Wednesday, December 26, 2007

The Cough that almost stole Christmas

Joy to the world, the Cough remains, so while Heav'n and Nature sang, yours truly could not.

Pro's and Cons of being sick during Christmas:

First, the not so great stuff:

1. It was very difficult to get into the Christmas spirit. Just when I had the work thing licked (for now), ready to get into the birthday party preparations and holidays festivities, this Cough that began as a little tickle, can now be heard around the world ...(yes, you thought that was the annoying choking motor in your neighbour's driveway, but it was really me). Well, at least according to the husband. He thinks I should take up smoking to be worthy of my cough.

2. Said husband has been sleeping in the guest room since the illness hit. Just so that he can actually get some sleep without being rudely awakened by Mt. Vesuvius erupting every 30 minutes. He moved back in for Christmas eve when the relatives needed the bed. But quickly vacated it again last night. Who could blame him, I honestly wouldn't want to wake up as a human cast of volcanic ash. I miss him though.

3. I've been so reticent with the Christmas hugs and snuggles with the kiddies and my nieces. Especially the babies (oh, I'm sooooo upset about that!) They are just the most adorable little things, just about 6 months old now. Chortling, giggling, limbs jerking wildly about as they amaze themselves with their newfound talents. I'm likely way past contagious, but I sound so horrible whenever I cough, I daren't go too close to them, just in case.


4. Bodyjam withdrawal. I am missing the gym, and my favourite hip-hop class more than I ever thought I would. It's been about two weeks! I am also dreading getting back into the gym, because I already see the expanding muffin top that I was working so hard at keeping at bay.

5. The general lack of energy during a time when we should be planning fun daytrips, and exciting family time together. At least Ian is out skiing today.

But there's a shiny side:

1. I could go out with a girlfriend who's also got a lingering cough, so we were both merrily hacking away in this little sushi restaurant. Great company, great laughs, great food... and great cough-raderie. Not so great for the rest of the clientele, I suppose.

2. I was not the head chef this year at our Christmas Eve dinner. Ian took the reins and decided, because a few of the family are vegetarian and don't eat turkey anyway, to make a turkey roll a la Ricardo instead of a full bird. It was simply delish, stuffed with pork,pear and cranberry. And he rounded out the meal with a lovely pinnacota (an Italian dessert of milk, whipping cream and gelatin) with a blueberry fruit topping.
My sisters-in-law brought all their mouthwatering Christmas baking, which actually left little room for the dessert.

I was happy to make the mash and broccoli. That much I could handle.

3. Downtime actually gives you the time to reflect. And spend quiet moments with my kids and hubby. Because although I've been choking up my lungs, at least I'm in the same room as them, and I can watch from a safe distance as they snuggle with their Daddy.

4. If you're going to be not feeling well, at least it's a happy time of year around you. My relatives were all great and happy to see us. I had warned everyone ahead of time of my lingering cough, so no one seemed overly concerned.

I even had the energy to try this great new recipe that's on Jaden's website. The Crab and Fuji apple salad went over very well last night, and blended right in with my Mom's melange of a menu that started with my salad and followed with smoked salmon, yams, ham and roast beef. With Kit Kat, Smarties Ice Cream or Strawberry Sherbert for dessert.

5. I lack the energy to Boxing Day shop; well, at least on Boxing day itself. So it's a little easier on the pocketbook, gives it a day's grace anyway.

I remember as a kid, getting up bright and early on Boxing Day and jumping in the car with my family to head out to Scarborough Town Centre. We would get into the mall, and stand outside the large glass sliding doors that opened to the Bay; then make a mad dash to the Christmas cards and wrapping sections to help my mom grab the best offerings before anyone else would get there.

And a few years later as a teenager, taking the TTC down to Yonge Street to line up for Sam the Record Man's annual Boxing Day extravaganza. I think my best score ever was when I paid $3.99 for Bryan Adams "Cuts like a Knife" LP.

The vitality of youth. Actually, illness or no, I wouldn't even contemplate actually heading out today. With the sales that will likely linger until the New Year, I think I can afford another day of rest before tackling the mall.

All crankiness aside, overall it has been a great couple of days with the families. So I'll leave with some photos of the festivities...

Birthday Celebrations

Us

Cousins!


Dora gets ready for the party


Christmas Chez Nous

Birthday cousins

Bakugan - SCORE!!!

I am a Unicorn staring at the most hermetically sealed toy packaging in the universe.

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's


L, Grandpa and Baby R


G and Baby J

32 comments:

Kellan said...

I'm so sorry you have been so sick, but you sure came up with a lot of good things that came from your illness - good for you. Those are beautiful pictures - I'm glad you had a good Christmas. Hope you are better soon. Kellan

Badness Jones said...

'hermetically sealed toy packaging'...lol! Isn't that the worst? I almost said to hell with it and went down to get Hubs' saw!

I'm sorry you haven't been feeling well...my throat started the tickle today, it happens every year on Boxing Day - it's like I hold it back through sheer force of will while I'm busy busy, but as soon as I sit down for a minute it attacks. Feel better. Tell Ian that long back rubs are good for coughs.

