We would like to wish all our family and friends a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
2008 has been a roller coaster year for us with many unexpected changes! The year started out a little rough with me (Danielle) coming down with mono right around the first of the year. It took me about 2 months to recover!
We had way too many trips to the ER and hospital stays this year. Blaine was hospitalized with infected lymph nodes early in the year. The doctors had him see a rheumatologist because they thought he had an autoimmune disease developing. The alopecia (hair loss) they have diagnosed him with is an autoimmune disease and according to the the doctors if you have one it's not unlikely to develop another. Fortunately, his tests all came back negative. We are so grateful for doctors and modern medicine however, we have learned that they are not always right about everything. In 2000 after Lauren had heart surgery the doctors told us she would probably have to be on medication the rest of her life. Well, we would not settle for that and began to pray that God would heal her. A year later she told us and the doctors that she knew she was healed. After much convincing the doctor agreed to take her off medication. Her heart has been perfect since then and she has not needed medication! We are believing for the same kind of healing for Blaine. He stopped all treatments for the alopeica when in the hospital and had no more trouble with infection, he has about 85% hair loss right now but we will continue to pray that God will heal him and cause all his hair to grow back!
This past spring, I quite my job as administrator at The Father's House and picked up a part time job at a Starbucks in Target. I actually loved it! I have always liked Starbucks coffee and found it quite fun to make all the drinks and enjoyed talking to the variety of people that came in for drinks and sometimes a listening ear. In August, I was offered an administration position at PartsSource. It was more hours than I was use to working but Chris had lost one of his side coaching jobs and was just working at GymWorld so I decided to go for it.
With Chris home during the day he decided to start studying computer work. He loves his job coaching at Gym World but with a large family and somewhat shaky economy he felt it a good idea to get into something with an ongoing demand.
In September, we moved from Barberton to Maple Heights. The move not only brought us closer to work but also family and our new church, Metro South. We were not sure about enrolling the kids at Maple Heights schools so we decided to enroll them in Ohdela online school. Ohdela is a state funded charter school. Each of the kids received their own computer and school supplies, they do all their work at home with online classes. They all have teachers that work with the students and parents to make sure they are learning all they need. I was a little hesitant to have them all home but the majority of the responsibility fell to Chris since I was working during the day. The kids have all done exceptionally well and we have found online schooling to be a real blessing for our family.
This August, we were quite surprised to find that we would be adding a new addition to the family. I had been grieving the baby stage a little but embracing the teen years and looking forward to having grandchildren one day (not anytime soon but hopefully in the next 10-15years). Chris and I have learned that when God destines a child to be born nothing gets in the way of his plan. We are very excited for this new adventure. The kids are all very excited! We discovered that Renee had been praying for a little sister. We will be evening things up now with three boys and three girls! It has been really neat to have two teenagers while being pregnant. They are able to experience the miracle of life in a new way. I'm sure there are times they would rather not deal with a hormonal pregnant Mom but they have all been great! Little Eden (meaning pleasure and delight) is expected right around Lauren's 15th birthday, the end of March.
Last month Chris passed his first Microsoft certification test!! Yipee! He is now working towards his second certification while also interning and gaining experience from other men in the field. We are hoping and praying he will be able to find a part time job within the next couple of months.
With Chris working towards that it's been difficult for him to also help the kids with all their work. He has been doing a tremendous job but we decided it would be best for me to be home. It has been becoming increasingly difficult for me to work while pregnant and come home to take care of the children. Therefore, I completed my last day at Partssource on December 19th. I enjoyed the opportunity to work there but I am eager to be at home with my children!
Many of you may have heard of the crazy month we had with our two girls both going in for emergency appendectomies just two weeks apart. Crazy! I asked every surgeon and doctor if there was anything that could have caused it and they were all stumped. Both girls were very brave and did great. Renee is completely recovered and back to herself. Lauren is still on the mend but we expect her to be back to herself shortly.
With all that going on, I haven't been able to do all the things I would normally do for Christmas. Since, I wasn't able to get Christmas cards out I figured I would post a blog and fill everyone in on our lives this past year. As I said it's been a roller coaster year but with all the ups and downs it's only made us stronger and brought us closer together. We are eagerly anticipating the upcoming year! A new year, new baby and who knows what else...we are expecting it to be a year filled with many new and exciting adventures! We hope and pray this year will be filled with many new adventures for you as well!
Much Love and Blessings!
Chris, Danielle, Lauren, Blaine, Owen, Renee, Elijah and soon to arrive -Eden
2008 has been a roller coaster year for us with many unexpected changes! The year started out a little rough with me (Danielle) coming down with mono right around the first of the year. It took me about 2 months to recover!
