Find Kardus: November 2016

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

PENDLETON ALPACA BLANKETS AND SCARVES

The Silky Alpaca Farms have a very special relationship with the Alpaca Blanket Project who has contracted with Pendleton Woolen Mills to make fantastic, lightweight and warm alpaca blankets.

You can order these items(first come, first served…folks LOVE these blankets) through Silky Alpaca. Yup, the alpacas you see here are in each and every one of our Pendleton alpaca blankets!

These blankets are 100%alpaca wool, 52 x 70”, and made in the U.S.A. –warm in winter, lightweight and breathable in summer!! Once you sleep under an alpaca blanket, you will never want to sleep under any other kind of blanket again!

"PENDLETON 100% ALPACA WOOL BLANKET"

$145.00 + shipping

They also make alpaca scarves for us.
"PENDLETON 100% ALPACA WOOL SCARF"

$45.00 + shipping

Email us to order!

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Corneal Pachymetry Thickness Measurement

Corneal pachymetry is the measurement of the thickness of the cornea. It can be performed by your eye doctor using a contact method such as ultrasound. After the eye is numbed with a numbing drop, a probe is touched to the surface of the cornea and measures the thickness of the cornea in microns. Noncontact methods of measuring the cornea exist also, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT).

The thickness of the cornea is important to ensure accuracy of the pressure measurement of the eye. The standard method of measuring the intraocular pressure is Goldmann applanation tonometry. If the cornea is thinner than average, Goldmann tonometry may give a falsely low result and the true pressure in the eye may be higher. Alternately, if the cornea is thicker than average, a high pressure reading suggesting a risk for glaucoma may not represent the true internal pressure of the eye, which may be normal.

A thin cornea can be an independent risk factor for glaucoma, or can be a sign of keratoconus, a condition which can result in progressive thinning of the cornea. Pachymetry can also be used for patients with corneal dystrophies that can result in edema and thickening of the cornea. Pachymetry is also measured prior to refractive surgeries such as LASIK to ensure enough corneal tissue is present to safely perform the treatment.

For more information, please contact D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937, visit D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

Staffed by a team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses, eyewear and optical services.

DAmbrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice serving Athol, Acton, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

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The Hole in the Screen

Ive been feeling nostalgic lately. I think this time of year, my pregnancy and the fact that my ten year reunion is happening this week is causing all kinds of memories to flood my consciousness.

Not to mention that fact that as soon as I posted that I was releasing myself from the pressure of sticking to a schedule, I found inspiration knocking at my door.

Last week was really hard. I had the auditors which is always stressful, but then every night Bryan had a gig. It was a challenge, going from intense, busy days at work to single-momming it at night. Single moms are my freaking heroes man. Bryan had a golf game scheduled on Saturday plus a gig in Bakersfield. And wouldnt you know, he had a gig on Sunday too. Basically, Im exhausted.

While Bryan was golfing, my Saturday was packed. I had a few errands to run and many chores to do. I told my mom that I would do her makeup for her high school reunion, after which I had to speed race to get myself and Shepherd ready for a birthday dinner. It was go, go, go, from the moment I woke up. I did schedule time to take Shepherd to the Renaissance Fair, which was really fun. We basically just walked around, looked at all the booths, watched a juggler and part of a dancing show, then set off to find my little monster-killer a sword.

Being at the fair took me back to middle school, where I was impossibly attracted to a kid named Jon.

Im trying to figure out the best way to describe Jon. He had a hard upbringing that was very different from my own. We bonded and would have long talks about life, religion, relationships. We disagreed on a lot, but in the kind of way that was respectful and grew us both. Jon was tall and actually pretty massive for his age. He was exactly the kind of kid you would not want your Christian daughter hanging out with. He looked like bad news, but he was actually a big old teddy bear. I remember, he gave the best hugs.

Because of our home lives and our age, we didnt spend time together outside of school. With Jon, I felt safe. This was a time in my life where things changed from one day to the next and I never knew what I was going home to. Jon was level and constant. We both had plans to attend the Renaissance Fair one weekend and so we decided to meet up.

I never made it.

