Another month gone by, and a trying month it was to say the least.  Jackson is about as sick as a three month old can be.  He was diagnosed with the flu on New Years Day.  But on New Years Eve (spent in the hospital), no one was sure he was even sick.  I think I've figured doctors out .  They are a lot like computer guys, or auto mechanics...they have to troubleshoot your system before they can make any kind of diagnosis for you.  They ask you a couple of questions, and offer you some advise on what they think COULD be wrong.  "If it doesn't work, come back tomorrow, and we'll try again".  I'm thinking, didn't you go to school for 30 years?  How do you not know what's wrong?  But we finally got a true diagnosis New Years Day, late in the afternoon, and we were instructed to "continue doing what we were doing".  Again, didn't you go to school for this?  I didn't,  and I knew what to do!  "Well, just keep it up, and if anything goes wrong, come on back".  COME ON BACK!?!  This is the third time we've seen you...I could have graduated med school by now. 

But he's recovering and I think he'll be fine.  He's got a nasty cough leftover, but the fever is gone, and he doesn't seem to be suffering quite as much, so we're happy.  I guess a kid in Wilmette died of the flu a few months back, so it's probably a good thing we went to the hospital.  Just in case, ya know?

Greta is doing well.  She's growing up fast (I think we could use that line as the theme to this site).  Yesterday I went into the bathroom to brush what's left of my hair, and the brush was gone.  I, unthinking, yelled out, "Greta, where's my brush?".  She yelled "UMMM", waddled into the bathroom, opened a drawer and gave it to me.  This might not sound like a big deal to those of you that have kids, "kids hide stuff all the time".  But what was interesting here, and it took a few seconds for me to realize it (better, appreciate it) was the fact that Greta is now a fully functioning human.  She understood my question, processed it, remembered what she had done with it, and responded.  This is a major development.  She's not three yet.  She can completely understand English.  Wow.  Growing quick.  Speaking of growing quick, how old is a kid when they learn to use the potty?  Greta decided one day last month, "OK, I'm done with these diaper things!".  Since that day, she been using the big person potty.  She even wakes up at night to go to the toilet.  Shocking!  What happened to the helpless pup that used to giggle when I shook my keys?  That was 30 seconds ago.  They say the progression compounds exponentially, so I guess she'll be going to college in a few hours.  My my my.  OK, enjoy the new pics...I will get the Christmas pics up asap...