Merry Christmas

Roma and I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and thank you for all the love and prayers that we have felt during this year.  It has been a tough year made easier by the love we have felt from you.  We have received so many blessings because of this trial.  You, through your goodness have shown the love of Christ through your actions.  You are truly ministering angels.  We hardly have a day go by without a token of love from our neighbors, family and friends.  Thank you.

The word has gone out that I have pneumonia.  We went to the Dr. Tuesday feeling like I had the flu.  The Dr. concurred and gave me some antibiotics in case it was bacterial. He listened to my chest and and couldn't hear anything. On the way home I developed  extreme pain under my rib cage.  I thought it was a gas bubble, but it wouldn't go away.  It subsided enough to sleep that night, but the pain came back Wednesday. We called the Dr. and the Dr. said Roma quit jumping on Paul's chest, joke. He actually said to come down for a chest X-ray. Sure enough, they discovered the signs of pneumonia. They put me on a 3 day dose of steroids and the two antibiotics. I will take a 7 day dose of one and a continuing dose of the other.  I already feel much better.  The pain has subsided and the weakness is getting slowly better. We had planned on going to St. George for Christmas. We decided we shouldn't go because of the danger of it getting worse.  So the only pain we feel now is not being able to watch the 5 grandkids open their presents. But Nate, Shelly and Owen have decided to spend Christmas night with us so we won't miss Owen opening his presents. So that will be good. Again, a very Merry Christmas to you and yours. We love you.

Last times

I have had an emotional year as we have visited our kids in Virginia, Washington State and as I have witnessed the seasons go by. I wonder when and if I will see the far away grandkids again and if I will see another Thanksgiving and Christmas. I expect I will but it weighs on me a little. My 15 1/2 grandkids are precious to me, as are the rest of my family.
When I have those thoughts I am reminded in no uncertain terms that life doesn't end here. There is a life after this. We will continue the same relationships we have here and even expand them. That gives me a lot of comfort. My family is my life. I could not bear to be without them and I don't have to. No matter if I live six months or twenty years I will continue to be able to nurture those relationships.
Upate: Friday I had a Doctors appointment. All is well. They are are in the process of weaning my off the steroids. I have one more week. The steroids have affected my body in all kinds of adverse ways and I will be glad to be rid of them. They do help with inflammation so they were a help after the surgeries, I hope once the drugs are out of my system and my body starts functioning I will be able to gain more strength and be able to become more active.
As always we appreciate your prayers and faith in our behalf. We have received so many blessings and they come through you. God Bless

Washington and some thoughts.

On the Oregon Coast near Tillimook

It was cold and wet and fun

Grandma's the best!

Lap time with Grandpa

Homework time. I need a little practice too!

I am a little jealous of David's Lego collection!

Jodi dipping chocolates. They were fantastic.

Roma trying her hand. They were fantastic too!

Two lost teeth in less than a week.

Chillin

The new home. It is beautiful!

Before Thanksgiving Dave and Jodi invited us to visit their home. David was heading out to a two month deployment so wanted us to visit their new home before he left. They live in Lacey, WA in a brand new home. The area is beautiful if not a little wet. We drove over to the Oregon coast a day where we saw tremendous scenery and the Tillimook Cheese factory. We also spent a day in Seattle visiting several venues. We appreciate the fact that our kid take such good care of us and are willing to put up with us.

I have expressed before how I am not a patient man. With brain cancer that is not a good thing to be. Nothing happens fast. For example I have been on Steroids since my first surgery and I can't get off of them quickly even though they devastate my body with lost muscle mass, weakness, bloating and a myriad of other symptoms. The doctor has been able to reduce the dose that I take, but you can't quit them cold turkey without suffering dire consequences. So I have to be patient. I have a doctors appointment this week so I hope the doctor will reduce again the dose or maybe eliminate it. One could only hope.

I say this not to complain. I have had too many blessings for that. I only mention it because it is another lesson I am learning. As we have patience with our lot in life (with our adversity) and continue to trust in the Lord he will continue to comfort us and grant us ever greater blessings. In the Book of Mormon there is a verse that captures the thought. It is in 2 Nephi v 20 "Wherefore, ye must press  forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men, Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" I believe that. I know that. It has brought me comfort and peace.