In the environment I grew up in, I struggled a lot with how my parents would flow in and out of an actual parenting role. I know that sounds harsh, but they were people with real issues. Unfortunately, those issues took their eyes off their kids for periods of time while they were both in survival mode. They would go from being really involved and a decision cant be made without them all the way to they dont even see you when youre right in front of them. I spent a lot of my life invisible, operating on the outskirts of their heartbreak. For those reasons, I had a lot of resentment towards them when they would step back into "parent" mode, because in my young mind, I was doing just fine without them around. Id rather them be watching each other than me. I had good grades, was a good kid. I could handle things.

Well, the Saturday that I had plans to go to the fair and meet up with Jon and other friends, my parents decided to be parents. Lucky for young me. I missed out on meeting with friends and a rare moment of being with my crush. My parents told me of their disdain for the Renaissance Fair and the debauchery that goes on there. Women are half-dressed and men are drunk all day! There was no way in H-E-double-hockey-sticks was I going and that was final. I thought it was ridiculous, my Dad putting up such a fight about going to a public, mostly family-friendly fair because of men being drunk all day. I sat on my daybed, which sat right underneath my window, angry at the injustice and hypocrisy of it all.

I dont remember leaving my room much that day. I was ticked and I wanted to be alone. I read books and while I cant say for sure, I most likely listened to Eminem. It was my teen way of sticking it to my parents. That and watching the Simpsons.

Night fell and I heard a knock on my window. I slid it open and there was Jon. He told me about the fair. We talked for a long time. My mom came in and he ducked. I thought for sure I was caught. She left and we resumed talking. He said he had bought something for me at the fair and didnt want to wait to give it to me Monday. I told him there was no way I could get out of the house, so he used a knife he had bought at the fair to make a hole in the window screen just big enough for a ring to fit through. It was a titanium ring... or at least a knock off of one. I knew it was a bad idea, cutting through the screen, but I let him anyways. I grabbed my precious gift and said thank you. He left to ride is bike home.

I remember being in bed, trying to picture myself at the fair with my friends. I knew that Id hear all the stories on Monday, but because of Jon, I had a special story of my own. He included me and was thoughtful though he didnt have to be. It was a sweet gesture from a boy I liked that has stayed with me all these years.

As I walked the Renaissance Fair with my son, I saw rings just like the one Jon gave me all those years ago. I smiled. Somethings dont need to change, but searching the fair for the perfect sword with my son made me happy that some things do.

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Dog Leg Injuries

Injuries to a dog can be distressing not only for the pet but also for the dog owner. Canine or dog leg injuries are one of the most common traumatic injuries in dogs. As a matter of fact, it does not really take much to injure a dogs leg. Everyday activities like running and sprinting around can result in cuts, sprains, torn ligaments and even broken bones in your pet. It is vital that as soon as you identify the symptoms of a leg injury in a dog, immediate assistance by your veterinarian should be solicited who can advise the appropriate dog care. This can help find the causes of the injuries which range from mild and benign to severe and life-threatening. However, in the absence of immediate care even the mildest of the injuries can become critical to the dogs health.

Causes of Dog Leg Injuries

Leg injuries in dogs can be attributed to the injuries on the skin, muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones or even a hurt paw. When you visit the vet make sure that you pay attention to what his prescriptive medical aid and precautions that need to be administered to avert such leg injuries in the future.

Dog Paw Injuries: The pads on the bottom of a dogs foot are prone to injury from glass, hot pavements etc. Also, healing can be difficult due to the paw pads exposure to bacteria and pressure from standing on the injured foot. If you find the dog limping then inspect its paw for cuts, punctures or swollen areas. If it is injured then the dog will react to the pressure being put on the paw. If you find a deep cut or a shred of glass embedded in the paw, then you need to go to a veterinarian. Also, paw injuries may be caused when the nails of the dogs are torn or cracked. If you find the nails chipped and bleeding, then the damaged part must be removed either at home or by a veterinarian. Remember that since this type of injury is likely to become infected, an antibiotic treatment may be needed.

Canine Ligament Injuries: A serious orthopedic knee injury in the dogs is a ruptured cruciate ligament. When the anterior cruciate ligament (the ligaments that prevent the ends of the femur and tibia from moving back and forth across each other) is torn, the joint becomes unstable. This causes the femur and tibia to move back and forth across each other and puts too much tension on the ligament causing it to tear. The most common reasons for the occurrence of this injury is when the dog slips on a slippery surface, makes a sudden turn while running, or is hit by a car. Also dog obesity can result in too much weight on the knees.

