P365 - 2016 - Day 366/BONUS DAY - Goodbye 2016

P365 - 2016 - Day 366/BONUS DAY - Goodbye 2016

Here I sit at my computer as another year is drawing to a close....  Somehow the years seem to be racing by at a faster pace these days.  I swear we were just ushering in this year with all of its possibilities and here we are now looking back on it in its final moments.  2016 was a year full of so much...I hope I captured all of it - or much of it - in this blog - the big moments and the small ones as well, the happy and the sad.... I want to remember them all.  I had the privilege of watching these three amazing people, through another year, grow and learn and spread their wings. They will forever be my greatest accomplishment and I love to watch all of theirs...even if I wouldn't mind them slowing down just a bit.   So, as we are in the final hour and ready to welcome a new year, my hope, as always, is for health, happiness, love, and laughter.  I look forward to all that 2017 has in store for us and just ask that it is kind.  And with that, I need to close another blog and go join my favorite people.... Goodbye 2016 and thanks for the memories.  Hello 2017....

P365 - 2016 - Day 365 - preparation

P365 - 2016 - Day 365 - preparation

In preparation for new year's, I did one of my favorite things.... I organized my calendars and got the "year in the life" forms out from last year and new ones printed for this year.  This is one of my favorite things we started doing.  I wish we would have done this for longer.  I love this time to reflect  on what we have done and where we have been and plan for all of the opportunities in the new year.

P365 - 2016 - Day 364 - ready...waiting

P365 - 2016 - Day 364 - ready...waiting

I would be remiss if I did not post a photo of this year's holiday beach badge.  Christmas is over, so I am officially ready for summer.  My badges are waiting.

P365 - 2016 - Day 363 - new ride

P365 - 2016 - Day 363 - new ride

To say that My Wonderful Husband does a lot of driving is a bit of an understatement.  Every week during the fall and spring semesters he drives to and from VA - almost 5 hours each way.  Add to that traveling to soccer games all of the state with our three kid.  Yes, I take up some of the travel slack in the soccer department, but this guy is in a car quite a bit.  So it was no shock that his 5 year old car had about 150,000 miles on it.  The fact that he was in two accidents - a deer hit him and then he had an unfortunate collision with a rather large raccoon - didn't help the situation with the car.  It was time for him to get a new car.  Well, in this case, he got a "new to him" car but this preowned Ford Focus is pretty sweet and when he discovered that his surf boards fit perfectly in the hatchback he was even happier with the purchase.  He is thrilled with his new ride!

P365 - 2016 - Day 362 - salt air

P365 - 2016 - Day 362 -salt air

After my run, I walked up to the beach because it felt like April and I needed to breathe in the salt air.

P365 - 2016 - Day 361 - made me laugh

P365 - 2016 - Day 361 - made me laugh

The struggle is real when your birthday is close to Christmas.....  but this text conversation (that occurred from one floor up) really made me laugh!

P365 - 2016 - Day 360 - Merry Christmas!

P365 - 2016 - Day 360 - Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

P365 - 2016 - Day 359 - Christmas Eve

P365 - 2016 -Day 359 - Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is really my favorite part of Christmas.  It's not flashy or overly exciting, but there is an anticipation in the air and a feeling of calm.  It's about traditions - both old and new.  Those we were raised with and those we raised our children with.  I love that at almost 14 and 11, these three still revel in all of those traditions.  It's about time spent together.   Since the kids were little, this has been the time to open sibling gifts and I love the excitement that they have for the giving as much as for the receiving.  Over the years, we have downsized the traditional feast of the 7 fishes and compromised a bit with what we serve - the kids prefer their fish fried, so even though I now eat fish, I still don't really eat it on Christmas Eve.  Someday maybe we will go back to preparing all of the fish... maybe, who knows... but for now, ordering in some different fish has become our new tradition and it just works.  The night ended with another year of these three wanting to all sleep in the same room and while the raucous laughter was quite a bit louder and later into the night than when they were little, it makes me smile that they still want to do that - that's a tradition they created themselves.  Finally, when the laughter settled down upstairs, My Wonderful Husband and I settled in for It's a Wonderful Life and a toast to those no longer here before settling down for a long winter's nap.....

