Enjoying the season.

I always look forward to Christmas with excitement and anticipation and hope. Even when I became ill this never changed. What changed then was my capability to enjoy Christmas when it arrived. I take it easy with the buying and wrapping presents on the lead up to Christmas, but there's no possibility of taking it easy when it hits.
This year was a wonderful Christmas, we were surrounded by family and for me this is heaven. I love my family. The sad thing is I can't enjoy it like I used to. As an M.E sufferer I feel bombarded with noise and commotion. A sensory overload exhausts me and each night I would come home as tired, sore, headachey and nauseous as if I'd gone for a walk that afternoon. I'm lucky that I have no responsibilities at Christmas, my wonderful husband and family take over and allow me to use my energy to enjoy the festivities. I know I'm one of the lucky ones with understanding family and friends. They would tell me to use my kid free time to rest, but nearly five years of having M.E and I still don't want to miss out on all the fun. Some things really are worth the consequences.
Saying that though, my husband and I are planning on a nice, relaxing QUIET New Years Eve! ... If the kids permit, that is.

Christmas countdown

I start counting down to Christmas after my birthday in October. I begin by making lists of everything I need to do and buy and who to get presents for, then I make my way through the lists. This year time seems to be going quickly and with all the illness my mind just hasn't been on Christmas at all. Having M.E there is no option to go last minute Christmas shopping as its all done on the Internet. Saying that though, I attempted a trip to Tesco last Saturday and made a promise to myself I would never do that again! It was survival of the fittest, every man for himself. Needless to say I barely came out alive. Luckily I was with my mum, so I left the goods with her, and sought peace, rest and sanity in the car while she finished up. Finding peace, rest and sanity in the presence of two young kids tells you what it was like in Tesco!

I think I've come to terms with the fact that my baby is probably going to be ill for the duration of the season, so instead of fighting against it I'm going to try to adapt and work around it, which will mean doing everything with a baby in one arm. I made my first list this week to prepare for Christmas. A list for who I need to BUY presents for. Today, I bought my first presents! I had a toddler in one arm, baby in the other and I somehow managed to navigate my way around Tesco's website and thanks to club card vouchers I got all the presents for free. Great feeling. Let the Christmas countdown begin ... Just not too quickly!