Stairway to Heaven...Now Carpeted

Val's heaven is the comfort of sleeping upstairs every night with her mom and dad. Unfortunately, our hardwood floors have gotten the best of Val's psyche and recently made her start to second guess her skills at navigating them on the way down. So, in the morning, we would wait a good 15-20 minutes and endure her crying and doing circles at the top of the steps. It really was quite sad to see her so bothered and scared of the decline and a potential slip and fall. Her legs would shake she became so distressed.

So, we did what any good parents would do - we carpeted the steps for our daughter. Now she goes up and down with all the confidence in the world -- that's our girl!

PS - Home Depot quoted us a price of $650 to do the steps whereas our local flooring company (Specialty Flooring in Roslyn) charged us $250 and they were great. Ha! Screw you Home Depot...we like Lowe's better anyway.

The Labuskes' Bash

My Uncle Rick, Mark & Stephanie always have an after Thanksgiving party, but this year they decided to throw an after Christmas bash instead. We got to see a lot of neighborhood friends I haven't talked to since high school, but pictured below are the staples to the yearly party. My mom, Uncle Rick, & Uncle GeorgeJoe, Tony, Mark, & DavidMe & Brian with best friends Jessie & CraigJoe & Paula, Tony & AngieMark, Ellen, Brian, and Me - I wore my Steeler's shirt & Brian got nasty stares because of his Flyers shirt A family shot after winding down

Loaded Questions

What do 'finger nails bitten...hard,' 'onion dip,' 'PNC Park,' 'macho man,' 'a cruise on the Onassis yacht,' 'chrysanthemum,' and 'Kaui' all have in common? They were all answers to a family board game called - Loaded Questions.

We typically finish our Christmas day with a family game and this year we played one that was received as a gift. We were all a little skeptical of it and how you strategize to win, but we all agreed that it was fun and I've never seen my dad laugh as hard as he did.

Alana's Christmas

We went over to Dave & Ellen's to watch Alana open her gifts. Little did we know all we had to get her was one book and she would be all set. After opening her first gift (a book), she snuggled up with Ellen to read. I tried to distract her to make her open more, but she was pretty entrenched in reading.

But I had some playing to do, so I helped her out so we could play with blocks and Alana could walk her little toy puppy.

Christmas Morning Highlights

Wow, what a Christmas morning to remember. I received some great gifts, which included a women's wallet from Coach. Julie ordered me a $50 MEN'S wallet, but instead the boneheads at Coach shipped a $220 women's wallet. Being the upstanding citizens that we are, we returned it (frankly, I really couldn't see myself using it anyhow...it didn't match my current purse).

Julie received some outstanding gifts from her fabulous husband including her long-awaited Flyers t-shirt (she never liked the Pens either), a watch that she will probably return and a Phillies World Champions sweatshirt -- yes, we are still living up the title and will be for some time!

Bill Billy Bill received a Phillies World Ph&*%in' Champions t-shirt (don't recommend wearing this one to church). Carole received the Barefoot Contessa's cookbook (looking forward to "testing" some of those recipes) and Bill Billy Bill and Carole also received the joint gift of a year membership to the Pittsburgh Zoo to take their little cutie-pie grand daughter, Alana.

And our most precious girl, Val-e-val-e-val, received a pink doggie bowl (she told us it was her favorite color on the ride home) and a new chewy toy that she loves to play with -- Uncle David and Aunt Ellen also gave Val a box of her favorite treats...MILKBONES!!!

Another Merry Christmas had by all.

Homemade Raviolis & Fried Shrimp

What a delicious Christmas Eve feast Kathy prepared. We had my Nonnie's recipe for raviolis that were made earlier this month, oranges with olive oil & garlic, fried shrimp, and homemade sauce with meatballs & braciole. We put a nice dent in the above picture, but every time I look at my plate above, my stomach growls. Mmmm.

