A Piercing Day

There are so many people sick over these holidays. SMA kids (and adults) in the hospital, surgeries, terrible illnesses, and even us "healthy" folks have a preponderance of flu and viruses going around. A lot of folks are really struggling with personal issues, and there is a lot of sadness, tiredness, confusion, and worry abounding. I am thankful that this year, while things aren't perfect by any means, we are home, happy, healthy, and have thoroughly enjoyed our holiday time together. Every time I read about someone's wish for Christmas being peace in the home, or a cure for the disease that we already lost to, or for a smile on the face of a sick child, I am again reminded of how fortunate we are, right now, this week, to be able to just relax and enjoy our Christmas...and that is definitely what we have done. :)

This morning was the Big Day. I hadn't thought it through, being the big shopping day after Christmas, but it wasn't as bad as I expected. Kaylee, Mom and myself loaded up and went to the mall while Steve and Ernie did the man shopping thing. The first thing on the agenda--getting Kaylee's ears pierced. We walked up there, she picked out her earrings, she sat on the chair, the lady dotted her ears with a pen and had me check the placement, and then click went the gun on one ear. I saw Kaylee's face turn a little pink and her eyes get watery, but she didn't say a word, didn't move, and the second ear was done. When she got down, she didn't say much, but you could tell it hurt. I was a little surprised, because people I asked said it pinched but didn't really hurt, and I did my own with an ice cube and just shoving the earring through, and it didn't hurt me either. But Mom said hers hurt when she had it done, and Kaylee was obviously in discomfort and trying not to say anything. She wasn't even excited about having her ears done, and our next stop of Bath & Body Works she walked through fairly disinterestedly, not talking, not smelling stuff or looking around much, which isn't like her at all. Finally there she said her left ear really hurt--I looked at it, and there was a piece of hair that had been pierced into her ear with the earring, which is Not Cool. It took me a few minutes to convince her to let me get it out, but finally I did. A stop at the Books-A-Million store for an ice cold milk for her and a mocha for us, and by the time we were done she was her happy shopping self, skipping ahead, bouncing around, and feeling better. Whew. We were both concerned about her for a few minutes there.

Kaylee chose Garnet (for her birth month of January) flowers for her first earrings, and they look lovely. :) We went from Bath & Body Works through to Target, where she got a toy, and on to Old Navy where she picked out some clothes, and she ended up spending her "credit card" Christmas money and had a fun time with it. At Old Navy she had to sign the credit card machine thing with her name just like an adult, and she thought that was pretty awesome. :) As we were walking back out to the Jeep to go home, she commented about how this was how she was going to get her upper body workout in to strengthen those upper arms...carrying bags and a purse and walking all over. She insisted this was the best way to get stronger out of all of them. It's called Retail Therapy for more than one reason I guess!

When we got home, she and Grandma put together her Polly Pocket toy thing, then made a gingerbread house, then played the rest of the day. She had a wonderful day, and I'm so glad!

Me, I cooked a big old ham dinner with all the "fixin's" as they say, and I have to admit that was pretty good too. It took about two hours to slow cook the ham, but when it was done it was very juicy and flavorful. Dessert consists of apple crumb or pumpkin pie for some, and a sugar cookie and hot chocolate for me.

It's been a busy, fun day, and it's about to end with movie and that dessert I just mentioned. :) I added photos to the bottom of December's photo page, and here are photos from today as well.