Why I Love Christmas

Last night I was finally consumed with the Christmas spirit. I was excited right before Thanksgiving when the music on the radio started and I started thinking about gifts for the boys. But then we travelled for Thanksgiving, (which was delightful in its own way) Eldon and I both got sick, and life became really busy. I was shopping a lot, but it felt more frantic than anything. Finally last night, even though Eldon had to go home teaching and be a judge for the neighborhood lights contest, it was a magical night. We came home from church starving. I was making my favorite, chicken lasagna. I hurried and threw it together and fed the kids, including my unborn child, while Eldon was out doing his stuff. Once he got home, it was like peace surrounded us. It was frigid outside but toasty warm inside. We put Jackson down for bed early due to the lack of nap during church. Max, Eldon and I just read the paper, made cookies, and wrapped presents all together and talked. We had some light Christmas music in the background, candles lit and just truly enjoyed ourselves. Even though I had to work today, I didn't feel the pressure to get everyone to bed. It was such a nice night with no TV, no phone calls, just us doing Christmas things.

Now I do feel bad that Jackson missed it all, but I have to say that if he were involved, the peace would have left us. When he gets tired, he runs from one thing to the next with no attention span. It is very difficult to keep up with him and to keep the house safe. His turn will come in a few years and his little sister will have to go to bed early.

I love just being with my little family. I love having the time to appreciate all our blessings. Each moment like that is wonderful. I have to write about it because it doesn't happen that often!

I have a Boooken Leg

So the Gale family has been experiencing some drama as of late. I guess it started with Eldon and I getting Strep throat the week after Thanksgiving. The next week I got a crazy cold and it knocked me out. Last Sunday, I heard a few loud thumps and a scream while I was on the phone with my sister. As I yelled out, "what happened?" I heard Max say, "Mom, I didn't push him." Jackson was crying and Max was intent on letting me know that it wasn't his fault. Bottom line, Jackson fell down the stairs. I asked him where it hurt and he said, "my head." I gave him a big hug and waited for the crying to stop. He did rather quickly. I didn't think much of it because it was only 5 stairs and he wasn't crying. Later that night, Eldon and I were eating dinner at my Sister's and we noticed Jack limping. He was dragging his foot and his balance was totally off. I was getting worried that maybe he actually hurt his head???

We decided to put him to bed and to see if it would be better in the morning. No such luck. He was trying to walk and kept running into the wall. I took him to my pediatrician that morning and she said give him some motrin and call me in a week if its still bad. I thought hmmm. That is pretty non aggressive. So we decided to watch him closely for another day and then we would decide if we needed to do something else. The kid had never complained of anything, but couldn't walk. It was very weird. So on Tuesday I was putting some pants on him over his shoes and he screamed as I bent his foot forward. Afterward, his limp was much worse. He said to me, "Mom I need to go to the Dr." So I decided to take him to the ER at Childrens. I just wanted to rule out a broken leg with an x-ray. We took him down there and everyone there was just as mystified as I was because of the no pain, but crazy limp. Finally the Dr. zeroed in on his hip. We took him to get x-rayed and nothing was broken. WHEW!! But they said that the break could appear later. They also thought he had sprained his hip. I can't give him any pain medicine because I have to watch for a fever incase he gets infection in his hip. I guess that is common. Overall, it wasn't as bad as it could have been, and we still have a limping kid. So if he is still limping in a few days, we take him back. Merry Christmas!! Jackson keeps walking around saying, " I have a booken leg." It's very cute.

The biggest lesson I have learned is, you need to come extra prepared with toys, snacks, games, movies, anything when you go to the ER. Especially when your kid is two, not sick and wanting to run around even with a limp. It was worse than church. You can only do Insy Weensy Spider so many times!!

It's A GIRL!!!

Hmmm

Mom: Jack why do you have lotion in your hair?

Jack: I need to go to work.

Mom: So why do you have lotion in your hair?

Jack: I need cute hair to go to work.