A Rough Holiday Week

So we've had a bit of a rough week...

One week ago, Flynn was getting over a virus...103 temps, etc. Puking, etc. And Gabe was finishing up his own little thing w/ some high temps.

Then Christmas.

Then Jeff's appendicitis.
And surgery.

And now, Flynn has strept. Sheesh. And on the way to the dr's office this a.m., she puked all over everything she was wearing.
And the carseat.

I've heard a few comments. Jokes about our "luck" & our illnesses & how when we do 'it', we do it all the way. What, w/ my crazy medical, unhealthy year last year & our crowns, appendectomies, infected throats.

Here's some silver linings to our clouds this week:
Jeff having his appendicitis the day AFTER Christmas & not the day before.
Flynn having a 3-day 'sickness break' over Christmas.
We have insurance.
Everyone is here with us now.

That's a lot to thank God for!

And tomorrow, we all get to spend the day together.
That's more to thank God for!

Happy New Year!

Daddy's Appendectomy

Well, what a crazy last few days....ugh.

The day after a wonderful Christmas, Jeff started having some serious pain in his stomach & side, which I passed off as 'overdoing' it or as a virus. When he moaned & complained for about 12 hours, I was afraid of appendicitus & rushed him to the ER.

The next day after a long night in an ER folding chair, they decided to remove it.

And thank God, tonight he got to come home.

We're so excited...the kids were thrilled to see him.

And he's this happy.

Click it, you won't be sorry.

Flynnisms

Flynn was eating clementines when she started choking. I said, "Flynn...oh!, you scared me!!"

She said, "Mom, I scared myself."

I asked her what her favorite Christmas song is....she told me it's Jingle Bell Rock.

She was singing in the bathroom & Daddy said, "Flynn, are you going to go to Julliard?"

She said, "No Daddy, I'm not Julie Yard."

We've been working with Flynn on her manners.

And I think she's doing pretty well with please & thank you.

"Flynn, are you ready for nap?"

"No thanks Mom."

Linus Christmas Monologue

No one says preaches it better than Linus!

6 Socks Left

There are only 6 socks left on the sock-advent countdown.
How can Christmas be just around the corner?

We have a very busy-holiday week. And are counting down the days 'til Daddy is on break (perhaps we should have a countdown to daddy vacation break chain).

I got my Christmas present a little early last week...

What every girls wants...

a

$650

CROWN

and I don't mean a princess crown...

I mean the kind you have put in

while spending 2 hours

in a

dental

chair.

And Jeff, got his Christmas present last month.

A

$1,050

glorified

oil change.

Gotta love those German cars.

All in all, how can we complain?

We are together, unlike some families this year.

Our children are healthy, some kids aren't.

We have a home, a warm home, and our bills get paid each month.

Not everyone has this luxury.

We know firsthand, the reason we all celebrate December 25th.

And we know firsthand the gift He gave us.

Doesn't get much better than this...

Merry CHRISTmas.

The Gold Box

This is an awesome story that made me cry when I read it. We've all lost our patience with our kids. This will make you think twice next time you do....

The story goes that some time ago a mother punished her five year old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and she became even more upset when the child used the gold paper to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her mother the next morning and then said, "This is for you, Momma."The mother was embarrassed by her earlier over reaction, but her anger flared again when she opened the box and found it was empty.

She spoke to her daughter in a harsh manner."Don't you know, young lady, when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something inside the package?"

She had tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Momma, it's not empty! I blew kisses into it until it was full."

The mother was crushed. She fell on her knees and put her arms around her little girl, and she begged her forgiveness for her thoughtless anger.

An accident took the life of the child only a short time later, and it is told that the mother kept that gold box by her bed for all the years of her life. Whenever she was discouraged or faced difficult problems she would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.In a very real sense, each of us, as human beings, have been given a Golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and GOD.

There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

Santa is comin to Town

We saw him Saturday & get to see him again today at MOPS. What's fabulous is that last year, no one wanted to sit on his lap. And this year, they can't get enough of him. Gabe even loves people dressed in character. Look at these pics from Saturday...

'Tis the Season

How can this not be your favorite time of year?

You know,Santa Claus, and ho-ho-ho, and mistletoe... and presents to pretty girls...