It all started last Friday when I was out shopping. And I fell. On the only patch of ice in the entire mall parking lot because it was TOO WARM FOR ICE. Just call it a Christmas miracle – well, sort of, in a backwards type of way.
I managed to fold my left leg underneath me – which meant that my knee I had just finished doing physical therapy on for 6 weeks. All I could think of as I was lying there looking up at the cloudless blue sky was that at least it wasn’t January 1st when my deductible would start all over again!
On Sunday, my oldest son Brock said he felt congested, but we thought it was a cold. After taking his temperature that afternoon just to be on the safe side, we went to a Christmas cantata, and then he went off with his best friend to a youth group activity and to spend the night at said friend’s house.
The next day, he had a raging fever of 102.5.
Yesterday morning, I was sound asleep when the phone rang around 8:30 a.m. I was so groggy, I could barely understand what my husband was saying on the phone, until he came back to bed to inform me that my dad was in the hospital due to chest pain.
Needless to say, I leaped out of bed and set a world record getting ready and out the door.
Then yesterday afternoon, I took the congested kid to the doctor, only to find out he had influenza A which meant someone was going to have stay home (i.e. me!) with him for the inlaw’s Christmas celebration unless said kid would make a miraculous recovery.
So, Christmas is not going like I planned. At all.
I couldn’t even go back up to sit with my mom and visit with my dad while he awaited bunches of tests on his heart because I didn’t want to accidentally infect him with the plague (i.e. influenza A). Seeing as he is still on chemo, this is a real concern.
Then my mother-in-law called this afternoon – AFTER I made the dessert for tomorrow – to say she had decided to postpone our Christmas until next week.
This was NOT the Christmas I had planned (and baked) for – I can’t remember a time we all stayed home for Christmas Eve AND Christmas day. Not since that year my husband had the stomach flu and I had to leave my parents’ house early because it hit me out of the blue, too. I think my kids were 5 and 2 at the time.
At the risk of sounding all schmaltzy, I’ve been less upset than I thought I’d be. In fact, I find myself feeling, well, thankful.
I mean, we WILL be doing Christmas with the extended family – just a bit later than planned.
My 13 year old and I went to see a movie this afternoon. He’s 13 and he STILL went with me to a movie. In public. I’m thankful he still wants to hang out with me.
My oldest son, the one with the flu, has actually had a very mild case. While he is congested and under the weather, he has not been completely miserable and that raging fever seems to be pretty much gone. Not to mention, this couldn’t have hit him at a better time – after his last game and a full 7 days before his next game and he doesn’t have to miss any school.
There’s never a good time to be sick, of course, but at least this is not as bad as it could have been. He might even be able to play on Saturday. I’m thankful both that his flu seems pretty mild and thankful for him as I know he’d hate to miss a game. Ever.
My dad went home today. Every test he had – EKG, Echo, blood tests and a stress test showed no new heart problems. For a man who has had his share of medical issues the last few years, it was a huge relief that he didn’t have to have a heart catherization – on his birthday! I’m thankful both that no new health crisis has cropped up and that he is still here to celebrate with. Cancer has a way of making your realize the brevity of life.
Tonight, we had a nice dinner together after weeks of eating in shifts due to practice schedules and games. We didn’t even have the television on. I’m thankful for that peaceful meal amid the bustle and hustle.
We sat down together and watched a movie when usually everyone is plugged into their own device. I’m thankful we could experience scary dinosaurs together. (Gotta love the Jurassic Park movies!).
Tomorrow, we get to sleep in as late as we want. We can open presents leisurely, watch more movies, play games and just enjoy each others company (well, enjoy my older son from a distance since we don’t want to catch his flu!). I’m thankful for that time to just be together without a schedule pressing in on us.
While I will missed my parents tonight and will miss my in-laws tomorrow, I am thankful we just have a postponement of the festivities. So many people this year are facing a Christmas knowing their loved one will never be present again.
While this is not the Christmas I planned on, it is a Christmas I am thankful for, nonetheless. After months of feeling like I have been nonstop running, God put a pause in my life, a pause to just breathe and enjoy my family. A pause to see all the blessings in my life.
For that, I am truly thankful.
Merry Christmas!
Rosanne