EXCITING AND JOYOUS END OF 2012

                             We had a great time the last three weeks of the year, starting with Jacob inviting us to he's annual school concert and it was incredible how these kids learn to play an instrument in only a few months.It was an impressive concert.

The beginning of the concert

Sorry, my camera is not really made for videos, but you will get the idea. 

Jacob looks very happy after the concert even 

though he had an accident 

with his skateboard just a week ago.

                          That day we planned a gathering of the family because Donna's nephew Ben came in town, but for flu reasons Daniel, Brian and Karla could not make it. Daredevil Jacob had to try out his new ripstik and had a bad crash on the concrete  One of my nice neighbors brought him home and Windy and Donna took him to the emergency. Needless to say, that party was over.

                          We also had the privilege to have a sleep over of Jacob and Luke in December and we had Nitro for 3 days on vacation in our house.    

Jacob was practicing the saxophone

while Luke painted his garden tile.

Nitro was Judging the Westminster Dog show while he was here

                December 22nd, we all got invited to Sara, Joe's and Nicholas Christmas party.

Eric loves playing with Nick and Eliana

The Party just began

I think we're looking at the TV

Lincoln try to get in the middle of it

Their first Christmas party!

Windy with our grand children

Luke loves his Grandma

                       Finally the Christmas weekend arrived and Donna and I had a great life together, spending prime time with superior food, beverage, music, movies and gifts.  

Cocktail hour before Dinner

A happy, merry Christmas

Friday night dinner, Swiss cheese Fondue

Saturday night Dinner:

Roast pork, Mashed potatoes, dressing, Brussels sprouts and

delicious pork au jus. 

Donna looks like she is energized

it can't get much better.

                            Sunday night I did not feel like cooking and we treated ourselves to some Sushi, spicy rolls and  pot stickers. It was delicious.

                              December 24th, after good old Swiss tradition, "Christchindli" arrives and leaves some beautiful gifts for people who are being good all year, like Me and Donna.

Here my gift is arriving

Great surprise, a Sodastream

In minutes I had it all figured out.

Donna loves her gift

Immediately she started programming her new Ipad.

                            The plan was that the whole family would get together on Christmas day. Again the flu bug got the better of some and Gina, Daniel and Eliana could not attend. I still had Christmas Brunch ready to go and  Windy, Brian, Jacob,Luke, Donna and I had a good time celebrating Christmas. Only one person was so exhausted, he slept the whole time.

Nothing better than opening gifts

If you look to the right, you see 2 pictures on the bookshelf, 

they were painted by Jacob and Luke for Donna and me.

Sleepyhead and Luke with his new mini kindle. 

                     Since  not everybody made it on the 25th, we rescheduled for Friday the 28th. Finally the whole family was together and it looks like everybody had a great time even the sleepyhead in his hat.

Christmas 2012

First one for Eliana

Lets get the party started

Nitro knows his place

Somebody had to take care of Eliana!

Growing up fast.

The best Christmas gift ever

Ready to dance

What a happy family: The Spaldings

Getting younger all the time

Merry Christmas to everybody 

Daniel, Gina, Eliana and Nitro

      

                                      

DECEMBER 2012

Actually I would have liked to add to my blog much earlier, but when it rains it pours. I promised at the end of my last entry that I will get much more people friendly again.  The delay was again sickness and I am really getting tired of it. I sincerely hope this will be it.

Everything started being great again in our household when Donna's nephew, Ben Priest from North Carolina, came for a visit for 5 days and we had a blast. Donna and I were the tour guides and  took him to see the Arch, the Budweiser Brewery and the Union Station downtown.

Ben is the son of Donna's brother Gary and sister in law Jane

Here on his first day with his welcome drink Bacardi and Coke

Having Huevos Rancheros for breakfast

We took time to explore the museum underneath the Arch

about the Louis and Clark expedition.

Here with a buffalo

and a Bear

Donna and Ben resting by the Arch

Self portrait under the Arch

Next visiting the Brewery

Waiting for the tour to Begin

Donna and I had toured the Brewery before, but it is always impressive and interesting

to see it again.

I think the beer aroma is taking affect

Inside souvenir Picture on departing

Again, we enjoyed the tour

Getting home, we had to have a few Bacardi,

but

changed over to Beer, since we came from

Anheuser Busch Brewery

I had a hard time to keep up with them.

Our excursion to Illinois with the Golden Eagle Ferry

The long awaited Bloody Mary in lonely bar at the island in Illinois.

