Um.

K, I turned 36, right? So Jeff wakes up and makes me a breakfast & the kids bring it to me in bed. He takes the older kids to the Ward Christmas Breaky and the twins to my in-laws; you guys are amazing, thank you. Time alone. I took such a long shower, I was pruny before I shaved… how long has it been since I got pruny in a shower?

He comes back and starts cleaning the house with the kids, and tells me to go out somewhere and get away from the house. When I come back, the house is spotless. My daughters give me a birthday gift: the white coat in ensuing picture. We get ready to “go out.”

The door bell rings and at my door, is a giant piece of wrapping paper being held by… 4 beautiful women with bows on their heads: Mom, Jana, Kimmy & Christi!!!!



How he kept their plane flights, etc. from me, I’ll never know. We primped for a few minutes and left for The Roof, while Jeff took all my kids to his mama’s house so we could have the house for GNO.

There is a moment of silence here for his genius.


So when the waiter brings me my little dessert with a candle in it (my favorite way to get Happy Birthdayed at a restaurant), he also gives me this beautiful bouquet of orchids, pink gerbers, & mini roses. Gosh.

We come home to a spread of yummies, and my favorite women break out even more. We talk (all us girls are either pregnant or nursing, so the convo is the funnest EVER), soak our feet, pig out, and finally find beds to sleep in.

Is Jeff cool, or what?

BUT. THE COOLEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT CAME TODAY,

Monday, December 14th, 2009: The results of Carlie’s last MRI.

HER TUMOR IS GONE.

GONE.

Not just “stayed shrunken” like we were hoping for,

and just live with a benign tumor that makes her eye bulge

but doesn’t blind her.

GONE.

I’ve been sobbing all day. It doesn’t always happen like this,

but this time it did.

And I can’t praise my Heavenly Father enough

for this miracle in our lives.

Carlie has lost about 10 of her 24 extra pounds,

and is walking normally.

The swelling of the capillaries in that area

should resolve itself over a little more time,

and make her eye dilate normally.

So Wow on the flying my sisters in,

but I would take this “pseudo tumor” diagnosis any day

over any other great birthday present.

Pseudo Tumor. I love the sound of that,

and we are partying over here, Wendy’s & all.