Project 365, Week 2

It was a quiet week for me, though my family did a fair amount of buzzing around.

January 9

Aiden received an acceptance letter from East Catholic High. No decision has been made. 

January 10

God and I have an extensive history together. Over and over and over He has proven Himself faithful. I choose to trust Him, independent of what I feel.

January 11

Double digits...#10

January 12

I made it downstairs and got to watch beautiful snowflakes fall.

January 13

Friday nights is a good time to check IG....they do a great job posting photos and videos. Amanda worked diligently all week to serve on the worship team. 

She also chugged down a happy meal that was first put through a blender. She is fun and competitive and has a unique set of skills that often help her team win lots of points. However, when she got home that night, she was feeling a little ill. :)

They caught Aiden looking happy and handsome. 

January 14

Saturday morning kicked off "Backyard Camp", the bi-annual, student-lead camp. So much planning and effort goes into it and this tight-knit group compete and make memories. Three different families hosted over the three days of camp. 

I have the honor of spending a fair amount of time with this group....they are incredible kids and have something very special in each other.

January 15

My 48th birthday. We went to church and then Shaun and I went to brunch. The kids stayed for the second service and then straight to Day Two of camp. 

For Christmas, Amy gave her daughters and nieces tickets to a UCONN women's basketball game. Tim and Elizabeth brought their girls and dinner, Dad and Kiki came with the birthday cookie and we had a quiet, enjoyable evening together. 

After the game, Amy brought Tim's girls back and we got a bit of time together. It was non-traditional and lovely. Stage 4 cancer is such a good teacher. I see so many things differently now in the best of ways. One simple thing is what a blessing birthdays are, along with the wrinkles and gray hair and bad eyes that begin to accompany the passing years. I'm grateful. 

Numbering Days, Week 24

Since I was two weeks removed from surgery, the end of my month-long break from chemo ended. To be honest, it didn't feel like my body was ready for more of any intervention, but the experts thought differently.

(sweet view from my recliner...my boys especially were very attentive to and protective of me)

During a meeting icebreaker at the beginning of 2022, we were asked what is your most-used phone app? I probably said texting but what I didn't know is it would quickly become the Memorial Sloan Kettering app. There I see my schedule, send questions and requests, view test results, and do video appointments.

This day was a scan to check that the screws and rods were still where they were placed during surgery, followed by labs, waiting and, ironically, a telemed appointment with my oncologist while receiving the poison she has prescribed.  There are still some boxes to check, but there's a chance we do a few more rounds of treatment and then take a pause. 

When we go for any appointment, we always plan to wait. We try to stay busy but its often difficult to concentrate so sometimes we just pace or sit quietly. The cancer center is a really hard scene. I'm so thankful for the many people who are willing to boldly go with me.

Courage is fear that has said its prayers. True courage—the ability to push beyond 

our fears—is found only in God. The degree to which we find ourselves trusting 

and relying on God is the same degree to which we will possess courage.  -Judah Smith

Project 365, Week 1

This week after Christmas break and surgery was a slow one, which was perfect.

January 1

"Watching football", post-New Year's Eve party. :)

January 2

Amy stopped by for a visit and these two girls were sporting their freshly-earned hockey tournament champions sweatshirts. Girl power!!

January 3

Shaun and the kids had gone, with the rest of Shaun's family to his grandmother's house for the annual New Year's Day get together the day before and Aiden was very excited to put his new Lego set together. We both reminisced about the old days when he used to wait, with great anticipation for his dad to arrive home so he'd have help. Now, of course, he does it easy on his own.

January 4

The Mid-Week youth leaders were hosting parents for the evening. They shared their vision and their history and we even played some fun games. They are such a sweet couple, with such a beautiful heart for ministry and for the kids. 

I wasn't quite as ready as I thought for an outing, but I'm glad I went.

January 5

I think this was a different Lego set, or maybe round two of the same and Aiden was having fun doing a time-lapse.

January 6

With the holidays and surgery, it had been weeks since I'd been at TBQ. It was so great to be back!

January 7

The next morning, our third Teen Bible Quiz meet, hosted at our church! Its very emotional when I see the kids all together, from our church and from about five other churches. They are getting to know each other and getting to know God's word that will forever be a light for their path.

Its been a windy road to get from those early conversations of can we do this? what even IS this? to the Meet, here in our district. It's truly been God doing what only He could do. I'm so grateful for friendship and teamwork with Katie, God's faithfulness, and the patience and commitment of the kids.

January 8

Avery was covering for someone on the Sunday lunch shift, so while the other two were serving at the second service, after first service Shaun and I went on a date to visit our favorite waitress. This cheeseburger is a big draw for people.

In the evening we had a visit from some little people (and their parents). My kids wind them up and they wind my kids up. Its very sweet.

 

Numbering Days, Week 23

This first full week after surgery was a slow one. I spent tons of time in the recliner, which is my preferred place because it catches much of the household's activity. Strict no "BLT" orders were given. No bending, lifting, twisting. This first week that was easy to follow because my body was clearly not capable of those things anyway. Mercifully, sleeping was very doable and in my own bed.

I had to do a blood-thinning shot everyday. Knowing it would be for three weeks, I tried to give it to myself, I just couldn't "pull the trigger". So Amy, Shelva, Shaun, Avery, the visiting nurse all stepped up on different days to do it. Given the hundreds of needles I've had over the years it's entirely unreasonable that I still have anxiousness about them, but I do.

Because of the staples and bandages, I am not able to shower. After many days, Amanda so sweetly washed my hair in the sink and I felt so much better after.

I wasn't able to make the H & R Block Kick Off meeting in person, but it was the perfect activity to do from my recliner a week after surgery. Trying to take things one day at a time, and also its intimidating to be staring down the barrel of tax season. All will be well.

To my great annoyance, my visiting nurse team was very ambitious. I lost count how many visits over many days...the intake nurse, the nurse, OT, PT. Some of them were helpful, it was just a lot.

I'm sure when I took this photo of Aiden and the dog heading out on the morning walk, I was feeling sorry for myself, or maybe angry. I find its the small, simple things I miss the most when they are taken from me. I cannot/will not tally up all that has been lost, but the sum of it is not insignificant. 

One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone.

We had a steady stream of meals and messages and love. We're reminded constantly that we are not alone.