Normalcy is not over-rated

Today, on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I am feeling very blessed.  My family has gone through so much in the past years, but we still hold on to one another and know that we can get through anything.  We have a beautiful, healthy child and another on the way.  We have jobs and a place to call home.  Yes, we still struggle, but life is good.  Our home is full of love and as cliche as it may sound, that is really all we need.

So here we are, back in Tennessee, and honestly, it doesn't feel like we ever left.  We have fallen back into a routine.  We love our new house.  It is only 2 minutes from Sammy's grandma's house, where he goes during the day, until we can find a pre-school that we can afford.  We bought a "mommy van" and continue to add to the furnishings in our home, as we sold or gave away just about everything we owned before we moved to VA.  The neighbors that we have met so far are very cool.  We discovered that most of the folks that live on this dead end street are musicians.  Jim feels like we were meant to be here.  I miss my family, I miss seeing them on a weekly basis.  I missed the marriage of my cousin, my Dad's birthday and will miss my parents anniversary and my Mom's birthday.  We will most likely miss Christmas, as I don't think we can travel 10-12 hours with a newborn.  But, I do feel like I am home here, we all are happier since we moved back, so I agree with Jim, it was meant to be.

Sammy is adjusting well.  He gets a little scared to go into rooms by himself, but everyday his fears subside a little.  His allergies have calmed down and he hasn't been sick since we arrived.  Sammy stayed sick in VA, partly due to pre-school, but I think living in close proximity to swamp land had a huge impact on his health.  He misses his cousins, grandparents and fishing in the river, but hopefully we can get him in a pre-school soon so he can be around children again.  He is highly social, Sammy has never met a stranger, so he needs the interaction with folks.  My parents house could get nuts on the weekends with all of the visitors...sometimes I'd want to get out of there...but it never phased Sammy, he loved every minute of it!

So, so long Virginia...we will return soon, but not soon enough.