It’s okay for me to post this now, ten days late, because my decorations are still up!
Aside from EVERYTHING else, one of the worst feelings I had when they diagnosed me with the blood clots was the idea that I might miss Christmas. I had no doubt in my mind that we would still celebrate but I was very unclear as to what capacity I would be able to participate.
Thankfully, after a week or so of intensive treatment, my condition improved and we slowly got into the Christmas spirit. And I couldn’t have been more grateful that on Christmas morning, I was healthy enough to go to my parents house and eat delicious food, exchange gifts and watch movies with my family.
The thing with being as sick is that I was forced to reorganize my priorities. In years past, I’ve stressed myself out to the point where I couldn’t even enjoy the holidays because there was baking to be done, cards to be completed and mailed, presents to buy, travel plans to fulfill and just general chaos surrounding what was supposed to be a joyous and heartwarming time. But this year – this year I had an amazing holiday! I had to step back and pick only the most important things because my body wouldn’t let me push myself to that breaking point. It was already there.
I had huge plans to decorate our house this year, since we sort of skipped it last year, which would have technically been our first Christmas in it (since we had just moved in and were traveling up North, we skipped decorating here). I wanted to go all out and put lights on the outside, wreaths on the windows, ribbon wrapped around the poles. I’m not talking over the top, just a nice and classy red, green and white theme. I wanted a nice table decoration and a fancy mantle and a huge tree with all sorts of ornaments. But things just didn’t work out like that and that was ok. The first weekend I was home, Steve pulled our existing decorations out and helped me put up the tree. I realized while unpacking things that the pickings were slim since I had never had a huge place to decorate anyway. I just wanted the mantle and the tree to look nice. I was actually ok with not putting anything outside but I had scored the white light up reindeer and spiral trees from Lowe’s for 50% off so Steve very kindly unpacked those and set them up outside. They were the only thing we put out but they were festive enough.
The only thing that was really frustrated me was when I pulled both of the multi-colored strands of lights that, in previous years, I had used for the tree, both were broken. In plugging them, I saw that only half of the strands worked for both of them. And since I still was not allowed to drive or could barely function in a store, going out to get another was not an option so I had to make due with white lights and a multicolored star. (Note: I like multi-colored on my tree and white on the outside of the house, though I am gradually leaning towards multi-colored outside as well.)
The tree, I realized, was crooked and that was because it’s a hand me down from my parents and a tree that we’ve used since at least the early nineties. The top of it just wouldn’t stay straight. I also had nothing for the mantle so initially, I just draped a bit of silly garland across it and hung our old stockings up (read: red and white with our names written in glitter glue). We also realized that the tree, which had formerly fit very nicely into our tiny apartments, looked miniscule in our large living room, particularly with the high ceilings. Since trying to by a tree at Christmastime means quite a bit of cash, I told myself I’d pick up a new one at the after holidays sales (which I did – a nine footer from Home Depot for $75 that is, unfortunately at this moment, backordered) and just tolerate this one this year. And it did the trick, especially after I bought a few more ornaments.
Once I was able to get up and around, I headed out to Target, which was the ONLY store I stepped foot in over the holiday season (I can only sing the praises of Amazon and other online retailers for allowing me to complete ALL of Christmas shopping in time without having to bother with the crowds and stress of shopping over the holidays). I was on a mission for stocking stuffers for Steve and myself, presents for Sammy and a few more decorations. I completely lucked out when I came up with a theme for the mantle in a matter of minutes.
I love that it sparkles and is festive and that it’s not a traditional Christmasy theme. And it sparkles! Then, I got completely lucky when I realized Pottery Barn was running a special on their stockings and I scored three of them for Steve, myself and Sammy. They only cost $12 a piece with the names embroidered and they are made of sturdy and soft velvet. And Sammy’s is shaped like a little elf stocking, with a crooked toe and I find that absolutely adorable!
So the decorations were up and the shopping was done. We had agreed with most of our families that we weren’t going to buy anything for each other and that sure made things a lot easier (on ourselves and our wallet). We basically bought for the kids in the family – Steve’s niece and nephew, my brothers and sister and my cousin. And I got my parents the same thing that I got my brother and his fiancee – a scrapbook of our photos from Hawaii that I put together on Shutterfly (and I can’t sing their praises enough – their photobooks are absolutely gorgeous!) I baked about six dozen cookies to dole out to our coworkers. They were from refrigerated dough, but again, this year it was all about EASY!
