Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving celebrations at the in-laws became at risk when Miss Anni threw up everywhere the day before.  See, we had it all worked out.  Daddy would get home around noon, we'd pack up the car, stop in a town on the way for some playing at a park while Mommy had a photo-shoot (and maybe throw in a haircut for the ridiculously shaggy mop on mommy's head), then proceed to in-laws and spend the next several days eating, playing and being happy and merry.

Well.

We had a few tears while we worked out a plan and just decided to wait it out.  I headed out to my shoot, Daniel and Anni watched cartoons, and I picked up ingredients for a lasagna... just in case our Thanksgiving feast needed to wait a couple of days (I have the best in-laws ever... willing to hold off their own feasting for us).  Thanksgiving morning dawned with no more vomit in sight and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the computer (Anni and Daddy had watched Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving the day before, so she was pretty excited to see a Charlie Brown balloon).  While she seemed to be doing well, we didn't want to infect the entire family, so we called, discussed, watched her a little more and discussed even more.  The in-laws decided they wanted to risk getting sick for the sake of having everyone together (Daniel's brother was home for the first time in over six months), so we started to pack and plan our visit.

Of course, it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a big ole shot of progesterone in your hiney, right?  To be honest, I'm so grateful for this shot and the chance it has given us at a healthy baby.  As my test results come back every other week, it's pretty obvious that I'm just not a great producer of it for myself, so, heck yes, I'll take a shot every few days to keep my little chickadee where she belongs as long as she needs.  Side note: I hadn't actually looked at the needle in months as I'm usually lying down by the time my hubby has it all ready to administer... it's longer than I remember!  

In the end, we actually made it to Thanksgiving, a good 24 hours after our little drama began.  While Miss Anni didn't get to participate in any of the feasting (a fruit popsicle and crackers kind of counts as feasting for a two-year-old, right?), there were stickers, crayons, paper and family ready to love on her as much as possible. 

This face makes me giggle every time I see the picture.

And while Anni didn't feast... oh, my, the rest of us did.  Turkey, cranberry relish, potatoes of two varieties, green beans, gravy, bread and more... ahh... soooo good.  We were pretty worried about Anni feeling left out from the feasting, but she ate her crackers and applesauce and spent most of the meal dancing around the table.

She ended the night snuggling up to whomever was available to read her books, and off to bed she went.

We; however, continued our feasting just a bit into the evening.  I was in charge of desserts this year and here was my spread: chocolate pudding pie, traditional pumpkin pie and mini pecan pies (which I LOVED because they didn't have any corn syrup in the recipe).  I even whipped up real whipping cream (with the guidance of my mother-in-law)!  I had a few little mishaps... a few of my pecan pies stuck to the pan and looked worse for the wear (next year: add more flour) and my pumpkin pie crust folding in on itself a bit while baking, but everyone said the taste was more important, and luckily, everything seemed to be pretty darn scrumptious!   

Despite the rough nights and cranky moments we had (by 5 am, Miss Anni was too hungry every morning to stay asleep, especially the night she threw up all over the room after her tummy refused the banana we gave her for snack), it was wonderful for Anni to soak in some family time and not have to focus on being sick yet again.  And... wonders of all wonders...

No one else caught the bug!  

Happy week after Thanksgiving!