Chemo Chronicles-Cycle Two Day Five

Good news! Mom visited the doctor Friday for the first treatment in her second cycle of four. The blood tests showed that what was once a high level of Cancer in her system of 1900 is now 700! Without getting too technical, or even remembering all the medical jargon, the bottom line is she is responding to the chemo. Her doctor examined her and noted that her infected lymph nodes are already experiencing a surprising decrease in inflammation.

My sister, with her husband and their four month old daughter, was able to visit Mom last week. I hope she got as much out of it as I did.

Chemo Chronicles-Cycle Two Day Five

Good news! Mom visited the doctor Friday for the first treatment in her second cycle of four. The blood tests showed that what was once a high level of Cancer in her system of 1900 is now 700! Without getting too technical, or even remembering all the medical jargon, the bottom line is she is responding to the chemo. Her doctor examined her and noted that her infected lymph nodes are already experiencing a surprising decrease in inflammation.

My sister, with her husband and their four month old daughter, was able to visit Mom last week. I hope she got as much out of it as I did.

Being Neighborly

We welcomed a new neighbor on Friday. Actually he had a large welcoming committee. Neighbors lined up at the off ramp near our neighborhood to wave him home. There was a large line of cars bringing him to his new resting place. I lost count after 20; I could not keep track of all the motorcycles with flags waving in the wind. I looked in the cars and noticed men and women of all ages; many in uniform.

Our home is on the way to the veteran's cemetery. Since moving to our new home in February we have seen about 6 funeral processions. They are all significant because the men and woman that lie there have given the greatest sacrifice. For some reason, though, this one was different. This young man was only thirty; just a few years younger than me and Daddy. The young man was wounded in combat. Although he did not die from the gunshot in his shoulder he died from infection after the fact.

The boys and I watched the cars pass the house while we sat on a big rock in our front yard. The American flag that hangs in the yard waved in the wind and would provide sun or shade depending on the wind. The flapping sound the flag made caused Little Man to look up and see what it was. It was odd, how he had his hand on his forehead to block the sun while looking up; I wish I had had my camera at the time.

Little Man asked if he could see "the little boy" that was "going home". I explained that although I call him a "boy", he is really a man. Like Daddy is a man; even more man than some much older than he was. We talked about being a soldier and what that means. We talked about the different branches of the armed forces. We talked about his Daddy, all his grandfathers, and many others in our family choosing to join. Although I know he doesn't truly understand what it all means, I wanted to plant the seed. Our children are so fortunate to have so many choices, I want to make sure they understand why and how they do.






Support them...

*Although I did not create this I thought it was appropriate.

Being Neighborly

We welcomed a new neighbor on Friday. Actually he had a large welcoming committee. Neighbors lined up at the off ramp near our neighborhood to wave him home. There was a large line of cars bringing him to his new resting place. I lost count after 20; I could not keep track of all the motorcycles with flags waving in the wind. I looked in the cars and noticed men and women of all ages; many in uniform.

Our home is on the way to the veteran's cemetery. Since moving to our new home in February we have seen about 6 funeral processions. They are all significant because the men and woman that lie there have given the greatest sacrifice. For some reason, though, this one was different. This young man was only thirty; just a few years younger than me and Daddy. The young man was wounded in combat. Although he did not die from the gunshot in his shoulder he died from infection after the fact.

The boys and I watched the cars pass the house while we sat on a big rock in our front yard. The American flag that hangs in the yard waved in the wind and would provide sun or shade depending on the wind. The flapping sound the flag made caused Little Man to look up and see what it was. It was odd, how he had his hand on his forehead to block the sun while looking up; I wish I had had my camera at the time.

Little Man asked if he could see "the little boy" that was "going home". I explained that although I call him a "boy", he is really a man. Like Daddy is a man; even more man than some much older than he was. We talked about being a soldier and what that means. We talked about the different branches of the armed forces. We talked about his Daddy, all his grandfathers, and many others in our family choosing to join. Although I know he doesn't truly understand what it all means, I wanted to plant the seed. Our children are so fortunate to have so many choices, I want to make sure they understand why and how they do.






Support them...

*Although I did not create this I thought it was appropriate.

Just two good old boys...

We had a tough time naming The Babe. I had a girl name picked out but since we decided not to find out the sex of the baby we had to find an alternate name just in case. I scoured name books and websites and found names like Taylor and Avery. These were good names just not what I had in mind. I walked the liquor aisle at the grocery store and found names like Miller and Cooper. I flipped through The Bible but couldn't find anything that wasn't too conservative. I called my genealogically inclined aunt and asked for family name ideas. Daddy and I could not come to terms with a name. He had an idea in his head about one particular name. I was completely against this name because The Babe had a new cousin with a complimentary name. I was concerned folks might think we planned it, liked the show, or were just Hoosiers (no offense to my Indy fans). One day in the wee hours of the morning Daddy woke me to tell me he had the name, and he was right. He added my grandmother's maiden name as a middle name and we had a winner.

We now joke about the reference to the show and how each of the boys looks like their character. My concern now is that we have created a self fulfilling prohpecy. You know, like when Cain's mom named him. Today at Nana's they decided it would be fun to take the five pound bag of dry cat food and have a party. The Babe was the tosser and cousin from the Bible was the dancer. They were both in time out when Daddy called to check in. Nana has made the comment many times that the two of them get into more mischief than all the other cousins combined.

I laughed when I heard the story today. I know it won't be the last time the two get into something together. I hope that their relationship only grows as they do.
















...never meanin' no harm
Beats all you never saw, been in trouble with the law since the day they was born.
Straightenin' the curves, flattenin' the hills
Someday the mountain might get 'em but the law never will.
Makin' their way, the only way they know how
That's just a little bit more than the law will allow.
Just two good ol' boys, wouldn't change if they could,
Fightin' the system like two modern-day Robin Hoods...

