So, if you are a regular to this blog, I’m sorry!  Last week was supposed to be full of posts that I had pre-written and dated to publish at various times.  Apparently I’m having issues with that pre-date function again, as NONE of the posts appeared as scheduled.  And they are all gone.  Disappeared.  Can’t find them anywhere.

I did NOT notice that they hadn’t posted last week… for two reasons.  One, I was in California and my mother’s new computer is slightly difficult to work with (love you, Mom).  And Two – I had the flu.

There have only been a handful of times in my life since oh, about 1992, that I haven’t checked my email DAILY.  (And by daily, we all know I mean, “a thousand times a day”).  I’ve gone on one or two trips through the years where I missed a day here and there.  I’m sure there’ve been two-three day stretches occasionally.  But… they are VERY few and far between.

This last Christmas week was one of those stretches.  I think I checked email last on Tuesday morning.  Before the flu hit.  And I didn’t get to check it again until we got HOME from California on Friday night/Saturday morning (1 a.m.)

Did I mention the flu hit?  Yeah… that was a fun way to spend Christmas.  My six year old son was the first to get it, and I’ll spare you the graphic details, but let’s just say his first “episode” required an entire change of clothes AND a bath – for him AND me (and the couch we had been sitting on, and the blanket… ok, you get it).

Within a half hour or so, my niece got it… and then a little while later, my nephew went down.  These two kiddos are my sister’s kids.  The sister with breast cancer who should avoid getting sick?  Yeah, her kids… and then she AND her husband got it.  Sigh…

My 3 year old son got it the next morning.  My dad got it.  My mom got it.  I thought I had it, and got past it…

But I was wrong, and I got it a second time with a HUGE vengeance.

I lost ten pounds in three days – THAT kind of vengeance.

Did I mention that all this happened on Tuesday, Wednesday (aka Christmas Eve), and Thursday (aka CHRISTMAS)?!

Hohoho… and bah humbug.

Thankfully, kids are resilient and even with the flu, Christmas is fun for them.  Also thankfully, they got over it pretty quickly.  I had it longer than anyone (what’s up with that?), and missed the majority of both Christmas Eve and Day to it.  On the plus side, I got a lot of sleep. (Looking for positives here).

I got SO much sleep, in fact, that on our way home on Friday?  I didn’t sleep AT ALL!  Ten hours in the car, and I stayed awake for every MINUTE of that trip.  My husband was so happy.  I’m also starting to wonder if rather than having sleep apnea, I just am sleep deprived?  Mothers of children everywhere, you know what I’m talking about, right?  Samuel is almost seven, so I’d say I have about seven years worth of sleep to catch up on.  Anyway…

So, now we are home, and we are all mostly well.  I say mostly because Martha is currently having a rough time with her eyes.  Pink eye is not her friend.  Basically they like to glue shut with green and dried brown gunk, and she can’t see very well when that happens.  And she does NOT like having them wiped clean, even when Mommy tries to be VERY, VERY careful and gentle.  It takes two of us to put in eye drops for her… and we get to do that FOUR times a day for five days.

Did I mention that my eyes are watery and itchy today?

Happy New Year!

I will say, I think I prefer pink eye to the flu bug.  (Again, looking for positives!)

And speaking of positives, you might want to head over to Laura’s blog for a special Gratituesday event.  I’ll be back later with a bit more gratitude and my official post for that event.  Lord willing.  (I’m starting to think I should quit promising to be back later with more, since that hasn’t been working so well lately!)

Ok, off you go to get a dose or two of gratitude!