I have always relished the unreality of the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Not quite back to normal, or business as usual — and there’s New Year’s Eve to look forward to. As a teen, I had this fantasy that someday I’d throw a fabulous black-tie NYE extravaganza. It’s yet to happen, but the party’s not over yet! 🙂

In a way, I’m so glad that Christmas is over. It was great fun, but it was stressful to me, coming off of the surgery. The recovery for that surgery was much harder than I had anticipated. I’m happy to say that four weeks out, I’m feeling almost entirely back to normal. Still no heavy lifting for me for 2 more weeks, and I feel really frustrated by that, but I’m determined to have my life back!

Also, I can’t believe that I’m already 1/3 of the way to my second surgery. We’ll go back to Mayo at the beginning of March probably. I’m really looking forward to it – while the ileostomy and accompanying appliance (ha) aren’t absolutely terrible as I’m getting used to it, it will be nice to have my body back to myself, in a way. I’m struggling a little bit with dressing around the darn thing. It’s right where the waistband on my jeans normally lies, so I’m living in leggings and long tops.

Anyway. Enough talk of that. Jude has been moved to a big boy bed since I can’t lift him and I was determined to be back in our own home. This way he can crawl in and out of his own bed without  my assistance. This comes with its own set of challenges, but we’re back home, and he’s understanding that he is no longer the captain of his own destiny the way he once was while staying with his grandparents. 🙂   There’s a new sheriff in town: her name is Momma.

Yesterday I made my first foray to Target. We had zero diapers, so it was an absolute necessity. Look at this gorgeous Victoria Hagan lamp I picked up! It was 50% off because it has a slight chip on the base. We have this lamp’s “big sister” in our room, and I love it. This little one is perfect in the entryway.

Simon got me another of my beloved Fringe Studio plates for Christmas. I need to hang it up with all its friends. 🙂

Oh, here’s us at the Shingleton Christmas. Jude is holding his Papa Keith’s cell phone (OBSESSED).

Back to the snow — here’s the view on December 26th, leaving my parents’ neighborhood. Such a pretty snowfall. This photo does not do it justice.

View from inside my parents’ dining room on Christmas Eve, out onto the snow. The drifts were huge!

Chrysi made all the little kids the cutest satin capes for Christmas! Each one has their own initial on the back, and a matching mask. Now we are a two-cape family, so I imagine that we’re going to be superheroes all year long! 🙂  Maybe next year we can be The Incredibles for Halloween.

This next photo is for Kathleen. Here I am, the masked crusader.

Is this not the goofiest look you’ve ever seen on a kid’s face? He was enthralled.

I hope everybody has a fantastic and safe New Year’s. Jude is staying with Simon’s folks and we’re goin’ out on the town!

Goodbye, Christmas tree. We’ll see you next year!