Merry lice-mas!

We had big plans to post a Christmas music video, but I'm sitting in bed after a long night of stomach flu - so this is the best we can do today. This is just one illness in a semester FULL of
back to back blows to the immune system.

Since Mila and Cooper started daycare at the beginning of this semester we've had pink eye several times, hand-foot-mouth disease, strep throat, stomach flu, regular flu, Cooper's high temp of 105.8 for an unknown reason, and lice! I've been told this will subside as their immunity grows... that better be true!!

Anyway Jon is still working for Sigma House Recovery Center here in Springfield. He deals mainly with drug court clients. Once a week he reports to a judge on the efforts of his clients in drug treatment. I love saying "Daddy's going to court today" without worrying if he's coming home at night :) He'd love to move on to a place where the clients take treatment more seriously and aren't just trying to get out of jail time.

I'm in a Respiratory Therapy program at our local community college and I'll be done next Spring. This semester has been killer. I go to class twice a week and go to clinicals at our local hospitals three times a week. We learned how to run several new ventilators which means all of our patients were in critical care units. Next semester will be awesome - it'll be all NICU and pediatrics. I've been looking forward to seeing the little babies, but they also make me very nervous.

There's so much more to say, but I can hear Mila puking so I'll attach some pictures and call it good.

Despite a clean bill of health from the school nurse, my phobia got the best of me and I treated myself for lice with olive oil and saran wrap :)

New tire swing in the back yard!
Jon's been perfecting his smoked rib recipe - yummmm...We took a "vacation" to the KOA camp (about 10 minutes down the road) -
lots of good stories there!

For lack of other activities, we took the kids to the train track and flattened pennies.
They loved it!


We also took a weekend trip to Memphis.

Memphis zoo is awesome!

Jon finally got to try the famous Rendezvous BBQ.

Definitely worth the trip!

We love you all and especially miss all of you this time of year. Each of you mean something very special to me and I hate that I can't give you all a big hug whenever I want to. Anytime anyone wants some high humidity, Bible belt fun - our door is always open. (Don't worry Josh - the house will be fully disinfected by the time you get here). Can't wait to see you all again!
Love - Amy