Why Christmas this year will be different from any other

With Christmas fast approaching now, I thought I would write a post on what Christmas will be like for me this year compared to other's. I always look forward to Christmas as it is a great time of year for everyone to be together and celebrate this special occasion.

I have a little niece who I have spoilt this year as it is a time for children, she is nearly 2 years old I know she is still too young to understand what it is about. I just love watching her reaction when she opens the presents, she is more excited by the wrapping paper than the presents themselves. I think this is very common with very young children.

Why will this Christmas be different from any other?

Last year I was still able to eat Christmas dinner with everyone, even though I really struggled eating without feeling extremely nauseous and uncomfortable, I could eat a very small meal.
This year I had a PEG-J placed as my gastro problems became so bad that I wasn't absorbing what I was eating and I was becoming malnourished even though I wasn't actually vomiting, at times it was close. I was losing weight very fast.

I have always loved Christmas dinner with the family, so this year will be very strange not to have any but to still be with my family, last year I was able to sit at the dining table, where now I am virtually bedbound with only being able to sit out in my electric wheelchair for short times without suffering terrible pain so this will be very odd. I will have to make sure that I pace the day so that I get a good balance of rest and activity as it is so easy to overdo things and suffer afterwards.

I want to be able to spend every minute with my family and especially my niece as she is growing up so fast and I don't want to miss any opportunity with her.
The dining room where every year we eat Christmas Dinner, is now my bedroom so everyone will have to eat in the lounge using the kitchen table instead, I am sure it will all be ok on the day but a big change for everyone is in store.

Every year we buy a real tree and my Mum loves decorating it choosing a colour theme usually blue & white which always looks so beautiful as it has a magical feel to it. I used to help her decorate before my health deteriorated. She has the tree in the lounge behind the door but as this room will be where they will be eating, space will be very limited. I will need access with my power chair as well to come in and out as and when. Not sure whether they will get a real one this year, may have to buy an artificial one instead.

With these few changes this year Christmas will be a bit different but at least we will all be together, this is the most important thing at the end of the day. Chronic illness can throw us some unexpected turns but you just have to make the best of the situation at the time.

Wishing you all A Happy Christmas, however you will be spending it.