The Fagan Family - KarstenFagan.com

Merry Christmas everyone!

Well, it's time for our yearly update to the blogosphere. Once a year we attempt to be techno-savvy, but usually wind up begging for help from our friend and web-hoster Camron. We do hope that this note finds all of you happy and healthy. Angie told me today that after a 2 or 3 year hiatus, it was my turn to bore you all with our EXCITING life. Here goes.

In comparison to prior years, 2008 was pretty quiet. We began the year by leaving the two littlest ones, Karsten and Jaynie(best decision ever, by the way), home while Ang, Jacqualine, Kayla, and I cruised the Carribean on a Disney Cruise ship. We ended the year by deciding that we can wait awhile to plan another major trip like that. Reasons for that will be explained later in the blog. Needless to say, we had a blast. We went with our college buddies Jake and Allie and there three daughters who are about the same ages as Jacqualine and Kayla. We saw lots of sunshine and ate way too much food, but it was a wonderful break from the 174 inches of snow that fell in Coeur d'Alene last winter. Once the region thawed, we spent as much time on the water as possible. I'm discovering that I like summer much more than I do winter! The summers here are gorgeous, albeit short, so we pack as much into them as possible. We then migrated into fall which in our family consists of soccer, basketball, basketball and more basketball. So that's our year! Pretty boring! OK, I'll include a few more details to cure any insomniacs out there.

Jaynie, our youngest, is now three, but I make Angie constantly show me her birth certificate to prove that she's not really 13! We've had to severely limit Disney Channel exposure because (although it's hilarious to watch her play air guitar to the Jonas Bros) she has developed a Hannah Montana attitude. Earlier this year she had the thoughtfulness to thank Heavenly Father for her 'boobs' and was kind enough to ask her grandma if she liked hers. Being 3, she has grown out of discussing female anatomy and has moved on to rolling her eyes and making dad dress her barbies. At times I'm afraid to really know what's spinning around her little head. Life is never dull with mom's little clone around.

Karsten achieved a major milestone this year. His doctors decided to reduce his MRI follow-ups to every year. His remaining tumor has not changed in 4 1/2 years. They won't use the words 'remission' or 'cancer-free', but are constantly amazed at his progress. He started kindergarten in his sisters' school this year and loves it. He has a group of girls at school that make sure he doesn't want for anything. I hope he doesn't get too comfortable because we all know that that can never last! We did finally get him to stop announcing his entry into the classroom every day with a loud "I'M HERE!" Jacqualine's basketball coach and our good friend Rick made sure that the 'big studs' at school would look out for Karsten this year. It appears that his plan is working too well! He has become somewhat of a local celebrity. He can't walk the halls at school without being mobbed by all the kids wanting to say 'hi'. Angie organized a 'special-needs' Tball team this year and volunteered me to coach. It was an absolute blast. It was an awesome sight to see Karsten out there with his friends. We had a boy in a wheelchair, a boy with a sever seizure disorder, others with learning disabilities, not to mention some of Karsten's 'normal' friends. We love Karsten and even though he likes to fight with 'little Angie', are grateful for the lessons he teaches us.

Kayla is now a 4th grader and is doing well in school. Her first love, however, is sports. She finished club soccer in Octbober and is now playing AAU basketball in a very competitive Spokane league with her obnoxious father as coach. Her coach loves her attitude because she always puts forth her best effort and loves to share the ball with her teammates. (Something she did not learn from her dad) She'll spend hours out shooting in the backyard and drawing out the plays she learns at practice. Kayla is a wonderful big sister and loves to play with(tease) her two younger siblings. She has also become very competitive lately. (I know that comes from her dad, and with the red hair it's a recipe for aggression) She loves to challenge her big sister to flexing contests just like dad wages with the mirror every morning.

Jacqualine started middle school(6th grade) this year and I was amazed mom survived the horror of it all. She has an amazing group of friends that look out for her and make sure that no one gives her a hard time about the standards that she confidently upholds. She was asked out by a boy a couple of weeks ago and that sent shivers up her dad's spine. At least he wasn't cute, she might have said yes otherwise! I know Jacqualine better than that. She has a firm 'right and wrong' view of the world and has never compromised her standards. She will be 12 next week and move into the Young Women's organization at church. Jacqualine is also playing on an AAU team in the same competitive Spokane league as Kayla. She has a lot of fun with it and really works hard. In April, Jacqualine suffered a bout of appendicitis and had her appendix removed. She came home the next day after a seemingly successful surgery and was back in the hospital at the end of the week with multiple abcesses that had to be surgically drained. She wound up spending 9 days in the hopsital. She is fine now, but it took dad a few months to pay her medical bills. We'd like to send a special thank you to all her friends and family who helped her through that experience.

Angie has had her own share of medical issues this year. At about the time Jacqualine was testing the health care waters, they discovered a lump on Angie's thyroid. It appears to be benign, but that knowledge only came after lots of testing and biopsies. A couple months later, doctors discovered another kind of 'lump'. Angie is now 6 months pregnant with what appears to be a little boy. We were convinced for over a year that we were done and even sold everything. The Lord obviously has other plans. Don't get me wrong, this was not an 'oops' occurrence. Ever since Karsten was sick, Angie has had vivid dreams of another little boy coming to our family. Then, in early May, we both had very strong impressions at the same time in the same place that another boy was to come to our family. So we quit ignoring the impressions and have another child on the way! Angie's pregnancy so far has been quiet(minus the occasional vomit) and we are eagerly awaiting his arrival. Angie is still very active and is donating time to the local and state Junior Miss programs as well as newly serving as 2nd counselor in the Young Women's presidency at church.

Are you asleep yet? Let me see if I can tuck that blanket up around your shoulders and finish you off. I stay busy with running two practices with the help of my partner, Rob Johnson. I still serve in the bishopric in our ward and coach Kayla's basketball team. I stay just busy enough to keep the gray hair coming, but not so busy that I'm losing weight. I try to stay active but find that I'd rather spend my time chasing my family around.

I love my family and am very thankful for the support they are to me. We are truly blessed and are very aware of the Lord's hand in our lives. We appreciate each of you and want you to know that you have all had a wonderful impact in our lives. Thank you for the prayers and friendship and we hope that we can in some way return the kindness and love that you show to us. We wish you all happiness and the strength to keep your eyes pointed heavenward through whatever challenges you may be facing.

We love you all,

Will, Angie, Jacqualine, Kayla, Karsten, Jaynie, and ???????