progressing very nicely along the road to full recovery. Her PT persons say she is way ahead of usual expectations but then Mema always exceeds expectations. I won't publish all the pictures I took but this one of her in the hospital with Eddie's bunch pretty much speaks for itself.

Tanner especially liked the "trapeze" mounted over the hospital bed and now wants one over his at home.

Meanwhile, Mema takes a few tentative steps the day after the surgery. It is now 10 days after surgery and she is able to climb steps (she isn't supposed to). It won't be long before she is back running marathons.

Mema Gets a New Knee

Mema had her right knee replaced on Nov. 14. The total knee replacement was performed by one of the area's best surgeons and he was quite pleased with himself over the results. We checked into the hospital at 0630 and, as luck would have it, Judy was the first on the slate of several patients waiting to have similar procedures. After two hours it was over. She spent another two hours in recovery and then was gurneyed to her room. We had arranged for a suite of rooms so I was able to be with her the three nights she was in the hospital.



I can't say enough about the care of the nurses for her three-day stay. They were wonderful! Now she is home recuperating and doing the things PT tells her to do. So far she is exceeding all their expectations but then, Mema has always been an over-achiever.



Our friends and family have been just great with their encouragement, show of concern, and gifts of flowers and food for Mema. She is to not ride in a car for 3 weeks; not drive a car for 6 weeks and no airline travel for 8 weeks. She will be on crutches until she feels she can graduate to a cane. Then its up to her as to leave the cane behind.

Thanks to all of Judy's friends and family for your prayers and thoughts.

Halloween - October 31

Here are the lovely Duncan girls before heading out for a night of terrorizing the neighbors. Daddy Scott took his pet boa, June, out trick-or-treating.

Here our little Pumpkin Princess, Cammie. She looks innocent but will key your car in a New York second
Clay is our High School Musical entry .
I wanted to take a picture or two of the Raphael Gang but by the time I got there, they had all hit the streets except for Selma who was home sick. Below, Rylan contemplates trying to steal candy from cousin Cammie.

Here the little ruffians prepare to roll Eddie's house.Even Aunt janet got into the act. Eddie wheeled her around in her chair. She said it was the first time she had ever been trick-or-treating. Imagine - 89 years.

The Great Wolf Lodge

We went with Eddie, Melissa and kids for two nights at the Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, VA. WOW!! What a great place for kids - and adults too. We shared a room that sort of had two bed rooms and managed OK. This place is so complete that we didn't have to leave the parking lot until we checked out.

The lodge featured an immense indoor water park complete with all kinds of watery attractions guaranteed to get anyone venturing near the place soaked to the skin. The kids loved it.

After we checked out we took in Colonial Williamsburg and treated the kiddies to a horse-drawn carriage ride.

Then it was on to the Yankee Candle Factory where the kids got to make their own candle and ogle the Christmas decorations.

I know not why Virginia allowed a company called the Yankee

Candle Factory to take up residence here in the Old Dominion. Somebody sure screwed up.