12 days: Healthy for the holidays?

The countdown has begun; there are now 12 days separating us from that joy of all joys that is Christmas morning. With all the things to be done and all the fun to be had, this is most certainly not the time to be sick. Thankfully all of our shopping is done, because instead of heading out to brave the hopefully crowded stores we are staying in, nursing a pitifully sick little boy. I can count on one hand the number of times that Calvin has been under the weather (runny nose, congestion, etc.) in his life, and can specifically remember the one and only other time he has ever run a fever (back when he was about 9 months old), but this is probably the first time that he has ever been sick in a capital sort of way, and certainly this is the longest he's ever been symptomatic. Luckily the worst seems to be past; he had the 102 plus fever on Friday, accompanied by aches and lethargy, then some light chest congestion and lethargy on Saturday, and today rather serious congestion with painful coughing, but the fever is gone, and some of his energy is back. The hardest bit of this affair has been watching his misery; since he really hasn't been sick before the poor kid doesn't seem to understand what hit him, and I keep comforting him with the reassurance that he will, eventually, get better. Let's just hope that happens before Christmas, and that the other two thirds of us can keep the enemy germs at bay.

0 days, Merry Christmas

1 day: Kerrytown capers

It has been my family's tradition, since Curtis and I were little, to go to Kerrytown Market the morning before Christmas.  The tradition arose from necessity–mom had to be there early to visit Monahan's Seafood Market and pick up the oysters with which to make dinner–and slowly grew to celebratory proportions; now we go (not necessarily early thanks to order ahead availability) to pick up oysters, squid, and other last minute edibles, and also to eat and shop our way through the quaint and unique building of stores.  We end the morning with the quintessential Christmas picture by the holiday scene on our way out the door.  Thankfully, late as it was (5am this morning instead of midnight last night), Curtis's train made it into town in spite of last night's nasty weather, and today the tradition has continued.  Merry eve.

2 days: Christmas favorites

Before Calvin the 23rd was traditionally a date night for us, usually including a dinner out and a night at the spa.  Oh how things change.  Tonight we started what we hope will be a new tradition for our little family;  we ate a light picnic style dinner on the floor by the Christmas tree and fire, listened to all our favorite Christmas music, and read a few of our favorite Christmas stories.  What are some of our favorites?  We are very fond of the Time Life Singers and Songwriters Christmas set, Stevie Wonder's Christmas album, and James Taylor's Christmas album.  As for books, Calvin's picks are "Room for a Little One" and the story out of his Children's Bible.  And, now that Calvin is in bed, Jon and I have broken out our collection of secular TV specials of years past, like Rudolph, Frosty, and, of course, "A Claymation Christmas".  It may not be a night at the spa, but it is relaxing, very cozy, and very full of spirit.

3 days: a comfy seat and a good book

That's all you need on a cold winter's morn.  While I bustled about the house this morning trying to get five days of weekly chores finished in just one, Calvin settled himself into our window seat with a stack of books to read (and occupied himself that way long enough for me to clean all three bathrooms).