How do you explain Christmas to a child? This is the first year that we've fully felt the weight of that responsibility - taking the traditions, the celebration, and even the greed and gluttony and making it all point to Christ.
We tell Holly that Christmas is all - entirely - about Jesus. She knows about Mary and Joseph, and she can sing all the words to "Away in a Manger." All this "intentionality" (for lack of a better word) forced me to take hard look at all our customs and traditions surrounding Christ's birth and ask, "Is this the BEST way to bring honor and glory to our King?"
So this Christmas season has been one big paradox. On one hand, I'm experiencing the joy of Christmas through the eyes of our 3 year old, which is pretty incredible. How can you not love hearing "Frosty the Snowman" for the 35th time [in a day] when your child is singing along (especially when her version goes "Frosty the Snowman, had a Happy Halloween")? Even the tackiest Christmas lights are a display of wonder. Blow up snowmen and Santas? I wish my whole street was full of them!
(so I don't have to have one in my yard)
But on the other hand, there's been an unusual tension in my soul this year. Heavy, I know. Maybe it's because so much of Christmas has become so selfish (this self included). Or because so little about our celebration has anything to do with Jesus. We were loving the season, celebrating much, but something was missing.
Until...
We made it to the 6 pm service at church on Sunday, driving there straight from Greenville with sleepy little ones. When we picked the girls up from Waumba Land, they handed us a red bag. It was a kit to have our own "Happy Birthday Jesus" party at home. Brilliant!
So on Wednesday, Holly and I baked a cake and put a few decorations around the house. We shook things up and had dinner - pizza and chicken nuggets - in the dining room. Matt read the Christmas story from Luke 2 (continuing the tradition, Mom and Dad!). And then we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. Holly was very concerned that he wouldn't mind us eating his cake.
All of this led me to a new thought. How do you teach a child about Christmas WITHOUT the customs and traditions that for a moment seemed so trite and almost sacrilegious? The songs, the lights, the sweets (lots of sweets), and the gifts have completely captured Holly's awe, and she's curious about why we do it. All of a sudden she actually has an attention span.
I'm already looking forward to the next birthday party for Jesus, and celebrating with our 4 year old Holly and 2 year old Anna. What joy.
Merry Chrismas, joyeux noel.
As Matt tells it, he and Holly were browsing the card aisle at the store when Holly spotted this snowman card. "That's the one for Mommy!" Matt looked at it, shrugged, and said "Okay!"
My Christmas card is definitely unique, but still terrific!
We're celebrating in our house - I talked to Anna's doctor yesterday, and her platelet count is 132,000! Up 100,000 in 6 days. The doctors prepared me that it could take 1-2 months for her body to "correct itself" so this is great news. Thank you all for your prayers, your concern, and your words of encouragement.
Holly and I had to wake Anna from a very deep sleep so we could make it to her doctor appointment on Wednesday. I rarely see my kids while they're sleeping, so this was a little treat (except the waking her up part). Here are a couple of pictures...
We had a pretty super weekend. A few highlights I'll share:
- breakfast in front of the (real) fire on Saturday
- lots of family time
- a Pandora radio station created around the Charlie Brown Christmas music
- staying in pajamas until the afternoon
- almost completing the Christmas shopping
- dinner at the Brick Store on Saturday
- changing things up and going to church at 6 pm (love having options!)
- Anna continuing to do great
- haircut day for Mommy and Holly on Sunday!
Holly was a little apprehensive at first...it's been a long time since she got her hair cut and all she remembered was that scissors are involved. But Miss Brooke bribed her with a cookie and she hopped right in the chair.
I don't really have a good "after" picture. I'll try to add that later. But it was sweet time for Holly and me - some rare alone time for the two of us (well, sort of alone time). Now if I could just get her to sit still for a mani/pedi...
We have a diagnosis - ITP, or Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Basically, as Anna's body fought an infection, she overproduced antibodies which attacked her platelets. This disease often corrects itself over time, but it's the in-between period we have to be careful about. Because Anna's platelet count was so low (10,000 instead of the normal 150,000), she could be in serious trouble if she had a head injury.
The hematologist recommended moving forward with treatment to increase the platelet count. This led to hours of waiting, as we first needed a new blood count. The nurses had an awful time trying to get some blood from Anna and start her IV line. She screamed and fought, and they tried two veins before giving up. It was so hard to have to restrain her as she looked at me with frightened eyes and a tear-soaked face. All I could do was sing in her ear and pray for her.
The nurses were able to draw a tiny amount of blood, but decided to call the IV team in to start the line. By then her numbing cream had worn off, and the thought of them trying several new veins with no numbing cream just broke my heart. As we waited for them to arrive, her worn out little body finally fell asleep in my arms. It the best part of my day. Until...
The doctor came in a few minutes later and told me that she had gotten the new blood counts and her platelet count was at 32,000. Tripled! In a day! She no longer recommended the IV infusion, and was really optimistic that Anna's body was taking care of itself. We will go back next week and check her blood again to make sure the platelets are continuing to increase. We'll probably be doing this weekly or bi-weekly for the next month or so.
I'm overwhelmed with gratitude. I'm so grateful that Anna, seemingly miraculously, was asymptomatic despite her very low platelet count. I'm grateful for platelet counts that triple in a day with no intervention. I'm grateful for our wonderful and perceptive pediatrician, and the amazing doctors and nurses at Children's Healthcare. I'm grateful for friends I can call when I need some encouragement, and for a community of people committed to praying for us. And I'm so grateful that God, in His grace and mercy, seems to be healing our Anna. Thank you Father.
Signing out now, going to bed, and sleeping well tonight.
We had a little (?) health scare with Anna yesterday. Her body is covered in bruises and petichiae (a rash of purple freckles), which points to a blood problem. We had a full blood count taken yesterday, and thankfully her white blood cell count is normal, which means we should be able to rule out something serious like leukemia. But her platelet count is extremely low, which indicates there is still a problem. It could be a viral infection, reaction to an antibiotic, or a number of other things. We are going back to the hospital today at 10:30. I'm not sure what tests will be done, but we need to try to determine the cause of the low count. In the meantime, Anna is making me nervous! She just started walking and is a clumsy little toddler. But because her blood isn't clotting much, she has to be very careful to avoid any injury (even injury that doesn't break the skin can cause internal bleeding). So I'm asking for prayer this morning.
1) That her platelet count rises quickly and drastically
2) For wisdom and discernment for the doctors as they try to determine the cause
3) That Anna will stay tough and keep her sweet spirit through it all
4) That I will stay tough and keep my sort of sweet spirit through it all
5) That Anna will somehow stay free of too many bumps and falls
6) That this ordeal, however big or small, grows my (our) faith and dependence on our Heavenly Father and brings glory to Him.
Thank you! Will keep you posted...
