For those of you who I don't have addresses for:
Dear Family & Friends,
I can’t believe we are at the end of one more year! This Christmas season has been especially fun with Abby; Mike and I have been laying groundwork for her meet Santa. She has yet to meet him (this year) but in her excitement to do so; she calls out “Santa” to any older man with white facial hair, including the book she looked at today in church. She seemed to think God told Santa to gather two animals of every kind to ride in a boat and weather a flood. I am hoping her excitement doesn’t clam-up when the big “event” happens!
Abby started preschool this year and LOVES it. It’s a total communication preschool, which means they speak and sign at the same time. She leaves on a bus and everything! I love seeing her paintings, craft projects, and notes from her teacher. She has gotten so mature for her little 3 ½ years. I still feel somewhat cheated out of a “toddler” year, but the benefits of her going to preschool have been unmeasureable. Abby is starting to really express herself with language. I can understand her at least 50% of the time, which is a HUGE improvement. If I don’t understand, I can usually read her signs. Since starting school, Abby’s signing has gotten better than mine.
Just recently, Abby had a hearing test. Her left ear tested 15 db lower than her previous tests. Because of the drop, we went to Primary Children’s Medical Center for an MRI and found out she has “Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome”, meaning her hearing will continually decrease until she is completely deaf. The syndrome isn’t the cause of her deafness, but it is common in children with congenital hearing loss. We are sad to learn the results, but feel so blessed to have her. She continues to dazzle us with every move she makes. Unfortunately, her gymnastics have become a casualty of the syndrome. We fear a head bump might speed up her hearing loss. I am hoping she will like dancing just as much.
Abby isn’t the only one busy this year. Mike has started his final year of school. This time next year, he should have his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. I’m not sure how he has been able to keep his grades above a 3.75 GPA, but he has. He is still working full-time installing audio/visual equipment in Park City for Lifestyle Electronics. With the soft economy, I hope next year’s update doesn’t have a job change mentioned.
As for me, I have more jobs than I know what to do with. In August, I started working at Mueller Park Junior High, as a resource room paperwork aid. I didn’t realize my new job had perks! I haven’t been able to diagram a sentence, add, multiply, and divide fractions since high school, but now I can! I am also still working on weekends at Gymboree, the children’s clothing store. I keep telling myself, I need to drop something, but their discount has come in very handy.
With the political, economic, and geographic unrest in the world, it has become a huge reminder to us what is really important in life. Mike and I feel very privileged and blessed to have a warm home, good jobs, wonderful family, and special friends to share the true meaning of Christmas with. As you read our holiday “letter”, please know that we love each and every one of you. Our wish to you is that your holidays are also filled with what is most important.
With Much Love, The Preas Family
