A Bittersweet Christmas

Christmas this year was bittersweet. We had plenty of quality time with family, although not for all of the reasons I would have liked. As many of you know my brother, Ryan, has spent the last several days in the hospital with 2^nd and 3^rd degree burns on 20% of his body. Yesterday, he went in for surgery and skin grafts. The doctors were able to take 3 stripes of skin from his thigh and graft it on to his right arm and then adhere pig's skin to his back for a temporary cover. He has been immobilized so that the grafted skin has time to take to the wounds and begin to regenerate some new skin. That is supposed take several days. As of now, he will be at Wishard until at least Friday but more than likely longer.

Christmas Eve and Christmas for us was split between the hospital, home and Brenda's (my mother-in-law) house. Ryan hadn't been able to go Christmas shopping yet before his accident and was worried about buying presents. He gave me his wallet and asked if we would go shopping if he told us what he wanted to get each person. Most were an assortment of gift cards. But the best one of all was that he wanted to get both of my parents pre-paid cell phones. HALLELUJAH! We all cheered when they opened them. We are dragging our parents into the 21^st century!

Pam (John's step-mom) and Carolyn (step-sister) spent their time in Germany where Carolyn is living right now. I'm anxious to hear of their Christmas stories. They were suppose to cook Christmas dinner in Carolyn's dorm. John's cousin, Amy, and her family, Louis and Lauren, came to visit for Christmas from Virginia. That has been a nice treat. We've been able to do some fun things with them while they have visited. The kids were so great this week, especially with sitting in the waiting room so much and having to be drug all over the city and kept up at all hours.

It was a lot of fun watching them open their gifts this year. Ethan's big present was a Leapster. It's a small video game about the size of a Nintendo DS that plays educational games and such. It's been hard to pry him away from the thing! Erin's big gift was a play kitchen. She's had so much fun "making soup" for everyone. We've had to keep a close eye on our drinks. We've caught her stealing people's cups and dumping them in the little pots and pans and stirring them (to make the soup, of course). Ha!

John and I were both blessed with many wonderful presents. I absolutely love my gifts! I'm gonna close for now. I am tired beyond words. More updates and Christmas pictures later.

Love,
Rachel