This year seemed particularly stressful as without exaggeration, I am fairly certain that one of my kids was sick every day from Thanksgiving through Christmas :( Sick kids are never any fun but sick kids are the holidays just blows!!
Thankfully we got through Thanksgiving healthy and were able to enjoy some good quality family time with the Diehls along with some yummy food. We also made it through Black Friday – the official start of the Christmas season in my book and a day that I always enjoy – something about all the crazy hustle and bustle really makes it feel like Christmas to me! The Saturday after Thanksgiving however started the downward spiral which was our December!!
Stephen was sick in bed, I was downstairs with 3 healthy kids until Mason decided to redecorate himself, the carpet and the couch with vomit :( Those of you that know me know that vomit takes my stress level to astronomical heights….now add in trying to figure out how to keep two healthy kids (one of which is only 19 months old and does not really understand that vomit is gross) away from the vomit all over the floor while tending to the sick kid…yeah, I was pretty much in another galaxy at this point!!
We made it through the day – relatively unharmed though unfortunately had to miss a much anticipated visit with Ben and Jennie and family (Stephen’s brother) as they drove through town…somehow, FaceTime just doesn’t have the same effect when you know that the rest of the family is just down the street having fun without you!! Sunday was better – everyone was feeling better and I thought maybe we had gotten lucky!! We even managed to go pick out a Christmas tree….hahah – should have known better. More fun, but now Jace’s turn on Sunday night. Sunday night vomit means no school on Monday and that meant that Stephen got to spend his birthday home with sick kids (every dad’s dream right??!!)
By Tuesday I was feeling overly confident that we were done with the coodies – everyone went to school and work respectively and all was well but by Tuesday night Mason was falling apart again with a fever and cough and repots of just feeling miserable all around. He stayed home Wednesday but I was able to talk Jace into going – someone had to take their show and tell in right?? Unfortunately he only made it a few hours before the dreaded phone call that he also had a fever….by evening a cough and overall feeling miserable to go with it. Eventually Easton joined the crowd and before long Stephen and I had three very sad, very miserable boys. By Friday evening, everyone was feeling at least good enough to get off the couch so we ventured to Chick-f-la to have dinner with Santa….fail, wrong weekend :( so instead we just had Chick-f-la for dinner…win some loose some! (We told the boys that Santa got stuck in a snow storm trying to leave the North Pole) :/
Friday night – bad again, Mason was up a good part of the night complaining of ear pain which meant a trip to the pediatrician on Saturday morning (thank God for a dr with weekend hours!!) massive bilateral ear infection! :( Would you believe we were back the next morning with Jace!?! Same issue, same meds….talk about twins doing everything together!!
We had a few healthy days – where we snuck in a trip out to see lights, complete with a Wendy’s frosty of course, an evening spent making some super cool snowflake ornaments that the boys wrapped up and gave away as gifts, We did manage to get a tree up and decorated along with other various decorations around the house. Mommy even insisted that popcorn and cranberries get strung for the tree….it was really just a good excuse to sit and watch a Christmas movie while being “productive.” The boys also participated in their first school Christmas program – ADORABLE!! (here’s a video) :)
With just a few days till Christmas, we decided maybe we should visit the pediatrician again, on a Sunday – because we had so much fun the last time! Mason had been fighting another high fever….Another ear infection (well….likely the same infection that the first antibiotic just didn’t kick all the way) so another round of antibiotics was on the menu. Monday before Christmas Jace decided he didn’t want left out so he started with a fever as well. Based on past experience, and with Christmas so close, I didn’t want to take any chances…..long story short – after TWO trips to the pediatrician with Jace in as many days, he was diagnosed with an ear infection too as well as THE FLU….the DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS EVE!!
He was miserable, my parents and grandmother were already on the way and I got the awesome job of calling aunts, uncles and cousins….who were all planning to head to our house the following day to tell them what was going on…..
One by one, Christmas got smaller and smaller :( Naturally no one wanted to hang out with our unwelcome Christmas guest…the flu (and I certainly don’t blame them!!) Mom, dad and grandma insisted on coming anyway and Heather was scheduled to fly in Christmas eve evening.
Thank the Lord Jace woke up feeling a little better on Christmas eve, definitely not himself but not the miserable, curled up on the couch self that he had been the day prior! We enjoyed a quiet Christmas eve – not at all what I had planned….and honestly I found myself several times lost, not sure what to do with my time, feeling like I needed to be rushing around tending to all the family that was supposed to be there spending quality time together. We did however get to build a gingerbread house, the boys played with a super cool gift from Grammy that they got to open early – kinetic sand…..coolest stuff every and seriously entertained all three of my children for close to 2 hours!! We had our traditional meal of Chili for dinner…with LOTS of leftovers (mom had made it ahead of time….pre-flu diagnosis). I went to pick up Heather and came home to three bathed and pj’d boys ready to put snacks out for Santa and his reindeer before heading up to try to get some sleep before the big day.
The grown ups decided to change things up a little – we opened presents that evening, after the kids had gone to bed. There were only 6 of us….it was so quiet and so controlled and reserved!! Nothing like the Swigart Christmas I’m used to – hehe!! I have to admit though….it was nice to see what everyone got! Stephen made out with a new wardrobe and a new grill and I got a ticket to my Beth Moore conference, rain boots and a new book (amongst other things) After a little “Santa’s workshop” work we all headed to bed….