Tendon Tears: Although not as common as ligament injuries, tendon tears or strains can be quite painful for dogs. Tendonitis, or inflammation of the tendon can occasionally occur with excessive running or jumping by the dog.

Muscular Sprains and Strains: One of the common reasons for dog leg injuries are muscular sprains and strains. These are characterized by swelling of the affected area and an inability to move the muscular joint. This is usually caused during rough play or icy, muddy or slippery conditions, that can cause the joint to move in a sharp, unnatural direction, resulting in the ligaments being stretched or torn.

Bone Fractures: When excessive stress is put on the skeletal frame of the legs, it might cause fractures of the bones. There are many types of bone fractures like closed fractures, compound fractures, epiphyseal fracture (when the growth plate is fractured) and a greenstick fracture (bone is cracked).

Symptoms to Detect Leg Injuries

Limping
Foot Dragging
Stiff Gait Pattern (generally associated with arthritis)
Pain
Swelling
Bleeding and Wounds
Snappy behavior
Lethargy

Potent Treatment Methods

For treating wounds or in case of a broken nail involving bleeding, the foot must be washed with an anti-bacterial soap. Be very careful while doing so, as it may result in a painful experience for the dog. Be gentle in your movements while you clean the wound. If there are some embedded debris, remove it with a pair of tweezers and then disinfect the wound using an antibiotic ointment. In case of any fractures or dislocation of the joints, owners should not try to re-align the joint all by themselves. You may unknowingly, end up doing more harm than good. Instead, what you could manage to do, is to splint the dogs foot and seek immediate veterinary attention. If the condition thrives on neglect, severed arteries, muscular damage and compound fractures can occur, if left unsplinted and untreated. Once the leg is splinted, the foot should be immobilized to prevent further injury.

Remember to consult a veterinarian for further advice. Identifying a dog leg injury and providing appropriate medical care, goes a long way in saving the dog from other serious health problems.

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Canine Lyme Disease Symptoms

Lyme disease got its name from the city Lyme, Connecticut. Here, the first outbreak of this disease was monitored. A bacterium, called borrelia burgdorferi is responsible for this disease. This bacteria is transmitted by the bite of a tick. It is said that out of all the species of ticks, only three species are known to transmit this disease. According to research, Lyme disease in dogs is transmitted through the bite of a deer tick or a black-legged tick. Symptoms usually occur within a period of two to five months of the dog being bitten by a tick.

Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs
Limping (usually one fore leg) has been found to be one of the prominent symptoms that indicate Lyme disease. This is caused by the swelling of lymph-nodes in the affected limb. This condition is termed as lymphadenopathy. Dogs also suffer from high fever (101 to 102.5 degrees) and anorexia. Anorexia is defined as "a prolonged eating disorder due to loss of appetite".

Lyme disease causes swelling of the joints, and a sudden occurrence of lameness in dogs and they tend to become lethargic. The effect or pain of lameness is seen to shift from one leg to another. The legs arent the only thing affected by the bacteria; the nervous system suffers as well. The dog may also experience a symptom known as myocarditis. This is a condition where the muscular tissue of the heart suffers inflammation. Glomerulonephritis could also be an indicative of canine Lyme disease. This symptom is characterized by decreased production of urine in the body. It is also clear by the presence of blood and protein in the urine. Glomerulonephritis is also characterized by swelling from excessive accumulation of watery fluid in cells, tissues, or serous cavities. This is known as edema.

There is a gradual rise in the degree of discomfort in dogs due to the disease. From a mild joint and muscle pain, the disease affects the animal in such a way that it refrains from any kind of movement. That is the reason we see most dogs being carried by their owners into a veterinary hospital.

The bacteria that triggers Lyme disease may remain dormant in some dogs for a certain period (for over a year in some cases). Then there will be a sudden outbreak of the symptoms of the disease. This is because of the fact that during the dormant period, the bacteria may have affected the dogs body in more than one way.

Prevention
The best method to protect your pets from this nasty disease is proper grooming. Regular dog grooming prevents infestation of ticks and other insects. A variety of products are available in the market for getting rid of ticks. Vaccinations are also available to protect your dogs from contracting the Lyme disease. However, re-vaccinations are a must to keep any health problems at bay.

Since Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, treatment involves use of antibiotics. The course of the treatment may vary in duration depending upon the severity of the disease. However, early diagnosis and treatment of the disease keeps matters from getting worse.