Our destination of the Day

First time at Fast Eddy's in Alton

Fast Eddy is a well known restaurant and caterers mostly to young people and bikers,

I observed that, because they (the bikers) even have their own huge parking lot, so their

Machines don't get damaged.

The food is dirt cheep but tasty and the drinks are reasonable.

We liked it. and probably will revisit some day.

This was the last day for Ben's visit and he left for home the next morning.

Donna and I believe he had a great time here in St Louis.

Thanks for visiting us Ben!!



REMINDER OF MORTALITY

A different look at life

                          The great realization of mortality came October 12th at 2:30 am. Like normal human being, I woke up that night needing a trip to the bathroom. I felt good as always having my 18 staples removed the day before without complications. I felt I was definitely way ahead of recovering from the golf cart accident on my past birthday.

                           As soon I was returned to bed, I collapsed and felt some kind of seizure come over me. I never lost conscience, but the room started spinning. Instantly I was soaked in sweat and started vomiting. I lost total control of my body. I could not get up without falling over. I lost all my equalibrian. Donna did everything possible to help me out, but was not able to help me walk or just hold me up. She had to deal with this for the next 24 hours. I could hold nothing in my stomach, not even pure water.

                            Gradually my symptoms got a little better and 3 day's later, on Monday I went to see my doctor. He had no explanation at the time but send me to get a CT scan on Wednesday, October 17. One day later he called me to get on additional MRI for my brain, because he saw some kind of shadow in the lower part of my brain on the cat scan.

                             October 22, at 2 pm in the afternoon I went to my dreaded MRI test. Luckily Donna was with me and I felt a touch better. Anyone who has had a MRI know the process with that machine. For slightly claustrophobic people like me, it is very painful. They even give you a panic button before they put you in a helmet and slide you head first in this machine. It takes 45 Minutes with just one slight interruption for a injection half way through the ordeal. I just made it, but was shaking all over. I hoped then, I will never go through this again.

                              Dr Chad Voges MD, who I have seen for the past 7 years, and like and trust, talked to Donna and me after seeing the MRI confirming a 2.5 cm (1 inch) spot in the back of my head looking like a tumor. He was concerned and made arrangements for me to see a Neurosurgical Specialist. (in other words a Brain surgeon ).

                              Needless to say, this did nothing to ease my fear of what was to come in my near future. More and more it looked like a Brain operation to remove the Tumor. I really had no clue what side effects a Brain operation brings, or even the survival chance?

                               October 31, on Halloween, Donna took me to see Dr. Forget a Neurosurgeon, at 8:30am in the morning. Here we go, more depressing news from the Brain specialist! Actually, he was not totally convinced about the spot showing on my Brain. We had the privilege to look at the MRI ourselves and clearly we saw the disputed spot. Dr. Forget explained to us what it would take to remove the tumor, if confirmed.

                                First he sent me back to get a full body CT Scan to check if I am actually cancer free in my body, to make sure the tumor in my brain is primary and not secondary like Cancer spreading from my body.

                                 Friday, November 2nd, I had my full body CT Scan. This is done in a large wide open tube and presented no problem for me, but in my strained mind, I just knew that this test will come back with huge negative comments about my health, being overweight, a smoker and liking my drinks a bit to much all my live. With all this thoughts I went into the weekend having my next doctors appointment the following Wednesday November 7th at 3:30pm in the afternoon.

                                  Wednesday, November 7th, I am kind of resigned to the fact  of having an operation, waiting for Donna to finish her job and taking me to see Dr. Forget. (I like that name). After only a few minutes he entered his office and greeted us with the words “ I have good news”

                                  After studying my case, he came to the conclusion that on the 12th October, a ruptured blood vessel from the accident creadting a bloodclot and depriving that part of the brain with less oxygen caused a Stoke. He then remarked, “as bad as it sounds, a stroke is much better than opening up the skull"

                                  The ordeal for me was not over though. To confirm his analysis, he ordered one more CT scan and also a dreaded MRI! Even so I hoped never go through an MRI again, I made it through it last Monday, November 12th, and guess what?

                                    Dr. Forget was right. The spot on my brain disappeared. He called me the next day to confirm his prognosis. He also said that the Blood vessel is healing itself, with the help of one adult aspirin daily.

                                    It is exactly 45 days since the accident and I feel like a new born Man. I feel so much better, my dizziness is disappearing and I just finished my first round of Golf. I can make plans for the future again and with lots of happiness I am looking forward being part of the growing up of Eliana.

These past few weeks were the worst part of my entire life, knowing it is about to end.

I will definitely appreciate everything so much more.

Donna Thank you to helping me through that.

Enjoying life

What a future

My next Blog entry will be fun again!!