Christmas 2025 and the Worst Flu Bug Ever

Faith and I barely made it through Christmas before she got hit hard with the flu bug. (Which is why this blog post is a bit delayed!) Leading up to the night of the 25th, we were enjoying lots of music, goodies, and family time. 

One event that has become a tradition for us is going to the Nutcracker ballet. This year's performance marked the 8th one in a row that we have attended! We love everything about the Nutcracker - the music, the costumes, the different scenes, the talented dancers, seeing some of our friends onstage, and the seasonal excitement in the atmosphere!

Ready to go to the Nutcracker!

Of course, the week after the Nutcracker always proves to be a busy one, as it is one week before Christmas! Faith had her usual therapies and while she was at her day program, I would do all of my running around. During one of the gift shopping excursions, I ran into my brother Todd! We had lots of fun catching up, right there at Fleet Farm! 

My little bro and I hanging out at Fleet Farm! 

After picking up Faith from her day program, we went to Missouri Slope to visit Auntie Sharon. She had been going through quite an ordeal since November when she fell at her home and hit her head pretty hard on the cement and hurt her shoulder. It was discovered she had a brain bleed and ended up needing surgery. 

Just days after surgery, she was discharged to go home but ended up with other symptoms and had to come back to the hospital in Bismarck. After a few days of being inpatient, she was discharged to a rehabilitation facility, where she began physical and occupational therapy. Faith and I were so happy to see how well she was doing and that she would be able to make it back home for Christmas! Many prayers were answered for her! 

Faith and her great aunt Sharon 

In the middle of that week, I was able to go back to "Christmas with Lorie Line", which me and a friend thoroughly enjoyed. I had gone to this event a few years ago and absolutely loved it. Last year I was going to try to go again but ended up getting COVID. This year's concert ended with a beautiful sing-along to "Hark to the Herald Angels Sing." 

The next day, the weather was a little iffy as we had a round of freezing rain come through. There was no travel advised in the morning. Faith was bound and determined to make it to her day program though, and thankfully things cleared up. Despite the 65 mph wind gusts, I was able to get her there! 

The Saturday before Christmas I had scheduled my sister Dawn to do an overnight with Faith. I had been hoping I could either watch the NDSU Bison play in the semi-finals on TV or in person. However, the weekend prior, the Illinois State Redbirds beat them in the quarterfinals by one point! 

Instead, I used the time that Dawn was with Faith to finish up my Christmas stuff. Plus, it gave Dawn a chance to take Faith shopping for my gift! My other sister and her family would be in town late Saturday night, so while staying at Mom and Dad's I got to see the Graffs as soon as they rolled into town!

Faith also got to help Auntie Dawn make sugar cookies!

The week of Christmas, Faith only had one therapy session and two days of her day program. Since my brother and his family were also in town, we decided to get together with them at Caribou Coffee on Faith's way to her day program. It was the only time that it worked out for us to see them. 

Faith was so happy to have gotten to see "the girls" and her aunt and uncle. We had a nice visit and of course the coffee was delicious! 

Faith with Mark, Kenzie, Sydnee, and Amber 

On Christmas Eve, Faith and I spent most of the day just hanging out and enjoying the quiet. Of course, we also had lots of Christmas goodies that we were also enjoying. We then headed out for our favorite tradition, which was attending our church's candlelight Christmas Eve service. 

Along with singing both new and traditional carols, there is always a wonderful message about Jesus, who truly is the reason for the season! Following the service, I drive around a bit so that we can look at Christmas lights. 

Getting ready for church on Christmas Eve 

The next day, we opened gifts, had a nice video chat with Faith's grandparents in Canada, and then headed out to my parents to spend time with family. There were 18 family members in attendance plus one dog! On the way out there, it had started to rain and with the temperature being below freezing, I knew this was bad news. I almost turned back around but decided to forge ahead. 

After a few hours of family fun, which included dinner, desserts, a gift exchange game, gift openings, and photos, panic began to set in as there were reports of cars in the ditches from the icy roads and there were no travel warnings beginning to go out. I truly did not want to drive my front-wheel drive van on the ice, so my oldest nephew drove Faith and I home. I prayed the whole way!

Faith with me and her grandpa and two oldest cousins 

Me with my sisters 

My brother-in-law and nephews from Nebraska

Faith all ready to go out in the ice storm 

Scraping ice off of vehicles 

Thankfully we arrived safely home, and disaster had been averted. Until later that night that is, when Faith got hit with the flu. She began coughing and then spiked a fever. The next day, she took two 3-hour naps, which is not like her at all. 

At night, she was up every couple of hours because she could not get comfortable. I think she was experiencing body aches that were causing an increase in tone. I eventually realized that putting her weighted blanket across her legs helped somewhat to reduce the discomfort. 

On Saturday, the 27th, I took her to the walk-in clinic, where she was diagnosed with influenza A. Late that night, I got hit with it. Other members of my family came down with the flu as well. Most of us had the same symptoms: severe congestion, terrible headache that lasted days, fatigue, lack of appetite, and cough. 

Yesterday (on New Year's Day) one of my respite staff providers said she could come so that I could go out and grab some groceries and get some rest. Today, Faith and I both finally feel like we are returning back to normal. We are both mainly just really tired still, despite the fact she has been sleeping up to 13 hours at night. She has been laughing today though, which is a good sign that she feels better. 

Out and about on New Year's Day (taking pics from my car window!)

Winter Wonderland 

Hopefully we will continue to get better over the weekend. I have no idea what next week holds as I don't think Faith will quite be ready to get back to her normal schedule. We will just have to take it one day at a time (sweet Jesus!) 

I pray you all had a blessed Christmas season and have a wonderful New Year!