Unpredictable

One of the most frustrating things of navigating an autoimmune issue with a child is the uncertainty. We never quite know when a flair might occur and what symptoms will manifest. By most accounts Timmy appears physically healthy and strong, but those close to us realize that wellness is a fragile state dependent upon a myriad of factors. I wish I could wave a magic wand and fix all of his ailments.

I feel guilty feeling frustrated and worried about his health. Compared to many children, especially those we see at Children's Hospital, I know that we are extremely lucky. Still though, it is hard watching your little one struggle to feel well.  He has such a happy disposition and just wants to be silly and play. I hate seeing him knocked down by his own body reactions.On Sunday night Scott and I noticed some welts forming on Timmy's legs.

Yesterday morning his extremities were covered with hot, red and apparently itchy hives. His body was in overdrive, and my sweet little boy was an itch riddled mess. Knowing from experience that activity only worsens the reaction, I did my best to keep him quiet and comfortable throughout the day. Instead of playing outside or going to one of his toddler play centers, we spent a lot of time baking cookies and watching the Polar Express.

By the time the sun was setting his hives were lessening in severity. I'm hoping that his medication will continue to work magic throughout the night and that he will be less spotted in the morning. If I could take this struggle away from him, I would do it in a heartbeat. Since that isn't possible, I'm going to keep pushing and fighting on his behalf.

ZooLights

After a nearly five hour delay plane delay, I finally arrived home late Friday night. So much for my plans of coming home in the early evening so I could cuddle on the couch and watch Christmas cartoons with the boys. By the time I staggered into the door I was travel weary, annoyed by people and ready for bed. 

A solid night sleep rejuvenated my holiday spirit, which was a good thing because on Saturday we headed out on a family adventure.  The boys only knew that they needed to pack an overnight bag and were reminded to grab both coats and gloves but were unaware of our destination. I love our surprise little getaways!  

After getting settled into our DC hotel we bundled up and walked a few blocks down the street to the National Zoo, which was beautifully illuminated for the season. The boys were in awe of the colorful lighted decorations. Even the tree branches on the colonial trees were covered with beautiful little twinkle lights. If you ever end up in DC near Christmastime, you really should visit ZooLights.  

Thanks to a Groupon I snagged on Black Friday, we enjoyed unlimited train, carousel and sledding rides. Needless to say, my youngest engineer was quite fond of the choo choo train. He and I spent a lot of time riding the miniature train while Scott and Robby explored other sections of the zoo. 

Timmy's delight with the train must have been evident because the Conductor took note and invited him to sit in the front of the train. My little guy's smile shone almost as bright as the holiday lights, especially when he was encouraged to ring the bell on the train. He was so excited he was practically giddy.  

After the sun completely set and the cold began to increase we headed back to the hotel for the night. Timmy quickly fell asleep, no doubt dreaming of driving the train, and we curled into our beds and watched Elf on television. (I planned the adventure so I was the one who picked the movie.)  

Our little getaway was the perfect way to rekindle the holiday spirit after a brief hiatus.

Heading Home

Today I'm packing up and flying home. After a quick yet eventful trip across the country, I'm ready to see my boys and return to normal. I miss my kids, my husband, our kitties and our Christmas tree.  Traveling is a welcome reminder that my talents and abilities do extend beyond the my small little circle, but at the end of the day I'm a homebody.  

My meetings in San Francisco went well and the week was topped with an amazing holiday party.  True to my company's core values, the party was a dedicated fundraiser for two amazing nonprofits. Instead of just toasting the year's accomplishments, employees and friends were digging into their wallets to help amputees in developing countries. I felt a surge of pride being part of a company with such a strong philanthropic view.  

This morning I have time to grab a quick cup of coffee before I throw my stuff into a bag to head home. Tomorrow Scott and I have a small Christmas Adventure planned for the boys.  We are going to see the National Christmas tree and to walk through ZooLights at the National Zoo.  We reserved a hotel room in the city for the night, which is always a treat for the kids.  I know that they will have a blast, and I'm looking forward to some quality holiday-themed family time.  

Nervous Energy

With the exception of continuing to battle frustrating ear issues, yesterday went beautifully. My presentations were well received and I feel a weight off of my shoulders with their success. I hate that I become so nervous before presenting, but at this point I'm not sure it is ever going to change. Instead of being frustrated with my reaction I'm going to start to embrace the nervous energy as a catalyst to do my best. I'm never going to stop being nervous before presenting, but I can at least try to put a positive spin on an otherwise negative emotion!

