Hello hello! Happy New Year’s Eve!
We got home from Ireland late Sunday night, and I’ve been wanting to post all about our wonderful trip, but unfortunately…. I’ve been very sick. Seems I’ve been hit with that bad flu going around.
My parents were both sick last week when we arrived to Ireland (they had arrived a week before us and maybe picked it up on the plane?) and then I guess passed it to me. (We all stayed in the same house so…. there was really no avoiding it….).
I had sort of a slow and steady build of it all last week, but fortunately it didn’t really damper our trip too much. Initially it was mostly just an annoying cough and intermittent sore throat, but on the whole, I didn’t feel too bad.
I thought/assumed that would be it and that it had mostly run its course by the time we flew home, but in hindsight now, it was really just slowly ramping up! Not sure if it was the build up + let down of this crazy fall + all the travel + holiday stress + just general overwhelm all finalllllly catching up with me, but literally as soon as we got home, it took me OUT.
I took sick days both Monday and Tuesday and literally did nothing both days (like, I have not touched my suitcase to unpack yet…). I kind of muddled through a partial workday today (but cancelled some meetings and essentially just caught up on emails). I still feel only maybe 50% though.
Asher had what seemed to be a much milder/brief version while in Ireland, but so far Ethan and Ivan seem to be avoiding it. My mom had it bad and has been sick over 2 weeks now!
The cough for me is the worst. It just won’t quit!! During the 8 hour flight things started to escalate- maybe the dry plane air made it worse? (ugh obviously traveling like this is SO not ideal, but what was I supposed to do?!). I ended up literally ‘chain smoking’ so many cough drops that they made me nauseous in the end. 😩
Thankfully I realized I had some leftover cough syrup with codeine at home that works pretty well. Then the coughing makes my head hurt, I’m also jet lagged (between that + coughing more at night, my sleep has been crap), now it’s suddenly causing both head AND chest congestion and… blah. It’s just not been great!
On the plus side, if this is the ‘flu’, maybe my vaccine at least helped prevent the high fevers that I’ve had with the flu in the past. I really didn’t have bad fevers.
Clearly the flu is going around, and is extra bad this year, but I also think my body was just screaming out for some rest. (I mean, our Ireland trip was restful! It was actually very relaxing. But like I said, this fall- actually all of 2025- was just SO BUSY for me. I guess I finally maxxed out!)
If there is ever a good time to get sick, I suppose the week after Christmas (when school and work are both very quiet) is a decent enough time to have it happen.
But I’m ready to feel well now! It’s been about 10 days now since this started up.
Tomorrow is New Year’s Day! I want to be able to lean into the New Years energy + all of that, but right now, I feel like a limp noodle.
I’m so grateful to have OFF tomorrow, I will work Friday (but hopefully another light day) and then the weekend ahead of me. Fingers crossed come next Monday I can officially start my 2026. 🙂
Words to describe our trip and Christmas:
Special. Memorable. COZY. So cozy! Enchanting. Heart-warming.
I experienced many moments of feeling “nostalgia in advance”, which is that weird feeling where you preemptively miss the current moment, even though you’re still experiencing it. Anyone else know what I mean?
Just having us all together, in good health (well, mostly), with all the kids, my parents, the beautiful setting and special sense of ‘hygge’ with candles and fires and twinkle lights, pubs!, Christmas music and movies, festive foods…
I feel like we Christmas-ed very hard. 🙂
I definitely want to write some recaps because there are details I DON’T want to forget, but for now, I’ll leave you with a splattering of some favorite pics!
Happy 2026 to you all! I wish you all peace, joy, happiness, contentment, health, adventure, and love in the new year. 💕 I’m so grateful for all of you who read and connect with me here!
Love,
Kae
GRATEFUL KAE 
I’m glad you felt well enough to mostly enjoy your time in Ireland but what an awful souvenir! I hope lots of rest and down time helps you kick this nasty virus. There has been so much going around. Knock on wood, we’ve been healthy besides Taco being sick for about 24 hours with a fever/lethargy. I hope we stay healthy. When I get sick, I seem to her taken down harder than everyone else.
The pictures look great! I want that striped shirt/sweater/sweatshirt! If you bought it recently, let me know where!!
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Ugh! We had the Cold From Hell in November and it really knocked both of us out. It was a solid two weeks of feeling like garbage and I pulled a muscle in my chest that still hasn’t fully healed. I feel you so badly with the cough on the plane. I always get a bad cough when I get sick and NOTHING helps.
Anyway, boo to the flu and yay to Ireland. I can’t wait to hear about it.
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Ugh. It is the WORST to be sick over Christmas vacation and it sounds like a particularly nasty bug 😦
That said, the pictures from Ireland look PERFECT. I love all the family photos and the vistas are absolutely stunning. And all those cozy pubs are delightful ❤
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Could Ireland possibly be more stunning? What a place to spend Christmas. I hope you feel better soon!
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My Monday post is all about how if we don’t rest, our bodies force us, usually through illness. I’m so sorry you have had the flu! That sounds wretched. But what a lovely Christmas and I’m glad you got to spend it with your sister!
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HAPPY NEW YEAR KAE!!! I’m so sorry you got sick-but, glad it didn’t ruin the trip. I can’t wait to hear all about your “hygge Christmas!”
Feel better soon… : )
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I hope you feel better! I love your pics & appreciate you sharing about your travels. My in-laws live in Ireland and we’ve visited in Dec., but never for Christmas (in almost 20 years!) due to work schedules. The darker days there that time of year are tough, but I loved seeing your adventures and living vicariously through you. I’m sure it was great to be with your sister!
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Sorry about getting sick! So glad to hear that you had a great trip in Ireland. I so understand the feeling of future nostalgia, I get it so often lately.
Happy new year.
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Oh no, I am so sorry you are sick. I heard it’s going around…. and I do hope you’re on the upswing. I hate when sickness coincides with travel and holidays! How’s your mom?
The time in Ireland with your sister and family sounds – and looks – amazing! I can totally relate to this pre-nostalgic feeling because I often have it when I travel to Germany to see family. It’s like you’re already aware that this precious time is going to end soon.
Happy New Year, Kae!
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This is so funny. I was swimming in a sea of germs when I was teaching, and somehow, did not get sick. The moment winter break starts, welp, Daria gets sick. Not terribly, just an awful cough like you say, and a little soar throat. Am feeling better but guess what- January 5th is when I go back to work. Just in time.
The Ireland pre-view is amazing! Can’t wait to read a recap. The pubs are so cozy. And the rolling hills!
Oh and also, happy new year!!
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I’m glad your sickness didn’t affect your Ireland trip TOO much. The flight home sounds AWFUL, though. A flight like that is already a nuisance because it’s LONG and you just want to be HOME already, but to be sick on top of it? Argh!
Your Ireland pictures are stunning! I loved my time in Ireland. Such a beautiful country!
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Oh noooooo this sounds so awful! I’m glad it didn’t affect your trip too much, but what a horrible start to the year. Hopefully by now you are feeling better, and so are your parents. Love the photos! Your family is so beautiful and it looks like you had great weather on your trip!
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