‘Twas the night before the night before Christmas, and all through the house …

All we creatures were stirring, especially my spouse.

(The girls and I had come down with a very nasty stomach flu, and BT was having to take care of the unpleasantries)

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

But Vivi was stripped down to her Sleeping Beauty underwear.

(Did I mention that this was a VERY nasty stomach flu?)

I in my jammies and BT in his cap

Were scrubbing the bathroom, cleaning the ____.

(Yeah, REALLY nasty).

And laying a finger aside of his nose,

BT spread Vicks all around to help the stench smell like a rose.

(Well, maybe not a “rose,” but it did stop him from hurling).

The baby was nestled all snug in his bed,

While visions of sugarplums danced in his head.

(Thankfully, Tad slept through most of the chaos).

When down the hallway there arose such a clatter,

BT sprang to his feet to see what was the matter.

(I said that he slept through MOST of the chaos …)

When what to his blood shot eyes should appear,

But a sad Baby Tad, shedding many a tear.

(It was an answer to prayer that Tad was spared from the illness. I honestly think he would have ended up hospitalized if he had gotten it).

He spoke not a word and went straight to his work,

Soothing the baby … let me remember this night when BT acts like a jerk.

(I’ll never forget the weary look on BT’s face (and the intense love I felt for him) as he, also suffering from a mild case of the illness, mopped the tile, cleaned the carpet, tied our hair back to keep it out of the yuck … )

I heard him exclaim as he surveyed the sight.

Merry Christmas to all?!?  Oh, what a night!

The next day (Christmas Eve), I was able to wrap a present … and then lay down before I passed out … and then wrap another present … and then lay down before I passed out…)

By Christmas Day, we felt well enough to open gifts, nibble on crackers and sip Gatorade.