Holiday magic

I hope you enjoy the photos of one of Gilly's many homemade Channukiot. It usually stands outside, but I thought it would be nice in our living room this year, so Gilly can actually see and appreciate it.

Our weekend was filled with family and friends (both old and new). Our home came to life with candles alight and Chanukah fare. I should be tired from all the extra work; just handling Gilly’s needs is more than a full time job, and we have no caregivers on the weekend (at my request). I’ll admit I am rather pooped, but it’s a good tired. I feel loved and cared for by so many. My house is rather topsy turvy, but so is my life, so it’s kind of fitting, I suppose.

Gilly sleeps more and more every day. Tonight, for the first time, he let me feed him. I don’t think he would have had the strength to eat otherwise, and he certainly appeared to have an appetite. I warmed his dinner 4 hours after he had his lunch, so as to make sure his pills spread out across the day. At 8:30 P.M.I tried to encourage him to eat Elana’s chili, but he made no move to feed himself. I offered him a spoonful and he accepted. I was taken aback. Firsts are always tough to swallow (no pun intended).

He was sitting in his wheelchair munching away when he glanced over at my friend Randee, wrapped up in a cozy blanket watching a movie with me in my room. This is my new den, now that we spend all our time on the upper level of the house. He did a double take; “What’s wrong with this picture?” his facial expression seemed to ask.

I managed to get a fair bit of my work done over the weekend. I will forever refer to this feat as this year’s Chanukah miracle. I hope to tie up all my loose Vanier ends by Wednesday, and then settle into a week of pure quality time with my beloved husband.

We deserve time together, peaceful and unencumbered. We have several milestones ahead of us; my 50th, the 25th anniversary of the day we met, and then 10 days later, the 25th anniversary of the day Gilly proposed to me (love at first sight). Yes, you guessed it; I’m sentimental, this year especially. Think of it; I’ve spent half my life loving this man.

Tomorrow, the parade of caregivers return; Raquel will arrive first, followed by Josee-Marie, and ending with Daniel. It’s comforting to have all this assistance. I enjoyed the weekend; it’s more intimate to spend time with family and friends, but I look very much forward to the return of the care giving brigade.