Project 365, Week 50

The countdown to Christmas and the end of the year is here! I'm trying to just do what I can and keep remembering what Christmas really, truly is about.

December 11

The view at the office as the sun was setting...stunning!

I caught this screenshot of Aiden at youth group a couple days prior. Yes, his shoulder is healing nicely.

December 12

Double ugh for treatment day.

December 13

It was a win that I could tolerate screens. The Hallmark Channel stayed on a good part of the day. Its perfect for snoozing...I can doze off for a bit and when I wake up I still know what's going on with the plot. 😉

December 14

Avery gave me an early Christmas present, a new heating pad. The calendar says I'm in my 40's but in body years I'm well into my 80's.

Colombo took Trevor and Amanda to an Experience Weekend at Word of Life in New York. They have a one or two year gap program that maybe would be a good first step out of high school. They spent a night in the dorms and sat in on some classes. Amanda got to talk with the soccer coach and meet a couple players. They cut the weekend short a night to make it back for the youth group Christmas party.

December 15

They optimized the morning there and then headed home after lunch in time to get ready for the Met Gala-themed party.

The much anticipated day arrived, the annual youth group Christmas party!

I was thrilled to be feeling well enough to be there and to see the excitement and to take pictures. Shaun and I even went out on a date after!

December 16

The next morning we took Amanda on a breakfast date to download her experience and give feedback on her time in NY. She had a pretty well thought out pros and cons list. 

The whole family met up to watch our nephews hockey game at the beautiful new ice rink UCONN just built. He got plenty of ice time and his team even won in the last 30 seconds of regulation!

December 17

After church a couple of us headed to the mall so the kids could do a little shopping. And mostly, Amanda wanted to cash in on her birthday present, a second ear-piercing she's been wanting for a while. It was so sweet that Amanda included me in the experience and, while it was an exhausting day, it was nothing my nap later couldn't cover.

December's 10 on 10

10 pictures on the 10th day (Sunday) of the month! 

{Document a snapshot of your life...find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!}

I love following the liturgical calendar for both Advent and Lent. There is something so special and sacred about setting aside that time with a clear focus. It builds anticipation in my heart and gives more meaning to Christmas and Easter. 

Since I'm walking less, I've tried to add some light weights back in. There is a plethora of free videos that are just standing or just sitting. I only do arms, and only for 10-15 minutes, but its more than nothing and my doctors say activity is good.

Shaun and the kids were serving at church, but I didn't have duties. The whole service was the children's Christmas play, so I opted to stay home. Ginger and I took a stroll, both of us very thankful to be out, on our feet.

I spent a significant amount of time knocking out my pictures "to-do". A fallout of taking lots of pictures is you have lots of pictures. I do my best to get them to the people looking for them. Unofficially, I was the official girls team photographer for the season.

Shaun and Aiden were working on tasks around the house, prepping for the 3+ inches of rain forecasted.

More picture projects and lots of getting sidetracked. A couple months ago I was in this very same spot, taking senior pictures for that little girl who is holding my hand.

Sunday afternoons our TV is on from 1pm to late. Most of us really enjoy watching.

Tons of rain.

Cozy, watching football.

Post-family/scheduling meeting, laughing with these guys.

 

Project 365, Week 49

With some naps and too much resting, I was able to be out and about during this off week. I'm so grateful that I've been free of sickness and can be out doing things. And, its the most wonderful time of the year. :)

December 4

We got to celebrate another year of my dad's life and I'm so grateful.

December 5

Long story, but I had to do an MRI and it had to be done at a particular machine in Manhattan. So, we pulled the kids from school and made it a family day. A highlight was seeing the Christmas Spectacular.

December 6

“Kindred spirits are not so scare as I used to think. It’s splendid 

to find out there are so many of them in the world.” – Anne Shirley

December 7

With the youth group Christmas party around the corner, we went out in search of a suit for Aiden. He grows inches overnight, it seems.

December 8

A highlight of my week is spending time with this TBQ group. Its fascinating to watch them grow and develop. They are funny, sincere and show up regularly.

December 9

Workday at the office, trying to get some projects done before January.