P365 - 2016 - Day 358 - toasted

P365 - 2016 - Day 358 - toasted

This morning, these two toasted to the last day of school before Christmas break and a whole week of not being up this early....  Hot chocolate for breakfast?  Sure, why not?  It's December 23rd after all!

P365 - 2016 - Day 357 - Christmas spirit

P365 - 2016 - Day 367 - Christmas spirit

 A last minute reindeer antler purchase and The Princess was ready to join her friends in some Christmas spirit week fun.

P365 - 2016 - Day 356 - they can stay

P365 - 2016 - Day 356 - they can stay

The magic of Christmas is alive and well here.... and the decorations that these silly elves put up are actually kind of pretty so they can stay. :-)

P365 - 2016 - Day 355 - words

P365 - 2016 - Day 355 - words

Some days I don't have words.... so I need to borrow them.

P365 - 2016 - Day 354 - fed up

P365 - 2016 - Day 354 - fed up

Do you know who else is looking forward to a quiet holiday and time to unwind with the people he loves the most?  This guy.  He has had his fill lately of early morning wake ups when he stumbles out of bed as I go for a run only to be told to "go back to bed".  He is definitely fed up with those yellow buses that take his kids away from him.  He looks so sad when I leave for work, but the true insult is when after we all get home from leaving him all day, we turn around and leave him again to go to a variety of practices.  On one of my trips in and out, this is what I found.  I think we broke the dog.  :( Just a few more days... promise.

P365 - 2016 - Day 353 - this tree

P365 - 2016 - Day 353 - this tree

I realized that, while I posted this on Instagram, I never posted a photo of our tree in the blog this year.  So here it is..... Our tree, Christmas 2016.  Starfish, shells, burlap, homemade treasures, places we've been, and special memories - this tree tells the story of our life.

P365 - 2016 - Day 352 - exactly

P365 - 2016 - Day 352 - exactly

This is one of my favorite Christmas decorations.  This is exactly how I feel as My Wonderful Husband's semester draws to a close, we start decorating the house, making the cookies, and our crazy fall schedule slows (if only a tiny bit...).  This week, we had several days when everyone was home for dinner at the same time and I am looking forward to school finishing this week and having a week with a quiet holiday spent with the people I love the most in the world and some quiet days to unwind before ushering in a new year.

P365 - 2016 - Day 351 - perfect Friday night

P365 - 2016 - Day 351 - perfect Friday night

It was a perfect Friday night... after work, I came home to My Wonderful Husband's chicken soup, another night that everyone was home at the same time for dinner, and then this happened....  I changed into my pajamas, sat by the Christmas tree and watched the season finale of my favorite show.  Life doesn't get much better than that.

P365 - 2016 - Day 350 - weekday life

P365 - 2016 - Day 350 - weekday life

There was a lot of homework happening in all areas of the house... The Princess and The Bear were up in their rooms getting their's done before soccer practice and a basketball game and The Boy was in the kitchen working hard to finish before joining me at his brother's game.  This is our weekday life.

P365 - 2016 - Day 349 - one mama's heart

P365 - 2016 - Day 349 - one mama's heart

After a day or work, I came home to the smell of My Wonderful Husband's amazing homemade pizza.  Add to that all three kids home for dinner and all of us able to sit together for dinner and that is just about the perfect night.  Nothing fancy, but lots of chatting and laughing and one mama's heart very happy.

P365 - 2016 - Day 348 - these little people

P365 - 2016 - Day 348 - these little people

I needed this flashback photo today.  It seems like so long ago and yet just like yesterday at the same time.  Little faces, big smiles, many laughs....I would just like to be able to go back to the moment even if just for a brief visit.  I love the big people they are becoming but I miss these little people so very much.

P365 - 2016 - Day 347 - complete

P365 -  2016 - Day 347 - complete

We finally got our wreath and the front decorations are complete.  Somehow, The Pooch always manages to photobomb my front door photos... ;-)

P365 - 2016 - Day 346 - Bonsai Half Marathon

P365 -2016 - Day 346 - Bonsai Half Marathon

It was a great day in NYC with some great ladies.  We ran the Bonsai Half Marathon then had lunch and saw the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center.  My official finish time was 2 hours 3 minutes 59 seconds.

