This year we be poor folk, my darling husband and I. The events of 2010 have beaten us down, made us stronger, but made our bank account reflect just how much had to be spent on keeping us (oh, I'm sorry, majorly ME) alive. Having, almost premature, babies and having doctors telling you have MS, kinda make you turn to many treatments and tests.
So, for this year, it is mostly traded, regifted, and handmade gifts. It's been like a treasure hunt within my own house! I feel a little ashamed, but my other choice was to pick up something from the $3-$5 gift set section at Walmart. You know, the scented bathsets that don't really smell good, food baskets that don't look appetizing, or even candy. To me that says, "I don't really care about you." Well, I care about the people I give gifts to. They should have meaning. When someone gets a gift from me, they are gonna smile because I gave it from my <3.
That being said, I love handmade gifts.
Yet, there is impending dread. Dreaaaaaaad. Conrad is recently not been good in crowded social situations. He freaks out, gets erratic, and can be uncontrolable. A new game has also begun with his baby sister, Ellie. She loves to use her vocal cords and at 8 months old, will sing all day. Crying also happens. Conrad, upon just a slight chortle from her throat, wails in a way that makes me think the piercing sound may be even piercing his brain.
Ellie even seems to egg him on to my chagrin, because she giggles and goes right back on singing.
My Christmas is at my house and I have many things to comfort him. The only children we have to woory about are my niece and nephew who are quiet, wellbehaved children who understand Conrad. My SIL is also a special ed teacher and helps everyone out.
Husband's family's Christmas has me biting my nails. They mean well, of course, but there is going to be a pack of wonderful, delightful children who are excited about Christmas and seeing their cousins. When I was a kid, I was the same way! With Conrad, I don't think I will have much time to enjoy it. He will need my attention to make sure he isn't about to hurt himself or others. There may be temper tantrums and erraticness of being taken off a schedule.
That is what I fear. I want him to have a good time because he needs to have the same experiences and other children, but the way things are run will not usually change for him.