Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We had an AWESOME Christmas! We went to the 6pm Candle Light service at church, came home and opened presents and then, got up Christmas morning at 4am and left to drive to the property. Nothing is really open on Christmas day - not McDonald's, not Hardees, nothing but Waffle House where we ate breakfast and dinner and the "On the Run" Exxon station where we ate nachos and hot dogs for lunch! It was hilarious! We spent Christmas night at the Dillard House then went up to the property and stayed Saturday night. It was COLD, crisp and clear and, on Sunday, we drove to the Smoky National Parkway and found SNOW! The girls had a BLAST (Don did, too) and then, we drove home Sunday night. All in all - F-U-N was had by all!

Back to a routine ~ sort of!

I started back to work, part days, this week. I've been TIRED! Crazy that I feel this way. But, so far, I have only used 2 hrs. of "sick time" coming home early Monday and today. I am taking all day Friday off for Hannah and I to spend the day together and have a short week next week, too. I can slowly feel my strength coming back. My energy levels are sky HIGH in the morning but I peter out by 1:30 or 2 in the afternoon. I am trying to listen to my body and not overdo it but, for me, that is EXTREMELY difficult!

PS: Claire danced Victorian Christmas last Friday - freezing cold and windy weather - and did a beautiful job. Her class also danced with the Advanced class for Camellia Gardens Nursing Home last night. She is so graceful and flowing when she dances! She is a JOY to watch. We will be at Hannah's Christmas Band Concert tomorrow. She made District Honor Band again this year - 4 years in a row! Both the girls are so talented :)

My last week at home - Yay! and Ahhh...????

This will be my last full week at home after surgery. In many ways, I am anxious to get back to work and to feel productive again! On the other hand, it has been nice to be home for awhile. I really like my house and being in it. I am probably the epitome of the "home body" because nothing makes me happier than cleaning the house, folding laundry and just being home but, since I started back to work last March at SWSH, I have also come to realize how lonely I was staying home. I really enjoy the people contact and the sense of urgency an office situation brings to everyday life.

I have much to be thankful for this season and much to still work on as we near another "new beginning". I have discovered a renewed sense of who I am in God being through so much surgery over the last month. I have also come to realize how much Don loves me and how deeply concerned he is about me. I have also seen that my girls are growing up right before my eyes! They have been so willing and so able to do things for me and to take the burden from me. As we approach the new year and "resolution time", I have decided to not make resolutions but, rather, to make changes in my life that will positively effect my family and those with whom I come in contact. The changes will begin as I renew and strengthen my prayer life. From there, I am sure God will provide the path.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

My surgery is over and I am in the recovery phase. Slowly but surely I feel my strength and stamina returning. I have hit a little "bump" in the road but, hopefully, after I see the doctor tomorrow, that bump will be smoothed out.

Hannah cooked a DELICIOUS Thanksgiving dinner for us, complete with yummy stuffing, a golden, roasted turkey and a pumpkin pie to rival any I've tasted. She really stepped up to the plate to help out. Claire pitched in as she always does, with a beautiful smile and a song on her lips, she played "assistant" to Hannah's chef act and helped the holiday run smoothly and effortlessly.

Hannah marches the Christmas parade tonight, the 1st one I will have missed in a long time. Don turns 61 today and we are celebrating with hamburgers on the grill, baked beans and potato salad. I'm am just looking forward to a quiet recovery and getting back to work and a regular routine again, after the holidays.

I am so thankful for having such a loving, supportive family from Don & the girls to my parents and sister. I have also had wonderful friends who have called to check on me, sent notes to let me know they are thinking of me and others who have been lifting me up in prayer. God is good all the time and I am thankful to be His child.

11/3/09

Not only did my dad celebrate his 77th birthday this date but, I celebrated the removal of my inflamed appendix. Soon, there will be fewer organs that I am retaining than I have already lost. Gallbladder will go, along with other parts, on November 23rd. I am thinking of going ahead and donating a lung and kidney (I have a spare, right?) just for posterity sake. Joy.

Fall is back

The weather has been just beautiful this week. Cool at night, warm-ish and sunny during the day - perfect Fall weather. I took a couple days off this week to recoup from last week - so nice! I will be taking alot more time off in the month of December as I am having surgery... I should find out next week about when it will be scheduled. I think I will enjoy having some major time off, even if it is to recover from surgery!

IT IS OVER...

I have worked 66.5 hours this week, slept less than 5 hours each night since Monday and supplied upwards of 300 charts to DOJ attorneys and experts over the last 3 days. And now, IT IS OVER!!