With the help of my mom and Todd my Christmas decorations are all packed away for another year. The decorator in me loves the clean slate that has been created when the Christmas items have been tucked away into Rubbermaids and stored in or outdoor shed. This time I am even more excited as Todd is putting a new colour on our walls and we have plans of changing up the furniture for our living room. The New Year is definitely my favourite time of the year. Not to sound Grinch-like, but no matter how much I try to embrace Christmas it seems like society’s expectation of a merry holiday season somehow seems to disappoint our family each year, and this one was no different.
In the past few years I have been minimalistic in my Christmas decorating but this year I had the time and energy to go for the gusto. I just had a few finishing touches left for Christmas decorating when I twisted my back the wrong way and needed Todd to help me up the stairs. In my 21 years of nursing and 16 years of looking after Kourtney I have never endured back pain so severe that it incapacitated me. At first my family thought it was funny to see me crawl up the stairs and use Kourtney’s walker to get around. But it soon became obvious that momma was down for the count, and all extra duties were all on hold. For 2 weeks household duties were pushed aside, the last bit of garland and lights remained on the floor exactly where I left them. I couldn’t exercise, which made me sad because I felt I was stronger than I had ever been. A heating pad and analgesia were my best friends (sorry Angela you were trumped for awhile).Meanwhile Kourtney developed a blister in her esophagus, which meant sleepless nights of not being able to swallow her own saliva and having a spittoon close at her side day and night. I can’t imagine the pain or the discomfort this brings but to listen to her trying to swallow, and to empty her sputum filled cup once again made all of us heart-sick for her. The sucker punch came, however, with a cold and lingering whooping like cough that exacerbated her swallowing and sleep issues for 6 weeks.
On top of this Todd was busy with the Christmas music program at school; planning songs, decorating and arranging the music. As most of you know, when Todd does something he does it to perfection so many of his evenings were consumed with chosing the right songs, decorations, lights, not to mention shouldering the load left by my incapacitated state, as well being up a lot through the night with Kourtney.
We thought Shae was rolling with the punches. As my back got better I went on a cleaning spree. Shae’s room looked like a typhoon had hit it,as I picking up her laundry I realized the cat had been using her closet as a litter box. It takes a lot these days for tears to breakthrough my botox (antidepressant) emotions, but when the floodgates opened they didn’t stop. At first I was really angry with Shae for not noticing or smelling it but soon it became obvious that a messy room is also a sign of a messy mind.It was a good reminder for me that I need to check in with her more often and of course not to let the kitty sleep in her room with the door closed (we managed to clean it up and are happy to report the cat is doing her business in the litter box again).
My parents arrival on the 23rd was greeted with great anticipation. We love having them at our house. They fit in so well and are a reminder of God’s Grace in our lives. However, again Christmas Day was filled with heartbreak for me as a momma; watching my daughter sitting with her spittoon at our Christmas dinner, unable to swallow her own saliva, nevermind partaking in the deliciousness of a turkey dinner. The day, although lovely, at my dear in-laws home and an awesome time with Todd’s sister, Leanne, and family ended up with Kourtney fracturing her right foot. We had been going into Children’s for “serial casting” in order for her contracture to be corrected. It was the first time in a year in a half that Kourtney could walk without pain. But due to an ineffective splint Kourtney’s “new gait” left her ankle bearing weight that it wasn’t used to and bam - pure pain. Kourtney being the tough child she is grinned and bared it through all of Boxing Day. On the 27th, on the advice of Kourtney’s ever-faithful Dr. Courtemanche we took her to the ER in Abbotsford and waited for 4 hours for an x-ray. Although the x-ray didn’t show any obvious fractures, the Dr. assumed her osteoporotic ankle bone had a deeper hairline fracture. After consulting with Dr. Courtemanche, the attentive ER doctor sent us home with follow up at Children’s for Monday morning and instructions for Kourtney to stay off of it.
So now our trip to Kelowna is a bit up in the air. We are hoping Kourtney gets her ankle casted again and can weight bear so she can enjoy her most favourite thing to do in Kelowna – tubing at Big White. My brother has been gracious enough for us to have my parents stay here until we get things sorted out. As well, Uncle Wonderful is pretty determined to get Kourtney to Kelowna and help out as much as necessary – to me that is what family is all about. Although 2014 is starting out shaky I am once again reminded of how far our entire family (not just Kourtney) has come. Setting goals is kind of the thing to do at the start of a new year , however, I feel that our family is just coming out of one of the best years full of accomplishments.
Todd has gotten back into mountain biking, has done some amazing backyard projects and recently put together the most polished school Christmas program I have ever have been to.
Kourtney is going to school regularly, getting out of the house daily, becoming more mobile, learning to advocate for herself and looking forward to getting her L for driving
Shaelyn is doing well in school, loves the trampoline more than ever (even in the snow) and has worked diligently to perfect her front and back flips. She assisted leading her school volleyball team to become district champions, loves her skipping and most recently started skateboarding.
And myself, until I hurt my back I was feeling the best ever emotionally and physically. I cut back in my work hours and took my kitchen back. My family has been reaping the benefits of many new recipes. Thank you Pinterest!
The verses that have become front and center for me in 2014 are in Matthew:
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Once again, life lessons are crystal clear in our family. As soon as I became semi-comfortable in life’s routine and excited about society’s Christmas expectations my back went out. I had no choice but to slow down and focus on what is important in my life – looking after my family. There is not a lot of “job satisfaction” especially when you are sleep deprived, incapacitated and raising teenagers. Kourtney’s swallowing issues and spontaneous fracture of her ankle made me so grateful for the amazing crisis-free 11 months we had with her. The “respite” was definitely welcomed. However the last 6 weeks of being “uncomfortable “ in life is once again when we have no choice but to turn to God and know that we serve a great and sovereign God. As much as we think we are in control we are not. It is so easy to forget that our strength only comes from a God that provides for our every need. So as we welcome 2014 our family strives to store our treasures in heaven!
PS. We saw Dr Coutermanche, and Kourtney’s Occupational Therapist yesterday (two specialists together during the holidays is very AMAZING). They casted Kourtney’s foot and it feels much better. We made it to Kelowna to celebrate New Years with, my parents, Uncle Wonderful and his family.
