Happy New Year

Well I know I know I am a little late but you know life gets in the way ! Here are some pics of Christmas fun :) I added a few family shots in the next post. The girls are loving being here in the hills and the USA. They love all the holiday things to be done and have a great time at the Christmas Parade.

Fun things in Tennessee

Watch out for small people with batons :) They are really cute but dang she can be dangerous as well. They do have alot of fun and so do we. We went to our first Pumpkin Patch and it was a blast.It was hot that day but we had loads of fun. The girls loved the kids corn maze and panning for gold The girls loved panning for gold Today we are off the the Oak Ridge Christmas Parade so see you there :)

Family Pictures

We took some quick family pics for a newspaper article
Here are a few of the better ones

Christmas Partys

We recently went to Hubbys office Christmas party.It was one for the kids.
They had a Magician and Santa  and the kids really loved it.Santa gave each child a bag that weighed 5 pounds and was full of candy.My kids are not big candy eaters so we gave alot away.The adults sat around and chatted (I played Angry Birds since I dont speak Danish) I really love the holidays and going places but I miss home (Texas) at times like this.
Here are my girls all dressed up in Christmas customs

MIA but Back

So I have been MIA.Last week Deanna left for Ireland and will be gone until friday.It was crazy getting her ready to go but we managed.
We don't get out alot in winter since it is so cold here but saturday was perfect weather so off we went to play in the forest.The weather was nice and sunny and just perfect.We played then went into town and took the girls to l Lands End on the harbor and then for hot chocolate and ice cream.
We spent the rest of the day watching Glee :)
These were my favorite pictures of the day.

Things are moving right along

We have been back to school for a month now and things are going great.
Mack is loving school and being with her friends again.
Makayla loves being with Kim and Kate and the babies are fun to push in wagons.
Soren worked hard last weekend getting the hedges trimmed and the grass mowed.He even bagged it all up.
We have not been out much as the weather has been pretty bad.Cold,rainy,windy you know the drill.
The girls went to the dentist yesterday and Makayla had a small hole in her tooth so they fixed it.Miss Mack had 2 teeth removed by the dentist and did awesome !
The Tooth Fairy I mean I failed miserably and forgot to leave some money oops.
But I went in and tossed a bill on the floor and proclaimed it must have fallen on the floor.Whew she didnt even think twice about it.
(Mental note dont let her read this one for a few years).
Deanna is not enjoying school...you know how teenagers are.We also joined the gym so I hope we get all fit just in time for the holidays.

What we have been up to

I have been feeling a bit better and feeling like maybe just maybe this flare is almost over.The sun was out so I took Miss Mack out shopping.She needed some new boots and some new underclothes so off we went.I am so glad she is like her Mamma and loves to shop but wont buy things at full price.She got a new Edison Jr set and some sweet boots /half price I might add).
Makayla shopped for chocolate.We got done and in the car just as it started to pour down rain.

First Day of School

I am so proud and a little sad.I know in The USA(where I am from) kids start school at 5 but here they start first grade at 7.Mackenzie aka Mack is so eager to learn and we try hard to help her.She can read in 2 languages and speak 2 fluently and one a little bit.She is also our geek child.She loves anything computer/geeky.She recently got a Droid and decided it was boring LOL.
I think her favorite thing ok I know it is her favorite thing is Zebra's first then geek toys.She is also riding the bus for the first time as well and that makes her seem more grown up.Here is my first grader in her first day of school with her Ju Ju Be bag waiting for the bus.

Sunday Fun

Now that school is out and the weather is warmer we spend alot of days down the street at the beach.For the last 3 years we have lived very near the water and I just love it.
The only thing I dont like is that the water is very cold.There was alot more pics but my mother would not have liked them(we forgot the kids suits and while it is common in Europe for small kids to swim in the underwear I wont post them here.)I hope to be spending many more days out and about at the beach.Friday is supposed to be 85..I know I know its not that hot especially since I am from South Texas but I am a whimp after living in Denmark for 9 years.

Kinder Circus

Mack's class did a circus and then we had a picnic at the school.It was fun.You take your own blanket and drinks,plates etc and they have food available.The weather was great and we had a great time.

She is 7!!!

Miss Mack is 7.I dont know where time has gone but she is growing up way to fast.She is our horse riding,zebra loving lilgeek.Here are a few pics from her bday
complete with tutu her daddy made.

Ericka fromHere made for her.

Living with Lupus

My story starts a long time ago...but I was diagnosed in 1991 with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus.I went to the dr because I had a huge knee and felt like I had just attended gym class after a summer break.I hurt with every step I took.I had surgery and then felt better.While doing the tests they looked back and as a child of 5/6 I had alot of joint pain.After more blood work and test they(the doctors) assumed it was Juvenile Rheumatoid ArthritisSee about JRA here
I got better for some time and then worse again.All the while I would have good days and bad ones.Some days I could walk and some days it was painfull.I had many knee surgerys and many many times they would drain my knees weekly taking as much as 230cc a time.
After the birth of my daughter in 1996 things went south....like really south.
It was February 1997 and I had been having alot more bad days than good ones.Finally one day I was in bed and it became so painfull to walk I just did not.I had a maid that came in and helped and my Dad would take me to all my appointments.There were alot of stressful things going on at the same time that just made it worse.I was way over medicated and nothing was working.I would still have days where I could go out and shop for food but it was hard.
Then I got Remicade and it was like a miracle.I could walk again and I was human again!
I was a human that could ride a bike again and walk.It was like nothing happened.
Now I am more aware of things and after I had Mack in 2003 I was down with a flare for about 6 months.I am lucky the RA flares more than the Lupus but they both hurt.
I am now 43 and I cannot open a coke bottle or water bottle.I do not usually shop for food alone as I cannot lift heavy bags.I had a bad time in 2005/2006 and in 2007 I got pregnant with our miracle.If you are a regular you know her as Stinky or Makayla.She is 2 and keeps me moving.
A PSA about Lupus is although we done "look" sick we might be hurting so bad you wont see it.
I think the most hurtful thing ever said to me was while I lived stateside and had a handicap sticker.I was have a pretty good day and was walking but it was hurting and someone said "Ohh are we pretending to be handicaped today?"
Some people just do not under stand it.
Our daughter Mack is dealing with RA issues since last year.I really really hope she does not get bad like me.
I am ok for the most part even though I am having a flare.I take Enbrel 2 times a week now.I think all the pain and surgerys I have had make me stronger and more determined not to give up.
I will not let it win EVER.

Fun in the Sun

This weekend was so nice and sunny that we went outdoors.





This week is also proving to be wonderful weather and we will spend more time outside.