*By the way, we spell it with four letters, not two.

Just two good old boys...

We had a tough time naming The Babe. I had a girl name picked out but since we decided not to find out the sex of the baby we had to find an alternate name just in case. I scoured name books and websites and found names like Taylor and Avery. These were good names just not what I had in mind. I walked the liquor aisle at the grocery store and found names like Miller and Cooper. I flipped through The Bible but couldn't find anything that wasn't too conservative. I called my genealogically inclined aunt and asked for family name ideas. Daddy and I could not come to terms with a name. He had an idea in his head about one particular name. I was completely against this name because The Babe had a new cousin with a complimentary name. I was concerned folks might think we planned it, liked the show, or were just Hoosiers (no offense to my Indy fans). One day in the wee hours of the morning Daddy woke me to tell me he had the name, and he was right. He added my grandmother's maiden name as a middle name and we had a winner.

We now joke about the reference to the show and how each of the boys looks like their character. My concern now is that we have created a self fulfilling prohpecy. You know, like when Cain's mom named him. Today at Nana's they decided it would be fun to take the five pound bag of dry cat food and have a party. The Babe was the tosser and cousin from the Bible was the dancer. They were both in time out when Daddy called to check in. Nana has made the comment many times that the two of them get into more mischief than all the other cousins combined.

I laughed when I heard the story today. I know it won't be the last time the two get into something together. I hope that their relationship only grows as they do.
















...never meanin' no harm
Beats all you never saw, been in trouble with the law since the day they was born.
Straightenin' the curves, flattenin' the hills
Someday the mountain might get 'em but the law never will.
Makin' their way, the only way they know how
That's just a little bit more than the law will allow.
Just two good ol' boys, wouldn't change if they could,
Fightin' the system like two modern-day Robin Hoods...

*By the way, we spell it with four letters, not two.

I Give Up

OK. You guys win. Your first moment of brilliance, was of course, reading my blog. Then you top yourselves and provide some great titles for yesterday's post. I love everyone's ideas but my top three picks are as follows:

Taint Misbehavin' from Momo Fali
Mommy Only Poops from Joeprah
Update Meme, With a Crappy Ending from Piper

So I give up. I am obviously not in a position to even manage my own blog. Thank you all for stepping in while I was otherwise occupied.

The three of you win a load of crap...haha. No really. You win my gratitude and continued readership. Lucky you.

This last week of recovering for Little Man has been a week of resolution for me. I have struggled with my need to control everything for a long time. Without my little white pill each day I think I may just drive myself and my children crazy. As a grow as a parent I learn to pick my battles with my children but have yet to learn to pick them with myself. I have resolved to give up this futile fight and hand it over. Or give up. When I say up I am giving it WAY up.

• I am giving up the "sport" of parenting. You know what I mean; "Johnny, can you show so-and-so how you stand on your head and gargle peanut butter". My boys do things others don't (and should be able to at times) and vice versa, whoopee.
  
• I am giving up my ridiculous housekeeping expectations. Like Nana Eileen used to say. "My home is clean enough to be healthy" and my favorite, as if a little throw at my mother, "You know, more people see your kids than your home".
  
• I am giving up my guilt. OK this is a stretch. I will make an effort to give up my guilt. You know mothers; we feel guilty about feeling guilty. How does our guilt affect our children. ARG. Enough already. I will not feel guilty for an hour away from the boys by myself. Even if it is to grocery shop. We all need some personal time, and couple time.
  
• I am giving up the idea that I will finish my MBA by the end of this year. Who am I trying to impress and what am I trying to prove? I am self employed; am I giving myself a raise? I only have nine classes left. It. Will. Get. Done. When it works for my life. Without pressure or adverse side effects on my family.
  
• I am giving up an resentment towards my fabulous husband. I know he would love to be a stay at home dad but lets me do it. Although I feel like he is the lucky one at times I know that me and the boys are the lucky ones to have him.
  
• I am giving up the need to try to control my children. Wait. Wait. No matter what you think, none of us really control our children. (I used to think differently until we had our two hour medicine show down) I think we just manipulate them. Kind of like when we make our husbands think something is their idea. It is all about presentation. I am merely a guide or tutor for my boys. They will soon learn how wise I am. I really don't want robots anyway; I want my boys to be able to think independently and be self sufficient. They are, after all, like their mommy...no wonder they don't like to be controlled.

Evidence of my recent Give It Up effort:



While attempting to get Little Man to take meds I turned away from The Babe and pudding. Oh well.

Busted.

Mug Shots of the accused.

Seed 1/AKA Little Man. Wanted for disturbing the peace, causing sleepless nights, breaking curfew, waking brother early from nap, perjury, contempt of court, making his mom cry with laughter, and melting her heart with his cuddles. Potentially grounded for life if Mom does not get a mini vacation.

Seed 2/AKA The Babe. Wanted for conspiracy, aiding and abetting, harboring a fugitive, and giving the best kisses ever. Innocent until proven guilty.

If the two would simply give themselves up now they would save everyone involved a lot of time and effort attempting to control them.

* Disclaimer: No one was harmed in the making of these images. If you or someone you know is named Johnny or So-and-So I apologize if I offended you.

*Manipulation Tip: Little Man is not a big fan of washing his hair. He likes to take a bath or shower, he just had a bad experience with some shampoo at Nana's once so he is a little apprehensive now. Well buddy, you paint your hair, you wash your hair. Glad you see things my way.

*Medicine effort update: Little Man really enjoyed his Tylenol with Codeine shake tonight!