This is Scarlet's first Christmas. Jason and I agree this is our greatest Christmas. Watching Scarlet at just 7 months old playing with wrapping paper, boxes, toys and bows was so amazing. The look on her face was priceless when she spotted her new toys under the tree. We didn't think she would be old enough to enjoy opening gifts. The pictures tell a very different story. Christmas morning we slept in (until 7:00 late for Scarlet)and had our traditional BIG breakfast with family and friends. Jason and I always host a Christmas breakfast for our family. While preparing the food Scarlet bounced in her bouncy seat in the living room with the Christmas tree. About 2 minutes after she scanned the living room she spotted all the new toys. She immediately started smiling that bouncing really hard while pointing at her new toys Santa had delivered. For my friends that don't know Jason has been working on our new room (mother-in-laws suite) for several months. Before Christmas he laid hardwood floors in the new room. The next day the room flooded. The power steering went out on Jason's car along with the door handle that broke off. We just focused on how blessed we are to have Scarlet and tried to stay positive. I thought that I pulled a muscle in my back after moving furniture before entertaining my family for candy making. Because of the flooding our dirt road was awful. Jason had to shuttle family and friends in and out of our house during our candy making night because of the roads. Christmas morning I realized I had an awful rash around my back and chest along with terrible back pain. Jason looked at me and said the dreaded words, "surely you don't have shingles." Of course it was Christmas and there was no doctors office open. I stopped and prayed "please Lord please don't let me have the shingles." All I could think was that Scarlet would get chickenpox from my shingles. Well I stayed home while Jason took Scarlet to his families for Christmas dinner. I stayed home and cried thinking about missing her smiles and expressions as she played with Cooper and opened gifts at Nanny and Papa Hughes. I went to First Med. the next morning and sat for 3 hours to confirm I had shingles. I do remember saying could anything else happen to us after the flooding of the new room. I regret saying that after getting the shingles. The Lord has blessed Jason and I so with our little miracle, Scarlet. We hope everyone enjoyed the time with their families as much as we have this year. Both Jason and I wrote Scarlet letters and placed them in the book, "Twas the night before Christmas" so one day she can read and understand just how much having her this Christmas has changed our lives. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
