Happy New Year!

Is it just a Southern tradition or do you all feel the need to ensure an extra bit of good luck for the upcoming year by ingesting at least a spoonful or two of black-eyed peas on the first day of the New Year? The trusty little legume rounded out our meal today, along with a little ham and mashed potatoes. A little luck never hurt anyone and although 2009 has been a good year overall, I wouldn't mind if 2010 were a bit kinder. Our day today seemed to fly by as has the entire year.

As I near my 40’s it seems to me that time is moving more and more quickly. It seems like just yesterday that we brought our last baby home from the hospital. I'm trying so hard to savor each moment with him as I know he's our last but life is so busy and the days pass so quickly. Time for the simple, small joys seems to have disappeared. Days are spent taking care of everyone’s needs and there seems to be no time left to get ahead. As Tyler so eloquently stated on the way home from the mall yesterday, “Standards are so low. You win if you just manage to get home and survive.” I must admit I do feel a bit overwhelmed with life as it currently stands.

Grandma is home from the hospital and doing better. We're being visited by nurses, a physical therapist, a dietitian, a speech therapist, and a home health assitant.  In addition, we're seeing a cardiologist, her normal doctor, and a pulmonologist.  There have been some rough times but it appears that she may have finally rounded the corner. Tonight for the first time in a month she's feeling well enough to play the piano and is currently gracing us with Christmas tunes downstairs.

We've had a wonderful time with Tyler this visit. I am so impressed with him. He's absolutely wonderful with the little ones. The girls fight over who gets to sit next to him at meals, ride on his shoulders or curl up with him on the couch. He is loved...sometimes probably more than he would like! He has the best sense of humor and has kept me in stitches. I'm going to be sorry to see him go.

I love fresh starts and the beginning of the year always seems like such a good time to try again to be better than you were the past 365 days. I hope you all had a pleasant New Year Day and that your upcoming year will be filled with laughter, love, happiness, health, and prosperity.  Best Wishes to you all!