“What if Christmas, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!” ― Dr. Seuss, How theGrinch Stole Christmas!

Oh December, the only winter month that warms my heart.  For the rest of winter I am more grinchy than I probably should be.
But December, oh sweet ,sweet December, How I do love you.....Usually.

This December was a crazy, frantic month for Team Dailey.  Let me give you the quick tour.
Dec 3-5 Philadelphia for semi- annual visit to CHOP and Philadelphia

Dec 9 Betty June had 13 baby teeth taken out, 2 permanent teeth crowned and 2 permanent teeth filled. We had to be at Children's at 6:30 for her 8 AM surgery under general anesthesia but because of hgb issues and low platelet count due to enlarged spleen they wanted standby blood so she went to surgery at 2pm.  We got home at 7.

Dec 10 Surgical consult about Betty June's enlarged spleen.
Dec 12 Matt and I dental checkup (no cavities)
Dec 14 Put up Christmas tree with the whole family

Dec 15 Transfusions in Pittsburgh. Well for Betty June at least.  Belle's hgb was 10.1 so the hemetologis would not transfuse her.  We are in process of changing hemetologists.

Dec 16 Belle and Betty June audiology appts back at Children's
Dec 17 Betty June echo-cardiogram back at Children's.
Dec 18 My grandmother's birthday so the little girls and I went to see her and have cake with my mom and  aunt.

Dec 19 Serenity's play
Dec 20 McFadden Christmas party in town.  The girls sang three songs at the party.  Jingle Bells, Jesus Loves Me and Mama Hao.  That's a pretty big accomplishment for Betty June,(only speaking English for 3 months) and Belle (just 3 years old) and long suffering big sister Serenity.
AND it was Belle's 3rd birthday and my sister's 43rd birthday so after the family Christmas party there was cake and ice cream at our house.

Dec 22 Belle and Betty June pediatrician appt with 2 immunizations each and Betty June got to visit her   school classroom in anticipation of starting after the first of the year! She was suppose to go back the next day for their Christmas party but....
Dec 23 BACK TO CHILDREN'S for the blood transfusion Belle should have got a week ago.  Her hgb was 9.1 and she had had a miserable week. But when we got to the hospital the girls were each given a HUGE gift bag full of gifts.  There was at least 10 Barbies in the two bags. Betty June's had an Elsa dress (from Frozen for those of you hiding from pop culture) Belle's had a 'Frozen" ukelele and small Elsa doll.  There were slippers and puzzles, they each got a baby doll and too many gifts to list.  It was both overwhelming and humbling at the same time.

Dec 24 Christmas Eve at my house for 16.  I was so happy my son and his wife came late in the evening and spent the night to be here Christmas morning. And we were able to get our annual 'Girls only matching jammies' picture.

Dec 25 Christmas Day at my house for 12.  Same son and his wife made Christmas breakfast for us.  It was awesome!

Dec 26 I DID NOT LEAVE MY BEDROOM!!! I am totally serious.  Matt took care of the little girls and I just hung out and watched tv, played FB games and de stressed.  I slept through breakfast but hubby brought me lunch and dinner.  By the next day I felt like I could face the world again,

As a result of our 'busy with life stuff' December I didn't have time to get overwhelmed by Christmas preparation.  I still had too many cookies and fudge for the holiday, and we had our silly games on Christmas Eve with scratch off lotto prizes(that I sent son, Mattie, to buy on Christmas Eve day and he had to go to 3 gas stations to find one that still had Christmas themed lottery tickets) and it's not like anyone suffered from lack of food over the holiday.  Christmas Eve and Day I was actually present in the moment instead of fretting about the next thing to come.  I wouldn't recommend that particular method to enjoy Christmas but it is what happened this year.