Arkansas Starkeys: Christmas in Ash Flat

This one may take one or two posts....

We had a fabulous time in Ash Flat over the holidays...if you set aside, a trip to the ER at midnight and a baby with a terrible cold and the fact that my brothers couldn't make it in..no, seriously, it was a great time!

Rich was the lucky one that ended up in the ER. He was feeling a little under the weather on Christmas Eve, which what is to be expected with a baby that is already down with a cold of her own. We didn't think a lot of it. (as you can see in latter pics, he looks to be feeling just fine..) and then Christmas Day brought Church, Christmas dinner and more family and Rich was feeling worse, but powered through most of the day, dinner..etc, until game time, when he and Emily had had enough. With Rich's "congestion" and cough and stuffiness, they both got in bed and slept for a long time. Much needed rest, we assumed. We all let them be and had a great time together. Friday came shopping and more family time, dinners and games. Rich was feeling worse, not able to breathe, at all if any...chest pains, stabbing pains...wheezing...it being the day after Christmas, nothing was open, but trusty Wal-Mart. We bought some OTC meds, no help.... (Let it be said, Rich hates the DR or, maybe he is just like every man, and just merely sees no point in going, either) Everyone left and went home for the night. We put Emily to bed, I took my dreaded shot, and ritually over-medicated to prepare for the dreaded side-effects. I was drifting in and out of sleep, trying to be there for Rich and his lack of air, pain, praying that he wasn't having a heart attack, pneumonia, etc..but he assured me he would be okay...and suddenly I heard words I thought would never be uttered.."I think it's time to go to the emergency room, now!" I panicked, how was I going to be able to take him? Mom stayed behind with Emily and we were on our way. Now, let it also be said, that I firmly believe that I wasn't the one driving that night. I mean, I was physically behind the wheel, but I think the big man upstairs got us there safely. The whole thing seems a bit cloudy to me...with drugs pumping through my body I was not really there.... Uncle Harry met us at the ER and Rich was admitted promptly. They hooked him up to heart monitors...my biggest fear! It was working just fine!?What was going on? They listened to his lungs.... The DR asked if he was a smoker, no.. His lungs were so inflamed! Bacterial Bronchitis is what they decided. The first case they had seen. It isn't contagious, but hard to define where the origin was. His body was trying so hard to fight, but without meds, he would probably have lost the air to breathe...air, that free thing floating around us that we don't even see and just take for granted that it will be there..........

I said I had great hopes for 2009 in my Christmas letter, as I do recall. Hopes of a healthier year, a more grateful year, thankful year for all that we are blessed with everyday and just merely overlook. This year, I am thankful for air.....It seems so simple...brings tears to my eyes. Rich was in pain that night, but I also saw fear in his eyes. That is a rare thing. Thank goodness that this experience happened in 2008.....buh bye 2008 and hello 2009! Thank God for air!
Rich has made a full recovery, and crazy enough, was almost fully back on his feet the next day!Emily also is feeling better, knock on wood, and hasn't had a cold in a week or two!

On to a happier note-Opening Christmas presents!

Emily stole the camera and took a pic of herself...pretty good I must say!

Emily sitting on her Christmas present. Mom and I were talking, and we just can't remember the last time we actually saw someone get to sit on their present while unwrapping...lucky girl!

Emily started the tedious job of unwrapping her present. In fact, it took her all night to get it unwrapped. Little by little and with a bit of help from mom and dad, Emily had it unwrapped enough by the end of the night to see what it was.

Grandma and "Grandpa Pat" sit eagerly in the background as the excitement unfolds. (Emily started standing some and was having the time of her life opening this)

Ta Dah! A red Radio Flyer Wagon...and a Cadillac version at that. This thing has everything, seat belts, seats that flip up and down, activity space, storage space, cup holders for her and for us, and a UV canopy...she is going to be riding in style. (In fact, a week ago we had 70s temps on a Saturday, and we took her for a ride in it....I'll post pics in a latter post) She loved it!