Hindsight...

It was really a rather perfect weekend.

My dad came down for a belated Christmas visit.

We spent most of the weekend at my brother's house, or out eating (ack!) with family.  We had decreed that this weekend was still part of our Christmas 'off the wagon' calorie splurge....and splurge we did.  Lasagna, pizza, eggs benedict...oi.

Last night, I had what I THINK may have been a gall bladder attack.  I woke up a couple of hours after we went to sleep with the WORST abdominal pain I ever had.  I was sweating like crazy, dizzy, not sure if I was going to throw up or just hurt so bad I hoped throwing up would help.  I sat in the bathroom hoping it would pass, and unsure I could get up again to wake my husband if it didn't.  It was AWFUL.  I'm still feeling a little tender tonight...and a little afraid that because I didn't put two and two together about what caused the problem until AFTER we had lunch at long john silver's.  I fear a repeat due to the fatty/greasy lunch.  But I will pray against it, and hopefully tonight will be restful!

I was struck this weekend over how completely wonderful it is to be with my brother and his family.  We don't get together often.  We all have teens/tweens, and their work/sports schedule is usually very hectic, so it's so easy just to let time go by without getting together.  But I love them so much, and I was struck as I watched my brother play with Chloe - he was always SO wonderful with K when she was little.  He was a stand-in dad for her, until he had his own kids, and then eventually I met my husband who took over that role.

I was just struck at how important family is...I mean - I have ALWAYS felt family was important...but it just really hit home this weekend.  I sat and watched my baby playing with her sisters...and I realized how special that relationship is (with a little sadness that I've never had that relationship).  But my brothers....my relationship with them is special too.  We've all gone through the same things...we all feel the same connection and urgency to spend time together.

And so...now we're planning an event for the summer...all of us in one location...not one but BOTH of my parents (for separate events), but all of us in the same city at the same time!

I can't wait!