P365 - 2016 - Day 345 - Central Park, here I come

P365 - 2016 - Day 345 - Central Park, here I come

I am all ready for my half marathon tomorrow.  My clothes are out, everything I need is packed, my watch is charged, and my alarm is set for zero dark hundred.  Central Park, here I come!  Frozen Bonsai half marathon.  :-)

P365 - 2016 - Day 344 - This guy

P365 - 2016 - Day 344 - This guy

Guess who got groomed?  This guy.

P365 - 2016 - Day 343 - sunset...in December

P365 - 2016  - Day 343 - sunset...in December

This is what I love about living on this island.  After a day of work, I came home and My Wonderful Husband and I walked over to grab a few things for dinner from Acme and on the way back we walked down to the bay to catch the sunset.  It was beautiful and there is something about being able to watch the sunset over the bay in December that makes me very happy.

P365 - 2016 - Day 342 - Congrats

P365 - 2016 - Day 342 - Congrats

Congrats to The Princess and The Twin County Storm for winning this round of the EDP Open Cup!

P365 - 2016 - Day 341 - his favorite place

P365 - 2016 - Day 341 - his favorite place

As I was leaving for work, I turned back to unplug the tree and this is what I saw ... The Pooch loves the Christmas tree and this is his favorite place to lay.  I think he was sad that I was turning off the pretty lights for the day.

P365 - 2016 - Day 340 - the way they roll

P365 - 2016 - Day 340 - the way they roll

I am always proud of my children, all of their hard work, and all of their accomplishments.  But report card time is when they deserve an little extra pat on the back.  Honor roll and high honor roll - that's the way they roll.  They bust their butts for those honors and it doesn't go unnoticed.

P365 - 2016 - Day 339 - I learned at the kitchen table

P365 - 2016 - Day 339 - I learned at the kitchen table

My mom was an amazing baker and taught me many of the tricks of her trade....when it came to Christmas cookies, I learned at the kitchen table from my earliest memories.  I started by watching, then moved to sprinkling, then eventually took on the bigger tasks of measuring and mixing and, in the case of the butter cookies, I finally was given the privilege of using the cookie press.  As the years went by, I took on more and more of the responsibilities of the cookies...even adding my own recipes to the mix until finally it became my job completely and I was given the cookie press.  (The original press broke a few years ago and was replaced with an Ebay find of the identical one that until this year I had had a hard time using....luckily a neighbor happened to have the very same press and has kindly let me borrow her's for the past 4 years!)
My own kids have followed the same path...watching and sprinkling to measuring and mixing.  This year, The Princess almost single handedly mixed the dough (not an easy job if you have ever made butter cookie dough) and used the press for the first time!  She was a pro and The Boy was an outstanding sprinkler this year, all while watching the rest of the process.  Nothing makes me happier than to pass these recipes and traditions on to my kids.  I hope they are making butter cookies with their own kids someday.

P365 - 2016 - Day 338 - tradition...tree farm

P365 - 2016 - Day 338 - tradition...tree farm

My Wonderful Husband and I have been married more than 19 years and this will be our 20th Christmas.  (our 23rd together but our 20th married)  Our first Christmas, we started our tradition of going to the tree farm to cut down our Christmas tree.  Since then, we have gone to five different farms while living in four different states.  We walked through farms in snow and some unseasonably warm years, while wearing shorts!  I braved the tree farm pregnant with twins...that year there was snow and I gave up walking and stood in a spot where I could see and pointed to trees I liked.  We picked a tree very quickly that year - most likely because I was starving.  We trudged through what seemed like mountains of snow the first Christmas with The Bear and The Princess...with them bundled up in hats and coats and in BACKPACKS on our backs!  That year was decidedly not very fun.  Then there was another Christmas when I was pregnant.  This time with toddlers in snowsuits and boots.  That year was spent saying..."Watch that tree stump!"  "Stay here." "Where did your brother go?"  "Where did your sister go?"  You get the idea.  Then another year with a baby in a backpack and several more of "Watch your step!" and "Yes you can ride on Daddy's shoulders."  Then, in what seemed like a minute, they were all big enough to navigate the farm.  They all had opinions about which tree they wanted.  It took years for them to realize that the 20 foot trees were not going to fit in our house.... There was hot chocolate, cookies, and candy canes.  There were trees in the back of a van and trees strapped to roofs of several different cars.  One year The Pooch even made an appearance.  There were years of seeing Santa and one year when there was a band that let the kids try their cool handmade instruments.  There was the one year when we broke with tradition....after an emergency surgery and a Disney trip planned before Christmas, we decided to put up an artificial tree that year. It never felt right.  And the trees.... we always pick a beauty because no matter the size, they always look beautiful decorated - (ahh but that is the topic of another blog I think.... the evolution of the tree decorations.... ) Then in the blink of an eye, they were not wee ones anymore....instead they were teenagers and a preteen.  But what warms my heart the most is that everyone was excited to go, they still have opinions about which tree is best, they still have a hard time understanding the correct height of the tree we need, they all wear their Santa hats without question, they spent the day pulling each other around in the wagon and laughing, and I don't think I had to tell anyone to watch their step the whole time!  I am so happy that My Wonderful Husband and I started this tradition all those years ago.  I can hardly remember the years that it was just the two of us (although there were 6 of them!) and I treasure the memories from all of the years and look forward to many more....

