*sigh*

This is such a busy time of year for everyone, and we are no exception. Things are moving along so quickly, however, that I felt the need to sit and type on this blog and process a few thoughts. So I apologize in advance if this comes out as sheer randomness. I hate the word "busy" and I hate using it to describe the events of our life. Everyone's busy. No one sits around eating snack cakes wondering what to do next.

What's new with us? We're doing great. Logan is growing and growing. He smiles and giggles and is tons of fun. We're so excited to hang out with family next week (YIKES!) I've never ever been this far behind with Christmas cards. I'm thinking we'll forego the letter this year (if anyone wants to know what happened this year, the highlights are all documented here). I always find it so hard to capture a years' worth of events on a piece of paper. So I'm not going to this time. I think I'm just about done with the shopping. I have a few things to pick up, but I should be able to walk in, grab what I need, and leave. . . now I just need the time to do it.

I desperately tried to pick a moving date for us. Dale would like to plan and recruit help, and I'm in complete denial that we're leaving and think we can sneak out on some random Tuesday, and that no one will know we're gone. So I'm thinking about the 31st. It's symbolic, isn't it? We'll begin a new chapter on the very first day of the year. Don't get me wrong, I'm SO excited for the changes that are on the horizon for us. We've said a couple of random "farewells" here in Omaha, and my patients are cramming in one last appointment, which is really cute. I'm a terrible "goodbye-sayer" and there have been plenty of tears already.

I am frequently humbled by my job. This morning was no exception. We had a patient (92 years young) who got critically ill very quickly overnight. We hastened to recruit the appropriate help and instinctively did everything we could to help her. She has no immediate family, so a distant relative, who checks in on her (she still lives at home) arrived at the hospital right after we called him. He called a priest and had Last Rights administered. As we moved along, proceeding with lifesaving measures, her few family members spoke and asked us to stop. They said she's been asking to die for a few years. . . each Christmas for a few years, in fact. Their gesture would be interpreted in a number of different ways by different people. I thought it was noble. I learned more about this family in just a few short critical minutes than I will know about patients I'll take care of for years. I think they gave her the best Christmas present ever. She gets to go home to Jesus where she will celebrate Christmas every day.

I am on call again tomorrow (for the last time!) in the hospital. I hope its good to me. I'm still recovering a bit from our whirlwind last night. I'm going to try to sneak in a nap this afternoon. If you hung in with me through this whole post, thank you. I'm trying to clear my brain as much as I'm able so that I can enjoy the true spirit of Christmas when we celebrate in a few short days.