Well friends, it seems the

prayers and good thoughts are working. The vet now says there is improvement. Slight, but still improvement. He says Murphy has a 50/50 chance of recovering so please, keep all those positive, loving, good thoughts coming this way. I think they are working!

My Dad is out of the hospital. My grandmother fell and hit her head but she's okay. My sister is sick so her 10 and 7 year old are coming here for Christmas. We took back everything we'd bought for each other and are now toy shopping! (We weren't even putting up a tree but now we're decorating, putting the tree up and the whole business - MUST have a Santa type Christmas for two kids ya know!)

My broken toe is healing and I think by tomorrow I might be able to put a shoe on! Overall things are improving. Slowly, but improving!

Murphy, you've been such a good pal and buddy. You've been so good to me and brought me more joy than I can say. The doctor today saw a slight improvement but enough that we should give you a few days and see what happens. We have our fingers, toes and hearts crossed.. 

My Dad

As some of you know, my dad is very sick right now. My absence from writing is a combination of the holidays and dealing with family issues right now. Even this post isn't the post I want to make - but it's all I can do in the 30 seconds I have right now.

You've all been tremendously supportive and encouraging and the depths of my appreciation can't begin to be told in this 30 second time spot - so, for now, just know I'm here. I'm okay. I'm just a little overwhelmed with this "Dad Stuff." Some days I can't stop crying, other days, well, other days I guess all I can say is, I cry less.

I'm not in a very holiday happy spirit. I'm tired. I haven't bought a single gift. No tree. I can't even decide if I should have a tree. The thing I'm looking the most forward to is the possibility of having my niece and nephew here to visit for a week or so after Christmas. They bring me great joy and honestly that's the only Christmas gift I want right now.

Okay, see, I'm over my 30 seconds and haven't even gotten past if I should put up a tree or not.

I'll be back. And thanks for being here.