Christmas in the Delta and a Christmas Kitten

Almost a month since I have written!?  Time sure passes quickly.  

The days before I went home for Christmas were not the best.  Literally 12 hours before I was supposed to get on my flight, I went to the doctor because I was feeling a little like I had a cold, and she told me that I had the flu!  Of course this gave me high anxiety because I was supposed to be on a plane at 6 AM and in good health and spirits to see my family and friends.  But this was not the case.  (And I probably should have been concerned about giving other people the flu, too.)  I went straight home and got into the bed and took all my medicine like I was supposed to.  At this point I had only a few hours to feel better, get my things packed, and be at the airport at 3AM to check in.  I called my doctor from home and asked him what he thought I should do and he told me under no circumstances should I get on the plane!  One, because I had the flu, and also because I had fluid in my ears.  If I were to get on the plane, the fluid in my ears would be a definite infection by the time I made it to Mississippi.  I was in and out of sleep all night...Well, mostly out, and feeling sick and sorry for myself while struggling about what to do.  Stay in Colorado and spend Christmas alone, while ensuring that I didn't get any infections or... worsen my health by getting on the plane, suck it up, and go to be with my family and friends?  

At 3 in the morning when my alarm went off, I just so happened to be awake.  I also got up, got dressed, and got in the car to go to the airport.  I'm not sure if I was delirious or if it was my adrenaline but I wasn't going to spend Christmas without my mama and I was gonna do it with infected ears and the flu.  On the way to the airport, Elizabeth Anne and I had a flat tire.  This should have been my warning to go back home.  But we enlisted the help of a friendly policeman and Danny and they helped us to get back on the road.  When we got to the airport it was slam PACKED with travelers.  The security wait time was an hour or more and I was feeling a little nervous.  By the time I got to the gate I was sick and tired and ready to be home.  The first flight to Houston wasn't so bad.  I met a nice woman, Mrs. Lucero, who sat next to me and she was from Fort Collins.  We talked most of the flight and once we landed she bought my lunch in the airport.  It was nice to talk with a friendly face when I was feeling so low.  The flight to Jackson wasn't so pleasant.  The pressure in the cabin did a number on my ears and I was unable to pop them at all the entire flight.  Once we landed I had hardly any hearing in either ear. :(  Even so, my brother, Anthony, and Emily were waiting for me at the luggage claim and I couldn't have been more excited to see them!  

A little welcome home wine.

On the way back to Greenville I took a little nap and tried to rest up for seeing everyone at the house.  I got my second wind when I arrived and I spent the night with all of my friends just visiting, eating, drinking, and laughing!  It felt good to be home but so bad to be sick at such a happy time.  The remainder of the week I spent as much time as I could with everyone and saw my doctor to help speed up my recovery.  I attended our annual Tacky Christmas Party in full on tacky attire.  On Christmas Day I spent the morning with Mom, Jesse, Momo, Popi, and Mrs. Jill.  We went to Jackson to spend the rest of the day with my family there.  It was so good to see everyone and definitely made me miss home.  Jesse and I went back to Greenville that night so that I could rest up and get packed for my flight on Monday.  

When Monday finally came I was a serious nervous wreck.  My ears hadn't improved at all and I was terrified to get back on the plane and not be able to pop my ears.  It is the worst feeling in the world.  Mom and Jesse dropped me off at the Jackson airport and I waited for my plane.  Well, I more so agonized.  At this point, I was ready to call her and tell her to come pick my ass up and that I wasn't going back yet!  But, in the "real world" you gotta do what you gotta do, so I got on the plane and went back to Denver.  Not only would I have been disappointed in myself but I had a job to get back to and a lot of other responsibilities.  And to my surprise, with a lot of praying and pleading, I had little trouble with my ears on my return flight.  When I finally got back to my home in Denver I was SO happy.  I loved, loved, loved being home, but I wanted things back to normal and I was ready to feel better and not be constantly worrying and feeling sick.  And I wanted my bed!  Not to mention that I had just had the flu a few days earlier.  I had totally forgotten to recover from that. 

My rock.

Now I know you're thinking... "What a terrible trip home..", but it really wasn't at all.  Looking back on it now I don't remember much of feeling miserable but I certainly remember spending time with the ones that mean the most to me.  And honestly, it was worth feeling like that for a week just so I could see some familiar faces and places!  I can only hope that my next trip home will be much better! I spent New Year's weekend and day quiet and in my pajamas, reading and relaxing.  I couldn't have asked for a better New Year.  I sure missed being with everyone but I loved having a lot of "me" time.  Even though I am still very jealous of all of the amazing shows that my friends went to :)

Since I have been back I've mostly been trying to get my routine back on track and I have been trying to get better.  The first few days were rough... Who wants to get up at 6 AM when you've been sleeping until noon?!  But I have made it to work on time and I feel amazing today!  This past weekend I went to Aspen with Kayla and Josh and had a wonderful time.  We checked out the Base Village, did a little shopping in town, relaxed, and cooked dinner on Saturday night.  It was the ultimate recovery weekend and I felt like a new person coming home on Sunday---Despite the snowstorm that we drove home in!  Speaking of... We have had two big snowstorms in Denver so far this year.  The first happened around the New Year and the second came Sunday night bringing about 10 inches or more.  I LOVE when it snows.  I don't love driving in it.  If this had happened in MS, the state would have shut down.  But here, this is nothing.  They don't cancel work or push it back or give you a break.  The snow accumulation here is just like me driving in a rainstorm in the Delta.  It's "normal."  Just like all the poor children had to go to school on Monday in it as well!  It's crazy!  My poor car looks like a totally different vehicle covered in snow sheets, icicles, dirt, and slush. 

This is the longest blog ever but there is one more very important update!  I have adopted a little kitten from New Mexico to be my new friend.  She is white and fluffy and her blue eyes break my heart.  I get to pick her up on January 29th and I can't wait!  The only picture that I have of her is this one:  

She looks like a little doll.  I have been wanting a pet since I moved out here and I thought that I wanted a dog, but then I saw her and I was sold.  You will probably be sick of all of the pictures that I share of her.  

I hope that this update finds you happy and well.  Being home was a big eye opener for me.  I definitely miss my friends and the mundane things we used to do for fun.  They were actually fun and exciting things for me when I went home!  Going home has also taught me that although I am a wimp about most things, being that sick and scared and still making it home was a big deal for me.  Especially to do it all by myself.  I am a lot stronger than I thought and that is a comforting thing.  It is also another reason that I have made it this far out West doing my own thing.  I never would have known that about myself had I never tried :)

I love you all.