Reflections on 2022 Christmas Letter
Dear Family and Friends,
2022 has been a wild ride.
Starting in December 2021 Chris was diagnosed with COVID-19 and Atrial Fibrillation. In February as he was starting to feel better, he had a Splenic Infarction, which is damage like a heart attack to your spleen, there is nothing to be done for it except to control the pain. In the Spring Chris had terrible knee pain and he could barely walk. The ortho surgeon said he did not need surgery, so he did some PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections and IVs for healing, and the pain decreased right away. We are doing these treatments in our office here in Batesville now. Chris could barely exercise all year, so anxiety, fear, and depression were our companions. By August he was constantly in A-Fib, so he consulted with a cardiologist and scheduled ablation surgery in November. The surgery was successful, but he had all the complications - excess bleeding the first night and pericarditis which was not diagnosed until 12 hours after he was in level 9+ pain. He is finally feeling better and rebuilding his strength and fitness. He has been in perfect sinus heart rhythm ever since the surgery.
Despite the health issues we did a ton of fun things! Broadway in Cincinnati started up again and we saw several shows: Frozen, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Band’s Visit, Hamilton, Tina the Tina Turner Musical, and Jesus Christ Superstar. We also starred in the musical, Shrek! Chris was Lord Farquaad, and I was Mama Bear. They tried to give another choreographer a chance to work on the show, but it didn’t work so I also created the choreography after we had already started rehearsals!
We took a road trip vacation to Florida in January and visited friends, rode the motorcycle down the Florida Keys to Key West, and I took Beto’s Zumba class in Miami. We visited Savanna, Georgia, and the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina on the way home. Chris attended Boys Camp, Girls Camp, and the High Adventure weekend. I also spent time at Girls Camp this year as I am Second Counselor in the Young Women’s Presidency at church along with my Music Chairman and Music Directing callings. Chris is the Bishop of our congregation so that keeps him busy.
We have been working continually this year. Things are always changing in the chiropractic business and that was definitely the case in 2022. Chris worked for both Principled Chiropractic Batesville and later as we transitioned to Elite Physical Medicine. Our company is now part of a nationwide company, and we have offices in Batesville & Lawrenceburg, Indiana; Mason, Ohio; and Hebron, Kentucky. I am working at the YMCA in Batesville as a group exercise instructor - I teach a couple of Zumba classes and a healthy heart/senior fitness class as well. I was the substitute queen in May, June, and July as 3-4 instructors were out of town for several weeks. We also had two long-term instructors move this year, so we have been scrambling to fill class spots. I am transitioning to being a writer/blogger, energy coach, and wellness coach in 2023!
Dixie has been living in Batesville since February 2021. She took an extended vacation from mid-September 2021 to January 2022 to stay with Tommy & Shanna, Wayne & Lynette, and then Christmas in Alaska with Adrienne’s family. Andrew took her to Utah for Jane’s wedding in July 2022. Her memory loss and confusion were increasing all year and in mid-October, she moved to an assisted living center called The Chateau of Batesville. She has settled in and is enjoying some of the activities. I still take her to the YMCA to exercise at least once a week. She is clearer now that she is getting regular medication and meals; and is around more people. She walks the halls three times a day. She spent Thanksgiving with us and Christmas with Andrew’s family. Wayne and Lynette worked so hard with us Thanksgiving weekend to clean out the rest of Dixie’s things from the house. The important things are in storage.
Logan and Amber Ault live in Greenwood, Indiana, and have four active and adorable children: Marek (10), Gemma (8), Ronin (6), and Mazie (2.5). Logan continues to work at Aerofab, and Amber makes and sells gorgeous custom-designed iced sugar cookies for gifts and events. Her Facebook page is Cookies with Love.
Chelsea and Travis Roberts bought a house in St. Paul, Minnesota, and have two young boys: Niko (4.5) and Jaxon (1.5). They have a hockey rink in their backyard! Niko is attending a Montessori public school in their neighborhood, and they walk to school every day.
Jonathon lives in Greensburg, Indiana, and has been clean and sober for 5 months. He is working full-time at Arby’s and going to college online.
Debra Jade lives in the Decatur County Jail in Greensburg. Her youngest child, Laura (3.5), has moved to Arkansas with her biological father, Ryan, and seems incredibly happy.
James lives in Anderson, Indiana, and is recently single. He has an excellent job with a national law firm and is working hard to make a good life for himself.
