Christmas

 Christmas was great this year! It was my own personal miracle. You see, COVID threated to ruin Christmas like it has most everything else. One December 14th I started coming down with a head cold. Just as in times past, I powered through it. Scott was busy with work, kids had the last week of school before break and I had to tie the loose ends of Christmas preparations. There simply wasn't time to be out with a cold. So for a week I was medicated 24/7 with DayQuil and by Friday I was feeling like a new person. Not 100%, but better than I had been. Saturday morning came and my mom and sister stopped by. My mom helped me carry some gifts downstairs and commented on how good the candle smelled. I was shocked. I couldn't smell it at all. It was lit and I had no idea. I walked closer to the candle and still could not smell it. Inwardly, I started to panic since loss of smell is a classic covid symptom. I paid more attention to my lunch and realized I couldn't taste either. Both senses were completely gone. Classic covid. 

I spoke with Scott later that evening and told him my latest discovery. The next few days were a fury of talking to doctors, Scotts work and family about Christmas plans and monitoring everyone else in the family to make sure they stayed symptom free. Scotts work ultimately decided that he couldn't go back to work unless I took the test. I called Dan, my GP and cousins husband, and told him about the situation. He said based on the history of my symptoms and how I was feeling, he wouldn't be surprised if I had it earlier in the week, but tested negative. He had seen a lot of mild symptom cases that show a weaker virus marker and in turn the length of contagion is much shorter. Basically, I waited too long to take the test. And sure enough, he was right. My test came back negative! I was so relieved! Christmas was a go. 

I'm still having some side affects a week later. I still can't taste or smell. My nose is in constant pain. However, that may be due to the fact that we did an at home senses test and I smelled a myriad of spices. I'm quite sure I burned my nostrils. I have some residual fatigue and a pain in my chest that comes and goes. I will have to take the antibodies test to check my blood to see if I was actually infected, but the worst is behind me. And more importantly, we celebrated Christmas with our families. 

We spent Christmas Eve with the Packards. It was a great day! First we built gingerbread houses. The kids really enjoyed it and I loved watching them spend time together with their cousins and listen to their cute conversations. My favorite part was when Alaina was struggling with something and Beckett went over to her and started helping her. It was so sweet. 

We moved on to bingo and then caroled at Grandma and Grandpa Greats house. It was different not celebrating with them, so this was a neat way to include them a little bit. I sure love them. 

Sharlee planned a fun shrink wrap ball game. You try to unwrap the plastic warp as quickly as you can, unearthing candy along the way. The person next to you rolls dice and as soon as they get doubles, your turn is over. It was loud and exciting and so fun. Again, my favorite moment was between Beckett and Alaina. She wanted a certain candy that Tayden had won. I caught wind she was upset so I went to talk to her. I told her I didn't want her to be sad on Christmas Eve, so I gave her the candy. I didn't realize that Beckett was behind me watching the interaction and as I walked out of the room I heard him say, "Are you happy now? Come here, give me a hug!" I looked back and he had her wrapped up in his arms and she was beaming. It was the best moment. 

Scott and I brought Left, Center, Right. The pot had about $65 worth on ones and Jeff won it all. It was a lot of fun too. 

We spent so much time on games and fun, that it was getting time for Jeff and Sharlee to leave and we had started gifts yet. So, we let everyone dig in at the same time. It was a madhouse frenzy free for all and I didn't even get one picture. The highlight was the fishing poles that Tayden and Beckett got from Grandma and Grandpa Packard. They were so excited. They spent a good majority of the next day practice casting in the back yard (with practice plugs). 

We came home and opened our traditional pajamas and played a few minutes of our new game. Then hurried the kids off to bed! Side note about Christmas Eve, we didn't make our usual sugar cookies. I knew we had a big day ahead of us and I didn't really think the kids would even notice. I was wrong. They asked why we were skipping them and were actually pretty bummed. I didn't think they cared about the tradition. It broke my heart a bit, but it also made me strangely proud of the holiday we had made and how much they enjoyed it and looked forward to certain things. I won't be skipping out on them next year. 

Christmas morning was amazing. We opened the morning with a prayer of gratitude for the birth of our savior and then opened gifts. The boys all took part in picking my gifts and it was fun for them to watch me open them. The best part of the morning was opening the painting that I had asked for. 

It's beautiful and it really speaks to my heart. When I saw it in person, tears came to my eyes. The boys gathered around me and asked why I was crying. I got to explain to them that those were my feelings in the form of a picture. I want for our home to be a refuge from the outside darkness of the world. I want our home to be a place of light and growth and safety. The picture shows the mom and dad holding up the walls, keeping out the storms. It takes intentional effort to make the home become that place and its my lifes goal. All I want is for my house to be home. 

We spent the afternoon at my parents house. It was super chill. My parents home has become a second home to my kids and they love being there. They spent the afternoon hanging out on the couch, watching football and playing with their toys and eating their food. JoDell (who just had a baby. More on that later) and Shane came for a quick minute to open gifts before heading up to see Brayden in the NICU. I loved watching my dad open his new shirt that says, "I study triggernomotry". After dinner we played the Candy Bar game and once again, Kyle dominated. Just like the years before.

We ended Christmas in a messy house that was full of love and laughter and contentment. I could not help but feel an amazing sense of gratitude. Gratitude that we made it through this year and still were able to provide Christmas gifts for our kids. Gratitude for our home that keeps us warm and our cars that get us to and from. Immense gratitude for the healthy boys that fill our home and our heart. And more gratitude than every for our Savior, Jesus Christ. The older I get the more I comprehend the direct affect he has on us. His birth is the beginning to everything. Our happiness, our salvation. It all started with the birth of the babe in a manager that night so long along. I am so grateful for that miracle and I'm grateful for my knowledge of it.