Cherry said...

Haha! Bryan Adamas! good score!

I was going through all of the sale ads this year and thinking I would get to go out shopping with my girlfriend who came up from LA with her family but noooooo... I failed to take today off of work (since we don't observe Boxing Day in the states). I usually take this whole week off so it was quite a shocker when I realized there would be no shopping this year. Which is fine... I guess!

So um... why does G have a Unicorn on her head? and Why do they make packaging so hard to OPEN? I've cut my hand more times on toy packaging.

I hope you are feeling better this evening and that Ian will come back to bed for some good snuggles. That's what I miss most when I'm sick!

Danielle said...

I too have the family cough, Nathanial, samantha and I all have the dreaded cough. Hope you feel better.

Sweet and Salty said...

I'm so sorry you don't feel well. I hope it doesn't last.

Take care of yourself, will ya? (smile)

Hope Christmas was really great...

SteamyKitchen said...

wonderful photos! I'm glad you liked the salad.

Merry xmas to you and your family!

Anonymous said...

I hope you're feeling better by now. I wouldn't mind being a little sick during Christmas. Not too much to miss it but enough to get out of cooking! hee hee

BeachMama said...

It sounds like you had a great holiday despite your cough. Sorry you are going through that, we have a few coughs around here but nothing that would keep us up at night.

I love the photos of you and your family. You all look wonderful and oh do happy.

As for the malls. Not going to do it if it kills me. I can wait :).

Heidi said...

Sorry you're sick during the holidays - but hey, you can always use that as leverage in terms of housework, right? Right?

Your family look soooooo happy. Awwww...

btw, I heard the boxing day shopping this year in T dot sucks. So you're only missing the stress and crowds(not a bad thing, in my opinion).

The Ferryman said...

I wonder whatever happened to poor Bryan Adams...

Momisodes said...

Aww...hoping you feel better soon.

I love those pics! Looks like everyone had a lovely holiday.

PinksandBluesGirls said...

Sorry you're sick! You still managed to look great for Christmas, though! Loved the photos!

Jane, Pinks & Blues

Don Mills Diva said...

Sorry you've been feeling so crappy but it sounds like you've figured out the upside regardless. Hope you feel better soon.

Blog said...

Aww! Sorry you were so sick! But, look at you highlighting the silver lining! :) Love the pictures! Thanks for sharing. Happy holidays!!! xoxo

Jay said...

Aw, I love that you found the up side to being sick for the holidays. Good on ya.

OHmommy said...

Dude, I really need to move to Canada for this Boxing Day thing. I mean... shopping as a holiday? That is awesome. Sorry to hear you were sick for it.

Jocelyn said...

All those poor sushi eaters are cursing the germs that jumped on them from nowhere.

But I love your silver linings so much.

Be back in bed with the hubby soon, okay?

Laura said...

Sickness during the holidays is the worst. I hope you are all better. So much of that going around.

Family Adventure said...

Karen, I'm so sorry you didn't get better in time for Xmas, but here's to sushi with a friend!

Hope you're feeling better by now, and that you'll have a great New Year with the family.

Love the pictures.

Heidi :)

Unknown said...

Hope you feel better, Karen :)

Great photos! The kids looked like they had a wonderful time! xo

Anonymous said...

I am sorry you're not well and I hope that you get to feeling better soon so you can go back to doing all the things you miss - I love the pics - thanks for sharing :)

J said...

Sorry about the cough..hope it's better by now.

We got stomach flu at Christmas, which is thankfully all gone now, but now we also seem to have the stupid cough. :(

Anonymous said...

I would have never known who Dora was two years ago! Now I'm an expert of course. I have a slight cold now after Christmas!

Heidi said...

I hope you are feeling better by now. It looks like you had a good time celebrating with family anyways. At least in the pictures, which are lovely BTW.
Happy new year!

Anonymous said...

hope you're feeling better now!! somehow your cough has befallen on our family now!!

your dinner sounded yummo...need to recruit Ian over to our house to teach my hubby how to cook.

happy new year!!!!

hellomelissa said...

wow, what a post! you must be feeling better:)

this is the first yea, like, EVER! that we have not been sick over the break. amazing!

Unknown said...

Happy New Year!

By the way, I've tagged you for a little "challenge". Let me know if you decide to do it. xo

KJ said...

You guys are adorable. Sorry you were sick. Me tooooo. What is it with the toy packaging?! We had to perform rush operations on new toy packages while our kid stood by and screamed!

Beck said...

Oh my gosh, you guys are a beautiful family - and The Baby got the same Dora vanity set. Our girls could hang out and do each other's hair....
Being sick at Christmas sucks. Everyone here has a cold. Santa should have brought kleenex.

CrankMama said...

Fun pics and sounds like good times overall. Hope you get a set of healthy lungs for the New Year!

robkroese said...

Hope you're feeling better. Have a great 2008!

shay said...

HI. I'm new to you and I've had a lot of fun reading and "meeting" you and your family.

I'm sorry you were sick! It sucks but score on getting out of most of the cooking!

I lmao at the Bryan Adams CD - good one! lol.

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