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long post ahead...

We have just completed (well, I think its over, but who knows) the craziest month long-period during our time here in Vienna. During that time, much has happened...but you wouldn't know that by reading the blog. Let me break it down...obviously most of this is from Michael's perspective in Vienna. Rebecca was staying just as busy in the States.

Nov/Early Dec: We find out that Rebecca's mom, Ruth has breast cancer. The level of severity was determined and surgery scheduled. Eventually, we determine that it would be a good idea for Rebecca and Kailyn to fly back to the States to help her family while her mom was recovering.

December 6th: Birthday celebration. We enjoyed dinner with friends at a new (to us) restaurant.



December 7th: My birthday. Also the day Rebecca and Kailyn leave for the states. Sucky. I must say though, the day was made much less sucky by the love shown by all the students and staff at the school. Multiple renditions of happy birthday and cupcakes. In the evening Justin and I went to the ICSV Christmas concert and then to Starbucks with a few families.

December 9th: Homerunners Baseball Club end of the year party. Since both Justin and I play on teams that are in the same club, we get to get awards together. Lots of fun. I was honored as MVP. So there's that.

Also at about this time, Rebecca's family, my dad, and my sister Amy and her family all got to meet Kailyn. Such a blessing as we have been

Mid-December: Lots of "end of the year" activities and duties at ICSV. School events, concerts, parties...all very fun. Different though, to experience it all without the other half of our little family of four.

Oh ya, and Justin and I went to Milan to watch a soccer game.







December 22: Rebecca and Kailyn returned!!! Happy Day :).



December 23: Led a tour for a friend's family and spent a very fun day with them..and we were able to make another visit to the Christmas markets.

December 24: Christmas Eve with friends at the Hamm's house.

December 25: Lazy Christmas Day at home before heading over to the Gardner's house.


December 26: Meet friends the Nevels at the train station and then spend the day showing them the city. They are serving in Prague and made the relatively short trip down to Vienna.

December 27: Winery tour and wine tasting with friends...and dinner at Seibensternbräu. Great day.


December 28 - 30: Pretty sure we didn't do anything on these days. Pretty nice, actually.

December 31: New Years Eve. Went out to the Pacheco's house. Ate delicious latino food. Burrito bar that included a lobster/shrimp filling. You know it's gonna be good when the appetizers are Jimmy Dean sausages and Steaks cut into strips. Blew up some fireworks before and after midnight. The skyline was amazing. Fireworks and rockets exploding all over the place.

January 1: Birthday dinner for a former student/current friend at Seibensternbräu...turns out it was a week early...but, whatever.

January 2: Watched the NHL winter classic after a lazy day at home.

January 3: Justin woke up in the middle of the night throwing up. By morning he had thrown up almost 5 times and was complaining of severe stomach pain. With the next hour the pain moved to the right side. So we took him to the hospital. They admitted him and decided to remove his appendix. 18 hours after first vomiting he was in the recovery room.

January 3-9: We spent the last week of break going back and forth between the hospital and home. I spent the first 3 nights in the hospital with Justin. He recovered fairly well...other than some residual infection.

Tonight -  January 11: Justin has been home for 2 full days...he's ready to go back to school. So tomorrow he heads back for a half day at school and the afternoon at the doctors office and hospital. Perhaps by Friday we'll be back to normal...whatever that means.

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