Chirstmas Holidays

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness" -- Charles Dickens

Mr. Dickens could have been writing this about our Christmas Holidays! We laughed, we cried and we learned a lot! I was so glad to be off 3 long weeks with Alaina. I was hoping that I would have some time to myself a couple of days because I knew that Mamaw and Mimi could not stand not seeing Laina for three whole weeks! However, the holidays were filled with trips to the doctor and holiday get togethers.

The first weekend in December we got our tree. Alaina loved it! She would touch it and jerk her hand back, all while looking at us. If we smiled, so did she.

Our first holiday get together was with Daniel's mom's side of the family. It is always fun to getting together and watching the kids play. Alaina has a cousin that is three days older than her. He tried to love on her but he got too rough (he has two older brothers) and made her cry. :'(

She loved her phone

looking at her catepillar
With all of her toys
Her favorite part of all -- the paper!

Alaina and Granny

It was a fun day! That was on Sunday. Things had changed on that Friday.

At 7:30 that Friday morning, Alaina and I were laying on our bed when she crawled backwards and slipped off of our bed. She screamed and cried all morning long. She did not want to be put down. She did not want to eat. She did not want to play with her toys. My mother-in-law came over to keep her for the day. She noticed that Alaina was not putting her right leg down and thought I needed to call the doctor. He told me to come right on. So we got ready and headed to Oxford. After an exam by the doctor, we were sent to have x-rays and sent back to the doctor. He confirmed my worse fear - a broken leg. He was going to send us to Le Bonheur that night for a cast but decided to send us to the ER to have a splint put on. When we got to the ER, they had to check Alaina's temp and vitals. Well, I lost it! WE ARE ONLY HERE FOR A SPLINT, I wanted to scream. But sadly it would not have mattered. When Daniel met us in the ER, we were both crying. Thank God, that my mother-in-law was there and had sense enough to know what to do because by this time I had lost it. The doctors and nurses were wonderful and after 5 hours, they sent us home with a splint.

The next Monday, we went to Le Bonheur and they put her in a cast. Alaina loved her doctor and even smiled at him. We loved the staff, doctors and nurses. Alaina cried during her x-ray and while they put a cast on. I only cried during the x-ray.

The following Thursday was Christmas Eve. We always spend this time with Daniel's parents and his sister and her family. She had fun until we started opening gifts, and then it was too much for her! She did not like all of the noise.

Alaina with her cousins
Looking at her first gift of the nightWith Mamaw and Papaw

She has had enough!

On Christmas morning, Daniel and I enjoyed spending time with Alaina in our bed. Then we fed her breakfast. We did not want her to be cranky when she saw what Santa had brought her.

Seeing what Santa brought for the first time

Let me at them!

Her favorite toy of all -- Tad!


After we enjoyed time at home, we got ready and went to Mimi and Poppa's for another round of Christmas!!

We loved the bows!!

Once again eating paper!
All of her goodies!

On Saturday, we enjoyed spending time with my dad's family. We don't get together with them as often as we should. I don't want Alaina to miss out on getting to know them.

Looking at her bear from Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Nona

Spending time with Patrick and Erica, who she loved!


Playing with her cousins Dixie and Tyler


Daddy and Uncle Jimmy
Silly Grin!

So tired!

The Sunday after Christmas was our last holiday get together with Daniel's dad's family.

Papaw with his brother Ed and sisters Jeanette and Barbara
Laina and Moma

Opening presents with PapawSpending time with Aunt Vicky

Ready to go!

So, like I said this Christmas holidays we have laughed and had a blast at all of our holiday get togethers. We have cried during our scary times at the pediatrics office and the various holidays. So what did I learn from all of this? Give your children the opportunity to get to know all of their family (no matter how crazy :) ) and accidents happen. People will not think you are a bad mother if your child slips of the bed. They will be sympathetic because more than likely something like that has happened to them!