We had way too many trips to the ER and hospital stays this year. Blaine was hospitalized with infected lymph nodes early in the year. The doctors had him see a rheumatologist because they thought he had an autoimmune disease developing. The alopecia (hair loss) they have diagnosed him with is an autoimmune disease and according to the the doctors if you have one it's not unlikely to develop another. Fortunately, his tests all came back negative. We are so grateful for doctors and modern medicine however, we have learned that they are not always right about everything. In 2000 after Lauren had heart surgery the doctors told us she would probably have to be on medication the rest of her life. Well, we would not settle for that and began to pray that God would heal her. A year later she told us and the doctors that she knew she was healed. After much convincing the doctor agreed to take her off medication. Her heart has been perfect since then and she has not needed medication! We are believing for the same kind of healing for Blaine. He stopped all treatments for the alopeica when in the hospital and had no more trouble with infection, he has about 85% hair loss right now but we will continue to pray that God will heal him and cause all his hair to grow back!
This past spring, I quite my job as administrator at The Father's House and picked up a part time job at a Starbucks in Target. I actually loved it! I have always liked Starbucks coffee and found it quite fun to make all the drinks and enjoyed talking to the variety of people that came in for drinks and sometimes a listening ear. In August, I was offered an administration position at PartsSource. It was more hours than I was use to working but Chris had lost one of his side coaching jobs and was just working at GymWorld so I decided to go for it.
With Chris home during the day he decided to start studying computer work. He loves his job coaching at Gym World but with a large family and somewhat shaky economy he felt it a good idea to get into something with an ongoing demand.
In September, we moved from Barberton to Maple Heights. The move not only brought us closer to work but also family and our new church, Metro South. We were not sure about enrolling the kids at Maple Heights schools so we decided to enroll them in Ohdela online school. Ohdela is a state funded charter school. Each of the kids received their own computer and school supplies, they do all their work at home with online classes. They all have teachers that work with the students and parents to make sure they are learning all they need. I was a little hesitant to have them all home but the majority of the responsibility fell to Chris since I was working during the day. The kids have all done exceptionally well and we have found online schooling to be a real blessing for our family.
This August, we were quite surprised to find that we would be adding a new addition to the family. I had been grieving the baby stage a little but embracing the teen years and looking forward to having grandchildren one day (not anytime soon but hopefully in the next 10-15years). Chris and I have learned that when God destines a child to be born nothing gets in the way of his plan. We are very excited for this new adventure. The kids are all very excited! We discovered that Renee had been praying for a little sister. We will be evening things up now with three boys and three girls! It has been really neat to have two teenagers while being pregnant. They are able to experience the miracle of life in a new way. I'm sure there are times they would rather not deal with a hormonal pregnant Mom but they have all been great! Little Eden (meaning pleasure and delight) is expected right around Lauren's 15th birthday, the end of March.
Last month Chris passed his first Microsoft certification test!! Yipee! He is now working towards his second certification while also interning and gaining experience from other men in the field. We are hoping and praying he will be able to find a part time job within the next couple of months.
With Chris working towards that it's been difficult for him to also help the kids with all their work. He has been doing a tremendous job but we decided it would be best for me to be home. It has been becoming increasingly difficult for me to work while pregnant and come home to take care of the children. Therefore, I completed my last day at Partssource on December 19th. I enjoyed the opportunity to work there but I am eager to be at home with my children!
Many of you may have heard of the crazy month we had with our two girls both going in for emergency appendectomies just two weeks apart. Crazy! I asked every surgeon and doctor if there was anything that could have caused it and they were all stumped. Both girls were very brave and did great. Renee is completely recovered and back to herself. Lauren is still on the mend but we expect her to be back to herself shortly.
With all that going on, I haven't been able to do all the things I would normally do for Christmas. Since, I wasn't able to get Christmas cards out I figured I would post a blog and fill everyone in on our lives this past year. As I said it's been a roller coaster year but with all the ups and downs it's only made us stronger and brought us closer together. We are eagerly anticipating the upcoming year! A new year, new baby and who knows what else...we are expecting it to be a year filled with many new and exciting adventures! We hope and pray this year will be filled with many new adventures for you as well!
Much Love and Blessings!
Chris, Danielle, Lauren, Blaine, Owen, Renee, Elijah and soon to arrive -Eden
p.s. Feel free to check back in periodically as we plan to update this blog with pictures and current Tollon happenings!
