It has been a long week. Some of it great, some not so much.

Jilly spiked a fever on the 22nd of December. She threw up, alternated coughing fits, and fevers, and general malaise for the past 5 days. She was sick through cooking class, Christmas at home, Christmas at both Grandmas' and still is not quite better. It is the sickest she has been since her premature bith, and even then she was more or less only "at risk" not really having any problems. An ER visit on Christmas Eve brought a diagnosis of a virus with no treatment. We are riding it out. Today is she is better. Not herself, but better.

Christmas was, with the Jilly exception, very nice. The kids were excited, happy, and in awe of the whole thing. They loved every detail this year. Lights, elves, shopping, wrapping, music, and especially Jesus. They talked about the fact that Jesus was born on Christmas much the way home today. Then in true Christian spirit they screamed at each other about eveything else the rest of the way.

I kept things a little simpler this year. The kids each got packages, but it was smaller stuff. Key rings for backpacks, board games, markers, books, and one or two bigger things. They did not notice. A webkinz is just as great as anything around here. Ian is in complete shutdown with his ipod. It is halarious to see him jamming to music with the little ear buds in. The triplets each got an American Girl doll. They LOVE doing their hair. Hadley got a Rose Petal cottage from Santa. Good thing it was from Santa, a couple needs a strong marriage to put that thing together....

The weather held. We had two nice days in Iowa. It is always great to see family and catch up, and always nice to get home to relax. Living this close makes that possible. Hope you all had a great Christmas and wishing you a Happy 2009!