Happy New Year!

What a year it has been for the Keims. We have had some big ups and some big downs this year. I guess it started down in January when we found out that Hannah had Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. It was such a blow. When your precious baby girl falls down and gets a boo boo, you think it is awful. When she is having fevers all the time and her joints are hurting so bad she can barely walk and doesn't want to leave the couch, it REALLY IS awful. That was our first down.

On January 20th, our sweet little boy, Lincoln, came into this world. He has been non stop joy since arriving. God must have known we were going to need him. He is so much fun to watch grow. His nature is easy going, his cuddles heartwarming, and his laugh infectious! I can't get enough of him! I am looking so forward to doing all kinds of crazy fun boy things with him!

Things seemed to be going okay until April when I got so sick with mastitis that I had to be hospitalized for 4 days!!!! That was NOT fun! Probably one of the most miserable times in my life. I made it through it with the help of Kris, my parents, and a few close friends (oh, and definitely the doctors and specifically the lactation consultants at Baptist). I'm still breastfeeding even now. I wasn't going to let a little pain stop me!!! ha!

A week later, we were fortunate enough to get to go to a wedding in Florida of one of Kris' best friends, Sean. It was so neat to get to be there for such a special day! We also got to catch up with one of my friends, Terri, while we were there!

On May 18th, one of Kris' best friends from Australia, died after a long physical battle with a debilitating disease. Steven was such a special friend to Kris. Kris tried to get a trip planned to go over to see Steven before he died, but wasn't able to go quickly enough. He did go down to Australia the first part of June for 10 days. It was a wonderful trip that I'm not sure would have happened but for the generousity of some unnamed very giving person! Someone (we still don't know who) gave Kris a ticket to Australia. What a blessing that was!!!

In July, Hannah had an MRI done on her wrist, which verified that she did have JRA. She was sedated during the MRI. It was no fun. At this time, her Rheumatologist decided that it would be best for Hannah to start taking a weekly shot of Methatrexate--a shot which we, her parents, were to administer. I thought this was the end of the world! I HATE shots. I can endure them now that I'm older, but I still don't like to watch them be given to me or anyone else. So, how was I going to deal with Hannah having to have one a week? Well, so far I haven't had to give her one because her awesome daddy does it for us. Anyway, it was just so hard to know what she was going to have to go through with possible side effects and just her wondering why she was having to get a shot all the time. It was very hard---at first.

In October, we celebrated Hannah's 3rd birthday. I can't believe she is 3 years old. She is my little angel---most of the time. While we have had numerous discipline issues with Hannah this year (which have been a down in themselves, especially for me), she remains to be more special than words can express. She is an amazing child--so smart, so funny, such a people lover to be so young. She knows so many people by name and can carry on conversations with just about anyone. She's had a lot of adjustments this year with her medicines and with a new little brother. We are SO proud of her!

I guess around November things seemed to be looking up with Hannah. She seems to be responding well to the shots. She hasn't had a "flare-up" since the end of October!!! Yeah! She never really cried much during her shots and now doesn't cry at all and will even watch her daddy give it to her. Amazing!!! What a blessing! We are so pleased with how she is doing and pray that she continues to show no signs of the arthritis.

The first weekend in December was a big up! We participated in the Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell Walk/Run. Our team raised more money than we ever thought we would and we had so many of our family, friends, and church family that supported us that day. It was a great day for our family and meant alot to us!!!

A major down this year has been that Kris had been looking for a new job all year long!!!!! It was very frustrating that it took so long. When you're having a hard time at work, it affects every other part of your life--and it did.

HOWEVER, just over a week ago, right before we left to go out of town for the holidays, Kris got a job offer from Alltel!!!!! He will be starting a job there on January 14th as a Senior Analyst in the Financial Services area. We pray that this is a good move for Kris and our family. Also, on the same day he found out about his job, he got accepted into Harding's MBA program. So, he will be starting this in the next few weeks as well!

I have to say that a major up this year has been our Life Group, their presence in our lives. I don't think they realize how much we have needed them and how they have really come through for us. They have all become such great friends of ours! We love you guys!

Even in the midst of all the downs this year, God has been good to us. He has been constant and we have always known that he was there. We have seen his love all around us.

Okay, if you have continued to read this very long emotional post, then you HAVE to listen to this song. It is called How You Live and it is by the Christian group Point of Grace. I love it! It is going to be my theme song this 2008. Maybe you can make it yours as well!!!! (Dad, get your handkerchief ready!!!!!)