Christmas 2015

This year my Christmas decor consisted of this:

I had emergency gallbladder surgery on December 18th.   Up to that time I was still suffering from Bronchitis, which I had since late October.   I was tired and weak and didn't have the energy to get my Christmas decor put out on Thanksgiving weekend like I normally do.   The second week of December Sweetheart helped me put the tree together then quickly afterwards my gallbladder attacked me.    Sweetheart took me to the emergency room on Tuesday and by Wednesday morning at 10am I was being operated on.  So, for the rest of the holiday season, our tree sat with no ornaments, no star, no tree skirt and no nativity.   The nutcracker made it out because it was a new purchase this year -- a gift from Sweetheart.    On Christmas night we sat in the living room with only the tree lights on and agreed that even though the tree was not embellished, it was perfect.    We were together at home and we were able to visit with my family and we were able to go to mass on Christmas eve -- all was good.

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While in the emergency room, Sweetheart found this monkey at the gift shop and brought it to me.  I have a thing for stuffed animals (and monkeys).   I held on to the monkey the entire time.  It was comforting for me; I'm sure the entire staff thought I was mental: 

I still sleep with him every night......

I had to stay in the hospital a couple of days because I had an infection.   That was the worst.   But when I was finally home, this guy took good care of me:

I didn't think I would be able to make it to Tucson this year for Christmas but at the last minute I felt good enough to travel and Sweetheart agreed to take me.  That took some convincing (and/or tears) because he thought it was best to just stay home because my condition was still very delicate.  Once he decided we would go, he helped me wrap gifts.  All gifts were put into gift bags:

   

Incidentally, my best friend Monica and I had our annual wrapping party scheduled on the day that I was released from the hospital so we didn't get to have our party this year.   But she was a huge support through the entire process and I am very thankful to have her friendship. 

I felt so good on Christmas eve that I was able to get dressed and attend Christmas mass -- I was so very thankful for that.   We were even able to have our traditional Chinese dinner afterwards:

Of course that was more for Sweetheart because I wasn't able to eat much; I'm still on a very limited diet.   At first it was because I had to be careful now it's more fear of getting sick by eating something that is too fatty.  

Sweetheart surprised me with an after Christmas gift this year.   While in Tucson he saw that I loved my sister's new Uggs so he surprised me with these:

They are so comfortable and they keep me so warm!  

This guy.  What would I do without him?

He was just so wonderful while I was sick.  He jumped in and handled the grocery shopping, the cooking and the cleaning.   Speaking of cleaning when I got sick in October, he hired a cleaning service to come in every other week to clean the house.   That took a tremendous load off my mind because I'm a nut about a clean house!  The two ladies that come in do an incredible job and I am just so pleased with their work.   I am so very grateful that he is in my life -- I am truly blessed!

Here's looking to a healthy and happy 2016!