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Dear Friends and Family,

We will start this year's letter with a small update on the current situation for each of us. After that, we will make you work. We will list a bunch of things that happened this year and you get to try to put them in the correct order. The answers can be found at the bottom of the letter.

Michael continues to enjoy being a stay-at-home Dad to our two very active boys (although it is thoroughly exhausting). Connie still works for CK Technologies. Since August, Connie has been able to come home for lunch every day to see her three boys. This is because her company moved to within a mile of our house.

Carl is a very energetic three and a half year old. He still wears his leg braces, but only at night. He has been off antibiotics since March and has remained infection free. He will probably always have a small bit of hydronephrosis (water in the kidneys), but not to a degree that it is detrimental. He talks up a storm and loves playing games on his computer, watching "The Backyardigans," and singing their theme song.

Timothy turned one in November. He started taking his first steps just weeks before his birthday. He is a cute, dimpled little boy (of course, we are not biased at all). He has several food allergies which are making his parents' lives difficult. So far, we know he is allergic to milk (it is amazing how many foods contain milk proteins), peas (and therefore, probably peanuts), and the most recent discovery of eggs. His eczema is mostly gone, except for his knees and ankles, which get irritated when he crawls. His weight is also an issue (he only gained 5 oz. in two months), so his pediatrician sent us to a nutritionist who gave us some ideas to help him gain weight.

And now the challenge. Many of you will know when some of these things happened, but can you place all of them? No prizes, since we're giving you the answers as well, but we hope you have fun. Happy Holidays!

1. Jacob William Sloan (Michael & Connie's nephew, Carl & Timothy's cousin) is born.
2. Carl visits Disneyland with Uncle Lee, Aunt Maureen, cousins Callie, Sloan, and Logan.
3. Michael's brother Dan and Dan's fiancee Becky get married.
4. Carl attends (and passes with flying colors) his first swimming lessons.
5. Carl visits Grandma in Arizona, who takes him for a week in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
6. Connie stops taking Timothy to work, Michael is now a full-time stay-at-home-dad for two.
7. We get central air conditioning installed in our house.
8. Family wins $39 million in SuperLotto. About $12 million after taxes with cash payout.
9. Timmy's dedication ceremony at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church.
10. Carl visits the dentist for the first time, finds out he will undoubtedly need braces later on.
11. The family spends a week at Grandma's in Arizona.
12. Family trip to Chicago for "KamaCon" and to attend a Cubs game at Wrigley Field.
13. Carl has foot surgery, the doctor having determined it to be necessary only on one foot.
14. Connie resumes working four days a week, bringing Timothy to work with her.
15. All four family members are hit by a rather inconsiderate strain of stomach flu.
16. Doctor determines that Carl will need repeat surgery for his clubfoot.
17. Massive brake failure in the van; no accident. No-cost repair due to a recalled pump.
18. Carl gets very sick with the stomach flu. Parents terrified.
19. Carl has a cystoscopy at Children's Hospital. Results show no urinary tract blockage.
20. We all visit Grammy and Grampy in New York, where Carl operates a backhoe.
21. Connie resumes full-time work.
22. Michael receives his first root canal.

Love,
Michael, Connie, Carl, and Timothy

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He has been off antibiotics since March and has remained infection free.

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I did not know that! That is AWESOME!

[ December 22, 2004, 02:12 AM: Message edited by: rivka ]

Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003  |  IP: Logged | 

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H scheduled for next year.

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