Twenty fingers & Twenty toes...: Christmas recap 2011

Continuing the "to be continued" of my last post --

We were blessed to celebrate Christmas Eve with the hubs' family -- and Christmas day with my family. We both have relatively small families -- which makes it a more intimate occasion.

Christmas Eve started out fine -- both girls in good spirits prior to our departure to the festivities. While en route to the party -- Ms. R started to look sick and act a bit out of sorts. Upon arrival...she felt warm and looked like she had dark circles forming around her eyes. But after an hour of lying low -- she came around and played her little heart out the rest of the night. We enjoyed snacks and a yummy meal along with a chaotic gift opening and LOTS of playing with cousins B and A who so willingly entertained the girls all night long! It's so fun to watch them all play together ... the giggling and screaming were endless.

After a late night -- we headed home where the girls literally collapsed out of pure exhaustion and they both slept pretty well.

Christmas morning was special, too. In the early hours -- it was just the 4 of us, plus our pooch, Hank, enjoying Christmas morning. We didn't have any snow this year making it feel a little less festive, but the warmer temps made for pleasant driving conditions for our family traveling to see us later in the day.

Daddy and his girls on Christmas morning... :)

As the morning progressed -- Ms. R began to look sick again. Her mood changed, too, and we started to worry something was brewing -- AGAIN. Once the guests arrived -- it was clear she was out of sorts -- but we proceeded to have as much fun as possible!

We had a lovely day with my family -- lots of YUMMY food and snacks -- and even a delicious birthday cake (my fav!) to celebrate Auntie J's recent bday. We played a couple of really fun annual Christmas games -- they always ubber competitive and come down to the wire! Thanks to Grauntie D for always organizing this anticipated event. This is always a highlight each year - and now even more fun that the "littles" are starting to enjoy the games, too.

After another round of chaotic gift opening and more visiting -- the day was wrapping up. I felt so fortunate after all the nasty illness that we were actually able to celebrate with both families on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. There were several times throughout the previous weeks I doubted it would actually happen!

As the fun was winding down -- Ms. R's new sickness was winding up. The hubs was worried enough to sleep with her that night. Because he is in the medical field -- I usually gage my worry on his worry -- and so because he seemed so concerned it was another almost sleepless night for me. She was presenting with strange red spots on her face and chest -- very irritable -- and just plain uncomfortable. In the wee hours of the night when I was struggling to sleep ... I started googling if kids could have a relapse of the hand, foot and mouth virus. And although it's very rare -- it can happen, apparently. H, F & M is somewhat like the chicken pox -- once you get it you are supposed to gain an immunity to it.

The morning after Christmas arrived and after a restless night -- we decided to take Ms. R to urgent care before it closed at noon. As soon as the nurse practitioner took a peek at her -- she immediately diagnosed her with Impetigo. A staff infection (ugh -- contagious) we think may have slipped in through the open sores on her lips -- left over from hand, foot and mouth. It was good to have a diagnosis, though.

So -- on yet another antibiotic .... but at least this time daddy was around to help get it down her throat. This is something Grandma P and I struggled with during the previous illnesses. Ms. R can be one stubborn cookie! Shocker!!

Fortunately this diagnosis came on Monday -- so we had several days of the meds before getting ready to head back on the dreaded airplane -- where I fear we picked up many of these nasty germs in the first place. And, as of today -- she's looking and seeming to feel great. Ms. K developed a few similar spots -- but it hasn't seem to turn into the full blown infection. Thank God!

In looking back over the almost three weeks we were home -- it feels like kind of a blur. Two sick girls -- most of the time -- which prevented us from being able to be out and about enjoying the holiday season with many friends we were hoping to see while at home.

As disappointing as that was -- we still had a ton of fun with the people we were able to spend time with. And - I feel so grateful (can't express in words) for all the help I received with getting through such a tough time. I've come to rely on the hubs with his medical knowledge for getting through these rough times with the girls. He is definitely the level head in these circumstances. With his absence -- everyone who was able - stepped in big time to help me and without that -- I literally would not have made it. So, thank you!!

Plus -- it gave the "Gammas and Papas" quite a bit of snuggle time with the sick babes. A silver lining? I think so!

As we move into 2012 .... CHANGES are a comin' for this family -- and so perhaps getting all of those illnesses out of the way is a good thing.

Today we are back in our temporary home -- and I'm working on a post about that -- coming SOON!

Here are a very few cell phone pics from our time at home -- not many "Christmas pics" this year!

A few "before illness" pics to start!

We stopped to visit my former co-workers early in our trip. Ms. R all smiles for the camera!