We Got a Virus for Christmas

It happens.
Plans change.

Christmas eve I woke up with Ingram and noticed that his left eye seemed a little goopy. By noon it was nearly matted shut. Off to the pediatrician we went and the day took a sharp turn toward something other than what I had planned.

Oh! My healthy smiles. I want my healthy baby back.

I was already bummed out that we were spending Christmas with out any of our family. We're kind of used to being orphans after so many years of unforgiving schedules filled with call or cell lines that couldn't go unattended for a couple of days; we're skilled at sniffing out other orphans. As such, we had it all lined up to spend a fun afternoon with some new friends. Great food, wine, a craft for the kids, getting to know new people...we were really looking forward to it.




When the pediatrician stepped into the room she asked, "Did you have plans for Christmas?" Notice that? Did you? It was agreed that Ingram and his conjunctivitis couldn't go anywhere near our friends brand new 2 week old baby. It was just too risky. Once again, we were banished to isolation for Christmas. It's just as well. Ada came down with a fever later that night. She still insisted on putting out cookies for Santa and with her hot little head leaning on Tim's shoulder we stepped outside in the lightly falling snow to sprinkle reindeer food on the sidewalk.

Our neighbor Denise helped Ada write a note to Santa. I put it with our outgoing mail but the mail guy didn't take it. I guess he knew better that I should save it. 

As soon as she was tucked away in bed Tim and I did the same thing thousands of other parents were doing on Christmas eve - setting the perfect stage for our children to wake up to. I must admit, it was really lovely. Perfect, even.







When Ada woke the next morning I asked her if she thought Santa had been here. "No. I don't think so. Not yet." I led her down the stairs and watched as her eyes grew big and she gasped. "He was here!" She ran from one thing to the next pointing out to us the woodpecker walker for Ingram and the pulley cart (wagon) for her to share with her brother. It was so fun to watch her. Tim and I exchanged glances that said it all from 'we totally pulled it off' to 'did you hear what she just said?'




It took all morning to open presents.




It's possible that our kids are really loved. And really spoiled.




The rest of the day was low-key. We made tacos for lunch and salmon for dinner because when you're on your own you can do that kind of thing.
We played...

See his sad right eye? Ugh.

and took pictures...

See the tissue on the table? And the cup of tea? Yup.

and read new stories...




and played some more...




and stayed in our jammies pretty much all the day long...




We were alone but not so much. We made phone calls and were on Facetime with Tim's family at least four separate times.

The smiling faces of people we loved joined us from their holiday cards hanging on the wall.

It was nice to spend time in our new place with our new family of four. We had nowhere we had to be. We only had to BE and that was a nice change.




It was only just today that we got out of our jammies and emerged from the house. After many boxes of tissues, the snot-sucker working over time and many sleepless nights for me I'd like to say that we are slowly on the mend. This morning I got my Christmas gift from Tim - he took care of the kids and let me sleep in. Glorious. The best gift ever.




Merry Christmas.