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After I had been awake for a couple hours today, I worked out. Hard. I could actually feel my pulse in my eyeballs. I was bound and determined to sweat the blues out of me, at least temporarily. I then took a long, lukewarm shower. One of the two WS families I know in the state rented a house in a resort south of town for the New Year's holiday and had previously invited me to call their cell phone to make arrangements to meet. Because this is such a special opportunity for our family that only rarely makes itself available, I sat down after I could speak in complete sentences again and dialed their number, arranging a visit in the afternoon. Just hearing Heather's voice immediately lifted my spirits. I told Erik we were going to see Sophie, and he seemed unusually excited. I put him down for an early nap, but after he rolled around playing with toys on his floor for an hour, I went in to check on him and he said, "Go see Sophie." I sprung him from his room, told Brian we were itching to go, and loaded the car. We had to drive just 20 minutes, but the pathetic film of wet snow we have been trying to maintain here progressively thickened into a fluffy blanket with each mile and began to encroach on the road. By the time we arrived, the landscape looked like winter did here in the old days, and we located their cabinlike rental nestled in lanky, towering pine trees.

Our visit was truly enjoyable. There were two other couples and their (typical) children staying there for vacation whom we had previously met at Sophie's Run, the yearly 5K race for Sophie and Williams syndrome awareness. Because the race is so incredibly busy for all of us and our extended families, we have not had much of a chance to sit down and talk about whatever we wanted in a quiet setting. Erik was a bit edgy around the two babies present but soon warmed up and was singing and chatting, putting his hand up to feel the texture of Nate's goatee and getting his hands in modeling clay with the two older girls. It was a wonderful, relaxing afternoon. Once Erik began to wilt, we decided to head home, promising to meet again at the run in just four short months.

On the way home, we decided we were hungry and that deep-fried jalapeno wontons from our favorite roadhouse sounded wonderful. We risked a meltdown from our exhausted son, sat down at a table, and ordered our favorite dishes. Erik lasted maybe 10 to 15 minutes before I found myself walking him around the restaurant. A small cup of primary-colored crayons and a children's menu are less than tempting to Erik. When we tried to settle back into our seats, he was absolutely furious and wanted to go home. I sucked what I could of my mixed drink from its giant Mason jar through a straw like a rabid hummingbird and grabbed Erik. We jogged to the car, and I put the Scooby Doo theme song on the stereo. We listened to it approximately 12 times while Brian paid our check and had our dinners boxed up to take home. The waitress, not knowing how exhausted Erik was or exactly why we were leaving, assumed it was their fault and gave us five dollars off our meals. Score.

We are all winding down now. Erik had a short nap while we ravaged our meals like happy animals in front of the television, and I am relaxed once again. I'm looking forward to the New Year and starting anew. The end of any year just isn't my idea of a great time and never has been. I hate looking back at the year, no matter what my situation is, and would like to begin looking forward. However, I'm extremely thankful for this afternoon.

I can't believe it. It ended up being a great day after all.

Sophie and Erik. We neglected to get a photo until we were on our way out the door. Sophie is 5 years old and thriving in every way, and Erik is nearly as tall as she is! This must be due to all of the peanut butter sandwiches I keep feeding him. And the fact Erik is wearing thick-soled shoes and orthotics. Still, he's a tall drink of water.



Erik in the car in the restuarant parking lot listening to the Scooby Doo theme song. That's funny--he wasn't this cheerful inside the restaurant mere minutes before this photo was taken.