The author; her husband, Nick; and from left, their children Peyton, Aiden and Owen, at Children's Hospital Los Angeles before Aiden's first surgery. Last Christmas, I sat on the floor surrounded by wrapping paper, new toys, and happy kids, then 7 and 9. It was like being in a bubble bath with too much soap ― ribbons and bows flying as each new box was ripped open. It quickly became hard to tell what was a gift and what was trash.