It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..............

What a crazy time it's been since little B's birthday. (guess I should call him big B now...) Thanks to everyone for your kind comments and birthday wishes for my miracle. He's pretty amazing all around, but then I'm his mom, I'm *supposed* to think that! :-)

I've been very pre-occupied with physiotherapy for my knee. I'm pleased to note that I've tossed the cane to the curb this week. I can walk fairly normally, although I think a turtle could pass me without too much difficulty. I can even manage stairs quite well, as long as I only have to go *up* them. Down is not good. Down hurts. Did you know down requires bending? My knee doesn't really *do* bending just yet......

I did have an ornament-finishing frenzy in the last few weeks. Every year a bunch of friends all get together for a cookie exchange and afternoon social. We pig out on each other's treats, then take some home to pig out on in private. :-) For the last few years, I've been stitching an ornament to go with my cookies. This year I was determined to stitch different ornaments for each package of cookies and I actually managed it:


(I know it's very yellow, but it was the best picture of the half dozen or so that I took!)

From all accounts everyone liked their ornaments. I'm quite pleased that I managed to get as many done as I did. The whole surgery thing really messed up my planning for Christmas.

Our Christmas tree finally got decorated this week and I even managed to hang the garlands around doorways inside. It's looking very festive - I'll have to try and snap some pictures, especially since we have 3 Christmas trees this year. Of course, my photography skills being what they are, they'll likely look dreadful, but I'll give it a go anyway!

It looks like we'll have a slushy Christmas here this year - while we've had lots of snow (lots and lots of snow), it's also decided to warm up and rain a bit, leaving us with slush. Yick. Oh well, at least it's not mud (yet)! :-)

Time for bed! More baking to do tomorrow - so far I've made 4 batches of fudge (peppermint & cookies 'n creme), rolled oat shortbread, chocolate cherry chunk cookies, coconut cranberry bars, gingerbread cake and chocolate chip orange zucchini bread. Anyone else gaining weight as I type? I can't wait to give it all away so that I can't eat it all!

Read more...

Eight Years Ago.....

I got my own personal miracle:


This is the little boy they told us wouldn't survive the birth. The little boy they said *if* by some chance he did survive, he would have a litany of endless health issues - both mental and physical. The little boy who was 7 times more likely to die within the first year of life than every other baby. The little boy, who today, turns eight.


He's beaten all the odds. He's normal, healthy and clearly happy.

Happy Birthday little B. Every day with you is a gift, made more precious simply because you are here. I love you little one.

Read more...

Christmas Meme

Found this over at the Stitch Bitch and couldn't resist....

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both, either - whatever comes to hand first.
   
2. Real tree or artificial? Always real. It comes in, looks pretty, then leaves. What the heck do you do with a fake one the rest of the year???
   
3. When do you put up the tree? Well, it'll move into its place of honour any time around the end of November to the first week of December. It won't be decorated until after DS#2's birthday, December 9.
   
4. When do you take the tree down? I prefer to wait until Epiphany, but it usually gets taken down the first weekend after New Year's.
   
5. Do you like egg nog? Yum. Yes. With Rum.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Can't think of anything in particular, but always got great things..... *shrug*
   
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Nope.
   
8. Hardest person to buy for? DH. Always claims he doesn't need anything....
   
9. Easiest person to buy for? In-laws (all of them -BIL, SIL, MIL, FIL, nieces, nephews) - they make a list to pick and choose from!
   
10. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail, with newsletter. To far too many people.
    
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Could be the year I got a breadmaker (yeah!), but had to return it because we needed a VCR more. End result: DS' got a new VCR and I got.......nothing.
    
12. Favorite Christmas movie?All of them.
    
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? 'Bout February. It takes that long to recover from the mayhem of November and December shopping. too. many. people.
    
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Don't think so.....
    
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Anything that isn't nailed down?
    
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Either. My MIL and I trade lights every few years (she has clear and I have coloured).....
    
17. Favorite Christmas song? Only one?
    
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both. Travel to my parents and in-laws, but some time at home too.
    
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? I have children. Of course I can.
    
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel, to make DH happy. (I'd prefer a dragon if I could find one.....)
    
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Yes. This year - 23rd at the in-laws, 24th at my parents', 25th at home.
    
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Too many idiots in the stores, the malls, the parking lots and too many store staff who clearly don't give a flying fig about helping you (even when you're on crutches, in pain and looking very helpless!).
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Anything the kids have made or ornies I've stitches or received as gifts.
    
24. Favorite thing for Christmas dinner? Anything NOT turkey.
    
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? To walk like a normal person. To burn/destroy/maim my crutches. To skate again. To ride a bike with my kids again (okay, not till next summer, judging by the amount of snow on the ground right now, but still....) To be able to walk the block and a half to DS#2's school. To not need crutches. To walk.

But outside of that, nothing much. :-) Time with DH and kids, natch.


I'm spending much of my available free time working towards my dearest wish for Christmas. I met with the physical terror..., erm, therapist yesterday. Today began the serious torture. Two and a half hours of it. But, I did get upgraded to using a cane! Yipee?!?

Off to visit with my friendly ice pack again.....

Read more...