I’m sitting in a hospital bed right now, typing this on my phone. My older son had his tonsils removed today and thankfully by now we are both okay and smiling again.
We are stuck here for another couple of days, so I wanted to check in with you.
It has been a rather harrowing experience letting my baby be wheeled off into the OR, but as I said, he’s fine. Still, not something I want to do again any time soon.
I am proud of my little man who was described as a “model patient” by the OR personnel and is very brave despite the pain he is in.
Christmas is around the corner, and now that the operation is over – having hung over me like a dark cloud for the past weeks – I finally start to be a bit excited about it.
Not that Christmas is my favorite holiday, if it were only me, I’d just ignore it and move on, but for the boys it is a huge thing (as it should be!) and I can’t wait to see their faces when the tree is lighted up, the gifts gleam under it and we sing carols as loudly and out of tune as possible.
This year we decided to not give them a number of small things, but just one for each. The one thing that they really want but think they never get since it is a big wish. For Paul it is a big Lego spaceship, for Niki a wooden store for playing salesman (I’m sure there is an English word for it, but I can’t find it right now, sorry) and selling his brother all kinds of wooden things for inflated prices. 😉
I find my fix for something beautiful this year not in all things smelly, but in the rich colours and textures of Hermès. I love spending the copious downtime I have here at the hospital browsing through images of scarves, bags and all kinds of pretties the orange house does so well.
Will I find something under the tree?
M has shown his generosity in NYC already of course, but maybe, just maybe I found a little something else for myself that I have coveted and searched for for years… maybe. 🙂
What are your plans for the coming holidays?
Will you be with family of friends?
Is Christmas (or Hanukkah or Kwanza or…) important to you?
Is there something beautiful and special for you under the tree this year?
As I type this, I am once more overwhelmed with gratitude for the life I have. The removing of filial tonsils is the worst of my worries and for that I am thankful.
I wish you a blessed holiday, as much fun, friends and food as you can take and as much luck, love and happiness as you can get.
And I wish you beauty all around you. It is what sustains our souls in the end.
Olfactoria's Travels 
Poor little lad – I hope he makes a good recovery and has a splendid Christmas.
Not surprised you weren’t feeling terribly festive until the successful operation was out of the way.
Good luck to you and all of your lads, big and small, and take lots of photos for yourselves – the time passes so quickly!
cheerio;-)
Thank you, Anna! I’m sure by Christmas he will be well again.
What a time to get one’s tonsils out! Hopefully, he will be all healed by Christmas and will be able to eat things other than ice cream — or maybe he doesn’t want to eat anything but ice cream 😉
In any case, I hope that you are holding up okay. It sounds like the hunt has been a good distraction. There is nothing sweeter than finally tracking down something you have wanted for a while!
Happy Holidays, dearest Birgit! Here’s to you and your family!
Exactly, never underestimate the distractive power of a good H hunt. 😉
The timing is good because school is put now for two weeks and the icecream was my main argument of persuasion. 😉
Sorry to hear that your son is in the hospital. However, glad that it’s nothing more serious than getting his tonsils out. I remember being around 10 when I got mine out and woke up to find my mother hovering over me with tears coming out of her eyes. It was very sweet.
Wishing you and your entire clan a wonderful holiday and special “ice cream” wishes to your young patient. xoxo Steve
So lovely that you have that memory of your mom!
Thank you, Steve and merry Christmas!
Oh, poor little boy! I’m glad to hear he is coping so well. Having a child in a hospital is always distressing, however trivial the operation. I hope he gets well soon.
Happy Holidays for you and your loved ones.
Thank you, Marjo, happy Holidays to you too!
Well done Pauli for being such a model patient. I was relieved to hear the op went well. He surely deserves that Lego spaceship.
As for Niki, his store sounds like it could provide good practice for selling oranges as a Saturday job in the future 🙂
Hahhaha, yes, great training indeed!
Thanks for your support throughout, Tara. xx
Tara beat me to it with her selling oranges joke, hehe. I really want to know what the word is now for that shop, but can’t think – maybe a photo?
I trust that you as language and especially German expert will eventually come up with the English equivalent of a Kaufmannsladen.
Will think on – it’s a curiously generic term for a shop…;)
Hospitals are not good places for children, but everything is better with a loving mum around. I love it that your sons seem to have so different wishes, the Lego and the Kaufladen… I can certainly relate to both. I wish you and your family a happy and peaceful christmas, Birgit.
As for myself: This year I’m going to spend christmas at home, and just with my husband and the cats. We have ordered enough food for a whole tribe, the wine rack is bursting and the tree is beautiful, for a change. Hope to see you soon in 2015 my dear, pass auf Dich auf.
Your Christmas sounds very peaceful and cosy.
Good to know that you can’t think of an English word for Kaufladen either… 😉
Vielen Dank, liebe Sabine.
All surgeries no matter how minor are risks so it is a good thing that your son is safe and well and recovering!
I like the idea of each getting one grand present rather than numerous little ones….we are celebrating the same way at my house…..not big in the way of presents but full of love and gratitude for all that we have….
It will be a quiet day with only immediate family and a tea party for me and my loved ones (since I am getting a blooming flower teapot under the tree for me 🙂 !!).
I am looking forward to relaxing in my bathrobe with my partner and children and not having to worry about entertaining guests, cooking, cleaning, decorating, etc…..
May you and yours have a blessed holiday season and a very happy new year!
Ah, your Christmas sounds very relaxing, enjoy it!
Thanks for your good wishes.
I am so relieved to hear that P is doing well after surgery. May you all have a blessed Christmas together enjoying the time with family and friends. We are having a quiet Christmas with lots of FaceTime with family in the US. We miss the family even more during the holidays. Merry Christmas! Hope you find a lovely orange package under the tree.
