So the first day of break began with the mister having a bit of a "cold"...or so we thought. We made it to two of our mere SEVEN gatherings before we knew that this little "cold" was anything but. As the kids grew ever-excited about the approaching visit from that fluffy little man with a white beard and red coat, something was growing in our house...and it wasn't going to be pretty!
Christmas morning came and was welcomed by fevers and chills. The bouncy little children full of happiness and delight were merely a figment of our imagination. Visions of Tylenol and Motrin were now dancing in our heads.
The flu is a beautiful entity (insert sarcasm here). One that we were able to share as a family. Those who get sick together, stay together...which mostly happens 'cause no one wants within ten feet of those ailing bodies!
We were a truly wonderful sight, y'all!
As a youngin' and I were cared for by the mister, the other two kiddos were whisked away in order to be quarantined from this wretched virus. The youngest did manage catch the flu in his own unique way, which was truly a blessing. No fever for him...just A LOT of sleeping and feeling yucky.
So most of the much-awaited gifts from Santa remained unopened and under the tree on Christmas day. Our daughter was able to unwrap her gifts before she and her brother were moved into quarantine. It was a nice (and brief) moment that we shared with her...one-on-one.
And as I took down the Christmas decorations this past week (hey, at least they came down before APRIL!), Logan became quite upset. He was/is convinced that Christmas hasn't come yet...that jolly ol' Saint Nick has yet to make an appearance...that baby Jesus hasn't had his birthday. Yep, the little guy missed it all.
Thankfully, we were able to share some of "Logan's Christmas" with our daughter while she was kept away from the sickies...thanks to a handy little device. One reason to love technology!
FINALLY...after being separated for what seems like a lifetime, Levi returned home! We were able to celebrate with the little man and enjoy our time together about a week after the nasty bug hit our home!
It may be difficult to imagine, but catching this illness was a blessing in disguise. We were able to share Christmas with each of our children during their own special time. It wasn't a one-day Christmas event as a family, but rather an extended week of holiday cheer and togetherness. Each child got to have a little individual time with us as we cherished the moment. No, it wasn't perfect, but it was special.
Needless to say, we did not make it to our SEVEN Christmas gatherings. Instead, we were able to spend some quality (and some not so pretty) time together as a family. The vacation from school and work may not have gone as planned, but no one can say that it wasn't memorable! It will truly be the Christmas to remember.
I am quite thankful to say that we all made it through the illness with flying colors. We have our health, our love, and our togetherness. What more could we ask for? Granted, there were moments when I was extremely nervous as I watched a little boy's temperature soar to 103+. As the flu took hold of his body, he laid motionless on the couch for 24 hours, which was SO not him! It can be quite scary when little ones get sick.
As I reflect on the past two weeks (much of which is a dense, hazy fog), I am reminded about the true meaning of Christmas.
It's not about the gifts or having everything go as planned. Nor is about capturing the perfect family image under the tree. Christmas is remembering the gift of Jesus. We are truly blessed!
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. - Luke 1:35
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