We got a Christmas Tree, a Real One!

Ava was super excited to go pick out a tree. Here she is hugging it after we got it set up and watered.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

 We spent Thanksgiving at my Aunt Rose and Uncle Don's house in Tupelo. Tracy and Mark got to come for most of the day and eat with us. Ava had the best time playing with her cousins. They were NONSTOP for hours! They played school, pushed each other on the bike thingy (pictured below), dug in the dirt, and had a fashion show. We had fabulous weather and equally fabulous food!

 My dad with his family.

 The craziness of the picture taking!

 The newest addition to the McGarrh family...my cousin Lindsey's baby Ashton.

The kids table. I don't think much eating actually ocurred here, though.

Goodbye Ellie

 Despite her best efforts to fight her cancer and chemo overdose, Ellie was in too much pain and was put to sleep today. We miss her so much. She has left a huge hole in our heart.

Hanging with old friends

 AK got together with her best friends at a chuck e cheese birthday party for Darby Claire. This year they are all at different schools and don't see each much. They were so silly and had a great time hanging out together again.

Witchy Woman

 Continuing our Halloween tradition, AK and I went to the Swinney's to trick-or-treat. Michael wasn't able to go with us because he was picking up Ellie from MSU vet school. As usual, Ava had a great time and loaded up!

 I'm not exactly sure what this pose was all about.

AK with her pumpkin she and Granpa carved while she was in Greenville. Every witch needs a kitty cat pumpkin!

Ellie-pup update

We went to visit Ellie at The Mississippi State Vet School where she has been in ICU since the night of October 16. Ellie had a cervical spine tumor debulked by the neurosurgeons at State mid August and has been recovering well until she was started on her chemotherapy regime. It was supposed to be a low dose and not even cause side effects to add a little length to her life. Unfortunately, our vet gave her a much higher (leathal) dose than she was supposed to recieve. Ellie was admitted to the vet school with virtually no white blood cells, platelets, or new red blood cells. No one really expected her to make it through this, but she has kept fighting and has responded well to the invented therapy since there was no documented treatment for a chemo overdose of this magnitude. Her white blood cell count is currently normal and she is no longer in isolation. Her platelet and red blood cells are being manufactured again, and barring anymore complications, we will bring her home on Tuesday. We are very hopeful. It was good to have the whole family together again for a little while today!

This was a picture of her when she wasn't doing very well in her crate in the ICU. The staff at State were very good about calling with updates and texting pictures.

House update

 These were taken Saturday, October 27.