Whew…

Trying to wrap my brain around the idea of being consumed w/ things other then Christmas! Oy. Hard to disengage this year.

We had a wonderful Christmas, seemed the best ever, altho’ I think we all say that every year. This year, of course, was extra delicious because of Logan. Yes, we took tons of pics…in his Santa outfit, his Ho-Ho-Ho outfit, w/ the hat, w/o the hat…you get the idea. *w* Poor child, probably saw spots for hours from the flash! He seemed happy enough, even my brother commented on what a good baby he is and sounded *gasp* like Logan was a sweetie. *g*

We all got tons of gifts, for once hubs and I spoiling each other along w/ the kids-and that was fun! Hubs got me the best stuff-a wonderfully luxurious, cuddly new robe w/ matching spa slippers, then he also got me thicker slippers for all the time, a bath spa (it’s great!!),new books, to name a few. Which is funny because I bought him things “to relax in” too. Fleece hoodie, new pj pants, slippers, etc. I guess we both think the other needs/deserves to relax more. Amazingly Brie liked the jacket, and clothes we bought her! lst time for that…other things CD’s, DVD’s, you know she’ll love, but clothes are a little trickier. And Chels cried over her ‘big gift’, a computer-which made the rest of us cry too! So, yeah, it was great. *s* Logan loved all his gifts but it was so tiring he pooped out 1/2 thru’ opening them and had to take a little nap. *w*

Mom, Dad and Greg came down for Christmas dinner and I’m SO glad Greg decided to come or mom and dad wouldn’t have been able to. Dad hadn’t been feeling well at all, he’d had another spell and was very weak and pale…but glad to be there and we all ate too much, laughed all day, and talked endlessly. For me, the day after was Bittersweet. Thankful, happy, feeling so blessed-yet sad in my heart wondering/knowing dad doesn’t have many of these times left. He’d gone downhill in such a hurry.

Which is exactly what the doctor told him and mom when they went in yesterday. For some reason, dad’s renal failure was rapidly progressing (from his kidney disease), in hopes it could be the medicine (prineval) Doc took him off that, but made an appt. w/ a specialist on Mon. Dialysis (how do you SPELL that???) seems to be in the near future now. Dad also had bronchitis w/ a touch of pneumonia. No WONDER he felt dreadful. Bless his heart. Not only that, his oldest brother had died. Uncle Gene passed away a few days before Christmas. They weren’t ‘close’ as brothers go, a long story and for another day. Uncle Gene was 78, still lived up home, he’d never left. I liked him tho’ and he liked me “for my spunk”. He’d been very ill, death was a blessing I guess, he was in tremendous pain and not terribly concious due to the morphine. God rest his soul.

So the old “laugh before breakfast, cry before dinner” saying was very apt once again. But that goes w/ love and families, does it not? Yesterday was spent relaxing and my heavy heart was tempered by having Brie and Logan here, hubs home and all of us enjoying our goodies. I took a bath/spa, the girls napped, hubs rested and we watched movies and played w/ Logan in between.

I’m completely drained today. It’s nearly noon, I’m still in my robe and I wouldn’t get out of it if I didn’t have a couple errands later. The house is in good shape and I don’t plan on doing much I’ll tell you that! Hubs is back to work, feeling a little better,hope the meds do the trick and take care of his sinus infection w/o needing more. He’s very tired of feeling like crap and I don’t blame him at all.

I need a trip home I think. Time to rejuvenate and it’s only back there, in the woods, where I find the quiet and peace needed. Where it’s so still you can faintly hear a car, one car mind you, 15 miles away…or a twig snap sharply, echoing through the silence…and the air is so fresh and untainted you can’t get enough of it. It’s still the last frontier in so many ways, and the only place where I can, it seems, breathe in strength through my skin. Greg’s still there, and won’t ever leave, Rich has found it in the mountains of MT, but I have to take trips back now and again and it works just fine, seeing that my heart is here w/ hubs and Chels, Brie and Logan, oh yeah it works just fine.

There. I even feel strengthened just thinking about it! I’d imagine most women are feeling zapped like this, about now. We relax fully after all the hullabaloo is over and then it hits. It’s a good exhaustion though and I’m thanking my lucky stars I had my kids early and they aren’t running madly about right now too! *L*

Well this was just a stream of consciousness. Hubs asked me last night if I wanted to talk, I of course, said no. I always need to mull things over first, before I say them out loud-no surprise to you as I can “talk” and mull while writing. *w* Always sounds so gloomy tho’ while I am thinking it over-that’s the Norwegian/Swedish heritage in me. Then the sunny part of me kicks in-no idea where *that* comes from, and I have to laugh. Gloomy Gus. We all use that in our family, it’s particularly apt due to our (my maiden) name.

*stretch*

*doubletake*

Yow, look at the time! I have to leave pretty quick, Brie has an appt. in one hour! I best be moving along here and how.

I hope you are all enjoying your holiday season tremendously! TTFN.