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Our Weekend

We have had a great weekend spending time with family and friends and enjoying this cool fall weather!

Brody absolutely LOVES getting his hair cut, loves it. Every time Timmy gets a hair cut Brody insists that he gets one too. On Friday evening we went for Timmy to get a hair cut and we were going to wait a little longer for Brody but he said, "Dad my hair looks ugly, I really need a hair cut." It was too funny and too cute so he got a hair cut too. He sits perfectly still and once they are done and turn him to the mirror he smiles and grins and is so proud!!!

After hair cuts on Friday we went to Buffalo Wild Wings to meet up for dinner with our friends Andrea, Tommy and Gage!

Hunting season is in so that means on the weekends Timmy is usually hunting, so that means girl time! Yesterday he went hunting with Ryan and Travis so the wivess went shopping of course! Me, Lacey, Morgan and Brody went shopping and had a great day! Brody loved getting to see the Chik-Fil-A Cow! After shopping we went out and met the guys at Ryan and Morgans and we cooked supper and played some games! I have to brga on Brody just a bit... he is doing a great job potty training and has had no accidents! He tells me when he needs to go and even being gone all day yesterday, he did awesome!!!!

Today we went to church and then went to Sakura to celebrate Titus Birthday (The fam all celebrated yesterday in Lexington, but we didnt go..) and now we resting and having a lazy afternoon!!

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Dry Nose Symptoms in Dogs

Generally, wet nose of a dog is associated with the dogs good health. Your dogs nose remains wet due to humidity produced in the lateral nasal glands of the nose. In case of dehydration, your dogs nose becomes dry temporarily indicating a possible underlying health problem. Your dogs nose may also become dry due to changes in the temperature (dry in cold, moist in warm conditions) and humidity levels during the day and not necessarily because it is sick. This is a normal occurrence and can happen a few times in a day. A dog that has recovered from a viral infection at an early age, may suffer from dry nose permanently.

What Causes Dry Nose in Dogs?

Fever - This is a common cause of a dry nose in dogs. If your dog is sick and has an extremely dry nose, it may be due to fever.

Infection - Dry nose in dogs is caused mainly by infections, which may affect your dogs whole body or may be centered in the nose. There are some changes in the appearance of your dogs nose at this time. It may become flaky and crusty in texture. There may be a loss of pigmentation. If the dogs nose is cracked, then it can cause extreme pain to the dog and you must immediately contact a veterinarian for a check up, especially if the nose starts to scab or has remained so for a long time. Along with such symptoms, you should also look for considerable changes in its behavior. If your dog is ill, then it often has a warm, dry nose along with other symptoms including reduced or loss of appetite, lethargy, depression, fever, diarrhea or vomiting.

Dermatological Problem - In case there is an absence of other physical signs and there may be certain dermatological problems such as Pemphigus Foliaceus in the nasal area. An itchy and cracking nose is also a sign that your pet may be suffering from other dermatological health problems or a flu. If your dogs nose becomes light pink in color, then you should consult the vet dermatologist about skin protection. It may be due to solar dermatitis in pets which means that your dog could be at a high risk of developing skin cancer.

Respiratory Problem - If the dogs dry nose is accompanied by nasal discharge, coughing or sneezing and it appears to be struggling to breathe properly, this is not normal and it could be a sign of a respiratory problem. Nevertheless, the dog must be treated soon.

Allergy - Dry nose symptoms can also arise in a dog if its nose has come in contact with anything it is allergic to. Pay attention to the new things that may have been introduced in its environment. Some dogs are sensitive towards a few ingredients found in their food like wheat, animal by-products and even chemicals found in plastic . Ensure that you use stainless steel utensils to feed the dog.

If your dog is suffering from dry nose, you should give it plenty of liquids more frequently. You can add small quantity of milk to its drinking water. Keep your dog clean. Application of moisturizer is also helpful to keep the nose moist. However, if the condition persists for a long time, then you should take your dog to the veterinarian to seek an appropriate treatment. Dry nose can be one of signs of serious health problems in dogs.

Disclaimer: This article does not seek to replace medical advice. Please do consult a certified veterinarian for the diagnosis of your pets health ailment(s).

