This Christmas

This season has been crazy in good and bad ways. Christmas was celebrated at my house yesterday with my entire family. The girls woke up to a pile of presents. Unfortunately Gracie was sick for most of the day. She isn't throwing up today but is still very tired. Ruby D was sick a week or so ago but that was much worse. At least Gracie can mostly get herself to the bathroom. I am so tired of sickness. Andrew was in the hospital for three days two weeks ago. He had a mini stroke for no apparent reasons. That was a crazy/scary/stressful/surreal experience. When he arrived at the hospital (by ambulance with sirens blazing-not something I ever thought I would get to experience-not that I wanted to!) they originally thought it was a full blown stroke. It took him a little over two hours to regain feeling/movement on his left side and a little over three hours to regain the ability to speak. My husband is never quiet. Like never. It was incredibly freaky and disturbing to see him unable to speak even though he could understand what we were saying. After running numerous tests they are going off the assumption that he had a blood clot that broke off. He will be on a baby aspirin a day for the rest of his life, but there is really no way to know when/if he will ever have a mini stroke or (God forbid) a real stroke again. Sigh. I'm trying to be grateful, because it could have been so so much worse, but I'm not really succeeding. With everything going on I was able to send Christmas cards, deliver gifts to our neighbors, assemble treat boxes for our families, and take the girls to see Santa. Andrew wrapped all of the presents except for his, because I am not a good wrapper at all. It was a nice Christmas, but this year at least I'm just really glad it's over. I hope Gracie starts feeling better soon, but for today we are just all laying around (except for Ruby who is riding her Minnie car all over the house).

Gracie and Ruby D's 2011 Christmas Photo: