Lights

Mike has to work both Christmas eve and Christmas night so we've been trying to squeeze in our traditions before then. After dinner tonight, Mack opened her Christmas pajamas , she and Mason dressed in their new Jammie's and we piled into the car to seek out Christmas lights and ice cream! Ellie joined us and we found some great spectacles .

Mr. Handsome

Mason boy wearing the hat GG made him before he was born.

Postal goodies

Mack walks excitedly to the mail box daily to see if we received any Christmas cards . Last night was extra fun; There were TWO Christmas cards AND a package from Aunt Meg! What fun to give Mason his first Christmas presents and have a taste of her yummy Christmas traditions:

Mason is a one man wrecking crew so present opening is
a great way for him to exercise his quick grabbing hands.

Mack showing Mason her finger puppets. The stamp set Aunt Meg
sent was put to use before I could get Mack out her jammies
the next morning.

Aunt Meg also sent along a gift card to our favorite place, Noodles and Company! Mack has already decided that Mason will have a taste of her macaroni and cheese. Thank you Aunt Meg!

Advent

Advent readings have become a fun part of our morning routine. It doesn't hurt that Grammy left behind a Christmas countdown equipped with little chocolate treats for each day. ( Thanks, Grammy )

For consideration

I received a message on Facebook today from a friend of mine, Robin, from high school. The message detailed the story of her niece, Ester, who is battling stage 4 nueroblastoma. I feel compelled to share the email and get the word out there for anyone would might be passing through and is able to help:

Friends. I know may of you have followed my sweet nieces journey through battling stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer (www.spendandbespent.blogspot.com) and we appreciate your support of our family so so much!
For their birthdays, I made Zinnia and Esther cloth dolls and Esther's dolly was bald. The response to these dolls was amazing. Samantha shared the dolls with the person in charge of donations at Brent's Place (the housing facility where they are staying for part of Esther's treatement) and I now have the opportunity to create dolls for the kids living there on a long term basis. I plan to make them a bald doll, and then when their hair grows back, make them one with hair. Here's where you come in. While these dolls are gorgeous and precious to make, in order for them to be sturdy and last I have to use super quality products (which are not inexpensive, at retail, I would charge approx. $40-50 for these). Would you be willing to donate gift cards from places like JoAnn Fabrics, HobbyLobby, Mama Said Sew(local to Ft. Collins www.mamasaidsew.com) to me to be able to purchase the supplies to make these? Even a small sum on a gift card is helpful! I plan to do it even after the Alvarado family is finished there, long term for Brent's Place. The other opportunity you have to participate in this great project is for those of you with a sewing knowledge. I will be looking for volunteers (maybe 3 people or so) who are willing to cut out the dolls for me. I would provide everything you would need (pattern, fabrics, tutorial if needed, etc.).
If this seems like something you would like to participate in (please, don't feel any pressure!!!) you can contact me here or by email rfegger@gmail.com .
Also, feel free to pass this information along to anyone you think might like to donate/help as well.
Below is a link to the Alvarado Family's Blog where you can follow their journey and read about sweet Esther. Also is a picture of the dolly's I made for Zinnia and Esther's Birthdays.
I am SO incredibly excited to do this, it blesses my soul. There are already 5 little girls ages 6yrs to 6mths and 1 little 4yr old boy at Brent's Place waiting for a doll.
Thank you friends and family for loving our family so well.
Any questions at all, feel free to contact me!

So if this is something you feel compelled to help with , any size donation is appreciated but above any gift of time or money, Robin would sure appreciate prayers as she takes on this project and also prayers for the patients who will receive the dollys . Feel free to contact me at missylong308@yahoo.com and I can pass along Robin's mailing address. The charity mentioned, Brent's Place, is also where Annie, Brian and Makenzie stayed during Makenzie's battle with ( and victory over) brain cancer. It is an indescribable blessing to those who need it's services.

Snuggle bugs

A day out and enjoying Christmas fun is canceled due to illness, replaced by pajamas and Christmas movies . Ellie approves.

Perspective: illness

I didn't know this until I became one ,but ALL moms are germaphobes. Maybe not the mask-wearing, lysol-wipe toting, "Have you been sick in the last three weeks?" questioning types. But really, for there isn't much that can derail normal life for us faster than a sick kid ( or two...) . Before my sweet M's, I never thought twice about jetting out shopping or to a friends house with a cold. I worked in pediatrics so it wasn't very often, especially in the winter months, that I wasn't transporting some kind of virus or infection. I never understood why mothers were so paranoid about a simple flu bug or cold. Circa 2008, I gained full awareness and I feel like I should publicly apologize to all those moms who eyed me coughing into my elbow in the store , near their precious, ( and for once) healthy kids.

Having sick kids halts any semblance of routine. This one can't breath when he's laying down. She can't stop coughing. Now it's time for another dose of Tylenol and a luke warm bath. The laundry doubles and there's no time to clean up what may or may not be the contents of what used to be in someone's nose off the pillow on the couch. ( Don't worry! I did clean it up....eventually).

It's frustrating! But with in the last two weeks, my kids have  batted back and forth low grade fevers and running noses and whatever else may have found its way into our house. We haven't had a totally healthy day in what seems like forever. What's a mother to do ? Instead of struggle to keep up "normal" life,  I gave up the battle ( sort of). I let the laundry sit. I left the booger ( for a while) . And I snuggled little feverish beings on my lap and sponged warm water over them during their baths. I rocked them, something neither of them allow unless they are sick. And though I HATE to see those droopy, sad, tired looking eyes and hear them coughing into the night, taking the time to soak in those " I need my mommy because I'm sick" moments sure does a heart good( even when you wake their first healthy night with a fever).