A Christmas to Remember?

Two days after I arrived in Cincinnati, I got the flu. The real influenza. I haven’t had it since I was a kid, but those couple days where I had the chills, fever, sore throat, cough (which is still lingering), sinus pressure, and vomiting were a complete drag! I was too sick to go to church so I missed the Christmas program where my dad spoke and my sister played the violin. On Christmas Eve, I couldn’t go to Christmas Mass with my family and friends! I was too sick to get a stocking together or put out “Santa” gifts for Eva, so by Christmas morning-when I felt so miserable and the kids were opening their Santa gifts-I broke down in tears. At the time, I couldn’t believe that I was too sick to enjoy the first real Christmas with Eva. But, after taking a shower, eating an obscene amount of goetta to drown my sorrows, and taking lots of medicine, I felt a little better and got to enjoy the day! T.J. came down with a mild flu and on Christmas night, threw up and had the chills. Poor boy!

The day after Christmas, I started getting chest pain, so I headed to this little clinic at the grocery store (who knew that even existed?) and within a few days of taking two prescriptions, I was feeling myself again! On the downside, as I was getting better, my dad caught the flu. It got so bad he had to go to the ER on Monday. He’s finally feeling a little better but still has no voice and is coughing up a storm.

There you have it. My sister said it will be a Christmas to remember, but I sure hope next year our Christmas will be remembered in a better way!