Christmas morning (aka Christmas 1.0) – minus the chaos of the 15 people that should have been there – it was just what I envisioned!! Everyone was feeling better, everyone was happy and there were about 4000 presents for the kids to open. We got to fully focus on the kids since we had opened presents the night before, which was really kind of nice!! The boys got spoiled ROTTEN!! Unfortunately, the helmets that Santa brought didn’t fit :( and the boys were disappointed that they didn’t get their Paw Patrol “Set” that they had asked for….Santa fail…apparently “Santa” misunderstood what they were asking for…but the disappointment was quickly taken care of by learning they were going to get to take Easton to Mickey’s Castle to meet “Mick” for the first time!! Other highlights include Easton’s electric 4-wheeler, a tent making kit and various arts and crafts fun – to be honest, I’m having trouble even remembering what they opened that day….that seems to long ago!!
Heather headed out late morning to meet up with Alex’s family and we enjoyed Christmas dinner, just the 8 of us – again SO weird!! We all fit at the kitchen table for goodness sake!! After dinner we headed over to Sarah’s house for Christmas 1.0.1 – dessert with the Diehl’s and Harveys (Stephen’s aunt/uncle and family). After a few hours of crazy town (there were 23 of us there!) it was bedtime. After we got the kids in bed, Stephen and I sat down on the couch and just sort of stared into space….what is crazy is that “Christmas” for us was just beginning!!
Friday morning….aka Christmas 2.0! Bright and early Friday, we all loaded up the car, in our Christmas jammies and headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Diehls. There is nothing more crazy and sweet all mixed into one as 8…yes EIGHT kids, all 5 and under unwrapping dalmatian puppies and books all at the same time, all in the same jammies! Adorable! The cuteness/insanity continued with various treasures that included lots of Frozen goodies for the girls and Blue Angel treasures for the boys. They also all got a swing – that fit on the GIANT swing set that Grandpa built so that ALL the grandkids can swing AT THE SAME TIME!! Mommy and daddy got spoiled too – Cathy (my mother in law) had way too much fun starting my “grown-up” entertaining collection with several various dishes and platters in white, silver or clear. Stephen got a go-pro camera!!
We opened presents, we ate, we tried out the new swings and then we all went home and napped…..Well, the kids all napped, daddy and I put it in super drive to pack the suitcases and car for our Christmas 3.0 trip that was later that night!
After dinner with the Diehl clan we loaded up the packed car and headed to Clearwater. Saturday was busy with preparations that ended in a family gathering of the Cadogan clan (my dad’s side of the family). 24 of us enjoyed food, presents, more food, fellowship and more food. I was literally falling asleep on the couch by the end of the night! The boys got remote control cars, remote control boats, a few games, some books, etc etc (essentially they were spoiled rotten for a third time in three days) and Stephen and I came home with a little spending money.
Sunday we all took a deep breath – and a trip to the “beautiful park," some wedding planning fun, and a trip to Lowes where we got some great deals (that may or may not have been allowed....the guy was wheeling and dealing for sure) followed by some pizza for dinner. Then Monday was more low key hang out time. Breakfast at Cracker Barrel and lots of play with the remote control boats while Daddy, Papa and Alex went on a fishing adventure. We also got to visit briefly with Aunt Elaine and Kari and Randy. The boys finished out their Christmas adventure with a game with Grandma ‘Dogan and more bedtime stories than mommy every would have let them get away with!!
We headed back home to Jacksonville today, Tuesday – with plans to stop at Dinosaur World on the way. The weather foiled those plans though….The rain kept us away today but maybe that is for the best! We will do it another time!! Mommy isn't sure I had it in me to walk around Dinosaur World all day.....
Now, our normally four hour drive is almost over (it’s been almost 5 ½ hours), all the kiddos have napped, I’ve gotten some blog writing done and daddy has kept us all safe!! We are going to go home, throw the stuff from the car into the disaster that was Christmas 1.0 that we left several days ago and head over to enjoy one more evening with the whole Diehl clan celebrating Henry’s first birthday!!
It was one heck of a December and I can’t say that I’m sad to see it go!! Honestly, I can’t wait to get my silly tree down and house back to some sort of normal!! Christmas this year was…different! I missed my extended family terribly and hate that silly germs messed everything up!! But, on the other hand, maybe a lower key Christmas was just what I needed after the December we had!! I’m seeing the need for a Christmas in July-type celebration Swigart clan!!
As for Christmas 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0……every single one of you spoiled us rotten and did WAY too much but thank you from the bottom of our hearts!! The boys loved every single thing they opened! I’m so looking forward to that Beth Moore conference and guess I need to schedule some grown up parties. Stephen is itching to take some ridiculously silly/crazy videos with his new go pro and I assure you I have some dinners he will be grilling!!
We hope that your Christmas was as blessed as ours – and maybe a little healthier!! We look forward to the New Year – where this momma will again try to find the balance between the many hats I wear….it’s a learning process for sure!
Here’s to 2015 – more health, more quality family time and maybe even a little more wealth (hey a girl can dream right!!)
Love and Hugs
The Diehls