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Symptom Of Cataract In Eyes

Factors Associated With Second eye cataract Surgery
Cataract symptom score identi?es the degree of discomfort caused by ?ve symptoms that are common among cataract patients. eyes cataract surgery),at the moment of their ?rst eye surgery One eye only surgery (n=117) Both eyes surgery (n=125) ... Return Doc

Cataract - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Magnified view of a cataract seen on examination with a slit lamp. Classification It can affect one or both eyes. Often it develops slowly. Symptoms may Those with posterior subcapsular cataracts usually complain of glare as their major symptom. [10] The severity of cataract ... Read Article

Antiphospholipid Syndrome - Uveitis
Antiphospholipid Syndrome by Erik Letko, M.D. CC (6/97): Blurry vision, headaches. HPI: A 55 year old woman complained of blurry vision in both eyes and headaches. Migraine can be the first symptom of antiphospholipid syndrome long ... Doc Viewer

EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME - The Role Of Collagen In The Eye
EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME - The Role of Collagen in the Eye Authors: A cataract is a cloudy lens. Dry eyes result when the normal coating of tears on the eye is diminished. This can result if one ... Read Document

Eyes from 30 patients (20 women and 10 men; mean age, 62 ± 9.7 years) and 3 months after cataract surgery. The increase in symptom score from baseline was signi?cant at 1 day, 1 month, and 3 months after cataract surgery (*P.05, Tukey test) ... Document Viewer

DRY EYE QUESTIONNAIRE - TearLab
Have you ever been diagnosed with Dry Eye Disease or Ocular Surface Disease? Y N When? Do you have any of the following symptoms? Have you had any of the following surgeries? Cataract: Y N Glaucoma : Y N Stringy mucus in or around the eyes Foreign body sensation ... Fetch Document

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AGING EYES
Ance of the eyes and/or brows, resulting in a more alert look. Specialized tests determine whether this procedure CATARACT SYMPTOMS The typical symptom of cataract formation is a slow, progressive, and painless decrease in vision. Other changes include: blurring of ... Retrieve Content

Cataract Symptoms - YouTube
Learn about the signs and symptoms of cataracts ... View Video

Cataracts - R N
Symptom may clear as the cataract gets larger.) For patients with cataracts in both eyes that require surgery, the surgery will be performed on each eye at separate times, usually four to eight weeks apart. ... Retrieve Full Source

Road Map To ICD-10-CM - Djk9qtinkh46n.cloudfront.net
Left eye, and bilateral (both eyes). When a code does designate which eye is involved, accident suffers a traumatic cataract of the left eye. After examination, the symptom, if applicable. H59 Intraoperative and postprocedural ... Document Viewer

Cataracts - Malvern Road Medical Centre
Tion of cataracts. When should a cataract be removed? is distorted. A cataract can form in one or in both eyes, not necessarily at the same time. Cataracts are NOT a Th e only signifi cant symptom is poor vision. Typical complaints are: ... View Full Source

Restoration Of Severely Impaired Eyesight In An Adolescent ...
Eyesight in an Adolescent with Down Syndrome and Bilateral Cataract in South Asia present with the pathognomonic symptom constellation of a reduced upper facial depth and length, The adolescent was diagnosed with cataract in both eyes ... Visit Document

Cataract Referrals And Professional Liability Optical ...
Cataract Referrals and Professional Liability normal lives. In addition, there are reports that patients with cataracts in both eyes are being told their PCT will only treat one, Visual acuity is just one symptom of cataract. ... Return Document

Cataracts - Auckland Eye
• Double or multiple vision (this symptom often goes away as the cataract grows) • “Second sight” where near vision becomes possible without glasses again because of the 0800 NEW EYES (0800 63 93 93) (64) 09 529 2481 admin@aucklandeye.co.nz. ... Return Document

Symptoms Of Dry eye And Recurrent Erosion Syndrome After ...
Unrecognized symptom of this condition. severe, and more prolonged after PRK. The presence of these symptoms had a signi?cant effect on patient satisfaction. J Cataract Refract Surg 2001; 27:577–584 © 2001 ASCRS and ESCRS generally with 1 month between eyes in nonsimultaneous ... Retrieve Document

Stickler’s Syndrome: Effects On The Eye
Stickler Syndrome: Effects on the Eye Peter G Hovland MD PhD Stickler Involved People Las Vegas Vision •The Eyes are sensory organs –cataract –glaucoma . Prevention . Challenges in Kids ... Fetch Doc

