January 1st.  I think we did more rolling with the punches than ringing in the new year this go around.  Our plan was to be at the beach and celebrate with the family, then polar bear plunge in the morning. 

However, Jack developed a nasty case of bronchitis.  He was having major trouble breathing and couldn’t kick a fever.  We decided it was beyond what we could handle at home, and decided to take him to the emergency room, in Baltimore.  So, on New Year’s Eve, we packed up from the beach and came home, dropping Marcia and Jack off at the Johns Hopkins’ ER on the way.

At 11, Marcia called to let me know that she was being discharged.  Woohoo!  We all piled in the car and went to pick her up.  We hurried so that we could get them all home and watch the ball drop together.  Bad news I’m afraid.  They changed plans and decided not to discharge him at the last minute.  Marcia was going to fight it, but it was going to take a few more hours.  So we pulled away to go home.

On the way, we decided to drive by the inner harbor to see the fireworks.  Major traffic issues.  So we saw some of the fireworks as we drove out of town.  At midnight, the 3 girls were awake, Luke and Noah were snoozing. 

When we got home at 12:20, I let the kids have some sparkling cider and ice cream that we bought while Jack went into the hospital.

At around 1:30, Marcia called to have me pick them up.  This time for real.  I left the kids at home this time, and went to get them.  We were all home within an hour, car unpacked from the beach, and everybody put to bed.

Jack is still pretty sick, but we are now able to care for him at home, and we think he is on the mend.

Happy New Year!  Despite the changed plans and everyone not being together for new year’s, I am thankful this morning for all that we have.