The Christmas and the Crud- A Poem

There once was a family of 6 who were anxious for the break of Christmas.
The break began with such promise - shopping and wrapping in honest.
The 21st of December, a Sunday, saw the largest member go under.
Chills and a fever he ran, first time ever he cut off the ceiling fan.

That Monday we opened our family gifts, everyone spirits had a lift.
The biggest still felt like crud, but still was touchy with his hugs.
Our plans did not deviate, by Tuesday we hit the road to celebrate.
Sunset was the first stop on our 4 day quest, we had to take two cars to get things to fit the best.

Tuesday and Wednesday brought lots of familiar faces, good food, and the predictable places.
Rounds 2, 3, and 4 of gift opening also did occur.
We left Sunset feeling quite blessed, then headed west.
Clemsaca saw us arrive Christmas morning, according to my husband to the place that is never boring.

Christmas Day is where the smallest of our crew decided that he wanted to run a fever too.
A quick run to Walgreens we did, to dope him up on ibuprofin.
The largest was feeling better by far, looking back that is now quite bizarre.
By the 26th, God stopped the rain, but Biggie went crashing down hard again.

Joining the fever crew of the biggest and littlest was one in the middle- the skinniest. 
Saturday- time to go home.  Biggie had to wait at Minute Clinic for four hours. Oh no!
Diagnosis of flu plus sinus and ear infections validated his whimpy holiday actions.
Got home and came barging through my door and dismantled Christmas so fast you could have swore.

On Tuesday, the brother in Asheville with his family in tow visits our house on a day of cold.
The zip line present goes up courtesy of brother named above, the Queen gets stuck and I laughed - kind of.
The Biggest slowly gets better, the littlest does not. 
By Thursday, Minute Clinic gets to see us again, another diagnosis of ear infection infiltrates our land.

A New Years meet up with a friend and her kids turns out to be a much needed reprieve.
Friday, by myself I got in my car to paint and decorate with baby brother.  It was one of the best days by far.
We think this sickness started with the boy with some curl in his hair as his fever started the week before Christmas break was even here.
I just want to add that if that is true, I have no idea how I did not come down with some form of it too.

We think we are finally out of the woods, until oldest son of 9 wakes up Sunday with this crud.
His ear hurts him now so off we go again to support our local Minute Clinic Men.
Ear infections the reason even the Queen and a nephew hear similar news this Christmas season.
The oldest boy hears a pop in his ear and the oozing begans he says he cant hear.

Monday we head to Greenville to visit with a friend- despite all the infections. ears are best served to lend.
Yesterday, a Tuesday, the oldest boy still bleeds from his ear.  To Greenville this time his pain is severe.
Perforated ear drum the doctor did say, anitbiotics drops are his future the next 7 days.
Finally, finally, the routine is back. I finally got back to the "Y", how about that?
Despite the crud, the sickness and such, this Christmas was great... Happy Birthday Jesus!

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Kids did a Christmas program

Baby love!

Charlee and her big gift from PapaHub and Grandma

Hunter and one of his gifts

Sami and hers

Shepherd and his present

Ashton got a keyboard from PapaHub and Grandma and we didn't get it out of the box but he is holding some of Alabama wear.

Shepherd on his "tacta"



PapaHub and Grandma with their number of perfection... 7 grandkids.

Mom got all creative with this cute monogrammed tins filled with lots of fun stuff

Chad, on a day he was filling ok



Queenie with  3 of the 4

Uncle Zach preparing for battling the zip line

This is wear Queenie got stuck.  She didn't realize the seat was tied to a limb.  hahaha.. so funny mom



Zach, Hunter, and me posing by the platform and zip line

Hunter taking a ride

Dinner at my house with my family, mom and dad, Nolan, Zach and his family, GrandmaDean, both of Dad's brothers and Aunt Kay.

Another shot... sorry Nolan and Dad- no pics of you this year.