Christmas 2008

I haven't had Internet connections forever and so am way behind on the blog. The following is a quick update through the end of the year to get caught up.

The best news is Macy is home--bundled and wearing a couple of hats to help regulate body temperature, but eating well, sleeping, and growing.



Christmas morning Brayden met us at the door. He knows he gets to open his presents.




Although he is serious about his Mr. Potato Head, his real love were the trains, planes, and helicopter he received. When I have time I have the best short video of Christmas I just have to include.

Brayden likes "hairpanes"!

We spent a few days after Christmas parked in Jackie and Jerry's (Nancy and Gary's) driveway which is in the incoming flight path to Ft. Lauderdale Airport. Brayden was visiting and he and Grampa were watching the sky for airplanes (hairpanes to Brayden).

Homesteaed for the winter

We arrived at our camp spot for January and February, the same little (37 spots) RV Resort we stayed at last year with many of the same people, most of them French speaking Quebecans. But we were welcomed and this year they have organized a "social committee" with activities and classes, from line dancing to English or French classes!

We got there in time to enjoy the Shuffleboard Tournament. The directions were in French with a few sidenotes in English. We played, then grilled hot dogs, then played some more.

New Year's Eve

The "Quebecans" know how to throw a party--a Spaghetti Sauce Party that is! Everyone brings their sauce and meat to throw into the pot, cook your own pasta to bring,







sit with friends and a bottle or four of wine, and enjoy the evening!










2008 has been another adventure in "vagabonding". We have enjoyed the travels and still marvel at what we see and do. Again, the friends we have made are the icing on the cake. Although we were saddened by the death of my mother, the birth and miraculous healing of baby Macy have our hearts overflowing with joy. We thank the Lord for His bounty!

Update on Macy

Macy is now over three weeks old and continues to do well. She now weighs 4 pounds 6 ounces, and has transferred out of the NICU and into a level two nursery where she is in a bassinet, is wearing clothes, and is nursing. She just needs to nurse more consistently and she'll be able to go home. Yea!

Keep Macy and her family in your prayers for a while longer.

Brayden bakes cookies!

We're back in Florida and into the Christmas mode. Brayden welcomed us back and Grampa helped him bake cookies. What fun!




Frosting those cookies was a lot of fun too!

Rest in Peace, Mom. I'll love you forever!

We were called back to the St. Louis area with the news of Mom's possible death. She passed away on the evening of December 16 and we had her funeral on Friday.


Although the circumstances were sad, we know Mom is in a better place with our Savior in heaven.










It was an opportunity to have some Niemann family time, however. Here is Judy, my younger sister with me, my younger brother, Larry Vern, and Dad.











Here are the nephews with Dad. Rob, Judy's son, and Nick and Tyler, Larry Vern's boys.



Dad is physically doing well, but his Alzheimers has destroyed his memory. He had a very difficult time understanding Mom's death, and we have, at the advise of his social workers, simply gone back to telling him Mom is in the nursing home, which he understands.