On Saturday, my family came over to open Christmas presents. Katherine's favorite gift from us are her Elmo slippers.
Katherine really got into opening presents this year and was more than happy to help Isabella.
Andrew was getting worse and did not go to church on Sunday. The girls went home Sunday afternoon with Amber, so I could keep getting ready for the Maxey family. I lead Christmas Caroling for the church that night and got a call from Amber that Katherine's bottom had gotten extremely raw from too many dirty diapers. So, I was on the phone with the pediatrician while we went door to door singing. Katherine had to take baths with baking soda over the next several days and walk around without a diaper as much as possible. She peed on Lauren's floor - gotta love that one! Andrew went to the doctor on Monday and found out he had a peri-rectal abscess. He couldn't get in with the surgeon so was referred to the emergency room. We went there, and the doctor said he couldn't do anything, so we would need to go home and call the surgeon first thing Tuesday morning. So, I put a call in to the surgeon Tuesday and took Katherine to her school Christmas party.
Andrew told his family they would have to wait to come for Christmas. We got into see Dr. Wallace at 5:00pm Tuesday. He was able to drain the abscess in the office, and Andrew started feeling much better. His family arrived Wednesday afternoon - all 13 of them. Grandma Maxey made PJs for all of the grand kids, so they modeled them for us Wednesday night.
Katherine and Grace had a great time together. Grace is 5 1/2 years old.
Isabella was in heaven. Aunt Rachel hardly ever put her down. When she did, someone else was close by to hold her.
I worked Christmas Eve morning, because I had lost so much time taking care of Andrew. That night, I directed the Christmas Eve service at church (which was incredible, if I must say so myself). Here is Katherine ready to go...
After the Christmas Eve service, we opened stockings.
Christmas morning, Katherine opened her Santa present in our room. Both girls were sleeping in the room with us for the week, because the rest of the family was in the other rooms.
She and Isabella both got Vera Bradley bags to use for overnight trips. Katherine immediately loaded up all of her animals in the bag and took it downstairs with her.
We're ready to open Christmas presents! Katherine, please stop moving and talking, so I can get a picture!
My little angel.
The most special present of the morning was a teddy bear that Aunt Rachel made for Isabella.
Saturday morning, we were all eating breakfast. Katherine stood up on her chair to get a napkin. I told her to sit down, and she fell off right on the brick floor. I was seconds too late. She smacked her head really hard, and her eyes rolled back briefly. We got her to calm down and thought she was okay, but twenty minutes later she started throwing up. So, off we went to the emergency room for the second time in one week. Katherine had a concussion and had to get a CT scan. She checked out okay. After four hours at the hospital, we were released to go home but had to wake her up every four hours over the night.
Saturday afternoon, we had a dedication service for Isabella. It was my first act as an ordained minister.
The last of Andrew's family left Sunday morning. Katherine and I went to church while Andrew and Isabella slept late. Did I mention it was a crazy week? In the midst of all of that activity, I also cooked meals for 17 people, took care of my girls, and acted on a dare to color my hair black. We are not fully recovered yet, but are leaving tomorrow for a ski trip with the church youth group and friends. Hopefully we can stay out of the emergency room!
