Worstest Day Ever

At about 1:30 on Christmas afternoon, Silas declared it the Worstest Day Ever.  I didn't really disagree with him.

Our three big kids woke in the middle of the night Christmas Eve, sick as can be.  I was in with Lieren when Silas came in sick.  Shane joined us to help and it wasn't long before Simeon was awake, sick too.  So we had an unplanned and unenjoyable slumber party in Sim and Lieren's room the rest of the night, all on the floor, sleeping and waking, as one or another got sick.

The kids nearly forgot about getting up early to dig in their stockings and unwrap gifts.  We had a late night Christmas Eve after spending the evening with Shane's extended family.  The kids had not gotten to bed till nearly 10:30 so even Blaise, who was not sick at this point, slept in.  He finally woke the rest of us and we slogged out of Sim and Lieren's room close to 9.

It was a sad morning.  The kids didn't feel good enough to enjoy anything.  At about noon, Lieren finally told me she wanted to see what was in her presents.  I opened them for her and instead of her joyfully declaring, "MEOW!" (fyi, meowing is standard for her these days), she just looked at them.

The boys kind of tried to play here and there but really just got through till the afternoon when all the big kids laid down for a 3-hour nap (fyi, not standard for them these days).

Here is the general scene for the day; Sim trying to play, Lieren and Silas lounging, Blaise thinking about eating (Blaise didn't eat much all day, which had me wondering.  Then he got the sickness right before bedtime. Bummer)...

 But even with all the yuck, I was thinking about all I could be thankful for yesterday...

1.  I got to tell Lieren about 30 times in the night that I loved her and wasn't going anywhere.
2.  Blaise slept in.
3.  Time to be home and together with absolutely no schedule.
4.  Everyone has clean sheets!
5.  And all the blankets in the house are clean too.
6.  Shane and I stayed well.
7.  One-on-one time with Blaise while the big kids slept.  He was on a roll!
8.  Hearing Shane teach Sim and Lieren that being sick on Christmas is a great reminder of why we so desperately needed Jesus to come; only He can heal our sin and our sickness.

And tonight I am thankful that smiles are returning...