I peeked out at Aiden working on the sign and noticed the steady flow of traffic, which on a Saturday can only mean a UCONN game. Passing by our office is one of only a few ways to get to campus.

Shaun and I went with Amanda to her soccer awards night. By a wide margin, she lead the team in assists and very nearly in goals scored. She was the corner-kicker and most of the time they were put exactly where they needed to be. And.....she was awarded Most Valuable Player!

This guy has been with her every step of the way. Pushing, training, encouraging, coaching...through blood, sweat and tears and push-backs he persevered, wanting the best for her and this day, she was thankful for it all.

Project 365, Week 48

We turned the corner toward the Christmas season, with joy!

November 27

Avery and Shaun persevered until our light situation was resolved. 

We had an afternoon/evening with Amanda planned for her birthday, but due to a miscommunication, she ended up having to work her normal shift. So instead, we celebrated her 17th birthday when she got home.

November 28

Treatment day with my faithful guy walking out his wedding vows while somehow making it seem like its his greatest honor.

November 29

A banner day for Aiden!! Shaun took him to a check-in with the surgeon, who said no more sling! along with a step-up in PT.

Then they attended the boys soccer banquet. To our great surprise, given the fact that he was sidelined half the season, Aiden was awarded MVP for the JV team. 

November 30

Pretty light.

December 1

The countdown begins!!

The youth group held a special worship night and an invitation was extended to parents and families. It was very special to see Amanda using her gifts, along with the others.

December 2

Aiden helped me take care of things like dumping dead planters. We also did quite a bit at the office, including repairing the angel who lights up beautifully at night.

December 3

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas, thanks to Avery!

Numbering Days, Week 68-70

At the writing of this I'm feeling a bit cynical and all this sounds like a tired, worn story. Do a treatment, climb my way back. Have another call with the doctor, get good or bad news, do another scan. At the moment, it just feels like blah, blah, blah. In reality, each "thing" comes with its own effort, complication, relief, confusion, waiting, despair, hope, second-guessing. 

But the moment I think, who even wants to hear yet another update, so many of your faces come to my mind...you consistently wait with me, hope with me, check in with me, pray for me so faithfully. Care. It actually astounds me and humbles me, especially after all this time. Thank you.

I'm currently on my "off' week after the 5th treatment in this set. On our last call with the oncologist she said the latest MRI showed that the chemo is doing something so we'll do another four-ish rounds before doing scans again. This is good news, this is hard news. 

Mercifully, the last several treatments have been less harsh during the 48 hours I have the pump on. Hydration seems to be the key! I drink a ton of water the couple days before and get a liter of saline during treatment and the result is I'm less sick (and in the bathroom more 😉).

Since we've added hydration and immunotherapy, along with the usual chemo, the infusion time has been extended to about 2.5 hours, which is still much less than the six hours it used to be. The immunotherapy has a strange combination of side effects. It drys out my skin terribly...sometimes my eyelids are so dry I can feel each blink, while at the same time it causes an acne-like rash. On the issue list, these things rank very low; it's just new and different. 

It's not my natural preference, but we've simplified life, adjusting to our current capacity. Most of the photos here show basic, simple, quiet life. There is such grace and sweetness in what might at first appear to be an ordinary moment. But the tough battles I go through to arrive at those moments makes them wonder-filled. A walk, time around a puzzle, a heart talk, Christmas decorating...all things easily taken for granted unless you develop eyes to see what a miracle it actually is. 

I altered my treatment schedule so I'd be feeling well for Thanksgiving and for my little Amanda-girl's birthday. To get to see her another day older and hug her when she turned 17 is what I'm living for. I'm living for another smile from my husband, a life-chat with my eldest who is handling all the things, an 'I love you, Mom' from a boy whose voice is getting deeper. It's all grace.

Meeting my great-niece!

I can only withstand life because I have a God who is with me. Emmanuel. He is the with-us God who heals our brokenness. He is the with-us God who brings real hope. He is the with-us God who is strength in our weakness, who is patient with our failings. He is the with-us God in our tired and worn stories. Emmanuel. We are not alone.