A reason to celebrate!

Great news came from the hospital front yesterday where Dick responded to Denise, Shawn and the nurses. When Rich and I were there in the morning, there was no response to the questions, but as the day progressed, he not only open his eyes, but squeezed hands and nodded his head! Such a huge blessing and reason to celebrate! We hope that the good news and progress continues!

A celebratory sparkling cocktail!

Cheers!

Mama D with the ELF of Christmas spirit...it is in full force at the Meyer Casa!

Rich and I even were able to enjoy ourselves at a Christmas Dinner with Friends...

Keep the small miracles coming...

Cookie time...

This morning we were able to have a little fun and make Gingerbread cookies with the kiddos...

Rene and Avea were BIG helpers bringing in wood with me to help build a fire.

Avea was loving on Lexi and loved to cuddle with her.

The first cookies were made and devoured faster than I could even get out of the kitchen to see them.

Working hard on the cookies...

The whole team at work..

Rene made a special cookie for Shawnee!
And also a SPECIAL cookie for Dick!

It's been a busy morning with all the elves and lots of laughs were had! Prayers for Dick!

An update on the week that was...

The week...as many of you know, was a week that we would not like to repeat, relive or EVER have happen again. It started with a phone call on Tuesday from Rich's mom (Mama D) that Rich's Dad (Dick) was not doing well. All we knew was it was something with his lungs and they were going to take him to the hospital. Jump forward 2 hours and we find out that Dick had a heart attack on Monday (over 18 hours before). I'm not even sure how to explain the next 72 hours...but to give a breakdown of what happened and when...emotions are on high alert now as we still wait for surgery on Monday.

• 930 pm Tuesday - Dick gets to Kadlec Hospital and we find out he had a heart attack and gets admitted
  
• 4am Wednesday - Rich and I head to Kennewick
  
• 12:30 pm Wednesday - Dick goes in to have a Heart Cath to find out more about the heart attack and to find out more
• 4 pm Wednesday - we find out that Dick has serious blockages and find out options for what needs to happen
• 4:30 pm Wednesday - we are advised to find a case worker to help us make decisions
• 7 pm Wednesday - find out that the case worker has gone home for the day and we will not be able to find anything else out until Thursday
• CONTINUING WAITING ALL NIGHT
• 10 pm Wednesday - Denise, Shawn, Rich and I (DSRS) arrive back at Meyer East and let the dogs eat, run and we all try to get some sleep
  

Here is BABY Lexi and Chukar eating from the same dish...so cute!

• 6 am Thursday - Back to the hospital to watch for the case worker and find out how to get Dick moved to Virgina Mason in Seattle
• 12 pm Thursday - Still waiting...but have a nurse come into the room to let us know the severity of the blockages and we decide that we must get Dick to VM ASAP
• 1 pm Thursday - Shawn decides to take action and we start to find out info about moving
• 330 pm Thursday - We get the call that the ambulance from VM is on the way for transport

We headed back to pack and Lexi wanted to make sure she wasn't forgotten....

We were able to bring Lexi and Four Low in to visit Dick before we transported to Seattle.

• 7 pm Thursday - We leave Kadlec and head to Seattle
• 11 pm Thursday - Arrive at Virgina Mason, get Dick settled
• 1 am Friday - We leave to head home and get some sleep
• 3 am Friday - Dick has a lung attack
  
• 9 am Friday - DSRS is back at VM - meet with nurses, doctors, etc. during the day and find out that if all things remain the same, Open Heart Surgery will be on Monday.

Of course, there are many more details, but this is the long and short of it. Please feel free to call any of us if you have questions...we will try to update as we know more, but we would appreciate your prayers in the mean time.

Friday night...play time with the dogs...here is Chukar trying to get Lexi but she is smart and hid where he can't go!Last playtime of the night....Chukar is a Gentle Giant while Lexi attacks!

Dick is in HIGH spirits and we know that things on Monday are going to go AWESOME! We appreciate the love and support through these trying times.

Hugs from all of us!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

at Lori, Avea and Rene's house. Last night, my parents, Rich and I went down to Lori's to help get some lights on the house and help the kiddos with the tree! So much fun!

