Just an everyday, average, Midwestern, Christmas adventure
Unfortunate circumstances surrounded our Christmas this year. On the day we were planning to head to Sparta, where my parents live, there was a terrible snow storm that was hitting just the right area to make us think twice about driving to their house. Finally we decided to go for it, knowing that a hotel wouldn’t be far from any interstate exit. We started out and thought, what’s the big deal? and even though it was a slow 4 hour drive (normally 2 ½ - 3) the only part that made us think that maybe it was a bad idea was the last 30 min. And at that point you don’t turn back.
Safely at my parents house we started to unwind. The rest of the day went pretty well until evening fell. Suddenly Hannah came to me and said “mommy my ear hurts� this can really only mean one thing. Soon she is crying and can’t be consoled. We try a few things, than call a nurse to find out what more we can do for her. It is Sunday evening in Sparta, WI - 3 hours from her doctor (4 in bad weather). So we do the best we can and finally she falls asleep. Drew and I fall asleep as well, knowing that the next day is Christmas Eve and that the house will be full of loved ones and we will have to deal with an ear infection.
Amazingly Hannah woke up in a good mood, until I told her that we would have to go to see a doctor. She whined a little, said that her ear didn’t hurt, but it was no good, I don’t take chances with ear infections. So at 9:30 we headed to our appointment in Sparta, the roads were much better than the day before and it was beautiful outside. We finished with our appointment at about 10:40 and headed to the pharmacy (2 min away) to get her prescription. The pharmacy made us wait and wait. Hannah was been a fabulous 3 year old, patient and calm, while I, on the other hand, wanted to scream and cry at these pharmacists that are ruining my Christmas Eve. Finally we are heading back to my parents house at noon.
The rest of the day went by without incident, we enjoyed every ones company and Hannah and Julia played and opened gifts.
Christmas day we woke to find that Santa had been kind to Hannah. I think maybe spending over an hour at a pharmacy on Christmas eve got her even more gifts than she would have gotten before, not really - but she was really good. She opened gifts all morning stopping to play with the most exciting of toys: moon sand, a mini Barbie, and a tea set.
We headed home at 1:30 pm and picked up a friend of ours on our way. We ran into yet another snowstorm about an hour outside of the cities, but we finally made it safe and sound to our little house in St. Paul.