I have much to be thankful for… My family and friends first and foremost!

This may sound corny but Mum asks me every year what I want for Christmas and it’s the same answer every year… I want everyone to come together on Christmas day or Boxing day as it’s the one time of the year I definitely see some of my family… But this year I added one little bit too it! I wanted everyone to be healthy and not to have any illness (this is slightly selfish as I can’t see people if they are ill).

Well guess what, Christmas eve comes and poor mum wakes up with a cold! Bless her she wondered if she needed to move out for a couple of days but as the hospital told her I have probably come into contact with whatever bug she has already and most probably I am already immune or at least we hope so! Just shows no matter what you ask for, you never know what the future holds and you can’t always have everything you want!

I spent a couple of hours of Christmas eve with my bestie Tabby and Al and Al’s family and must say that Tabby and Al have been a rock for me! I love them lots and the best thing is they treat me completely normally as though nothing has changed… Which I know people think is really easy but since my diagnosis I get pity looks constantly and the way people talk to me has changed as though I am now this delicate little object that can break at any time. Do you know what I am exactly the same person inside as I was before, all that has happened is that I have found out why I have been having back pain! My personality and brain has not changed, all that has happened is that I now have a neck brace which means I can’t drive and can’t do certain activities but I can still move and walk and I now have to have chemo which means that yes there are effects but it doesn’t change me as a person just my *shell*. So if you see me and I am bald with a cute headscarf on just remember its the same me inside as before so please don’t give me the pity look or pity conversation just talk to me like you did before!

Anyway… Christmas Eve evening was spent watching the traditional christmas films with my Mummy snuggled on the sofa while doing christmas nail art for her and I… Home Alone then Home Alone 2 followed by Miracle on 34th Street. Once the clock told us it was finally Christmas Day we opened a present each and went to bed ready for the festivities later that day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Day is here and I have got to admit I don’t get up at 5 in the morning anymore! I got up just before it turned to afternoon. The house smelt of Roast Pork! Yummy! The veg had all been prepared the night before and all this was taken to Grandma and Grampi’s as this is where Christmas and Boxing Day is being held this year! When we got there the bungalow smelt amazing! Both my brothers and all their children were already there, I haven’t seen Toby and Ethan in nearly two months due to the diagnosis and illnesses so I got lots of cuddles and Ethan was very proud of his new Scooby Doo toy (which is awesome as Scooby Doo is amazing! Tabby and Al got me Scooby Doo lego… Never too old). I got kisses from Toby and I was very proud of his lipstick marks I left…Hehe. Sadly they all had to go to Becky’s family’s christmas, but they will be back for boxing day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While dinner was being prepped I got cuddles with my newest nephew Finley and got told all about Renee’s new disney book, I am happy to say I haven’t lost my touch with babies as Finley prompted fell asleep on me (after Renee and Toby’s baby stage I thought babies might hate me). Soon it was dinner and the bad jokes were out “Why was 6 afraid of 7?… Because 7, 8 (ate) 9” and the coloured crowns and I gained a couple of nail files even though I didn’t win a cracker this year!

As a family we have always done presents after dinner and had santa’s presents in the morning, this spreads it over the day so after dinner we piled up everyone’s presents by their chairs and I can honestly say we were all spoilt! I certainly was so thank you to all my friends and family that gave me gifts I was very spoilt!I want to say an extra special thank you to the Goodman family and Wil (especially Coralie and Katie) who dropped off a Gluten and Dairy free gingerbread house to me on Christmas Eve! It’s amazing I have never had one and to say you went the extra mile I am truly grateful! I can also say that it’s delicious and will help me with the sickness feeling! Thank you soooooooooo much!!

 

Our Christmas day evenings are always the same, the children go home and the adults go to sleep on the sofa or play board games, this year’s activity was sleeping on the sofa. Merry Christmas to one and all…

 

All I can say is Christmas time just shows you how many people care and is definitely the time of goodwill and giving and the time for family and friends! You realise how lucky you are no matter what your circumstances are, I have amazing family and friends, a roof over my head, food and clothes and amazing care from my family and from the NHS’s wonderful staff (especially Yvonne, Demi and Jo). So thank you everyone and Happy Christmas!