P365 - 2016 - Day 337 - the up side

P365 - 2016 - Day 337 - the up side

My Friday night was spent catching up on bills... not the most fun way to spend a Friday night.  But on the up side... my bill game is very color coordinated.  ;-)

P365- 2016 - Day 336 - SRMS basketball season

P365 - 2016 - Day 336 - SRMS basketball season

It was the start of SRMS basketball season today with a scrimmage against Pinelands.  The Bear  and all of his teammates played great!  Here's to a great season!

P365 - 2016 - Day 335 - #bethankful2016

P365 - 2016 - Day 335 - #bethankful2016

On this last day of November, I shared my 30th thankful post.  Since I shared these on Instagram all month, I thought it would be cool to include all of them in this blog.  So here goes.....
1. I'm thankful everyday, but for the month of November each year, I stop each day to remember some of the many things for which I am thankful. Today I am thankful for running...for what it does for my body, mind, and soul, for the friendships it has brought into my life, for helping me push my limits and get outside my comfort zone.... And for the fun socks I have discovered I love. 😏 #bethankful2016
2.I am thankful for our yearly tradition of thankful notes. I love this tradition and love to read all the reasons why everyone is thankful. I love that as the calendar turned to November, the kids were looking for that thankful basket and I love that there are already quite a few notes in there. #bethankful2016
3.I am thankful for this guy.... My best friend. It was 23 years ago this month that he walked into my life (and dorm) and I count myself lucky to have had him by my side all these years as a friend, my husband, and an amazing father to our kids. I can't think of anyone else I would want along for this crazy ride. Xo #bethankful2016

4. I am thankful for our home, for the beach that is our playground, the ocean air we are lucky enough to breathe, and the ones I love within these walls that ultimately make this home. ❤️ #bethankful201

5.I'm thankful for this sweet boy who protects me from all scary things like washing machines, squirrels, and mailmen. #bethankful2016

6.Today I am thankful for a day that looked like this on the calendar. Empty. No games and no where to rush off to. I got a bonus hour of sleep and woke up to meet a friend for an early morning 11 mile run then came home to do nothing... A little snooze, homemade pizza and laughs with Eric and the kids. I am thankful for this day. #bethankful2016

7.I am thankful for these three amazing people that I get the privilege of raising. I ❤️them.#bethankful2016

8.I am not going to lie, I've been having a very hard time coming up with a thankful post given the election results as they are coming in. I am slightly (ok more than slightly) disappointed in humanity and the fact that so many people think that a blowhard lunatic who has no respect for women and has brought the collective conversation of our country to the school yard or the locker room could possibly be a good choice. But I digress... I am thankful that there are still kind, thoughtful, and genuine people out there. I know there are and I refuse to let this change my view. #bethankful2016

9.The weather yesterday reflected my mood ... It was rainy, chilly, and gloomy. I was thankful for no where to go and these comfy slippers. I love my slippers. #bethankful2016

10. I am thankful for bootcamp!!! At 43 years old I feel stronger than I ever did in my life!! #bethankful2016#strongisthenewsexy

11. I'm thankful for Eric's delicious chicken soup. It is the best and cures what ails ya. #bethankful2016

12.I'm thankful that I had a week off from grabbing lunch bags out of this cabinet to pack lunches. It's the little things sometimes.... #bethankful2016

