Merry Christmas!

This is Rick on a snowmobile in Vermont February 2007. We made a trip up to see his sister, Bev, hoping to give Rick a good time in the snow. Well, he did have a good time but I ended up with a sprained knee. I tore 2 ligaments in my knee and was on crutches from day one. Bev, her son, Randy, and Cousin Candi, took over where I left off. Well, since they are Vermonter’s it does make more sense that they drive the snowmobile, doesn’t it? Our first trip out on the snowmobile with me driving was not good. I tipped the machine over and tried to catch it with my leg. It didn’t work! So I watched the rest of the week.

The picture looks like Rick is driving, but he isn’t. Bev stepped off the snowmobile to take the picture. Isn’t it beautiful?

Rick is holding his own, it seems. He had two more seizures this year, one in April and one in November, but he seems to be functioning at the same level. He needs assistance with bathing, dressing and toileting. He can’t speak a complete sentence most of the time. Once in a while he does get out the entire sentence. That is always a celebrated occasion. He still loves to be with people. He seems to be more alert when he is with others. He laughs and plays, trying to make a joke. You just have to laugh with him. He continues to attend the Adult Day Center in Winston Salem, Monday through Friday. This is a real blessing for me and him. I can work without worrying about him and he gets the stimulation he needs.

I continue to work for the company that makes Betaseron. I am now a phone nurse and not a field nurse. This was a traumatic transfer for me but as always, hind sight is better than foresight. Now I can see that God knew the future and worked things out for me to have the job that I could handle best and still be able to take care of Rick. Praise the Lord! I sit at the phone taking incoming calls and making follow up calls to the patients who are on Betaseorn. It is a much less stressful job. I am so glad that God has a plan and it’s a plan for good.

We are enjoying our home in Kernersville. It is so good to be only 10 min away from church. We have a wonderful support system there. Cheryl is 1.8 miles away from us. Tamara is in Winston Salem, about 20 minutes away. Erin moved to Columbia, SC the first of the year. So she is the farthest away. We have 3 grandchildren now. Cheryl has our only boy. He turned a year in November. He is special. Erin is still single.

We are so thankful for our family and our friends. We love each of you.

May God bless you richly this Christmas season and through the New Year.

Rick & Joyce