Thank you all for every one of your kind emails and comments.  They have meant so much to me.

My stepfather is no longer in a coma but he is not awake either. He is in this semi kind of state.  He has his eyes somewhat open but is unaware of his surroundings for 95% of the day.  There is a clear distinction from this state and when he is actually asleep.  He seems to respond (sometimes) to noise.  Once he responded to a question.  For whatever reason he isn’t coming "out" of this state.  I have kinda accepted that he just may stay this way.  My mother isn’t ready for that yet.

I thought all of this was due to my stepfather’s diabetes, age, etc.  Apparently there is some idea that he may actually have an autoimmune disease that has been causing many of these issues in addition to others.  When I read the description it sounds like a play by play of my stepfather’s medical history over the past 12 months.  More testing in the next few days should confirm the diagnosis.  The concern I have is that the treatment will require immunosuppressive therapy and high dose steroids.  One of the drugs is actually used for chemotherapy.  So, side effects will be great and there is a high need for STRICT medical compliance.   

I did get to spend Christmas with Dana and Anna Grace.  Once my stepfather stablilized my stepsister went home.  I stayed for another bit and then left to spend Christmas with Dana and Anna Grace. 

My brain is quite foggy.  Too much to think about.  Lots of traveling.  I’m very disoriented and honestly I think I’ve asked Dana 25 times to tell me if today is Friday or Saturday.  In my mind if feels like Thursday.  Not sure why.

I do expect that I will need to return to NC in the near future.  I’m not confident that I won’t be returning to say goodbye.  But it is also possible that I’ll have to return to help my mother get long term care, etc set up.  Not sure.  In addition, we leave on January 7 to go to New York City.  Anna Grace is going to be evaluated by a developmental pediatrician while we’re there who is also an expert in apraxia.    We decided to make a little site seeing trip out of the journey so we’ll be there about 4 days.  I’ve never seen NYC so I think it should be fun.  However, I’m just a smidge tired of not being in my own house with my own bed.

(Not only am I rambling but I seem to have no ability to form a paragraph or use any sort of grammer.  Man, the brain cells are not doing well!)

I have a few neat knitting items to show you.  I asked for mainly knitting themed items for Christmas.  In addition, I have a finished object (socks) and another work in progress (socks).  I tried to work on Telemark’s sleeves but realized I didn’t have the right size needle.  Had I read the instructions thoroughly I could’ve avoided this delay but such is life.  Maybe my refusal to thoroughly read a knitting pattern before starting relates to my being my mother’s child.  It may be hereditary. I think I’ll lie and deny I ever typed that!

Well, must go.  Toddler is crying, manipulating her father, blah blah blah.