13.This weekend Matty guest played in a tournament. I made it to see his last game and when the coach introduced himself to me he said "Matty is a great player but even more importantly he is a very nice kid." Today (and everyday) I am thankful that all three of my kids are not just great at the things they do,but more importantly, they are nice. Because nice does matter. I can't think of a better week to be reminded of this simple fact. #bethankful2016#nicematters #raisingthefuture

14. Last night I was thankful to finally be done shuttling everyone to and from practices and carpools, finally change out of my work clothes, and settle in with a good book and my pillow. I may have only got a few pages in before... 💤😴 #bethankful2016

15 I am thankful for my quick, nutritious shake for breakfast everyday. I always know my day starts off on the right foot. # #bethankful2016

16.I am not a fan of the weather getting colder but I am thankful for cute boots .....#bethankful2016

17. I am thankful for Wednesday's but especially this Wednesday. Eric comes home and doesn't go back to work for a week and a half!!! Yeah!! #bethankful2016

18.Thursday night I was feeling especially crappy... Coughing, achy, the whole deal. I had to make the decision to call out of work the next day and I was feeling awful. So as I lay awake coughing for hours I thought of warm sunshine, ocean air, and the sound of the waves. I am thankful for my happy place. #bethankful2016

19. Last night after a day of sleeping on and off to try to shake this nasty virus, I was mostly thankful for my sofa, this blanket, and Netflix. #bethankful2016

20.Today I am thankful for finally getting off this couch. I am still coughing but the fever has finally gone down so that's something. #bethankful2016

21.I am thankful for this antibiotic that I finally got and hopeful that it kicks this nasty cough.#bethankful2016

22.With the holidays approaching, my mom and dad are on my mind even more than normal. I wish they were here to share the holidays with us... I wish they were here to see their awesome grandkids... But I am thankful for the all of the years and holidays I had with them. I will always feel robbed but I was lucky to have had them. I am thankful for my awesome parents. #bethankful2016

23.Everyday can't be poignant... Today after days of being sick I managed to get out for my hair appointment. Tonight I am thankful for that. (And hair dye). 😉 #bethankful2016

24. I am thankful for family traditions... The ones I grew up with and share with my children and husband and the ones my husband and I have made for our family. I love that my children love the traditions too. Xo #bethankful2016

25.I am thankful for a Thanksgiving spent with my favorites. #bethankful2016 #leonardfive#smallgrouplotsoflove

26.Call me a dork but I loved this show then and I love this show now. I may have had a house full of of sickies today but in between filling water glasses, taking temperatures, and fluffing pillows, I managed to run 5 miles and binge watch the girls. You can keep all your Black Friday shopping. This was close to perfect. I am thankful for Netflix, Gilmore Girls and nothing else to do on the day after Thanksgiving.#bethankful2016

27.I am thankful that it is time to start decorating for Christmas. I spent today cleaning but took this guy out from the safe spot I keep him in all year. Let the decorating begin. #bethankful2016

28.I am thankful for a friend that is my kind of crazy and challenges me to do things like this run today. It was a hill and we crushed it! @sherunsjerseystrong#bethankful2016

29.I am thankful for carpools. My Monday's and Wednesday's have been crazy all fall and Mondays just got even crazier. I now have to get three kids to and from four places. I couldn't do any of this without the help of several other parents that take turns with me and give me a hand. (Or my cousin who steps in as needed too!) I can't be in three or more places at once even if I fancy myself supermom... So I am thankful for the carpool help. #bethankful2016

30. I'm thankful that I get to be a mom. It is the job for which I am most proud. There is nothing more important to me than my family and I am thankful for each of them every day. #bethankful2016

31. 30 days of thankful done for 2016. I am thankful for all I have, where I am, who I'm with, and what I get to do. I am thankful for this journey full of all its twists and turns. #bethankful2016

And as it turns out... I did an extra thankful in there...  :-)  I guess I am extra thankful! 

P365 - 2016 - Day 334 - ready to shave

P365 - 2016 - Day 334 - ready to shave

It is the final days of No Shave November and here is my handsome husband.  :-)  He is very ready to shave again.....but he needs to wait until December 1st.

P365 - 2016 - Day 333 - 1000 miles for 2016

P365 - 2016 - Day 333 - 1000 miles for 2016

I did it!!  I reached my goal of 1000 running miles for 2016!!!  and I still have over a month to go!  This was such an awesome challenge and I can't wait to see my final total for the year and start over for 2017.