A little shot of my Dad working on the garage lights....

while Rich, Avea, Rene, my Mom and Lori worked on the bushes...

a little blurry, but a TON of fun!

Mom and Rene helping untangle the lights and also Rene was a super star when it came to plugging in the lights to each new strand! I taught him Male vs. Female connections with the lights...pretty proud of myself there!

A little shot of the feast inside...hahah!

And back to work...the final product with Mom, Dad, Avea, Rene, Buster and Maggie...

and the switch up...Lori with Avea and Rene!

Wow...so unorganized...back to the front of the house where Rich and I helped out the kiddos with the big bush in front. It was their first year helping out and they were ROCKSTARS!

Of course, no time with the kiddos is complete without Avea posing with Rich...I swear, that girl might steal him from me one day!

What a fabulous start to the season...that was seeming a little Bah-humbug, but is turning out to be a FESTIVE fun time for all!

Happy December all...and be safe this holiday season!

December WINOS Christmas Party!

Our little Wine Group decided that for December we would let the boys come...and boy did that make the night a whole bunch of fun! Thanks so much to Amy and Eric for opening your home to this crazy group...it was a blast!

A little shot of Rich and I before the festivities really got going...IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME!!!

The delicious spread from Alexa's Catering in Bothell.

What fun is a night out...without a little White Elephant fun!

Alex and his thigh buster...hahah!

Rich and his Jaeger! Oh no, it's going to be a VERY happy season around here!

A group shot...so much fun, so many great people!

And then, a little shot of the ladies...the Regulars as I like to call them!

Ladies...2011 was such a blast and I can't wait to have even more fun during 2012!

A VERY Hardy Thanksgiving...

This year...Goof Ball #1 (Rich) and Goof Ball #2 (Stacie) decided to pack up and head south for Turkey day...not only to see Rich's Sister and Family, but to get away from what was to be "Apple Cup 2011" (i.e. Crapple Cup 2011). Turns out..it was a much more action packed Apple Cup than either of us could have expected...well, at least the 72 hours following the game were! A shout out to the Dawgs for their 3rd consecutive win against the Cougs...and a shout out to the Cougs for securing a future with the Pac-12 and hiring the PIRATE of the Palouse!

Our little journey south started on Turkey Day morning...with both of us sick as DOGS! I'm sure everyone on our flights are thankful that we were on there so they could get sick for their holiday too!

And we are off!!!

Touch Down in Fresno...via SLC (don't ask...they were free tickets)!

A little warning...the week with Becky, Jason, Ty, Gabie and Sammi was AWESOME...but there were not many pictures taken. Lots of laughing, lounging and just enjoying a little down time.

Ty helping Jason in the kitchen with the GI-NORM-OUS Turkey!

Look at that BEAST...the boys were all smiles when it came to carving up that!

Jason working away...while we all drool and wait for the delicious-ness that is THANKSGIVING dinner!

A little shot of the girls...Brittney, Reshmi, Sammi and Gabie...

Becky working away on the mashed potatoes...while I just take pictures, chat and drink wine! How lucky am I!

Thanksgiving Dinner was amazing...but then it was time for BLACK Friday! Our Black Friday got to be a little more exciting since Tyson had a playoff game and was the starting center! After the game, we found out that not only did his team get GAME of the WEEK, but Ty also got Offensive Player of the week! So great that Rich and I were able to be there to see it!

A little shot of us at the game! Go Cougars (Clovis Cougars, that is)!

Saturday...Gabie, Ty, Sammi, Rich and I headed to Old Town Clovis to have a little lunch and support Small Business Saturday and do a little shopping!

Of course, the week would not be complete without a picture of Gabie 2.0!

I can't believe how fast our week in Cali went...and what a blast it was. Of course, I was a little homesick that we missed out on the Boness Thanksgiving and Meyer Christmas Tree cutting that normally takes place that weekend...but this year, we spread our love around so that all the family was able to have a special turkey day! Special Shout out to M&D who made sure our little Mr. Waggles was taken care of, loved and even able to sleep in a bed while his parents were off traveling!

Can't believe it's December and almost time for CHRISTMAS!!!!