Christmas 2010
We’ve decided to write our Christmas letter here, rather than send it out to everyone this year. Here’s wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
We have had such an eventful year and so much to be thankful for.
This fall Jerry lost his oldest brother, Michael Joseph Sobran to complications of diabetes. Jerry attended the funeral and visited family in the Washington D.C. area. “Joe” was a well known writer and has many friends and admirers – and wonderful children and grandchildren. Joe’s life was celebrated with a beautiful Latin Mass.
On May 22, our 3rd grandson came into the world, Joshua James Crockett. Sammy turned 5 and started Kindergarten. Tyler, 2, finally started talking. They are all so cute and sweet. Becky is a great mom and also works hard at her graphic design business. Kenny is still happily working for GoDaddy.com and as a part-time video game web reporter.
Bradley is still at home, still working on his online college classes, and dealing with multiple allergies. He works with Charlie with habilitation and respite. He is our computer consultant, animal feeder, and art critic.
PJ made several visits to the ER and a number of different specialists trying to figure out what was causing him so much abdominal pain. Finally, during a trip to the ER, the doctor there went over his past records and suggested that he might have a rare condition called Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction. After researching it on the internet, we knew that he had the answer. Every symptom seemed to match with what he had been experiencing for the past 10 years. Narcotics that were given for pain would cause the muscle to spasm and cause even more excruciating pain. He probably didn’t need to have his gall bladder removed when he was 12. The condition caused an elevation in liver enzymes, which he was hospitalized for last year. In August, we talked to the GI doctor and he agreed to do the ERCP procedure to correct it. He worried about causing pancreatitis, but all went well. So after 10 years of pain, frustration, missed school, and misdiagnosis, he’s finally feeling much better and pain free. He moved in with Becky and Kenny this year to help with the kids. Becky loves having him there. He continues to take online college courses and wants to be a programmer. He also works with Charlie with habilitation and respite.
Charlie is cute as ever and enjoying another year in junior high school. He passed out at school in January, then, had a fall at home. After doing some tests and going over his records, the doctors determined that he was starting to have symptoms of coronary artery disease again. He was implanted with a one-lead pacemaker/defibrillator set at one heart rate speed. After some discussion with local doctors and a trip to UCLA to talk with transplant doctors, we all reluctantly agreed that another transplant would not be the best course at this time. Because of the number of antibodies that are in his system, there is very little chance that another transplant would last long before it would be rejected, if they could find a match for him at all. In April, his defibrillator was replaced with one that has two leads so that his own body can determine the heart rate. He spent a week at the hospital in November getting plasmaphoresis (similar to dialysis) to cut down on the numbers of antibodies in his system. No significant results so far. We decided to have him repeat 8th grade again to be with his friends and teachers and favorite school nurse. We felt that this would be a good time to have him send a request to Make a Wish. In October, they sent on a trip to San Diego. We went to SeaWorld, Legoland, the San Diego Zoo, and the fire station. It was so much fun!!! We got some cute video of him using a fire hose – and accidentally drenching one of the locals. Charlie did great and kept up with all the activity. He had a wonderful time. Linda’s friend, Kevin, was able to provide a hotel room for Becky, PJ, and the kids so that they could come and join us for a few days. It was awesome!
Rosie turned 12 in January and graduated to the Young Women’s program at church. She’s really enjoyed the weekly meetings and activities and has wonderful leaders. She was able to go to Girl’s Camp for the first time. She was very busy as a musician, actress and photographer this year. She played a violin/piano duet at church, performed in the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant with Jerry, and performed as Katherine in her elementary school’s production of Taming of the Shrew. She also had 2 photographs chosen to be included in the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Photography Contest. She had several medical tests during the year, including a lactose tolerance test, vision tests, MRI, and a spinal tap. Everything turned out normal. She has had some stomach problems, but no clear cause yet. She started Jr. High this year and loves it!
Linda’s artwork was juried into the Glendale Fine Arts Show, the Best and Brightest Show at Scottsdale Artist’s School, the Arizona Art Alliance gallery, and the winter Arizona Artist’s Guild show, where she won 5th place. She taught classes at the Chandler Community Center and Tumbleweed Rec. Center and now works teaching acrylics classes at Michael’s Arts and Crafts as a Grumbacher certified instructor. She also does some online digital illustration. She is still in Cub Scouts, as an assistant leader for the Wolf den and has been serving as Vice President/Secretary for the Portrait Artists of Arizona.
Jerry is still singing in his barbershop quartet, “Backspin”, and serving as President of the East Valley Lamplighters Barbershop Chorus. He is also their assistant director. The chorus did the usual Singing Valentines, plus two performances at the Arizona Diamondbacks games and other performances – including several during the Christmas season just completed. The quartet sang the National Anthem at a Coyotes hockey game – and a couple performances for the city of Mesa. He got the mayor and also former Governor Rose Mofford to sing with them. He performed as a Sadducee in the Easter Pageant with Rosie. He is still working at the state prison in Florence as a GED and Adult Basic Education instructor. He works at the temple one day a week and is part of the High Priest Group Leadership.
So, you can see that “the only constant is change.” We still enjoy doing those simple things that revolve around our family, our faith and our friends. Where would we be without any of the three?
We think of all our friends and family often and wish we were better at keeping in touch.
We hope and pray for you to have a blessed Christmas and New Year and 2011.
Love,
from,
Jerry and Linda Fox and kids
Rosie and Charlie and PJ and Brad and even Becky’s family, too!
