[ChristmasNeeve]

Lovely messages Adam and Big Sister

[Rustic bauble]

Originally Posted by BigSister

Well what a year this has been. Not just covid which has been devastating for millions of people but in other things too such as for me going jnto hospital for a eye injection gone wrong and my eye went bloodshot and lost my sight in one eye for a few weeks but now its come back also losing my grandma last month was tough too.This is starting to be a depressing message so ill try and finish it off with hope everyone on TIBB has the best Christmas that they can and hopefully 2021 will be a LOT better for everyone {Well it cant be any worse}

Ill end this with a video clip of last Christmas by Wham

Youtube video

How frightening to lose your vision...but how wonderful that you got it back. Its always so sad when we lose loved ones...raise a glass to her at Christmas.
Happy christmas

[Time to Sleigh]

2020. It was a challenge.

So many sad things we were seeing on the news....the Bush fires, those poor Koalas! The sad passing of Caroline Flack, the racist police brutality, the protests. Then of course the pandemic.

It has been a sad and tough year but from all the sad things we learn a lot.

It has been life changing in some bad ways but it has changed life for the better in other ways.

One thing we have learnt is to be grateful for what we have. In an instant it can all be taken from us.

We have learnt to be grateful for our loved ones, our friends and our family. As nice as it is to have material things we have learnt that the most important thing in life is people. Oh how we have missed them. How we have missed hugging them.

But those that live with us one thing the pandemic brought to the majority of us was time. We got to spend time with those we live with.

We maybe learnt new ways to connect with those we couldnt see through virtual platforms. What a great skill to have.

We learnt to be grateful for the NHS.

I learnt to be grateful for the NHS for sure. This year they saved my wife and baby. It is at this time that I will take the time to reflect on that situation and how life can through unexpected challenges and how we can get through them.

I will put this in a spoiler as it is long and graphic. If you dont want to read you dont have to

Spoiler:

The time came of the week of the due date of our third baby(or 5th if we include the early miscarriages) we were having another boy. It was a normal saturday we were eating lunch and everything changed so suddenly. My wife went bright red and fell on the floor in crippling pain. I rang the hospital who said to bring her straight in. My mum and dad rushed round to the house to look after the other 2 kids. When we got to the hospital the midwife told me I would have to wait in the car because of the covid situation. My wife text me to let me know they think its early labour and we would probably be going back home for now. Then 10 minutes later rang and said to come into the room. The midwifes informed me they were going to push things along. The midwife checked how much it was dialated and suddenly she had a shocked look on her face she pulled out her hand the glove was ripped and there was a lot of blood on it. Suddenly a lot of blood came gushing out of my wife, they put on the emergency sirens and lots of people rushed in and wheeled my wife away. This was all within 10 minutes of me being in the car to going in the room. I was left alone in the room staring at the blood on the floor not knowing what had happened. Later the midwife said that my wife was fine but asleep and that I can come and meet my son. It was an amazing moment but I was in a lot of shock so it was hard to enjoy it as much as I should have. Later I got to see my wife she was doing well despite a painful emergency C section. I was also able to go and see my son in the incubator room there were other babys and parents in there so I couldnt go in too many times. But my wife still hadnt got to see him. So I went in to him he had wired on his belly and on his face I wont forget how painful it was to see they told me I can hold his hand I held his hand and said it was going to be okay. That moment I wasnt sure it was I was still in shock and I struggled to understand the nurse. I was told he had swallowed a lot of blood and the wires were to help him breath and they were doing observations. I took that to mean he wasnt going to survive I tried to hold it together the best I could the more information I was being told the more it wasnt processing in my mind. I turned to another nurse that had come into the first room to check how I was and told me I could meet him. I asked her "is he going to survive" she told me he will and it was at that moment I broke down yes because of all the shock but also because my wife and baby were ok. I was sent home not long after and wouldnt be allowed back to the hospital for a couple of days after. Once they got back home my wife was still in pain obviously so I had to deal with 3 kids, a 5 year old a 3 year old and a newborn and a poorly wife. My family werent able to come round so I had to learn to grow up. I did. I dealt with it all fine. It taught me so much and the lockdown gave me that time I needed to be wih them. Im so grateful for them and so grateful for the NHS!

Im pleased to report Henry is now 8 months old. He is crawling. He is boisterous and cheeky. He is adorable!

I will post this song as it speaks volumes about what I talked about

Youtube video

So in conclusion life throws it's challenges at you but once you are through them it makes you stronger.

