The Christmas We All Got the Stomach Flu

That's how we are going to remember this Christmas. Every family has to have one of those Christmases...right?

Last Thursday night, right after I posted about how great this Christmas season is going (haha) I suddenly felt so sick I could hardly drag myself up the stairs. I ended up throwing up throughout the night (tmi) and could hardly move most of the next day. Luckily, I was feeling a little better after about 24 hours because this house simply cannot function with one of the CEO's sick. But here were a few of my little Christmas miracles.

First of all, throughout the night when I was so so sick that I could hardly think or function, I was very worried about what would happen when one of the kids woke up. Andrew was working the night shift and wouldn't be back until noon the next day. I was all alone. My neighbors were out of town and I wasn't even real sure which of my friends were still around. I could drag myself to the bathroom to throw up but then I was completely drained of energy. Cam still wakes up EVERY night. It is very rare for him to sleep through the night. I knew that I wouldn't be able to get out of bed and walk down the two flights of stairs to where he sleeps (long story), let alone pick him up. I was praying so much that he would be okay and sure enough, he slept from 7pm to 6:30am. A new record! Not only that, but when he woke up he was oddly happy. That is very un-Cam-like :). He almost always wakes up crying his little heart out.

Also, probably around 4am, I heard Luke open his door. I thought, "Please no! He's going to ask for a drink of water or tell me he's not tired and I just can't help him". As soon as I finished that thought, he closed his door and went back to sleep without saying anything. Also a first! Needless to say, prayers were answered that night.

Another blessing was the amazing family that came to my rescue in the morning and let the boys come over to their house until Andrew came home from work. Keep in mind it was the day before Christmas Eve and I'm sure this family had many other enjoyable things they could have been doing. They showed up at my door with Sprite and whisked my kids away only to return them with homemade 'get well' cards. Plus, they took on the risk of catching the flu themselves which was something I was too sick to really consider at the time. They are some of the most generous and charitable people I know and I will love them forever. I was also amazed at how many people from my church texted, emailed or called to see how I was doing and how they could help (I had to email the Relief Society to request help with the boys...in case you were wondering how they could possibly be THAT on top of things ;). It was unbelievable to me how so many people, from good friends to barely acquaintances, were prepared to drop everything so close to Christmas just for a flu victim. The true meaning of Christmas surely beats through the hearts of these women every day of the year.

This was our Christmas Eve dinner. I asked Andrew to bring home the best he could find from the hospital cafeteria.

So even though this Christmas was pretty awful (Luke caught it next and puked all day Christmas Eve and Christmas --and note, he has no puking prediction capabilities so I have been a cleaning machine around here...I hate carpet), I am very glad that I could have so many powerful reminders of Christ-like love and service this Christmas. I feel like my eyes are a little more open to people around me who are sick or lonely all the time, not just at Christmas. And I certainly stop my complaining when Andrew tells me stories of patients in the ICU. There are worse things than the stomach flu.

And remember, Christmas doesn't officially start around here until tomorrow when we will finally see Andrew's face again! We get a second chance at Christmas! Wish us luck...Andrew just told me he's not feeling so well...

Luke only made it into his little barf bowl once. Once out of FOUR times...  He managed to hit our bed, the carpet, the throw pillows, the carpet, the wall, the stairs, the crevice between the baseboards and the floor, my boots, did I mention the carpet?

I knew he was starting to feel better when he began to teach Cam how to bang the pots

Then he fed him all the graham crackers that he couldn't eat.

What a good brother. 

Cam is happy to do all your eating for you Luke