P365 - 2016 - Day 332 - "It's a hill, get over it."

P365 - 2016 - Day 332 - "It's a hill, get over it."

My friend and I ran the Navesink Challenge - a 15k run through scenic Middletown, NJ.  Scenic is code for hills.  Many hills... and gravel roads "that time forgot".   Given the hills and terrain, we pretty much kicked butt and I am super proud of us.  Like the run's slogan says, "It's a hill, get over it.".... and that we did.

P365 - 2016 - Day 331 - little faces

P365 - 2016 - Day 331 - little faces

The holidays always make me sentimental....these little faces just make me smile.

P365 - 2016 - Day 330 - how I spent my Black Friday

P365 - 2016 - Day 330 - how I spent my Black Friday

This is how I spent my Black Friday.... not out shopping the latest deals with the masses.  After a nice 5 mile run in the ocean air, I parked myself in front of the fireplace with Netflix and binge - watched Gilmore Girls.  Perfection.

P365 - 2016 - Day 329 - "just us"

P365 - 2016 - Day 329 - "just us"

When I was a kid, we didn't have large family holidays, we didn't travel to see extended family, or have family that traveled to us.  That's just the way it was, so our holidays were small and "just us". As a child of the 80's and a product of sitcoms and cheesy movies, I was always a little disappointed that our holidays didn't include a parade of people, potluck dinners, and everyone dressed in their holiday best.  But that just wasn't what I was raised with.  As I got older, I hoped for those large family gatherings to materialize but that just wasn't in the cards it seemed and our holidays remained small over the years.  As My Wonderful Husband and I began a family, I worried that I was giving my children the same small holidays of "just us" - especially when first my mom passed away and then my dad... we ultimately became truly, "just us" for the holidays and I worried that my kids would feel sad without a large extended family during the holidays.  This year, however, I have had an epiphany.  At 43 years old and after 13 plus years of being a parent, I have realized that yes, the holidays are "just us" right now.  But "just us" are the most important people in my life, and I hope more than anything that these three amazing people, that we have brought into this world, forever hold the memories of the holidays spent together - just us - and hopefully want to and are able to spend their holidays together in the future.  There may come a day when our holidays of "just us" will have grown and multiplied - somewhere in the future....  But in the meantime, I can not think of a better way to spend my holidays than with "just us".  I am blessed beyond measure and grateful every.single.day.  

Happy Thanksgiving 2016 

P365 - 2016 - Day 328 - help in the kitchen

P365 - 2016 - Day 328 - help in the kitchen

The Princess is always a great help in the kitchen for the holidays... she has been making the cranberry pear relish for 5 years now.  I love that she gets involved in the cooking and all of our kids love the traditions that we have made.

P365 - 2016 - Day 327 - counting the days

P365 - 2016 - Day 327 -

Week three update to No Shave November.  He is counting the days until he can shave again.

P365 -2016 - Day 326 - TLC...best medicine

P365 - 2016 - Day 326 - TLC...best medicine

Another day of laying around being sick and coughing like it's my actual job and The Pooch was getting worried.  He decided that I was in need of some TLC and he was right.  Best medicine.

P365 - 2016 - Day 325 - Congrats!

P365 - 2016 - Day 325 - Congrats!

Congrats to The Princess and the Twin County Storm for their Finalist finish in the Crusa/FC Buck Adidas Classic Tournament this weekend.  From yesterday's summer like weather to a quick turn to winter today, they played fantastic!!  Wish I could have been there. :-(

P365 - 2016 - Day 324 - Love my soccer girl

P365 - 2016 - Day 324 - Love my soccer girl

I spent the day on the couch sleep off the yuck in my system while The Princess was in PA at a soccer tournament.  I was bummed to miss it - especially the beautiful weather it turned out to be for a Saturday in November and even more, the two winning games the girls played.  So I was happy when her coach posted this adorable photo of The Princess and one of teammates so I could feel like I was there.  Love my soccer girl.

P365 - 2016 - Day 323 - where I ended up

P365 - 2016 - Day 323 - where I ended up

This is where I ended up by Friday.  I called out of work, spent the day in and out of sleep on the couch, and went in to see the doctor.  Have I mentioned how much I hate being sick?