Last night Vann and I were enjoying the last 10 minutes of our recent Netflix rental when I heard a faint “Mommy!” coming from upstairs. I find Charlie burning up and a bit disoriented in her bed – out of nowhere this fever came – and proceeded to give her Motrin and then get thrown up on.

Yep. Merry Christmas, right? We called our peds office and a nurse told us to try the Motrin once more (which we did) and if she threw up again (which she did), switch over to Tylenol suppositories (yep…I said it) and watch her till morning (except of course if her fever spiked).

Never having purchased Tylenol suppositories before, I went on the hunt (at midnight) for a 24 hour Walgreens, got turned around and drove 30 minutes out of the way (because our Walgreens conveniently closes at 10), finally found said medicine and had to explain to Vann what they are and how you use them. I’ve never seen such a deer in headlights before.

I’m just kidding though – you should have seen Vann comforting our sick girl last night. Covered in vomit (sorry, can’t find a nicer way to say it), he didn’t even flinch, and reassured her and made her feel safe. Poor thing was so upset (I mean, wouldn’t you be??) and all she wanted was her Daddy and he held her most of the night, even though I know he was screaming inside for a shower. I can’t say that I would have been as patient.

This morning she seems to be holding her Motrin, and the nurse said a bug was going around and to watch her today – so it looks like our playdates for the week are cancelled and it’s a “Max & Ruby” marathon for us all.

2010 was a tough one for the Bischoff’s. We started out the year with a newborn and a massive case of post-partum depression mixed in with a little seasonal sadness (me), moved ourselves cross-country in two 16 foot trucks (Vann and his Dad, driving through the night) and lived apart from each other for part of the summer, then had our first home-buying experience tainted by the jerky sellers of our home, and finished up with wading through the waters of debt (because of said cross-country move/home-buying experience) for the first time in our marriage and wanting to cry every time I look at our “net worth” on Quicken. Oh, and let’s not forget the stresses of Ella’s developmental struggles.

But here’s the good news: God is bigger than all of that, isn’t He? Despite all of these harsh realities of life, some amazing things happened too. And the most important lesson I’ve learned in 2010 is that I am married to the most patient, understanding, loving man who just so happens to be my best friend and a wonderful father. And if anything good came out of last night’s adventures, it would be an appreciation for him and our precious girls.

So here’s hoping that 2011 is a bit easier on us. I’m not sad to see 2010 go.

We are war buddies, Vann and I. And we made it through. And God is good. And Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior – the most important thing to remember this most blessed of weekends.

Merry Christmas, friends.

A.