Oh, Christmas Tree and long over due update

I realize that I probably just lost half of my blog readers by being so late on updating... no good excuse except being too busy. I can't tell you the number of times that I have sat down and started to blog but then haven't. So for a quick update on what's been going on and then a lengthy post about some good ol' Christmas stuff...

* Cort has been fine with no more reactions or breathing issues... hoping it was a one time thing and we won't have to deal with that again...

* Cohen ended up with a pretty icky night time cough but it never developed into anything more and his oxygen levels have remained high ( YEA!!!) We have been so pleased about how well he has handled being off of oxygen. They are planning to pick up the oxygen at the first of the year if he goes through the whole month with out needing it. While I am super excited about that, I have to admit that I am a bit nervous as well!!!

* this past weekend I was sort of down and out due to some super random skin infection I got some how- it was super painful and I ended up with a fever and all but am on the mend now and glad to be getting that behind us. It was a little freaky for a little bit there because it didn't seem to be responding to treatment but all is well now. 

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So, Christmas tree decorating is kind of a big deal in our house. Each of the boys have a tree in their room, we cut down a real tree, and have a Christmas tree decorating party( just us).
This year, Cort really got into his little tree in his room and was eager to share his ornaments with Cohen's tree until he realized Cohen had ornaments too - then he wanted Cohen to share his ornaments with him. :)

It's sort of funny that we love Christmas trees so much as we don't have the best track record with them in recent years. The year I was pregnant with Cort our tree was infested with aphids!!! I also sucked the tree skirt up into the vacuum cleaner and ruined it. Our cat( which we had to get rid of when Cohen was born) kept peeing on the said tree skirt. ( Don't worry we have a hole free, pee free one now!!!) This year, the night we got out tree Cort had an asthma or allergy attack of some sort. But still.... we love us some Christmas tree!!!

As we have headed into this Christmas season is has become so apparent to me just how hard last Christmas was. I thought we were doing okay but looking back now I can hardly remember any of it - except for the parts where I just kept grieving that Cohen wouldn't be here with us this Christmas.  Don't get me wrong... Christmas was a sweet time for us too - I couldn't help from think of how God gave his own son for us, willingly, and  how unbelievable that was that he loved us that much!!! There have been a few events that have been strange but oh so wonderful to go to or do this year with such contrast to what it was like last year and what we thought it would be like this year. One of those is def. cutting down the Christmas tree.

Last year, we went to cut down our tree.... trying to keep up our family traditions and trying to do fun things with Cort. And I am not exaggerating that last year EVERY family on the lot had a 2ish or so child and were expecting or had a little baby with them. For the most part I didn't struggle with women who were pregnant last year - I wanted them to have healthy pregnancies and babies - it was a great reminder to me of God's goodness in this fallen world - and I was even okay with newborns themselves...but it was harder to be around families with children around Cort's age and a new baby. Then, after cutting down our tree and heading home, we actually stopped at a cemetery we had passed to "check it out." It's crazy to em that we did that then, but that was our reality and somehow doing something for Cohen, even if it was something that heavy, felt good. 

But oh, how different this year was. Even though their crop was awful and we ended up just buying a fir tree instead of cutting down a pine like we always do - IT WAS GREAT!!! Just to be on that farm, where we were last year, with both of our boys... to drive past that cemetery and not need to stop... PRAISE GOD!!!! May I never be ungrateful for those types for things and may I always stay aware of the fact that that is the reality that people  I know and don't know are living through at holidays and every other day of the year. 

Cohen LOVED the trees!!! He was so excited to see them all and loved running down the bumpy gravel road. Cort got really into it this year trying to find the "best one." Too bad we didn't get to actually cut one down with him. But he was excited anyway. 

Our tree is by far the smallest we have ever had but a good tree none the less. I know I mentioned this before in years past but I just love our Christmas tree decorating tradition. We have a party for a family - complete with a whole spread of party foods. My parents did this with us growing up and it is so much fun and really makes decorating the tree a family affair. Here's a few from Cort helping get ready for the party, the food, and the decorating.