MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Dear Friends & Family,
We hope this holiday season finds you all healthy and happy! We send each of you our warmest wishes and most heartfelt thanks for all the love and support you have extended to our family throughout this year!
As soon as the Christmas season began, we started remembering all of the amazing acts of kindness that we received during the Christmas season last year. We still don't feel like we've said thank you enough for all the sacrifice and generosity that we received. We are still blown away thinking about it 12 months later. To all of you who did anything for us last Christmas, or since, (big or small, in person or in secret) thank you, thank you, thank you - again!
Thankfully, we are in a much better place this year, and hoping to be more on the giving end rather than the receiving end of Christmas kindness this year!
EVAN - is still plugging along with chemo treatments every other week. The nausea has been a lot worse in the last few months, but he's determined to hang in there until January. His next MRI is scheduled for January 5th, and after that I think we will strongly consider switching to a three-week schedule.
We had a little trouble with his blood thinning medication over the last 6 weeks and that has been frustrating, but as of last week it seems to have stabilized. Basically, the Coumidin wasn't keeping his blood thin enough, and he was at risk for blood clots again. Week after week they would raise the dose, but we'd come back a week later and there would be no improvement. Finally, after 6 weeks of raising the dose, it thinned to a safe range, phew! That's the kind of stuff that makes me crazy!
MARGOT - was released from the R.S. Presidency at church after three years, and is now having fun teaching the 8-year-old children in Primary. A dream job landed in her lap recently, doing part-time computer work from home for a marketing firm in Salt Lake City. It's as if it was custom made for our needs and circumstances - a huge blessing! And of course, she stays busy keeping track of doctor appointments, picking up prescriptions, and fighting with the insurance company!
RYAN - (age 13) is now taller than his mother! He has been extremely busy earning straight A's in 8th grade, playing flag football, serving as President of the Deacon's Quorum at church, playing the Trumpet in the Junior High School Band, and playing X-BOX whenever he gets the chance. In his spare time he loves teasing his sister!
LINDSAY - (age 6) loves Kindergarten, and learning to read! This year she learned to jump-rope, lost her first two teeth, and went horseback riding for her birthday. She loves taking gymnastics, playing with her friends, and singing her own made-up songs. In her spare time she enjoys annoying her brother!
As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we give thanks for the countless blessings we receive everyday because of his life, his teachings, his sacrifice, and his love for us. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
With much love and gratitude,
Evan, Margot, Ryan, & Lindsay Gardiner
Here's what we've been up to, since I wrote last:
TRIP TO SOUTHERN UTAH!
In October we got to take a little family trip to Southern Utah. The kids had three days off from school and we were in desperate need of a change in scenery (thanks Mom & Dad, for making it possible!). We stayed at a great little resort in Brian Head and had a wonderful time! The kids spent lots of time in the hotel pool, we went for walks, took a day trip to Bryce Canyon, went horseback riding, celebrated two birthdays, and just generally relaxed and hung out together. Here are some pictures from our fun weekend!
Cedar Breaks National Monument was breathtaking at sunset!
On the second day of our trip, we celebrated Lindsay's 6th Birthday! She got to blow out her candles on a "birthday muffin" and open her presents in our hotel room.
Later that day, we went horseback riding at Bryce Canyon. Evan wasn't feeling well enough to go with us, but at the end of the day he had the last laugh - watching the rest of us walk around bow-legged with sore tail-bones.
During one of our walks, we found a great pond for throwing rocks!
Evan & Ryan had fun showing off their muscles.
Lindsay had fun showing off for the camera!
On the last day of our trip, we celebrated Evan's 40th birthday! A great milestone!
It was a great get-away! We can't wait to do it again!
HALLOWEEN!
Halloween was a big hit at our house this year! Lindsay was a "girl-pirate," as she called it. As for Ryan, he just wanted to be creepy - I think he succeeded!
