The most wonderful time of the year!

What a blessed Christmas -- our first Christmas with our granddaughter! It was wonderful having everyone here for Christmas morning and getting to see Kate with all her presents! Of course she really liked the tags -- and books -- best!



She's so cute crawling around. It was fun to watch her learn to climb up the step into the dining room and kitchen and see how far she could go without getting stopped by an adult! And when she's told, "no, no," she sticks out her finger and shakes it! How wonderful it feels to have her stick out her arms to come to me!

Casey, John and Kate have moved on to the other grandparents' home now, and Anna will go back to Atlanta tomorrow. We'll see Gary and Carolyn tomorrow who are down from Birmingham, and Walker and his family will be in town on Wednesday! So, we'll be watching Tennessee (Walker's alma mater) play on New Year's Eve, and Auburn on New Year's Day!

We truly are blessed and very grateful for our wonderful family.

Merry Christmas to all!

Sometimes we get so caught up in the rush of Christmas, we forget the real reason we celebrate. This beautiful song was sent to me by my friend Terri Anderson in Minnesota, and it comes from St. Louis County in Missouri. My prayer for all is to focus on the real reason for this season . . . Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!

CiCi, Anna and Kate's weekend!

This past weekend was Casey and John's fifth wedding anniversary, so Anna and I got to babysit while they took a short trip to Nashville to rest and relax. We decided it takes two to take care of Kate (and Cherokee, the dog -- but don't tell him he's a dog!). When she's awake, she's on the go and crawling everywhere and getting into everything!




We had so much fun feeding and playing. She loves her flower puff finger foods and beef and vegetables -- but she hates cereal and tries to push it away.

Kate really did good with us and didn't cry much. She loves playing with CiCi's glasses -- and cell phone -- and the TV remote. Forget the bright shiny toys that make noise -- she wants the grown-up toys!

It was a delight getting some time with her without her mom around -- because when Casey's around, she doesn't want anyone else! I can't wait to see her this week again for Christmas. But I know she's going to have more fun with the paper and bows than the toys!

Getting ready for Santa!

Casey took some photos of Kate with Santa and in the snow last week that I've meant to upload.
Doesn't Kate look so cute peering at Santa in wonder? Evidently, it wasn't long before she pitched a fit and wanted down! Casey said it was so funny to watch Kate's face change from wonder at Santa to screaming to get down! And now Kate hates every Santa -- even stuffed ones!

It's been so long since it snowed enough to get a snowball here that I can barely remember.

I think it was 1993 when we had the big ice storm. It was calf show weekend and we had a thunderstorm the night before and woke up to snow and ice everywhere. Anna was stuck at Camp Victory -- and I had to go to work. We had lines down everywhere! Kate got her first snow last week, and I love this little stocking cap!

Anna and I get to babysit next weekend while Casey and John take an anniversary trip! Yea! Can't wait!

Yeah, Baby!

What a fun -- but so busy -- weekend! The best part was having little Kate with us for the weekend -- along with Casey, John, Anna and Zach! Because of the Auburn-Alabama game being on Friday, messing up the whole Thanksgiving weekend, we had our family Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday, and Gary, Carolyn, Brian and Amanda came down from Birmingham.

It took a little while for Kate to warm up to us -- and Stacy scared her and made her cry! I tried to tell him to use his "indoor non-school voice!"

Along with the Civic Club Rival Run that we did Sat. morning -- and Casey and Anna ran in -- we had Jenna's wedding that Anna was a maid-of-honor in. The wedding and Jenna were just beautiful -- and so sweet. We certainly wish Jenna and Brent a wonderful life! Kate even did some dancing -- no, not by herself. She can't even walk yet!

So Stacy and I brought Kate home after she conked out at the reception while the kids stayed til the end! That's just what you do for your grandchild! And so worth it!

Casey and I went up to the attic and got down some of the girls' toys for Kate to play with -- that get to stay here at the house! I think I need to find a toy tub! Of course, the Tinker Toys (Casey's favorite), the Fisher Price Zoo, a couple of My Child dolls, sock monkey, rocking chair . . .

So you can see we had a fun weekend! And the best part is we get to see her . . . ugh, them . . . again on Friday for the big game . . . well, the game. Don't know how big it will be this year. Not expecting too much! But I'm going to baby-sit while everyone else goes to the game! What I'll do for my granddaughter! Isn't she cute?

We're just a statistic

With the healthcare debate in Congress, it was only a matter of time before the government got into deciding how many people saved by cancer screenings was enough to make it worthwhile.

Evidently 15% of women saved by early detection of breast cancer isn't enough to recommend mammograms for women age 40-49. That's because some are false-positive and may cause some women discomfort and stress from having a biopsy when they might not actually have cancer. What's the discomfort of finding out they actually do have cancer and it wouldn't have been found if they hadn't had the mammogram?

And earlier this year it was testing for prostate cancer. Nope, don't need it any more according to the government. Not enough people saved to make a PSA test worthwhile or cost-effective. Again, the discomfort and stress of a biopsy aren't worth saving a few lives. You're supposed to make your own "personal health care choice" about whether you need the test or not based on your own "beliefs and values."

These reports were made by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, "an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention that reviews the evidence of effectiveness and develops recommendations for clinical preventive services." What it really is? A panel of experts funded and appointed by the government of the United States. And it has no oncologists on its board of experts.

Basically, they look at statistics and decide if the statistics warrant the expense of tests. Is it any wonder that these reports come at a time when the government wants to cut back on health care costs? What better way than to get rid of expensive tests? Why bother if you can't save enough people with those tests?

Is this what we have to look forward to for our future in healthcare in the U.S.? Going backwards in decades of research and trying to save lives? Now what it's down to is the question: "Is the expense worth saving 15% -- or must we have 25% -- but why not make it 50%?"

I know why it's worth it! For my brother Walker, diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 45 -- wouldn't have happened with these new guidelines. Ask him if the inconvenience of a biopsy and treatment was worth it?

For my friends Lynn and Ann and Janet and Dianne and Deborah and Alice -- all diagnosed with breast cancer under age 50. Ask them if they were worth it? You better believe it!

This is a comment from one of the articles I read on the subject: "When examined at the level of individual case histories, screening saves lives, period. About 95 percent of women diagnosed early with breast cancer now survive their disease. Most of that gain came from early detection (self-exams and mammograms) despite what the large population statistics may suggest. Until we figure out how to identify whether your cancer, diagnosed early, will kill you or not, get screened, or risk becoming one of the people who end up on the wrong side of the statistics."

Read the article in the Wall Street Journal about mammogram recommendations. Read the article about prostate screening. Then you decide if you or your friends or family are worth the expense? Evidently our government doesn't think so. To them we're just a statistic.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone -- and be safe!