I will be a lot more cheerful and xmassy on the 24th for my next advent message but I wanted to take some time to reflect on this one

The message overall is be grateful.


I will lift the mood now with the GOAT xmas tune!

Youtube video

[Candy Annie Cane]

Wow....the last few messages have all been so personal and poignant.
Jake must have been a horrific few days but amazing that Henry is doing so well now

[Ammi]

...Jake...... no need for words, I’m just so happy that strictly Henry is the beautiful, boisterous, cheeky and adorable 8 month little guy that he is and that he has a wonderful family surrounding him .....and yeah, the most important thing in life is life...


...have a wonderful Christmas with your family and a very happy first Christmas to Henry......

...also, a huge hug to your wife as well as you.....

[Rustic bauble]

That really bought tears to my eyes....what an traumatic experience for all of you. Life is so precious...we must never take things for granted. I am so glad everything worked out.

Enjoy your family christmas Jake...

[Time to Sleigh]

Thanks!

[Holly Christmas]

Sorry I'm only just replying to the last 2 messages.

Becca. I'm so sorry for your loss. You're an amazing girl managing to do us such a heartwarming message considering the traumatic year you've had. Bless you love.

Jake. Thanks so much for sharing your story. I can only just begin to comprehend how horrendous it must all have been for you both at the time and afterwards. Thank goodness it turned out OK and your family are fine now. Christmas blessings to you all sweetheart. Xx

[Santa's NaughtiNess]

I'm just catching up with all the messages.
Well done everyone, they're so uplifting.
I always feel better after I've been on this thread

[Parmy]

You're a strong guy jake..a wonderful father and husband as well I'm sure..

[ChristmasNeeve]

Lovely message Jake

[Cherry Christmas]

Merry Christmas Jake and family

[Cherry Christmas]

It’s Livias turn

[Holly Christmas]

Originally Posted by Cherie

It’s Livias turn

If Liv forgets I'll post a couple of tunes later. Xx

[Kizzy]

I'm going to sneak in to say these messages have been so heart felt and bittersweet .. thank you so much for sharing them.
We have all had to cope with so many things this year to varying degrees.. its hard to carry on sometimes when you stop to think, but we do and thats what makes us amazing

wishing you all a wonderful 2021

Youtube video

[ChristmasNeeve]

Ah Kizzy just did a message instead Kate

[Candy Annie Cane]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

I'm going to sneak in to say these messages have been so heart felt and bittersweet .. thank you so much for sharing them.
We have all had to cope with so many things this year to varying degrees.. its hard to carry on sometimes when you stop to think, but we do and thats what makes us amazing

wishing you all a wonderful 2021

Youtube video

[Holly Christmas]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Ah Kizzy just did a message instead Kate

Yeah thats brilliant Niamh. Thank you Kizzy very much. Xx

[Nicky91]

Livia had messaged me, she's working on her christmas message

[Holly Christmas]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

Livia had messaged me, she's working on her christmas message

yeah I heard from her earlier. She's fine and will be back in later to post. Bless. Xx

[Livia]

We lit the first candle on the Hanukkah menorah this evening. We included in our blessing thanks that we were lucky enough to be together, Alex and I, our children as well as my Parents and my Grandmother. We are also thankful for coming through this year unscathed while so many did not; and also for the armies of people who've gone above and beyond to keep us safe. Bless them all.

From my family to yours, have a peaceful and happy time during the eight nights of Hanukkah, a very Merry Christmas and we wish you all that you would wish for yourselves in 2021.


I know I've posted this before... but every year it makes me laugh.
Happy Holidays, TiBB. x

Spoiler:

Youtube video

[/QUOTE]

[Holly Christmas]

How lovely Livia. Thank you. Have a wonderful Christmas xx

[Time to Sleigh]

Good to see you post livia. Missed you!

[Candy Annie Cane]

Happy Hanukkah Livia and family x

[Cherry Christmas]

Originally Posted by Livia

We lit the first candle on the Hanukkah menorah this evening. We included in our blessing thanks that we were lucky enough to be together, Alex and I, our children as well as my Parents and my Grandmother. We are also thankful for coming through this year unscathed while so many did not; and also for the armies of people who've gone above and beyond to keep us safe. Bless them all.

From my family to yours, have a peaceful and happy time during the eight nights of Hanukkah, a very Merry Christmas and we wish you all that you would wish for yourselves in 2021.


I know I've posted this before... but every year it makes me laugh.
Happy Holidays, TiBB. x

Spoiler:

Youtube video

[/QUOTE]

Happy Hanukkah to you Liv and your new family