Today should be more relaxed in the office.  We are decorating for a holiday fundraiser which we are hosting tonight. I am going to channel my inner elf as we transform the manufacturing hub into a holiday wonderland.  

Smooth Travel

Greetings from San Francisco.  

With the exception of the horrible traffic we encountered when Scott was trying to drop me off at the airport, my trip was both smooth and non-eventful. I breezed through security and arrived at the gate without issue. I thoroughly enjoy traveling when everything goes as planned!

Feeling festive I packed a few extra boxes of Christmas sugar cookies in my carry-on bag.  (I figured that I could keep Robby's Kindness Chain going by planting some seeds across the country.)  The airline attendant seemed frazzled when I checked in for my flight, so I offered her a smile and a bag of sparkly cookies. She graciously returned my kindness by bumping me up to first class. My intent was not to grease the wheels to get something in return but her kindness was greatly appreciated as I was able to relax during the long flight.

Today will be busy with meetings and party prep. Hopefully the good travel trend will continue throughout the rest of the trip. Wish me luck, it's going to be a long day!

Travel Day

Today will be both long and chaotic. Last night going to bed I tried mentally preparing for the activities of today. Unfortunately I think I jinxed myself because my leg was sore and uncomfortable most of the night, keeping me from sleeping well. I tossed and turned much of the night, frustrated with the discomfort and fretting about the lack of sleep. It's a good thing I brewed a whole pot of coffee this morning, I have a feeling I'm going to need the boost.

After l drop off Robby at school Timmy and I will start driving north. We are meeting my Mom at our halfway point to exchange cars. She will be taking Hamlet to her house while I travel to San Francisco for meetings. It is going to be hard to say goodbye to him, but knowing that he will have fun with her and his cousins makes it a little easier. He will be both entertained and happy during his mini-Nana vacation. I have no doubt that his moments of missing me will be fleeting.

Robby and Scott will take me to the airport when school is over. Ready to go into bachelor mode, they are already planning their gas station dinners and fast food breakfasts. Years ago I would frantically cook meals for the pair in anticipation of my absence. Coming home to find greasy paper bags overflowing from the trash and my homemade meals still carefully labeled and tucked away in the refrigerator have cured my prepping compulsions. They are on their own for meals, and they will be fine.  They have no illusions of them eating any vegetables, but I am hopeful that the increased saturated fats will compensate for the lack of fiber intake.

I am looking forward to a non-eventful flight to California. Although flying isn't my favorite activity, I'm looking forward to a few hours of solitude on the plane. After taking care of sick kids for the past week, sitting still and binge watching movies for a few hours sounds like a vacation.  

Tranquil Snow

At the risk of jinxing our family, I am delighted to report that this morning everybody appears to be healthy. Robby's fever (finally) broke over the weekend, and he is begrudgingly returning to school today. Timmy is full of energy and has returned to his normal level of mischief. He no longer has a fever, and his appetite is returning. After an extremely long and frustrating week, I think our family has finally eradicated the pesky infections.  

The weather forecasters did not lead us astray because on Saturday we enjoyed the first snowfall of the season. Our neighborhood was blanketed in a few inches of beautiful fluffy snow. It was the perfect setting to hibernate inside and prepare for Christmas. Timmy and I spent the afternoon baking cookies and watching Christmas movies (The Polar Express again) while the snow steadily fell outside. The snowfall was breathtakingly beautiful, laying on the ground and all of the branches in our woods but not sticking to the roads. 

Our prelude to winter quickly melted away on Sunday, but we are all hoping that more will fall soon. There is something magical about snow before Christmas, probably because it is a rare occurrence in this region. Hopefully the boys will be feeling healthy and strong the next time we have the opportunity to sled because they were both disappointed that I wouldn't let them play outside on Saturday. (Robby failed to see the logic of my refusing his requests to play in the snow after being home sick from school all week.)

Although I'm hoping for snow before Christmas, I don't want any to fall during the next few days. Tomorrow I leave for California and I'm glad that the weather seems to be clear. It is a short trip, with my returning on Friday, and I would appreciate no weather complications. After I land and return home, Old Man Winter can return with a vengeance. Until then, I'm going to hope for clear skies to help with my travel anxiety.