Our Thanksgiving this year was unexpectedly just our family. Graham had the croup (for the second time, some of us missed the family Halloween party as well!). We didn't want to spread germs to our cute cousin friends, so we stayed home and made do with just us. It was actually pretty fun. We had most of the usual fixings, but it felt like we were playing hookie from the chaos and elaborate affair that Thanksgiving usually is. It was fun to spend time with our favorite small people, who might have gone a little un-noticed in a larger family crowd.
I made a sudden trip to Texas the second week of December. I got a phone call that my mom was dying and to hurry. I got a flight and flew down with my sister and uncle, leaving the rest of the family behind. It was really hard to leave my little kids (and Chad!), but I was so glad to be with my family - I don't spend enough time with them! My mom was bleeding to death from stomach cancer she didn't know she had. There wasn't anything the doctors were able to do to stop the bleeding, but it decreased on it's own until it was manageable. Then she had the hard road of stabilizing her electrolytes and getting new blood. Miracle after miracle, but she did stabilize, and now she is living to receive the radiation and chemotherapy which will keep her alive and with us for a little longer. I have felt pretty confident that she will be with us for a while. She just got the news that her stage 4 stomach cancer which we knew had already spread to her esophagus and liver, also has 4 bone cancer spots and enumerable lung cancer spots. But, treatment is the same, and she is responding very well so far.
Christmas was wonderful. We have some very fun traditions, and it always includes a comical nativity rendition. This year, the baby dragon was a cute touch. Graham wanted a costume as well, and what story is complete without a dragon? Anyway, the season is always special, and it is a joy to participate with our children in their excitement.
A little Christmas mayhem. It is always the funnest time to open presents. Some of the sweetest moments have been watching the children open presents from each other. We are so blessed, I want to always remember these special years.
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