[x] Thank you all for the incredible support you've shown me through the illness and subsequent death of our beloved Fourth Meal. It means more than words can say--truly. They say you always know who your real friends are in tough times, and I couldn't agree more. So many people stepped up to the plate with prayers/good vibes when Bear had to have a follow up chest x-ray for a possible lung nodule, and I was left speechless by the support and love we were shown. This is proving itself to be no different. To say I'm lucky to know so many amazing people...well, yeah...that's just the understatement of the year. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[x] We are slowly getting better. Today was an off-and-on difficult day. We are all at peace over Fourth Meal's relief from pain, but we miss her terribly (who didn't see that coming, right?). I know it will cycle like this for awhile, so I wasn't too surprised at the random "floods" of sadness. I also know it will get a little better each day, even though we'll never stop missing her. Ever.

[x] Who was watching American Idol tonight? If you were, you probably grabbed a Kleenex or two for the last five minutes of the show. Chris Medina, who hails from my city, auditioned tonight and told the story of the amazing love he shares with his fiancee, Juliana. Watch it here--no, really...you should. I haven't watched Idol in years (since I was pregnant with Bear, in fact), but I will watch this season until he take the title at the very end. Amazing. Simply amazing. He already has Bear's endorsement; as the credits were rolling, Bear turned to me and said, "I'm only four, mom, but I know a star when I see one. I just know he's going to win!"

[x] Tomorrow, Bear and Beauty have already assigned me a new vegan cookie experiment. We made Isa Chandra Moskowitz's Peanut Butter Chocolate Pillows the other day, and they were incredible. Hopefully, tomorrow's cookie baking extravaganza will produce equally amazing results. :) Also? A friendly reminder that 1.29.11 is Vegan Pizza Day. We are all set to make our vegan pizza. Mmmm...pizza. Can't wait. :)

[x] My mom and dad ROCK. Today, they gifted us their very, very, very nice phonograph/radio and we spent part of this afternoon going through hundreds of vinyl. No, really. Hundreds. We found some amazing stuff and rocked out pretty steadily through the better part of the evening. I can't wait until tomorrow to play one the ones we fished out. I have a feeling it's going to get a lot of use. Thanks, mom and dad! You guys are awesome! :)

[x] Aren't you shocked that I'm up late enough to even write this blog? Admittedly, I'm heading to bed in a moment or two. My babies are sleeping sweetly, and I need to join the ranks. I still need to blog about all the kids individually, so maybe I'll try to squeeze that in tomorrow. Bed now, though...

<3