Update on Domenic

Domenic now weighs 18.5 lbs!!! Our chunky monkey is outgrowing all of his clothes. Last week, Charlie and I went to lunch with some of my friends from my van pool. Joey, one of the riders, brought his niece, Amelia. She is 4 1/2 months old and is half Dom's size!!! I have a feeling Dom will be playing linebacker for Penn State before too long... :-)

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. Love, Mia

Health Update

This is just to keep everybody up to speed on my leg infection. I will have to begin another round of I.V. antibiotics on Monday morning. My leg improved considerably after the first treatment but it is not completely cured yet, so the doctor wants me to repeat the treatment, in the hopes that this will wipe out the infection altogether. He is also putting me on Lasiks pills to prevent and liquid build up that can occur with this type of infection. I have had a little shortness of breath and light headedness and this is all part and parcel of this problem. It is a serious problem, to be sure, but with the skilled medical care I am receiving and all the prayers that are being said on my behalf, I have absolutely no doubt that I will make a full recovery.

I will continue to post as the situationi warrants. I love you all. Happy New Year.

"Undecorating"

Dear Family, I'm glad Brian set this up! We had talked about doing something like this after the holidays but it is really fun to contact everyone so easily!
I want to thank each of you for your lovely gifts to me! I will use and enjoy them all and I am always delighted by your thoughtfulness.
Today, I am going to "undecorate." I love the decorating process, although it's more fun to share it. However, even alone there is a sense of accomplishment when all the treasured items are in place, and the lights are turned on and the beauty of the season comes alive in your own home.
When it comes time to put everything away, there is a bit of sadness that it's all over for another year. However, when everything seasonal is carefully wrapped, labeled, and stored, I always have a sense of ,"Now I'm ready for the new year... its joys, challenges, and opportunities for growth and most of all a fresh start toward being a better person." No matter how old you get... and who knows better than I!!!..... each new year offers a better life if you are willing to work for it and make it happen.
As I label my decoration boxes, I'm putting your names on them, not because I think I won't be here next year, but because the items will someday need a new home and you will delight in them as I have for so many years! So let me be the first to wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Please support Al

Dear Family, As you know, the morning after our early Christmas celebration, Al slipped on the icy steps and shattered his ankle. He was operated on at 10:00p.m. that night and on Tuesday was taken by his son, Chris, to recuperate at his home in Haymarket. He is doing well, but is completely incapacitated and will be for about 5 weeks. If you would do so, I encourage you to take a moment and send him a card at: 7154 Mercury Avenue You may address it to Al Conte
Haymarket, VA 20169 c/o Christopher Conte
You may also call him on his cell phone.... 609-858-4097
He has a high rtegard for all our family members and I know your thoughtfulness would be greatly appreciated.
I went to see "Marley and Me" today. It is a great movie about family life in its various stages
and the dog is wonderful. I hope you are all off to a good start in this brand new year. Love you all!!!

Happy New Year to all of my loved ones!

I hope every one has a healthy and the best possible year in every way. Let's love each other, support each other, be patient with one another and remember that we are a strong family.
Hopefully we will always be available to help each other in whatever ways we can and that
Grandpa/Dad/Chuck can be proud of who we are and what we do. God bless us every one!

Thought I'd give this a try

OK, I am not much for technology, but here goes...

Things are going well here in "Wilson land". Although, it depresses me to say that I must also be getting "old". At the ripe old age of 28, Joey and I spent our New Year's Eve eating ice cream, playing video games with Dad, and anxiously awaiting Melody's return from her first actual party, which she attended at her boyfriend's house (after confirmation of parental attendance, of course) :) Melody arrived promptly at 1:00, as instructed, and we were all in bed by 1:45.

We are looking at a lot of changes in the upcoming year. Joey will be earning his black belt, after nearly four years of hard work, Melody will be getting her driver's license in early spring (gasp!) and starting to visit colleges, and I have resolved to really get serious about my weight and health. It won't be too long before Melody is out on her own, and I am determined to be in good health by then, so Joey and I can start pursuing our goal to travel and lead a more active lifestyle.

Our thoughts and love are with you all, especially Dad, Gary, and Al, as you all heal from your various injuries. I hope all of you have a wonderful 2009!

Happy New Year to all- posted by Deb and Gary

Wow- I'm actually posting my very first blog! We are watching Penn State playing in the Rose Bowl. Normally this would be a totally sacred time during which even contemplating doing something other than watching the game would never be tolerated. But seeing that the score at this point is 31-7 and PSU has basically not showed up to play the game, here I am trying something new!
We went out last night to the New Years Eve party at the Box Hill Club and it was really nice. We had lots of steamed jumbo shrimp that were awesome! The band was the same one that played at our wedding, it was great to hear them again. We were home by 12:45- I just can't stay awake for late night parties any more, must be getting old- YUCK! Of course, today we had the traditional PA Dutch pork and sauerkraut dinner for "good luck during the upcoming year". I'm not sure that it worked.......
Our 2009 has started out on a not-so-great note. Gary has torn a meniscus in his bad right knee, and has earned a trip to the Orthopaedic surgeon for a knee replacement.
We have a couple weeks to wait for the consult w/ the Doc, and then get surgery scheduled. We are hoping to have it done late in January or early in February. The sooner the better, as he has a lot of pain and the knee just gives out. No golf this summer for him!
Well, that's it for now from us. We wish you all a very happy, healthy, and blessed new year!