It has been several years since I wrote a holiday letter, and for that, I apologize.
Things have not gone so well for us the last few years but the good news is that we are doing very well now and are both happy and healthy.
Just a brief review of our lives, more details can be found within this blog by reading past posts here and by looking at pictures in webshots photo album.
Last time I wrote a holiday letter I was ill after my knee surgery. The doctors thought my heart was workings at 75% and that I had had a heart attack the day after the surgery. I had a cardiac catheterization in Jan 2006 and they were able to see that my heart was/is working fine. Theory is that I passed a blood clot after the surgery which caused the mild heart attack.
After my
wonderful 50th birthday party September 2006, things went downhill fast. I had surgery on my toes which laid me up for awhile and right during that time Steve's father Ron's health took a turn for the worse and he passed away in October 2006. At the same time my dear Aunt Elma Mae passed away.
Afterwards Steve's Mom became very ill and was diagnosed with Polymyalgia. Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory condition that causes aches and pains as well as stiffness in the neck, shoulders, and hips. During this same time my mother was hospitalized with depression dehydration. She had been taking care of my dad who has Alzheimer's all by herself and not asking for any help. Steve and I went up to central WI for 4 days to get things under control there.
And all during this time the climate at my job was just awful due to new management.
In the spring of 2007 I got away for a vacation to Baja Mexico with my girlfriend, Tami. Beautiful weather, and I got to get up close with humpback whales--but was sick with the flu the whole vacation except for day one!
That summer, 2007, with the help of my brother, Chris, who flew in from California, we moved my parents to an great independent living apartment complex right here in Cottage Grove so Steve and I can be close help them more. Steve's mother got better as time went on and things seems pretty good. Then in October of 2007 I wound up in the hospital with hernia surgery...off work more.
THEN in January of 2008--I fell down here at the house in Cottage Grove and broke BOTH my ankles. Off work for 8 weeks! Then back to work in a wheelchair for a couple weeks then I graduated to a walker until about June.
So that's the sad news...
HAPPY NEWS-we are both happy and healthy now. Mom Schultz is doing great. Mom Querin is also doing very well. Dad Querin's Alzheimer's is progressing fast, but he is happy. He hates going to adult day care once a week, but it gives Mom Q. a full day to do whatever she wants. Mom and Dad Q celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in April.
Steve and I went on vacation in July to the Bahamas and had a fantastic time. My ankles held up and I was able to do most everything...I only skipped the excursion inside a 3 level cave.
We have been doing alot of remodeling to our farmhouse here in Cottage Grove--which you can also see in the webshots album ;)
I got a new boss at my job at UW International Student Services, and
again I can tell you that this is the best job I have ever had.
Steve is still working for the Township hiway dept--and working his skinny a** off-- with all the snow we got last winter (100+inches) and now with this season's record snowfall to date. He also keeps busy with the farm and all the work that comes with it
So that's our story. Lots of happy times..lots of sad times. But that's life. We get out to our place at Sleepy Hollow as much as we can. The dogs, Pilar and Lucy, are well and love the times at the hollow that they can run free.
Steve and I hope that you are doing well and we wish you all the best for 2009.
All our Love, S & M