Christmas Eve & Family

Brian and I headed out to Pittsburgh for Christmas this year. This year's Christmas Eve was hosted by my cousin Kathy. We celebrated with my family, the Gunters, the Gilsons, Aunt Tina & Kathy, and others that popped in and joined the festivities. It was an awesome Christmas Eve with everyone. My mom, Kathy, & Aunt TinaMy dad (the patriarch) hanging the nativity star - a tradition Kathy started this Christmas Eve.The Gunters - Justin, Cory, Harold, Kylie, and NancyAbove: Ron & Dona Gilson

Below: Diona Gilson, Dave (my bro), and Kenny GilsonDave & Ellen (and baby to be)Alana dancing. She was showing us all the lights on the tree. Brian, me, & my parents at the appetizer table

My Superpower

I must say I was waiting for that epiphany after my MS diagnosis. Weirdly, I was kind of excited for that magical moment. I'm talking about that moment people talk about after getting sick or having something tramatic happen to them - you know, when they say they know what the meaning of life is or that they are going to live every day like it is their last.

Hate to say it, but no epiphany for me.

I was diagnosed over a year ago (October 9th 2007) and shortly after that I started shooting myself three times a week with my disease modifying drug called Rebif. Brian helped me inject at first - each injection was a bit of a process for the two of us - he'd get the hot washcloth ready (that helped to avoid injection site reactions) and then I would load my self injector with the shot, shoot, and then Brian would throw everything away. Shortly after, I used my self injector all by myself, and then a few months later I gained enough courage to shoot myself without my handy tool. I'm a pro now.

And while the shot was a frequent reminder of my disease, my disease - as the disease is defined - didn't seem to impact me at all this year. What that means to all of you is I had no relapses. Sure I get freaked out at every pain or numbness, and I am what Brian calls, 'the human torch' because I am always hot. I am human and I do have feelings and fears - I'm no perfect person.

But as a clinical update, I have recently gone to the neurologist for a check up and got another MRI of my brain and spine which showed no changes and some improvements of my spine lesion (which is due to time and healing). That is very good news!

So why do I call MS, My Superpower? Well, while I never had a life changing epiphany and I do not believe having MS is a blessing, I believe I have learned a lot about myself over the past year. It has given me strength in areas of my life I thought I may have maxed out in, it has helped me make better decisions for myself, and I now have x-ray vision. Okay, no x-ray vision, but what I'm trying to say is it has given me a power to be what I believe is a better person for myself and to that, I can say that MS is My Superpower.

Luke the Red-nosed Reindeer

Well no red nose here - but at a few days shy of 6 months old, Luke is holding his own. He shakes his legs and giggles when Mickey Mouse is on TV, he sits up really well, and he grabs his blocks (and my hair). He is a joy to have around.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Brian and I went out to Bob & Mary's this afternoon to visit everyone before the holidays and give Ava & Luke their Christmas presents. Lucky for us, we got an extra special treat because Santa was making his rounds around Aston, PA. Brian, Bob, Ava, Val and I waited, frigidly and eagerly, on the corner with all the neighbors so we could get to meet the jolly big man. Santa's helpers handed out candy canes, and when it was time for Ava to go up and tell Santa she wanted him to bring her an Ariel dress - she didn't find Santa too jolly - she screamed and cried. But, as Santa drove out of site and yelled Merry Christmas to all...Ava finally warmed up and got the last word in screaming, "Ariel dress!"

Happy Birthday Bob

To celebrate Bob's 39th birthday, we went to the Chestnut Hill Hotel for dinner. It was the perfect finish to a super fun day. Food and company were great.

Phantastic

FLYERS WIN!!!
We went to the Flyers vs. Penguins game on Saturday - club box seats - and had a blast. Not to mention the fact that the Flyers killed the Penguins and ultimately won the game 6-3 (trust me, it was never really that close). Note in bottom picture that Julie is proudly displaying her new Phillies shirt, which includes the phrase coined by Phillies Chase Utley during the parade..."World Phucking Champions."

In case you missed it, you can find it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVIJVMZZMiQ

Making Christmas Eve Dinner

I came in to Pittsburgh for a business trip and joined in the making of our Christmas Eve dinner raviolis. I must admit that all I did was crimp only one ravioli while my cousins Kathy & Nancy, my mom, and Mary (my Aunt Tina's friend) slaved over 200 of them. Christmas Eve dinner is going to be a good one - fried shrimp and my nonnie's recipe for homemade raviolis. Can't wait!