Went too fast......

The Holiday's are usually my favorite time of year. Although busy, I love the relaxing by the tree, listening to Christmas music, all the lights, the plays and spending time with friends and family. This year, I could take it or leave it. It's been chaotic, it came too quick and in the week before Christmas, my girls and I have been hit with a severe case of the Stomach Flu. Someone showed up at the Hammond Family Christmas Party last Saturday still infected and 1/3 of us came down with it. I'm not pointing fingers, I'm not even all that upset about it, it just sucks. It's sort of taken the fun out of the anticipation that usually happens around here the week before. We've hardly done anything this year that we normally do. No driving around looking at lights......we didn't even get outside lights put up ourselves. I'm not even done with all my shopping. It just doesn't really feel like Christmas. It's kind of like our whole family is just out of sorts.
Emi, my sweet innocent 5 year old, was told at school the other day that Santa Claus isn't real. So, we've had to spend an enormous amount of time talking about how people believe in different things. And, we believe in Santa. If you believe, "he" will come. I think she's back to believing, but still doubting. Which of course takes some of the fun out of it. For Christ Sake, she is only 5. Who are these people's parents? She is to young to have the innocence of believing in Santa taken away from her. Frankly, it pisses me off. I'd like to smack the other little Kindergartner who told her this.
Elise got hit the worst with the stomach flu. As of yesterday at noon she was still throwing up (It's been three days), hasn't eaten anything and hasn't been able to keep fluids down. Her little bottom is red and rashy from the amount of acid coming out that end and I feel terrible for her. And, if I'm a little honest, I'm feeling pretty terrible for myself. I'm tired. We've been giving her 2 tsp of liquid every 5 min. and that seems to be keeping the vomiting away. We started her on the BRAT diet last night to try and stop the other. So, it's been a long haul, but we are getting there. In the meantime, I haven't had my other babies this week, so financially, it's going to be rough also. But, what do you do? These things happen. I am glad we aren't down and out for Christmas. That would be horrible.
Brother Tim and Nathan are flying in tomorrow. Yay for us! Yay especially for Emi. She loves Tim and is really looking forward to spending some Q time with him. Brother Chris flew out yesterday, spending the holiday's in Vegas working on the Hillary Clinton campaign. I guess it's good experience, but it will be sad not having him here over the Holidays.
Well, Merry Christmas too all!!!