You can reach Sue at (314) 452-3685 or (314) 726-2032. You can write to her c/o Rose Holt, 905 Barnard College Lane, St. Louis, MO 63130K


We continue to visit Den twice a day or more. He is not doing well. The food in the Barnes Jewish Extended Care Facility is poor, Den's appetite is off, and he's lost quite a bit of weight. Kim brings him his favorite food and encourages him to eat. Shirley keeps him supplied with his favorite chocolate chip ice cream. Kim brought a small Christmas tree for his room, this to follow-up the Thanksgiving theme she and her girls had done before. Rose and Kim keep his laundry done.

The staff at the facility encourage him to dress, stay up, and do his therapy. However, since he has been there (five days now), he has been too pooped to do much more than rest. Today he restarts his physical and speech therapy, so we are hoping for the kind of progress he was making at St. Mary's. Since last Tuesday, he just hasn't been well enough to take advantage of therapy.

Den had many visitors this weekend--Dale, Kathy, Rick, Denise, Lari, Jake, and perhaps others we don't know about.

Yesterday, Rose, Shirley, and I got our tree trimmed. Shirley baked and baked. All our shopping is done except for a few stocking stuffers. Now the task ahead, dauntingly ahead, is to get all this stuff wrapped.

After I hinted around with Margaret Anne in our phone conversation yesterday, she got the idea that I want some of her marshmellow FUDGE. She promised five pounds. Maybe it will fatten Den up some. God knows what it will do for Rose, Shirley, and me.

Pete and Janet were leaving Sunday morning to return to Idaho Falls for the holidays. Their plan was to drive straight through Nevada, not even stopping for gas.

Rose has taken on the task of finding a suitable bicycle for Jalen's Christmas present and has had a lot of fun doing so. She has been to every bike shop in St. Louis and one in Chicago. The purchase has been made along with a strong crash helmet. Jalen is only six and can already ride a two-wheeler. He loves to have his dad set up an 'challenge course' in their yard for him to maneuver. He is going to love this new bike.

Scott, Sherry and sons will arrive some time Christmas night. We plan to have the kids' Santa gifts under the tree when they get here.

Chris and Shelly are hosting our family gathering on the 26th. We hope Den will be well enough to attend. Den and I will have our Christmas with the Boaz kids on the 22nd. If he is unable to attend, we will move the party to the BJEC facility.

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care in hopes . . . . And, the wind blew, the chips flew, . . . .