How To Ruin The Holidays, Fast

We had big plans for the couple of weeks leading up to Christmas and the New Year festivities.

Keith and I had a discussion early in December about how we wanted this year to be special for Mayhem. Closing in on eight-years-old, we weren’t sure how much ‘magic belief’ she still has and we wanted to make this year count. So we both did some research about holiday events in our area, and I even reached out to some locals to get the 411 on the best holiday offerings around Atlanta. Holiday teas, ice skating options, and light displays galore.

We narrowed down a few options and we made tentative plans for ‘holiday cheering’ in the two weeks before Christmas.

And exactly two weeks before Christmas, I came down with a nasty virus. The kind where you feel OK when you get up in the morning, then start feeling a little bit off, and then by lunchtime, you feel like you might have been run over. I went down hard and spent the next several days in a feverish state, wondering what I could have possibly done to deserve such a wretched condition. I barely moved. I showered each day, but it took so much of my energy, that I had to nap for 90 minutes following each shower. I slept a LOT, and I ate next to nothing. I did not, however, go to the doctor.

Four days after I’d come down with the virus, Mayhem spiked a fever and started feeling icky. The next day, still feeling like complete and utter hell, Mayhem’s fever reached 106.6 and I dragged my germ soaked self off the couch, to accompany her (and Keith) to the nearest Children’s Urgent Care. From behind the safety of a face mask, the doctor on duty declared it to be a virus we were sharing, and sent Mayhem home, sans medication. Strict instructions for lots of rest, lots of hydration, and lots of popsicles were what we left with.

Awesome.

The next morning, I woke to Keith having already left the house. I texted and found out he was at the grocery store. Stocking up. Because he woke up with that feeling. The one that says ‘you’re going down today’.

By the end of the day, Keith’s fever had reached 104 and we were all literally laying on the couch staring at each other. Not to be left out, Moxie decided to throw up on the floor. Then she threw up again, outside.

We participated in exactly zero of the ‘holiday activities’ on our list.

But I can honestly say that we spent a tremendous amount of family time together over this past holiday season.

Win some. Lose some.

Cheers to good health in the new year!