Thyroid Eye Disease - Symptoms And Treatments
Bloodshot appearance to eyes ; Double vision (doctors call it diplopia) Impaired vision ; Thyroid Eye Disease is known to go through varying degrees of severity, and can go into periods of remission as well. ... Read Article

What Is Cystoid Macular Edema? What Causes CME?
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is an organization of nearly About 3 percent of all cataract surgery there is an increased risk that it will also occur in your other eye. What are the symptoms of CME? The most common symptom of CME is blurred or distorted central vision ... Get Content Here

Eye Care Specialists | Cataract Symptoms - YouTube
Cataract symptoms may include: painless cloudy, blurry, or dim vision; more difficulty seeing at night or in low light; nighttime glare and halos around lights; faded or yellowed colors; the need for brighter light for reading and other activities; frequent changes in eyeglass or ... View Video

Cataract Surgery FINAL - HIQA
Cataract surgery is widely perceived to be a safe procedure. appointments and difficulties in triaging patients according to symptom severity. In This applies to both first and second eyes, ... View Full Source

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Vision Training Case

I started working with a young individual in his freshman year in college. His main complaint was that he was having trouble taking in the whole playing field when he was looking at one particular player. Even though the patient suffered from an eye injury two years ago, there was no organic problem with the eye.

I started doing vision training on him. Yesterday, he related that all the action on the football field looked as if it were slower. In other words, his reaction time was a look quicker. Also, he said his receptions (ability to catch the ball) from the quarterback improved markedly. Needless to say, he was very happy.

Vision training has so many applications. These include individuals who have problems keeping their place reading or get headaches while doing near tasks including reading from text, desktops, laptops, or mobile devices. It also includes people who have poor depth perception or poor hand-eye coordination.

For more information you can view our video on YouTube under our YouTube channel, robertrothbardod.

- Dr. Robert Rothbard

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Christmas 2015

Christmas festivities began in Evansville and would not be complete without our traditional matching Christmas PJs. Taking a picture of 6 kiddos ages 2-6 is worse than herding cats. Its impossible, actually. Im convinced of that.

I told Mom to jump in one.... I dont know why the kids picked that time to get goofy. I guess they had already hit their picture taking quota.

But these two.... they played along VERY NICELY. Im pretty sure this is one of the cutest pictures Ive ever taken and I didnt pose them. They did this all on their own. Cause they love each other. ?

Mom had us playing a Christmas version of Charades / Pictionary. Every kiddo got it on it. They were so proud when someone guessed their drawing. Mom may or may not have mouthed the answers a few time when the babes were sketching to give us adult guessers a hint. Shhhhh.....

What a difference a year and a half makes. This curly-headed little girl used to be sooooooo far up her mommys hind end that she wouldnt have a thing to do with anyone else. And now shes the sweetest, most loving little thing youd ever meet. Unless you make her mad. Then she turns in to the Hulk, complete with tense, shaking body and green skin. Shes probably 20 pounds soaking wet but scary as hell!

This smile will break some hearts some day. Hopefully not mine.

We took the full family photo in front of the tree this year instead of on the couch. You know, mixing it up a bit. Probably the best family photo weve ever taken. No one is crying. No one is squirming. Most of us are smiling. Winner, winner chicken dinner!

We then tried for a Basham family photo before opening presents. Tyler was trying to be a good sport but he wanted to open presents SO BAD. He was done with the picture thing.

I have no idea how Lily came to know the "duck face" pose. Though she calls it the "kiss face" picture. You may see a few more of these faces coming.

This one takes my breath away. Shes so beautiful.

As one would expect with 6 young kiddos, plus Jason who will always be approximately 6 years old when it comes to Christmas, it was total mayhem. Paper going everywhere. Squeals of delight. Lots of "Mommy! Look at this!" and "Daddy, can you open this for me?" So much fun. The next five or six years are going to be grand when it comes to Christmas. Then were going to have some pre-teens in the house and well see what happens to the squeals. For now, Ill enjoy the hell out of it.

Over the course of the two days we also played lots of games. I never won. But Im not bitter or a sore loser or anything. Even Joel played. That never happens.

While we didnt have a white Christmas, we did have torrential downpours resulting in basement flooding at Moms. This sent most everyone in the house into to action. Joel and Josh decide to head outside and be manly and try to check on what might be the source of the leaking. And then, since they were already wet, decided to clean gutters. Cause thats a good time on Christmas. At least it was like 60 degrees outside!

