Christmas in Austria

Hello to all our Friends and Family.  We hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones.  We had a great celebration here too, and even picked up a tree at the market to decorate for our apartment.  On Christmas Eve day, we cooked and ate a yummy roasted chicken dinner, then went to the Rathaus (city hall) to hear an advent choir.  After that, we made our way to an English international church service, which was lovely and gave us a chance to sing many Christmas carols.  In the evening, we opened our gifts and ate (again!).

Christmas morning dawned bright and sunny for our train ride through the mountains to Judenburg in central Austria.  Our hosts, Hans, Grete and Michi Pucher (relatives of relatives) treated us like royalty with wonderful food, photos, singing, photos, touring and more photos!  A highlight was a drive to a small village in the mountains where we encountered our first snow of the winter.  Then we took the train home in the evening on Boxing Day.

This week is my last week of treatment.  I had another round of low-dose chemotherapy followed by a whole day of hyperthermia under sedation last week.  Thinking back, my strength and health were really going downhill in the weeks prior to coming here, and even for the first 3 weeks here.  I am happy to report that my bones no longer feel like they will break with each twist or bump.  My pain and energy are definitely better and I'm able to walk around with crutches again.  I am looking forward to working out each day to rebuild my muscles once we get back home (next week!).  The plan is for me to return for a 3rd chemo/hyperthermia treatment the week of January 23 and likely 4-6 weeks after that.  It's not the most convenient way to receive health care, but it seems to be working, so I'll go with it for now.

Alexis has been a real trouper during our Austrian adventure.  She has endured learning her times-tables during homeschooling as well as long walks with her grandparents.  Something new since coming here is her new love of reading.  She has read the first 4 Harry Potter books and is well into the 5th, which is 766 pages long!  Although the circumstances that brought us here are not ideal, we are thankful for the gift of more family time.

As previously mentioned, Will has enjoyed running in Schonbrunn Park, which is the grounds for an old, famous palace with beautiful gardens.  He has also continued with his own stroke rehab for his left arm (muscle stimulation, range of motion, weight-bearing exercises like push-ups).  The doctor at my clinic also provided access to acupuncture and hyperthermia to help with Will's recovery (since they are "colleagues").  It has been slow-going, but it seems that there is some improved sensation in Will's arm and hand as well as better movement in his shoulder and elbow.  Unfortunately his hand is still not moving in a useful way.  Once home, he will start out-patient therapy.

My parents have been an absolutely wonderful, much-needed support for us here.  We have all really enjoyed having extra visiting time, since we usually live so far apart.  They walk miles each day, exploring the city.  In fact, it seems to me that they may have caught the European travel bug.  They so enjoyed our visits with the Puchers in Judenburg that they are already figuring out how they might be able to return for another visit and perhaps explore more of Europe sometime in the future.

We have enjoyed our stay in Vienna, but we do miss everyone from home.  Thanks for your blog comments, emails and encouragement.  Take care and God bless!

Shawna, for Will, Alexis, Willie and Linda