Posted by Karen

Hey everybody, HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 

Before I tell you how much fun our festivities have been so far, I want to give a really big, heartfelt thanks to all my friends and family who donated recently to the Canadian FOP Network.  Your donations mean so very much to us…  Research into FOP is largely funded by private donations, since pharmaceutical companies aren’t much interested in a tiny “orphan” disease like Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.  And yet, according to the scientists at the Centre for Research into FOP and Related Disorders, the single genetic mutation which causes FOP is a very promising target for pharmaceutical intervention (ie, it’s a type of mutation which is amenable to being controlled by mediation).  One day there will be a drug for FOP, and we’ll have it because people like you donated.  So again, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

And now, I’d like to tell you about our holidays so far.  Pete and I have both taken time off work and are enjoying spending some lazy days with Miranda and her brother Owen.   Happily, we haven’t had to deal much with FOP…  OK, Miranda took a fall off the couch yesterday, necessitating a cold pack to the head, but it didn’t seem that bad and we’re hopeful/optimistic that it won’t lead to anything (though I’ll probably jinx it by even saying this, bleah!). 

Anyway, the saying is that Christmas is for children, and I’d have to agree.  Miranda and Owen have been having loads of fun…  On Christmas Eve, we opened our gifts to and from eachother (coincidentally, this is long-term tradition in both the Friz and Munro families, so we carried it on in our house).  For Miranda, it turned out to be very much a “Littlest Pet Shop” Christmas - she got a tonne of the stuff.  She also received a gorgeous dress from her Auntie Susie, which I knew right away would be perfect for her (thanks Sus).  The next morning, of course, both kids whipped down the stairs to check out what Santa had brought.  For Miranda, it was a big pink bag full of YET MORE Littlest Pet Shop stuff!  Owen, on the other hand, got a Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins jersey he’s been coveting.

Miranda on Christmas Eve, just pre-gift bacchanalia.

On Christmas Day, we went up to Pete’s family’s house and spent the day with Farmor (Danish for grandma), Grandpa Carl and Auntie Anna.  Farmor gave Miranda what is surely the BEST GIFT EVER (if you’re Miranda, that is… ;-) ) - a stuffy Grinch toy.  That thing is just so huggable and cute…  Definitely the happy Grinch from the end of the story!  I love it.  Of course, we also stuffed ourselves with turkey and goodies on Christmas Day.

Miranda and Owen with Grinchy-Poo!

As for Boxing Day, we did not hit the malls.  Instead, we took advantage of a bright, sunny (and cold) day here on the coast and went off to Rocky Point Park.  Parts of the path were slippery from frost, prompting much concern from Pete and me, and shouts to NOT run on the extra-slippery wooden bridges along the path.  Fortunately, however, nothing happened, and the kids were able to burn off some energy at the park while mom and dad sipped hot Starbucks coffee in our new (Christmas gift) travel mugs.

I took this with my cell phone - wow! Love this pic. Look at her red cheeks...

Luxury of luxuries, we still have another week before school and work begin again.  Hopefully the rest of our break will be as good as the first part, and FOP will continue to stay out of the picture.

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