Dear Kids,
         Welcome to the world, Chloe Ruth Ackerson, born Friday, February 28, to Stefanie and Paul!  Stephanie was scheduled to be induced at 8 am that morning, but Chloe had her own timetable, and was well on her way when they got to the hospital.  She emerged at 8:58 am, weighing 7lbs. 15oz.  Those of you who have seen the picture know she has cute little plump cheeks.  Lynette Rieben says Stefanie looked exactly like that when she was born.  Dad and I haven’t seen her yet, because she was born exactly on my “bad” chemo day, but we’re driving out to Layton later today to visit her. We’re very happy that everything worked out so well!
         Bonnie has scheduled the biannual Allen family reunion for Saturday, August 8, at the same park as always, Riverwoods.  We only hold it every other year now, but we can’t drop it altogether, because Bonnie promised Grandma Allen on her deathbed that she’d keep it going.  Anyway, it’s always lots of fun to see who’s there, and how far some of the family have come.  Oh, by the way, Chloe is #281 of Grandma and Grandpa Allen’s posterity, counting those who have married in, like Dad.
         Our own Ackerson family reunion will be July 30-August 2 at the chalet in Midway.  Tom is in charge.  The first Allen family reunion held there was in 1981, when I was expecting Donna, so the Chalet goes way back with our family.  My Grandma and Grandpa Murphy came to that first one.  Grandma Allen had reserved a cottage for them at the Homestead, and we drove them back and forth.  Grandpa Murphy died just a few months later, so we were glad we had that time with him.  Anyway, I’m looking forward to our reunion this year.  They’ve all been great!  You kids are so adventurous!  When I tell people about our reunions, and I mention that we always camp, they are flabbergasted.  But camping has made it fun and affordable for everybody.  I’m glad there are no sissies in our family.
         I’ve been experimenting with the eyelash-growing drops that Nora uses.  Maybe some of you have noticed her lashes!  I thought they were fake, but she said she’s been using glaucoma drops, and she gets the stuff from India for $13 a bottle.  John said he could write prescriptions for it, and he sent one in to Walmart for me, but the co-pay was $300-something dollars.  So I bought it from Nora.  I haven’t noticed much change in my lashes in the last 2 weeks, so I think my chemo is fighting them.  Anyway, it’s fun to try.
         Life is good!  Love, Mom