Life, For Us, Is Getting Back to Normal

I wish I could say the same for a lot of my family. For most, this is a starting point. Homes will have to be rebuilt, new cars will have to be bought, wardrobes will have to be replaced. The good thing in all of this, of course, is that they're all safe. Everyone is alive and safe.

For me, this week brought a return to class. The semester will be extended a week instead of making the professors (and students) cram more learning into the same amount of time. I'm actually glad for it, as I'm not a good "crammer". I was glad to go back to school this week...to get some normalcy back into my life.

Anthony also returned to his school this week. He's not so happy about it, but he'll get used to it again.

Labs were also this week. As usual, everything is wonderful there! I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever lose my anxiety over waiting for the labs to be faxed to me. I get so nervous, when all I have to do is look at Anthony and can see that he's fine.

We had friends from Jefferson Parish stay with us for a couple of days. Their home is fine, but without power, water and sewage, it's impossible for them to return home yet. They got the things they need and will spend the next month or so in Lafayette with family waiting to go home. I'm glad they stayed with us, as we hadn't seen them in months and their baby girl is getting so big! Lily is beautiful and so happy. Anthony loved to walk up to her and say, "Baby!" He seemed so amazed that Mama and Daddy brought him such a cool "toy" to play with. Lily was just as enthralled with Anthony, too. She would stare at him until he noticed her and then she'd break out in a huge grin. Flirtation at its best, I suppose!

Mark's work schedule has changed a bit. He had been working long days Monday through Thursday and getting off at 11am on Fridays. Now he'll work "normal" hours through the entire week. Work for the State's Department of Labor is going to be hectic with all the unemployment claims coming through their office! He's still on the IT side of the DOL, but he knows how to process claims and I'm wondering if he'll be recruited to help out there.

Well, that's all for now! I'll post an Anthony picture soon.

Thanks for checking in on us! Please remember to keep all of the victims of Hurricane Katrina in your thoughts and prayers.

Love, Laurie, Mark and Anthony

Coming up in Anthony-land:
Thursday and Friday: Day Care
Saturday: Cousin Val's baby shower
Sunday: Probably a visit with Maw Maw, Paw Paw, Maw Maw Peck, Aunt Emilie and Uncle Steve and Aunt Darlene (lots of people!!)