Keeping with Traditions

One of the hardest things for me through Odette's illness has been having to "miss out" on what we might normally have been doing if she wasn't at the hospital sick. Even if it has been difficult, we have tried to stick to our regular traditions with the family. We have done most traditions, it is just hard to have part of the family missing each time. Only part of us get to participate.

For birthdays each year, we usually get the kids a helium balloon for each year they are old. (Yes, this is my tradition I started because growing up one of my friends said that is what their family did and I thought it was so cool. Besides, what kid doesn't like balloons?!) One balloon seemed dumb for Odette so we thought about getting 18 and saying one for every year we want you to have a birthday while living at our house. This didn't work because they wouldn't fit in the car, so we got three. Don't ask why we got three, but Odette is in love with the balloons.
Our next tradition is getting our teeth cleaned every six months. This time, Josselyn was old enough for her to have a turn. I was very worried that maybe she would freak out or spit at the hygienist, but we got lucky! She was the best patient ever after she got to check out all the tools. Her very favorite was the water sprayer and the vacuum. She passed with shining colors and has 20 teeth! Prospects where not so good for the other three of us!

Our final tradition that we did this week was make gingerbread houses. We usually make them after thanksgiving, but with the help of a great sister, and one donated gingerbread house so everyone could decorate their own, we did them on one of my nights at home. The only thing missing was the little candy canes that I had forgotten to buy and the rest of the family up at the hospital. The kids had great fun squirting frosting, decorating and of course eating way to much candy! But it wouldn't be the same without eating all the candy!

Now for seeing what our traditional Thanksgiving will end up being tomorrow being at the hospital. At least the hospital is making an exception and the kids will be able to come up tomorrow so it will be fun to have the family all together eating whatever the temperature the food ends up being after an hour drive up to Primary Children's.