A Little R & R
After the incident at the speech competition I resigned 
myself to the fact that I was indeed experiencing panic attacks. I knew how essential it was for me to rest and, sadly, give up caffeine, which exacerbates the symptoms. That week my husband took over my responsibilities, including taking our kids to their violin recital, so I could stay home and recuperate.
We were now only a week away from Christmas and so far nothing had gone according to plan! I knew it would be months before my health recovered completely from the panic attacks, but I felt more rested than I had in weeks. So, optimistically, I set out to salvage what was left of December.
Most of the decorations found their way out of the attic and around the interior of our home, but the porch was bare and uninviting until 3 days before Christmas when my oldest son, his schedule finally free, strung some lights.
The younger kids and I baked Christmas cookies, enough for the various parties we were attending and/or hosting Christmas weekend, but not nearly as many as I’d planned. Music teachers and postal workers who’d been slated to receive tins bursting with homemade Christmas goodies would have to make do with gift cards.
Thanks to Amazon Prime the Christmas shopping did get accomplished!
I dedicated the eve of Christmas Eve to cooking Christmas dinner so that I wouldn’t have to spend Christmas Day enslaved in the kitchen. Turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and pies were all prepared and safely tucked into the refrigerator. Things were looking up!
Oh, my gosh, it sounds like this christmas was really rough. I hope the next installment will tell us that you at least had a peaceful Christmas day, and Ihope that you are recovering from the panic attacks.