Another busy week since our last update. On Thursday we went to the Smiths' for dinner and had a wonderful time. Sabrina and family and her parents made the occasion special for Jalen's birthday. Jalen and Jamil got along famously with Alex and Brett and truly thought they were in a young man's paradise with all the games, sports equipment, and knowledgeable 'older' models in Alex and Brett. Norm has been especially charming and witty lately, all in hopes of getting 'off probabtion' after only 40=some years. However, we like keeping him on the edge. [This site won't let us do paragraphs, hence the run-together nature of the last entry. Tonight we'll do this [Paragraph] indicator so as to separate our topics. [Paragraph] I had told everyone that the only Christmas presents I wanted this year were things I could eat or drink. Sabrina took me at my word and made me banana bread and gave me a big bottle of very good wine. Margaret semi-honored my request and gave Den and me some of her famous fudge along with other stuff. It is hard to say just who enjoyed that fudge or that banana bread the most. As mother would have said, "It didn't last til it was all gone." [Paragraph] As any Dear Reader can tell from the photos on this Blog, we enjoyed having Brayden and Jalen over the Christmas break. Shirley had to have some minor surgery that limited her ability to lift the baby which was frustrating to her. The surgery was successful and turned out not to be very painful. She is happy to have it behind her--no pun intended. [Paragraph] When Rose, the boys, and I returned from the Smiths' on Thursday, Dena and Layla (Jamil's mother and four-year-old sister) had arrived. The three of them left Friday morning in order to be home in Bloomington, IN, for New Year's Eve. [Paragraph] On Thursday morning I saw Dr. Dooley, my St. Louis neurologist, for the first time since July. He was surprised and pleased with my progress, particularly my balance and walking ability. Something has helped me. Dr. Dooley will review all my Chicago hospitalizations and treatment records, and I have another appointment on January 26 to see what the next step will be. [Paragraph] We've been e-mailing back and forth with Brother Joe and family about their upcoming visit this Saturday. We had asked them to come up sometime over the Christmas holidays, but Joe's son David thought we might be 'overwhelmed' with all that was going on. He suggested a visit after the holidays. Perhaps David was right because after Scott left with the two boys on Monday morning, we three old ladies semi-collapsed and were in the pits. We miss the boys a lot, but also know why only young people have children! [Paragraph] Over a period of time, we have established an evening ritual of having a nice meal in our dining room. Jalen sets the table, lights the candles, and helps serve. On this visit Brayden started dragging his high chair from the kitchen to his particular place at the dining table. He also learned where each of us sits and would pat the chair seats and point us to where we belonged. We continue to be pleased and amazed with young Jalen. He knows phrases like 'bon appetite' and 'bon voyage' and uses them appropriately. He can read far beyond his first grade level, and he is very artistic. It was a new pleasure this visit to see him master his new bicycle, a seven-speed number with handbrakes. [Paragraph] Yesterday Joe wrote us that he has invited Aunt Virginia to come with him and his family on Saturday. We surely hope she can do so. [Paragraph] I am happy to report that Den is doing 'some better.' He has now used up his insurance benefit for in-patient physical rehabilitation, is now more stable, and has been moved to a residential floor of the extended care facility. This floor is much less of a hospital atmosphere but provides the 24/7 nursing supervision he still requires. He has an appointment for a CT Scan on January 13 and a follow-up with his gastroenterologist on January 20. Perhaps we'll know more after those two appointments. [Paragraph] Pete left a voice mail this morning that he and Janet are now back in Quartzsite, AZ. He was calling because he had heard about the bad weather here in St. Louis. Luckily, the bad weather passed us by, and it is just cold here. [Paragraph] We continue to be grateful for Catrina and her knowledge of the intricacies of medical insurance. She assisted us with Den's move, has investigated coverage of medications for us, has checked out all the physicians newly involved, and in general stays on top things that slip by me every day. Since she made the birthday calendars a year ago, we have stayed on top all birthdays except for Jacob's and hers. Catrina told us she turned 29 (again!) on December 31st. How could we forget a New Year's Baby like her?