Since all of that was out of the way, I was able to concentrate on the fun part of the holidays – food, presents and traditions!
The weekend before Christmas, Steve asked if I wanted to go the Festival of Lights with a couple friend of ours. I don’t know if I mentioned before, but the Festival of Lights is a tradition for me. We have gone every year that we were in Charleston with the exception of last year and I was highly disappointed that we didn’t make it then. So I jumped at the chance to go when Steve mentioned it.
We waited in line to get into the park for over an hour because it was a Saturday night but the displays were beautiful, as always. We unfortunately, didn’t get to park and walk to the little village they have set up (with gift shops, trains, carousels, and candy stores) because the only lot that was close enough for me to walk from was full. Steve was even a good sport about it all even though I knew it wasn’t his favorite thing to do (he had told me earlier that he knew how much I wanted to go so he thought it would be nice to surprise me). But overall, I’m really glad we made it this year.
Christmas Eve was very low key and quiet for us and it was perfect. I got off of work at 12:30pm and after a last minute run to the grocery store, came home, picked up the house and wrapped a few last minute gifts. I had put a small Butterball turkey breast in the crock pot before I left for work and the whole house smelled delicious. Steve got home around 3pm and we sort of hung out a bit before I started making the sides for dinner. At about five-thirty, I turned the turkey to warm and finished making mashed potatoes, stuffing and corn while Steve worked on the gravy. By six, we were sitting down to our own little Christmas Eve dinner.
After dinner, we sat down with dessert (ice cream for Steve, cake for me) and watched some Christmas movies. I saw Nightmare Before Christmas for the first time (good movie!) and Elf for like the millionth time (BEST MOVIE EVER!) and then it was time for bed. Steve and I headed to the bedroom, but not before I snuck stocking stuffers and presents under the tree and we dozed off while watching A Christmas Story.
The next morning, Sammy woke us up by yipping at the back door (apparently he doesn’t even take a break on Christmas morning) and Steve got up to let him out. I dozed in bed for another half an hour or so and then it was time to open presents.
I got Sammy some rubber squeaky toys that have the most obnoxious squeaks I have ever heard. He LOVED them and FREAKED out over them. He also got a new bowl and placemat, a tough nylon lizard toy, a bag of Greenies, a pack of three Nylabones that he can actually eat and a large Nylabone that he only chews on (since he can’t have pig ears). Steve got me a wireless remote for my camera, a tripod and the Wii Fit. And I got myself a book (Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult), some Burt’s Bees foot creme and a new loofah. Both Steve and I got pajamas to wear on Christmas eve.
I got Steve parts for his car (some steering parts and stablizer bars for the frame), some tools that he needed, some movies, candy, a funny sign for his garage, and a few odds and ends that he could play with.
We then headed over to my parents with Sammy in tow. My brother and his girlfriend came down from Myrtle Beach with their pitbull puppy, Damon. We got there and said our hellos and munched on some goodies then opened more presents. Steve and I got some very nice things from my parents – a new crockpot (with a timer), a jewelry box for me, a Home Depot gift card for Steve, the set of books by Charlaine Harris that True Blood is based on (AWESOME!).
Afterwards, we ate Christmas dinner (ham! delicious!, mashed potatoes, broccoli/cauliflower casserole, biscuits, stuffing) then we settled down to watch Fred Claus. After all that excitement, we realized a good ten hours has passed and it was time to head home, especially since Steve and I had to work the next morning.
So we headed our home, our bellies full and our stash in tow and even Sammy went to bed right away. We were happy and exhausted and overall, it was a really good holiday. I was really glad that everything turned out the way it did, especially since at the begining of the month, I was worried that I wouldn’t even be able to enjoy Christmas. And I have learned a valuable lesson that I hope carries over to next year – it doesn’t matter how many cards you send, how many cookies you bake, how many lights you hang up. It only matters that you tell those you love that you are grateful to have them in your life. That you enjoy the little moments. That you realize how lucky you are to be here and to have a roof over your head. That you recognize those who are less fortunate. And that you make every minute count with those you love.
That, my friends, is the true meaning of Christmas and if I can say I’m grateful for one thing about this illness, it was being able to realize that the holidays were definitely more enjoyable when I took a moment to stop focusing on the tasks at hand and start focusing on what the season is all about.
I hope your holidays were just as joyful and even though I’m glad they’re over, I can’t wait until next year!
