Start to 2010...

We started 2010 in a way that has never been done before in our family. Many know, but some don't...this past week (bright and early at 0600 on Monday-12/28) my Mom, Gabriel and myself flew down to L.A. for her long awaited surgery....to remove a benign tumor, called an acoustic neuroma. It is a tumor that grows very slowly at the base of the ear next to the brain steam. Many people have no idea that they even have it, because it can grow so slow. They usually find it, when the side effects begin, from it getting larger. My mom was not really having major side effects...just a few bouts (3) of vertigo over the last 10 years and a gradual slight loss in hearing along with a few slight balance issues over the last 5 years. Nothing really major though. Well they found this on an MRI in July and with the help from uncle Mickey (who is not only my uncle...my mom's brother, but is also a medical doctor) my mom made the decision to go down to L.A. to have it removed by The House Ear Clinic. This place is the best of the best...people travel from all over the world (they told us even from as far as Egypt) to come to them for this operation. The neurosurgeons are top notch! Mom had her surgery on 12/30 and is doing AWESOME! :) The Dr.s are saying that she is recovering in the top 5% for this kind of surgery! Which those of you that know my mom...know that she wouldn't do it any other way! :) Gabriel and I went down with her to be there, with her, for all her pre-op appointments and to get her settled...and then see her through surgery day. My grandparents, aunt Diane and uncle Mickey came in the day before mom's surgery and left on this past Saturday. My aunt Judy is staying with my mom right now and is able to stay, if needed, till mom comes home...which we are hoping will be in a week or so. All the support from all our family (including our fire dept. family) and friends has been so wonderful for mom...words can't explain how grateful she is to have this support, in all forms (in person, through phone calls, emails, texts, wonderful thoughts sent her way, ect.) through this process. Here are a few pic's from this adventure. Gabriel was so good and really was a nice comfort for the both of us, while preparing for the big day! :)

This was the first plane trip that Gabriel would remember...the last time we flew with him he was 10 weeks old. This was very exciting for him...even at 4:30 in the morning, he was wide awake taking it all in! :)


Anthony's "Flat Stanley" doll, from school...came along for the trip!



Mom and Gabriel in front of The House Clinic!

The giant ear display was neat! It showed how sound travels through your ear and vibrates the eardrum and bones to create noise. It was completely automated and light up as it showed the process..very cool!


We crashed when were got to our room...just a little "cat nap"! It was a very long day in and out of pre-op appointments starting at 9 a.m. and going till 4:00 p.m. Mom caught us with her camera...sleeping! :)

The next day, I caught grandpa and grandma sleeping, while waiting for mom's surgery to finish up (7 hours is a long time). Aren't they just too cute? I just love them to pieces! :) Can you believe they are 90 and 85 and still going strong...you would have never guessed. Love you both sooo much! :)

Mom's finally out of surgery and we were finally able to visit her in the ICU...

The hospital where mom had her surgery is a Catholic hospital and had some of the most beautiful statues and murals throughout. The hospital is run by the "Sisters of Charity", it is really neat. We became good friends with Sister Mary Ellen. Everyone was so nice to us..it was really very touching and meant a lot to us!





We have been talking to mom everyday and we have even Skyped her a few times too! She says she is behaving and trying to get lots of rest...but most of you know my mother...it is hard to keep her down. Thank goodness my aunt is there...thanks aunt Judy! I will post an updated soon...she is doing AWESOME and is on her way recovering fast!

The Last of 2009...

We bet you all thought that we had fallen off planet earth! Nope :) we have just been extremely busy and have had sooo much going on! Here are the final pic's from 2009...a catch up through the holidays! We hope you all enjoyed spending time with your friends and families, as we did! We look forward to a GREAT 2010 and wish you all LOVE, HEALTH and HAPPINESS!

For Thanksgiving we stayed at home and my mom and I cooked. It was nice to not travel and just be at our house. Of course the boys rode out back...it was a beautiful warm day and we all enjoyed the sunshine! :)

Every ride day has at least one spill...dad always gets them up and going again, after a short "pep talk"! :)


Mati just loves watching the boys ride! She is just completely content with sucking her thumb and watching them go round and round.


We let the kids make their own gingerbread house this year...it was a lot of fun for them! I wasn't sure how it was going to go, with them decorating it all by themselves! They did such a great job. Eating candy along the way helped...I'm sure! ;)' First we gathered all the supplies needed...




The building begins...

Mati even helped decorate one of the gingerbread men...

Gabe with the gingerbread Christmas tree, that he decorated all on his own.

The finished product...it turned out so good! :)


Mati was just dying to touch the gingerbread house...so we let her. She was so cute once it was put in front of her! She was so very careful, as she picked off a candy...it just cracked us up! I thought for sure she would destroy it, if it came within her reach!

Christmas morning the boys were up "bright and early" at 5:45 a.m. YES...it was still dark out! ;)' They were so excited that Santa had come...they were not going back to sleep!

Santa brought the boys a Wii...and also got them each a new game. Ant was so excited to get the Tony Hawk skateboard game for the new Wii...just look at his face!

Gabe got Mario Cart from Santa!

We let Mati sleep in and when she woke up, she opened her presents.

She really liked her new xylophone...

...and her new singing puppy she got on Christmas Eve at Tod's parents house!

In the afternoon we spent some time outside playing with the boys and their new remote control cars they got from Tod's parents.


My mom spent Christmas Day with us...it was so nice to just relax at home in our PJ's all day. We all watched a movie in the afternoon. Gabe took a little nap...he was exhausted from the day!

After the kids were in bed...Tod decided to check out the Wii. He has just as much fun playing it, as the boys do! :)

We think that's all for 2009! It has been a very busy year in The Stiern House. We hope you have enjoyed our family blog and will continue to follow us into 2010!