Oh Christmas tree

The Christmas tree is up.

The kids had fun decorating tonight for our first calendar day of December. The season of Advent. A time of anticipation. Who would have thought? A Savior is born!

We all took turns attempting to place the star on the top of the tree but none of us came close. Then we watched as Sergei straightened the tree topper and all got to work without hooks and bulbs. We laughed, we listened to Amy Grant's Christmas CD. What fun.

There are globs of ornaments here and there on the tree. A homemade snowman and a couple golden bulbs. Red sleds and the girls' class ornaments from last year all clustered together.

Sitting here tonight in the midst of the twinkle my first inclination was to get up and spread out the decorations, to make the tree more cohesive and more to the tastes of Martha Stewart. No, I shouldn't do that. The tree is a master piece the way it is. It's how my girls decorated it. The tree represents the magic of Christmas. The fun of family tradition. The glistening soften of white lights, some how making everyone a bit happier. Snow falls outside and I have to admit, I shed a tear or two of thanks giving. We all are getting over strep throat and colds, but compared to strokes and brain surgeries, we'll take it.

Last year while we decorated the tree, Evie stayed away. The lights and activities spooked her. I tried to get her involved. I picked her up last year but she didn't want me. This year, she followed me around with her arms raised. I took her and she was content just being with her momma and papa and sisters.

I have to admit though. In the midst of the quiet night and the twinkling lights and the satisfaction and thankfulness in knowing all four girls are tucked into bed and asleep, I did get up and move around just a couple ornaments.

What can I say? The tree looks much better now :).

Happy Advent, everyone. Slow down and enjoy the anticipation and the sparkle.

Christmas

I really needed this Christmas.

These last few days both with our church and with family have been like a thick layer of balm on our chapped lives.

Things were already looking up when Polina surprised us all by bouncing back from her indirect by-pass brain surgery for Moyamoya like a champ, basically strutting down the hallway and out the hospital door last Sunday morning. She came home happy to see her sisters and asking for pizza. Her recovery from this huge surgery amazes me. And the peace God gave Sergei and I encourages me. I dare say we're ready for round two (her next surgery is scheduled for January 21).

We had a beautiful service on Christmas Eve and had a few friends over afterwards to toast Jesus. On Christmas morning Elaina and Zoya woke the rest of us at 7am. Downstairs the girls were instantly buzzed by mounds of wrapped shinny gifts holding magical mysteries, Sergei brewed a quick pot of coffee and we gathered around the tree for a little bit of reading and prayer.

Presents were opened and we spent the rest of the day at home tinkering with new toys and gadgets, snacking on cinnamon rolls and playing Wii tennis.

I couldn't help but watch my children intently all. day. long.

My presents were appreciated; a candle from Zoya, bubble bath from Elaina, comfy jammies, a yoga mat and a crock pot cook book from Sergei. But my real gifts were unwrapped in my mind throughout the day; health and happiness. This weekend I decided to stop and look around and breathe.

OK, so we are in the midst of brain surgeries and pending tonsillectomies. Elaina is tired all the time and Zoya's eczema is bizerk lately.

Evangeline has yet to see all the specialists required; she really needs to get in to see a pediatric dentist and most of the time her eyes still look sad. She spits and pulls hair and bites. I can't read her cues and at night when I lay down to sleep I worry that I'm not doing enough.

Last year I sheepishly hung a stocking for the little girl we hoped to bring home from Ukraine. This year Evie is here, suspicious of the antics of her sisters and less than interested in her toys... but here. She seems more present too, passing out (albeit sparingly) hugs and cuddles, smiling here and there.

And tonight she let me rock her to sleep for the first time.

This weekend we had health and happiness. Sergei cooked a wonderful Christmas dinner, Zoya is turning out to be quite the little athlete. Elaina includes her little sisters in her games, is thrilled with her new outfit and text messaging gadget. I made high score on the Bop It (100, if you care to know). Polly loves her new caillou doll and her incision is healing nicely. Evie decided she likes animal crackers and has moved into a booster seat at the main table.

Health and happiness. One day at a time.

Merry Christmas.

Polly's HOME!!!

And she's doing great!

The doctors came to see her early this morning and everything looked very good. They said that she can go home and the surgeon will see her in two weeks to check the wound and schedule the next surgery.

Polly was excited to get dressed and walked all by herself down the hall and out to the elevator waving and saying 'bye' to everyone she saw.

The feeling of peace has been overwhelming this past week. So many people spread the word asking for prayer for Polly. Sergei and I are thankful and we praise God for bringing Polly through this surgery so well.

So what now? We rest up and Polly continues to heal and we gear up for surgery #2, probably mid January.

My Christmas list only has two things on it this year: Health and Happiness. I pray for health and happiness for all four of my daughters but this year, specifically, I ask God for Polly's continued health and ability to handle huge things like brain surgery with strength and ease. I surely desire for our kids to be happy day to day but this year my prayer is for Evangeline to be happy in our home. I am praying that the Lord binds us together and that she feels comfort, unconditional love and joy.

I'm experiencing a little bit of Christmas this morning as Polly sits in the kitchen eating goldfish crackers and drinking apple juice.