MERRY CHIRSTMAS bloggers and Happy Birthday Jesus!! I hope you all had a great day. Our day was packed with fun. We hit the floor running this morning and didn't stop. We've had a santa visit, breakfast, presents, lunch, games, snacks, games, games, dinner and more games! The sounds of happy kids, play saws and drills, crying and peeing baby dolls and who knows what other noises are all quiet. I am close to retiring for the evening myself. I think we pulled off everything this Christmas season except cards. Oops, sorry to those expecting them. Anyway, as I mentioned, I am pretty much exhausted and the bed is calling. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!

I made it through the crazy week and even spent the entire day on Saturday at Sea World! What a difference it has made to see the doctor for the 6 month follow up and receive a positive report. I am on my way to complete recovery. I am feeling better every day. I have less than 5 minutes to complete this post as we are in the process of making Christmas cookies. The dough is in the fridge getting ready. I have the kids entertained with Charlie Brown's Christmas. We worked on art projects all morning and cookies this afternoon. We are in the Spirit. Aside from the 70+ degree weather and all the doors and windows open, it seems just like Christmas. I am so excited to celebrate the birth of Jesus this season. He is the reason!!

I celebrated a birthday yesterday! Thanks to everyone who called, e-mailed, sent cards, etc. If you forgot, or didn't know, no worries, even my deadbeat dad didn't remember. Oh well, he didn't make it to surgery either. It was such a welcome day! Praise God.

Love you all!! Oven's beeping and kids are screaming!

Well, this should be a crazy week and we will see how much I can handle. A meeting this afternoon at 2pm at Spencer's school and I will fulfill my promise after school to let the kids make the gingerbread house. Then, a little more Christmas shopping and mailing some gifts in the morning while the three are in school. Brogan has a Christmas party at school on Weds. and Sydney and Spencer both have school parties on Thursday. Of course, I am signed up to bring snacks to the parties. Thursday afternoon, during Spencer's party time, Sydney is suppose to be at gymnastics. Then, Thursday night we have spagetthi with santa at Spencer's school, which I am helping plan. On Friday santa is visiting the school for pictures and a big to do. I am cooking dinner for a friend who had a baby on Friday night. Neighborhood party on Sat. afternoon and WinterFest. Winterfest involves trucked in snow (ice/slug) to climb on and throw snowballs as long as it lasts. May I include it isn't very long in 80 degree weather. There's usually a line of 75-100 kids (at least) waiting to get on the mound for their timed 5 minutes. It is insane but many children have never seen snow and this is so exciting for them. Our kids have seen snow but do not remember. We will be visiting Grandpa and Grandma in Nebraska in January. Hopefully our wish for snow will come true. I am having a great day so far and expect it to be busy and fun!

Is there anybody out there?? I am guessing that everyone has given up on me at this point. I did not follow through with my promises to give you more details. Sorry. I have found that getting back into the swing of things and discovering my new "normal" has taken more time than I anticipated. Anyway, can you believe that yesterday was exactly 6 months post-op? You probably can't believe it, as the ole saying goes "time flies." Well, it seems like forever to me because I have been awaiting the 6 month check-up. I visited my doctor in Gainesville today and had my first post-op CTA scan. The results were perfect with no sign of the aneurysm regrowing or developing elsewhere in the brain. There is less than 1% of patients who have the anuerysm to grow back (around the clip or elsewhere). Thankfully, my annie seems to be following the doctors orders. We did get to see pictures of the clip and the "thing" that is holding my skull in place. It looks like a small wagon wheel in my head. It is CRAZY! I think I have a new nickname with Cortney. Also, the doctor confirmed that all the headaches and weird sensations that I get are common after surgery and may last 6-12 months. I don't feel nearly as crazy tonight as I did when I awoke this morning. I am getting better each day and am less fatiqued, less depressed and more like myself. I can positively say that Holly is coming back. I spoke to a lady in the waiting room today with an annie that can't be clipped due to location. She has 32 coils and the annie keeps growing. The doctor is not sure how many more coils it will take to block it off completely. She has undergone 2 surgeries so far and had a stroke during the last one. She has another planned for January. I thank God for the ease of my surgery and recovery, though at times it has been very difficult. I pray for the sweet lady today and her ultimate healing.

I hope everyone is looking forward to a beautiful Christmas season. By the way, Sydney is asking santa for a singing princess wearing an American flag dress. I think I can pull off the singing doll but not sure about the dress. Spencer says "it's ok, the elves can make anything you request!" HELP

Love ya all,

Holly