I’m Dreaming of a Healthy Christmas

What a Christmas we had. It was our first Christmas in our new house and we really enjoyed decorating with our apartment-size decorations. We got our first real Christmas tree which made it really feel like the holidays. I was convinced I wanted a fake tree and lights on the house and pre-lit garland above the cupboards in the kitchen until I saw how much all of that costs. OUCH. So we went with a real $20 tree, lights in the bushes, and no garland. The real tree ended up being a great choice. It was a bee-autiful green color, smelled nice, and incredibly sharp which kept the kids away for the most part. Kesler managed to swipe and ornament or two, but it really was dangerous to try more than that.

Easton helped decorate by watching and drinking his beloved milk.

I am so glad I did most of my Christmas shopping and prepping early because a week and a half before Christmas Kesler started getting sick. He had a fever and mouth sores and was miserable for days. He also hardly slept at night. It was really hard to take care of him because there was almost nothing I could do to make him feel better. He was so, so miserable. Soon I felt his pain though because I came down with it too. It turned out to be one of the worst 2 weeks Kesler and I have ever experienced. My throat erupted in blisters that prevented me from pretty much eating or drinking for almost 10 days. I was praying I could at least eat on Christmas, but it wasn’t until about 3 days after Christmas before I got anything solid down.

Anyways, it was a trial by fire of motherhood and I learned a lot, but it was a really difficult holiday. Thus I have very few pictures. I wasn’t really feeling camera happy.

It was really wonderful to be so close to my family during the ordeal. My Mom helped as much as she possibly could and we enjoyed Christmas Eve and Day at their house. These are the only pictures I have of Christmas Eve.

Soren and I were very excited for Christmas morning. Easton woke up at about 7:00 and we had him come in our room until we were dressed. We had found him a huge new Thomas the Train set at a garage sale and set it all up as his surprise. He was so excited!

He and Kesler also opened their stockings and enjoyed their little gifts. Easton got the Francesco Bernoulli car from Cars 2 in his stocking and he hyperventilated when he saw it. He LOVES Cars 2 and it was adorable to see the excitement about something so small. Kesler got a new horse toy and they both got candy and new toothbrushes.

It was really nice to go to church on Christmas as a family.  Then we all came home and took a very nice much needed nap. The rest of the day we spent opening more gifts and spent time at my parents.

Here is a little bit of the gift line-up. Kesler got a Little People cars race track and shared some more gifts with Easton. Easton also got a Lightening McQueen remote control car which was a hit. Soren mostly asked for money for another bow that he is saving up for. My big excitement was getting my white iphone. I LOVE it. My parents also got me a new blow dryer and a cake decorating kit which I am excited to use.

We may have had some health difficulties this season, but we had and have so much to be grateful for. Gratitude definitely is what helps us gets us through the hard times.