Our week: Christmas doesn't have to be perfect

We spent most of the week taking care of sick kids. Baby J was waking up at night coughing and puked almost every night. Lil J had a fever for five days and spent most of the time walking around in a daze. Thankfully though, we managed to dress up our half-dead tree in bits and pieces, and the kids totally enjoyed hanging up the ornaments.

We had a lovely Christmas eve dinner with my parents. The hubs cooked this round, and we had really good steak, salad and mashed potatoes. And even had log cake (a gift from a friend) to end it off, as well as tang yuan from my mum. 

The boys really enjoyed the time after dinner playing with their gramps (they got to open one present that night), and watching "The Crippled Lamb" (aff link).

We decided to spent Christmas day quietly at home since everyone was still recovering. It was just heartwarming to see the brothers playing together, and we had waffles for breakfast (courtesy of my mum). 

This Christmas has been far from perfect, with the kids hacking away. Lil J fell off the sofa while playing on Tuesday night. He seemed fine externally, but he was drowsy after the fall, and then started becoming extremely aggressive, screaming away and not letting us go near him at all. When we approached him, he would hit us. It was really unlike him to react so violently, since this was the boy with the high threshold of pain, the one who usually wasn't bothered with falls and bumps. We were worried about head injury, and after consulting a PD friend decided to send him to the A&E. He seemed to calm down during the car ride, so the hubby didn't register him, but the strange behaviour continued the next day, where he would actually let his baby brother play with his toys (something that never happened), while he sat staring in a daze. He would also wake up screaming away at night. The hubs spoke to a neurosurgeon, who advised us to monitor closely. I felt helpless, just having to watch and wait. We prayed hard. I admit I shed a few tears, listening to his screaming the first night, because this feeling of helplessness was just awful. 

We were heaving a sigh of relief on Christmas eve, because the little boy seemed more or less back to his old self (the puddles of water around the home, and him getting into his usual trouble was more or less a good indicator). But then during dinner, he started complaining that his ear hurt, and spent the second half of dinner clutching his ear and looking miserable. We thought it might be a ear infection after his illness, and hoped it had nothing to do with the bump to his head. Thankfully, the pain seemed to resolve later that night. We are still monitoring Lil J, and praying hard. 

It has really been some week. A week of tiredness and non-stop washing of bedsheets and soiled jammies. A week of learning to trust in God, something I found so so hard, as I tried to hold Lil J as he thrashed and screamed. But I know I am still thankful for Christmas. For the Christ child who came so that we might have hope. For loved ones who showered us and the kids with presents. For friends who rallied in prayer when we so needed it. For this message of hope we can share with our children, that God is always in control, especially one quiet night when His son came to earth in the form of a baby:

I heard the bells on Christmas Day 

Their old familiar carols play, 

And wild and sweet the words repeat 

Of peace on earth, good will to men. 

 I thought how, as the day had come, 

The belfries of all Christendom 

Had rolled along the unbroken song 

Of peace on earth, good will to men. 

 And in despair I bowed my head: 

"There is no peace on earth," I said, 

"For hate is strong and mocks the song 

Of peace on earth, good will to men." 

 Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: 

"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

 The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, 

With peace on earth, good will to men." 

 Till, ringing singing, on its way, 

The world revolved from night to day, 

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, 

Of peace on earth, good will to men!

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

So from us to you, Blessed Christmas!