Stollen and New Year's Eve

For two years in a row now, Brian has made his own marzipan and Stollen for New Year's Eve.  I usually am not a fan, but it's growing on me.  I prefer it fresh out of the oven.

Our favorite chef-priest came to visit and enjoyed the event of making the German pastry.

My sister's family came over on New Year's Eve to do fireworks. (Our house is just outside the city limits and we are allowed to do fireworks in the street.)

Drew and Dylan are big Harry Potter fans right now and so Isaac made "Butter beer" from the book for the boys to enjoy a  toast.

Christmas Eve and Day

As Christmas approached Roman's eating was declining.  I was resigned to getting an NG-tube before we left for Christmas, but even though he'd been taking in just the minimum many days he still gained weight and so the cardiologist cleared us to travel just a day before we were supposed to leave, but he also said he was going to get the ball rolling on scheduling his open-heart surgery, tentatively scheduling it for January 10th.

I was nervous about his eating while out of town because typically he eats worse when we are out of his element.  However, I shouldn't have been, because he did great considering the new environment.  I just fed him in the bedroom that we slept in whenever possible.

I was also nervous about him getting sick, particularly with COVID.  I asked all my extended family not to hold him this visit since we needed him to stay healthy until after his surgery.  Again though, I shouldn't have been worried because he was fine with a few extra precautions.

Our kids with all my cousins' kids.  Roman was sleeping during this photo, but it looks like he makes  number 15 at this celebration, but one of my cousins on this side of the family has two kids and wasn't able to make it to Christmas Eve this year.

The Man Table

After the Christmas Eve party, Brian took the oldest five kids to Midnight Mass.  I went to bed with Roman and Bob.  I should've kept Judah home too because he slept through the entire Mass and was up and ready to go with Bobby and I the next morning when everyone else got to sleep in. 

Christmas morning after Mass, my brother and his family came over.  We opened gifts and had a big breakfast together.

I finally managed to get them matching pajama bottoms. 

Drew got a haircut right before Christmas and he wasn't too pleased with how short the lady went.  

We started putting Roman on a special pillow for his head shape during his awake hours.  The therapists pointed out how flat his head was on the right side.  From the front his head looks great, but from the back it is quite lopsided.  They recommended the pillow and getting an evaluation for a helmet after his surgery.