December musings

I have been working for two weeks straight and have not had time to blog so I thought I would write down some things (good or bad) about what's been happening around here . . . . .

November into December is such a busy time for us.  I love Thanksgiving week and spend a lot of time cooking and decorating.  This year however,  my health took a dive and I ended up on steroids (Prednisone) for three weeks.  My celiac disease is flared big time and I let it get really bad before I did anything proactive.  The steroids made me feel awful and great at the same time.  I look like I have gained 20 lbs when in actuality it is about seven pounds of fluid.  Most of it is in my face which makes me self-conscious (and I know it shouldn't).  During Thanksgivning week Marty hunts and this year Reese went too.  They were getting up at 3:30 and 4 in the morning.  I couldn't sleep while on the steroids so I was getting up then too and staying up.  One night I went to midnight and was back up at 2:30.  Instead of feeling exhausted the steroids made me feel like Superwoman.  I was a cleaning and cooking machine!! I hosted both Marty's family and mine too and we had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.  Bad news is the steroids didn't work so I'm back to square one. . . Tomorrow I start a very restrictive diet: no gluten, no dairy, and no sugar.  I don't know how I am going to do it quite frankly.  I remarked to a friend today that I wish obedience came more naturally to me.  I am praying for faith and perserverance as I get my body back on track.  Will you join me in praying for that too? I would be so grateful! My faith is wavering and I'm getting so frustrated . . ..


After Thanksgiving I went to work for two solid weeks all the while coming off the Prednisone.  CRASH!!  I got so behind.  The decorating didn't get done. We were dodging bins around the house which drove us nuts.  The good part was that I cook every night when I work because I need lunch the next day.   I didn't have time to put my tree up so I talked Marty into a real tree this year.  We picked out a gorgeous 8 1/2 Frasier fir. It is so beautiful.  I stuck branches in it and wraped burlap ribbon around it so it would keep its natural beauty.  Bad news . . . . . I now have hives and am apparently allergic to pine!  Who knew?   I am now counting the days until I can throw this tree out.  So sad . . . .. because I love Christmas trees.  I am usually reluctant to take it down. 


We celebrated Reese's birthday at the end of November and Marty's the first week of December.  I have been working on a birthday post for Reese because I always post about the kids' birthdays but to be real honest, I haven't been able to finish it because I get too emotional.  I can't believe I have an eight year old.  Marty and I were still up at midnight on the day Reese turned eight.  I started bawling.  I think Marty thought I had gone off the deep end.  I don't know . . . . . I just can't believe he's eight.  That seems too old. 


Emma has been so into Christmas that she is slowly pulling me out of my funk.  She is so crazy about the Elf on the Shelf.  I originally lost the elf and my friend bailed me out by having an elf she wasn't using that looked just like our Lucky.   I had to make up a story of why he was late coming to our house.  Emma is so funny with him.  As soon as her little feet hit the floor she is looking for him.  Truthfully Marty is much better at hiding him than me, and remembers to hide him more than me too.  He is also more creative. Last night Lucky had a toothpick with a marshmallow on it over a a candle.  Marty didn't think this was believable enough so he caught fire to the marshmallow so it would look burnt.  I thought he was going to catch the elf on fire!! The kids thought it was hilarious when they woke up this morning.   We love the elf and he brings a lot of fun and magic to our house.  Thanksfully I still feel our kids know that this season is all about Jesus and we are enjoying our Advent activities as well.


Reese got a visit from snowbird at the end of November and was surprised to find out he was one of five top readers at his school. He was on TV with Snowbird and he thought that was really fun.  He logged more than 3000 minutes of independent reading this summer and truthfully that was a low estimate----I forgot to log his time occasionally.  I am so glad he shares my love of reading!

The rest of the month remains busy but I'm determined to keep margin in December.  We vow to not overschedule and to schedule in family time.  This next weekend Emma will be in her Nutcracker ballet performance and Reese will have his first basketball game.  I am looking forward to both, but after that our calendar is clear until Christmas.  Yay!