Meanwhile, us girls, and Ayden, were on water clean up duty. Let me tell you, that kid can WORK. He knows how to use the shop vac better than I do. For the rest of the visit, Tyler and Ayden were on water watch and would make trips to the basement every so often and let us know if the water came back. They alerted us several times during those two days. And ever since then, when it rains, Tyler lets me know that Grams house leaks when it rains.

30 total combined minutes of cleaning up water across those two days had me fed up (yeah, doesnt take much). Not sure how Mom deals with it all the time - by herself. Takes a lot more than 30 minutes to clean up when you dont have 4 people helping you. After Christmas, I promptly started calling around to some places and got Mom an appointment for an assessment and estimate. Need this fixed. Like, now. Now we hold our breath on cost....

I think that about wraps up the excitement from Moms house. Christmas Eve evening, we loaded up the car and headed back to Columbus. Tyler fell asleep before we even got out of Moms neighborhood. Lily wasnt too far behind. Its so peaceful when we travel a night. Too bad that neither Joel nor I are good night drivers.

After we got home and got the kiddos tucked in bed, Operation Santa Claus went in to effect. We had managed to wrap all the presents just before we went to Evansville. Joel "helped." He was a little out of practice though and was a little off on his paper measurements.

So Christmas Eve night all we had to do was pull all the presents from the 4 or so hiding places we stashed them in (under the bed, in the attic, in suitcases, in an opaque storage tote) and put them under the tree.

?
Lily and Tyler each had their own wrapping paper and there was a key on the wall to help them know whos was whos. I was trying to get creative here because I have a distinct memory of recognizing my Moms handwriting on the Christmas presents. No clue how old I was when I did but probably not < 5 years old, but I figure I cant be too careful. Lily is sharp! And she asks a lot of questions.

Because we got home late and the kids were totally out of it, Joel put the cookie crumbs and milk out on the counter. He also wrote a note from Santa. Apparently I was also too out of it to apply the same handwriting concept to this note that I applied to the gift identification. It was written in Joels hand writing! Next year we may have to type it up. The kids checked right away to see if the cookies were gone.

After reading the note, the kids went to town on their presents. But they were soooo thoughtful and considerate of each other. They took their time and helped each other out. Took an interest in what the other one got. It was very sweet. An absolute joy to watch. One of those moments that makes all the tantrums, fighting, screaming, attitude, etc all worth it.

Lily got a karaoke machine. Its pretty cool.

Tylers favorite gift, hand down, was the fart gun. He had been asking for it for months. He couldnt wait to get it out of the package. And hes hardly put it down since. Sleeps with it even. Has a total meltdown if he cant remember where he put it.

Then, after a bit, we opened stockings which typically contain lottery scratch offs. You know, teaching our kids to gamble at a young age. Lily is a lucky ducky - just like her Daddy. Shes the only one who ever wins at these things.

Christmas Day afternoon, the Basham clan descended on the household and we had round 3 of gift opening. The idiot photographer didnt realize she didnt have the card in the camera until AFTER all the presents were opened. Soooo missed that. I did, however, have the kids lay in their custom made sleeping bags (lovingly and artfully crafted by their Auntie Ree!) again so I could have a picture do-over. (Note that Tyler still has the fart gun in his hands....told you he doesnt put it down.)

The kiddos got some goofy glasses in their Meme stockings which made for some silly photos.

But also got some really, really good "serious" photos.

Meme came up with a really cute game with a giant ball of cling wrap which had prizes stuck in it. You unwrapped until you came to a prize and then passed the ball. It was pretty fun.

We also took some pictures of the whole Basham clan which we had not done since I think maybe Tylers 1st birthday? It turned out really good despite the Basham brothers acting like total goofballs and cracking everyone up to the point that posing nicely for a picture was a serious challenge. (Again, please note the fart gun makes an appearance in every picture...)

A very precious picture of Meme and Papaw with all their grands. I dont think weve taken one of these since Tyler existed. Seems last time we did this, Lily was about a year old.

This one of Tyler looking at his Papaw just melts me into a puddle. A total puddle.

And that wraps up Christmas. It was a really wonderful Christmas. One of the best ones I can remember in a long time.

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