Facetime is a blessing!
Enjoy your holidays dear Sandra, and I’ll see you on the last day of the year.
Happy to hear your son is recovering nicely. I hope Santa brings you lots of wonderful things. Merry Christmas!
The only thing I’m looking forward to is Christmas being over this year. I’m finding it hard to muster up any holiday spirit. I’m having stress over gift buying too.
I understand that well, Poodle!
I hope it goes as well as possible and you find some time for yourself. Hugs.
Best wishes for a quick recovery for your little son. May your Christmas be “merry and bright” and all of you healthy and happy. Here in South Carolina it’s a subdued year, one to think of all those who are in need and give what we can. There is excitement about the news of a new relationship with Cuba, and maybe next year we will be able to visit that lovely island.. Fond regards, Anita
The Cuba news are wonderful! I hope you get to visit next year, it must be a fascinating place.
All the best for you, Anita.
Glad to hear that all has gone well and you can begin to enjoy the festivities to come. Cheers to all!
Thank you, Sun Mi, cheers to you!
Merry Christmas! I hope you and your wonderful family enjoy your sweet time together. I’m sorry your sweet child is in the hospital.
Thanks, Katherine! Merry Christmas!
Birgit, it’s good to hear all of your happy news: the successful tonsil surgery, the surprises that you have in store for the boys, your plans to “sing carols as loudly and out of tune as possible” 😀 … and maybe even another special gift from your husband under the tree. Here’s wishing you the very merriest of Christmases.
And to you, dear Suz!
I hope you and Mark have a wonderful time. xo
Glad to hear you’re all on the mend Birgit. Plus some Hermes under the Christmas tree 🙂
I hope you have a wonderful festive season.
You too, Michael! Have a great time and thank you!
Poor old Pauli having to be in hospital at this time, but he sounds like a little trooper all right, and it is best to get these things over with as soon as possible. Did you get your own bed as his mum, or were you bunking in with Pauli in his bed? Then I wonder how Michael can top the scarf splurge in NYC. More than just a peg bag and a satsuma, I expect, though that would be a not unreasonable counterbalance under the circs.
Over here, my friend and I are engaging in wreath one upmanship, but I refused to be cowed by the fact that she has bought the most beautiful wreath this side of Eccleshall, while at this point I still only have a hook on the door. I told her that when she comes over, I am disabling the outside switch to the porch light.
Please add multiple smiley faces after the first para. 😉 😉
Consider them added. Here’s one of mine: 😉
We have a nice two- bed hospital room for ourselves (bless that additional health insurance!), so no worries about my bed.
M has done more than his due in NYC already, so – and most seem to have misunderstood that – I found a little something for myself. As a reward for all that worrying… 😉
As for the wreath, knowing your perfect taste, it’ll be awe-inspiring!
That’s great about the family room at the hospital – much more reassuring for Pauli to have his mum around all the time and not just during visiting hours. Sorry I also misunderstood your present to yourself. Look forward to the orange-tinted? reveal. 😉 I bought myself a Burberry lipstick for Xmas as – having drawn a blank with my dupe hunt – I realise that I can’t ever be without Nude Rose. 😉
Good for you! A Burberry lipstick is so much more than just a lipstick!
I would say most of us reading your blog should be grateful for the lives we live. I know I am.
Glad to hear your son is doing fine and that you are looking forward to something Hermes-y under the tree. 😉
I am just looking forward to spending time with family and enjoying the atmosphere. I’ve been listening to Christmas songs for weeks now. 🙂 I love Christmas, I just wish people would remember how they want to behave around it for the duration of the year.
Wishing you and your family the merriest of Christmases!
Very true, Ines!
Have a wonderful time with your family! xx
All the best for Pauli !
I know what you mean with ignoring Christmas – I’m a bit tired of it too, or rather of its gifting part…
Wishing a very merry Christmas – see you soon 🙂
Thank you!
I hope to see you soon! xx
Hope your little boy feels better soon and that all of you have a wonderful holiday season! Thanks for all you share with us throughout the year. You deserve a well-earned break 🙂
Thank you, dear Kandice! All the best for you and yours.
Hi Birgit!Glad the procedure went well,hope Paul isn’t in too much pain!I’m a theatre nurse by day,working at an Ophthalmic hospital in South Africa.I see terrified parents of children coming for surgery daily,so I can just imagine the angst you must have felt!Luckily children are quite resilient,but it still remains a difficult experience for the moms and dads!
I’m on standby for work over the Christmas holidays,luckily we are never that busy over this period.Looking forward to some relaxation and a good book!It’s summertime here,so I’m also looking forward to sunshine days AND summer thunderstorms!We have stopped giving presents over Christmas, but we do go big on birthdays and anniversaries!I’m greatful for the life I have,and the family and friends I get to be surrounded with daily.That is a big enough gift for me.BUT:I will be spending some money on perfumes,of course!Hope your festive season is joyful,happy, and not too cold!Big hug to Paul!xo
Thanks for sharing that and reassuring me, Johano!
Have a wonderful time and hopefully no work at Christmas!
Happy holidays! If nothing else, it is wonderful to be able to take the time to appreciate family and maybe not think about work and other things quite as much? I do also love seeing how people decorate for the holidays as well. I hope your son feels better soon!
True, Nemo. It is a bit of a timeout.
Happy Holidays to you!
I remember myself as a kid undergoing the same type of surgery (it was with local anesthetic at that time). After that I got much healthier. I bet the same will happen to your son and he will enjoy his games and toys even more than before with those horrible tonsils. And this thought can serve as a Christmas gift for his parents as well.
Merry Christmas!
What a reassuring thought, thank you, Polinia! A very merry Christmas to you!