New Year Highlights

It's a New Year and life is good! We are getting organized and healthy, so we can have fun this year! I am not one to make real specific resolutions, but those are two things I want our family to focus on this year. With all that has happened this year, life has felt a little out of control and crazy, so these are two things we can control. Rather than focusing on what we can't control we chose to focus on what we can. This journey of optimism is a new one for me. The road less traveled so to speak and I hope it " has made all the difference." -Robert Frost  I am paving a new road this year and taking the "road less traveled"!!! I love this picture below of Dave, the kids, Bryan and Emily. So bright and optimistic. 

On that note, here is the latest with my hubby. Dave is the most optimistic person I know. Dave's sister's nurse told her that the people with chronic illness that get well are most often optimistic. Even in the midst of hardship, he has been optimistic and his faith has been strong. This last week his platelet count was at 108,000, which is almost normal(150-400,000). They think that because Dave has a viral infection for about a month his counts remained low while he finished the last rounds of Chemo. This week we also started seeing a Dr. Gruenn. We hope that he can help us look for more of the cause for the ITP. He works with nutrition and detoxification of the body to promote self healing. He looks at the patient individually and will be doing some extensive test on Dave on Jan. 31st. He will do toxicity test, look at nutritional and food sensitivities, Vitamin D test, among other things. We were referred to him through someone at Dave's company. He seems very knowledgable and said that a lot of immune disorders start in the gut. Dave's feels great! He has been playing ultimate frisbee and working harder than ever. Small victory and we continue to pray for victory over ITP!!

At the Huntington library on an afternoon walk

When life was crazy I put up Christmas lights because I believe Christ can shine light in the darkness! He did! Check out this photo of our California Christmas lights, sunset and all! Someone told me that traditions bring stability! I don't know why, but putting up white lights is a tradition in my family and it helped me feel stable! This photo was right before I took them down:(

Angela is in a big girl bed! She started crawling out, so we took the side off and she loves it! She stays in it and we feel it is much safer!

The blanket Aunt Lindsay made her for Christmas with her name on it and the peacock Auntie Ally found for her!

Mrs. Matilda Jane!

Dinner is not as exciting these days but it makes us feel better! Thought I was healthy until I watched the movie Foodmatters on Netflix. Crazy!

 We've been spending a lot of time at the park recently! 

 Went to the Rose parade on New Years Day with our friends, Debbie, Jonathan and Katelynn. 

Ty's favorite toy! He builds all sorts of things with these Magna tiles!

 Ty's first soccer game

Ty outgrew his 12 inch bike, so we went and found him a new/used one.  It's a 16inch Trek! He rides it everyday.

Ty's preschool class.

Twas the Tour de Midwest Christmas edition

Thankful for the wonderful time we had visiting with family this Christmas in our Tour de Midwest Christmas edition. It was a much needed break from reality. It refreshed our minds and our spirits to be with those closest to us. Thank you to everyone for all the accommodations you made for us this year, we are forever grateful! We successfully traveled 4 flights, drove through a blizzard, safely drove 13 hours plus, played with 5 cousins, saw 4 grandparents and 3 great grandparents, played outside on two snowy days, and ate wonderful cooking by two great chefs. Thanks to everyone for bringing us joy this Christmas time!

Christmas Eve with the kids.

Thanks to Breana for letting Ty borrow your boots and snow pants.

The Stockings were hung by the chimney with Care....in hopes that the Grandkids soon would be there.

Thanks to the movie the Polar Express...the first thing Ty wanted to do when he saw the snow was ski. Grandpa made due with a snow board in the front yard.

A Jackson family tradition continued....making Christmas cookies together. A special thanks to Aunt Lindsay for making the girls matching Christmas dresses.

Uncle Lucus and Auntie Ally came from Colorado to visit to spend time with all the nieces and nephews.

Santa came to town on a golf cart when we were in the middle of opening up presents. Right before he arrived there were carolers that came to sing for us.

Grandpa had his swing ready for the kids

Angela's first time in the snow

Visiting Papa at work. He lets all the kids use the "Filed" stamp.

Throwing snowballs at Daddy.

Ty and Carter giggled a lot together.

Daddy took Ty snowboarding.

Thanks to Judge Jensen for the Noonball shirts for the family!

At LAX airport after 11 hours of travel.