Celebrating the Season

We have had a wonderful past week. Mason was in a fantastic mood and has been sleeping pretty good throughout the night, falling asleep at 7 pm and sleeping until 4 or 5 in the morning. This morning, he must have been tuckered out from his Monday afternoon with the Lemke kids because he slept until 6:30 am.

Christmas was safe, fun and mostly healthy...like I had prayed for. Mason has been very healthy but I had the opportunity to enjoy the flu for the 4 days I had off of work. Luckily, it came and went pretty fast and our entire house is well again.

Mason enjoyed opening his presents, especially the tearing paper part. He got a sled from Gramma and Grampa Mrdutt and some John Deere toys from Gramma Duck and Papa Rooster (did you see I finally got your name right?). He also received a Handy Manny seat/stroller from Aunt Katie/Uncle Ben, a Betta fish and tank from Uncle Matt/soon-to-be auntie Anna and a driving toy and truck from Aunt Michelle/Uncle Buck. He received many other toys from our extended family resulting in a very packed house!!! Our little house is too small. :) I guess our new house will need to have a play room!!! He has so many new toys that each time we give him a different one its as if he is seeing it for the first time! He's been a movin' and a shakin' around the house...pushing around in his walker opening drawers, throwing toys on the floor and pulling ornaments off the tree. It's so flippin' cute. He's been extremely active which has really helped him to sleep better.

Chris received a Wii for Christmas although I consider it more of a family gift. He threatened me a few weeks back that I shouldn't buy him anything but it had already been purchased. Oops.

I received a toilet for Christmas...or at least that's what I like to say. Our upstairs pooper has been having issues shutting off and started leaking on Saturday so Chris finally gave in and bought a new one. Thanks to Jim and Chris and their fantastic installation- we now have a reliable toilet upstairs! It's very nice, I must say. A lovely pearly white color with a fantastic fit. :)

Chris and I are back to work this week but it's a short week. We have a few invites for New Year's but I am looking forward to sticking around home for a low-key dinner and night with my two boys.

As I sit and ponder how fantastic this last week has been, it's a good reminder of how fortunate we are to have stable jobs, a warm home, food on the table and a few extra bucks to spend how we wish. There are many families out there struggling to keep the lights on, the gas bill paid and their children fed. I pray that they find the strength to endure these hard times. I couldn't imagine waking up without being able to provide basic needs for my family.

As I look forward to 2010 - a new year, a new decade, I have come up with a few New Year's resolutions:

• Take better care of myself. Drink more water, eat healthier and try to get a good night's sleep.
• Don't let things that don't effect me bother me. Let's face it - I have plenty enough to worry about.
• Be more demanding and involved when it comes to Mason's care - whether its his therapies, clinic visits or (dare I say it) hospital stays.
  
• Save money.
• Love more. Hug more. Smile more. Kiss (my hubby) more.
• Enjoy every day....even the hard ones.
  

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and are planning for a wonderful 2010!