Sickness, Snow Days and a Birthday

I don't think I've ever been so happy to see Monday. Last week was one of the strangest weeks we've had in a long time, and I'm glad it's over!

It all started with me in bed for three days with a fever. At the same time, Little Miss developed a fever and Little Man had quite the cough and snotty nose. To add insult to injury, we found out none of us had the same thing so we had to be careful to not spread what we each had to the other! Poor Hubby had his hands full playing both Daddy and Mommy (to sick kids nonetheless!), medical assistant to me, cooking meals, cleaning messes, and even managed to go grocery shopping...which had to be done before Snowpocalypse hit. (Do I have a great man or what! More on that later...)

In case you've been living under a rock for the last week, most of the Midwest United States was blanketed under inches (and sometimes feet) of snow in what is now being dubbed "Snowpocalypse" or "Snowmeggedon." This winter catastrophe resulted in four days off school for Little Miss, no preschool for Little Man, and two days off work for Hubby. It would have been a wonderful winter retreat for us all...if we hadn't been sick!

Still, we did manage to spend Wednesday celebrating Hubby's birthday. Since we were all snowed in, we declared an all-day birthday celebration complete with Apple Fritters for breakfast, a jungle safari in the living room (featuring every stuffed animal we own), a special steak dinner, a viewing of Disney's Jungle Book (notice the theme?) and of course, birthday cake.


Since sickness and blizzard prevented us from going shopping for birthday presents, the kids made "My Favorite Things with Daddy" books. They each drew pictures of their favorite activities with Daddy and we tied them all up with a ribbon. I'm not sure who had more fun...the kids making them or Daddy reading them.

We even created special birthday cards by cutting out pictures of the kids and creating funny scenes and sayings. That was Little Miss's idea...she's quite the crafty bug!


Sickness aside, it was a great week of spending time together and creating special memories. There's nothing like being snowed in together in tight living quarters to make you truly appreciate each other! I was once again reminded how blessed I am to have my wonderful family...especially my Hubby. I hope you had a wonderful birthday, Babe! Thanks for (once again) being my hero!

C'mon Ring Those Bells!

In a previous post I mentioned my recent medical journey. I haven been undergoing radiation on my leg for the last six weeks. In the lobby of the treatment facility where I go, there is a bell and a plaque with the following poem inscribed on it:

Survivor's Cheer
Ring this bell
Three times well,
Its toll to clearly say;
My treatment is done!
This course is run!
And I am on my way!

I had never seen anyone actually ring the bell and begun to wonder if anyone actually did. Then one day last week as I came in for my treatment, I heard the bell. I saw the joy and relief on the face of the lady who rung it. Her friends and family, along with the facility staff, were gathered around cheering her on. It was an amazing sight. The nurses later told me they've had people who were treated at other facilities ask to come ring the bell once they completed their treatments. (Of course they let them.)

Today I got to ring that bell. I completed my final radiation treatment. I didn't expect to feel so emotional, after all I have been doing this every day for the last six and a half weeks. I figured this would be just another day. But it wasn't. After ringing that bell, seeing my husband smiling from ear to ear, and hearing the staff cheer, I walked out the doors with a new outlook on life: I am now a survivor.

If you are undergoing treatment for cancer, I encourage you to find out if your treatment center does any type of celebration when your treatment is completed. If not, create your own. Invite family and friends to meet you there. Bring refreshments (I'm sure the staff would appreciate some, too!). Or simply arrange for a celebratory dinner afterward. You've earned it.

If you know someone undergoing treatment for cancer, buy him or her a bell. Attach a copy of the above poem. Offer to celebrate with them...and be prepared to clap, cheer, shout, whistle, and carry on for your loved one. You'll never know how loved it will make them feel.

Precious Life

Last night we got a call that my youngest sister had gone into labor at only 34 weeks. There was obvious worry and concern, coupled with much prayer for my sister and the baby. Because Sis and her family live in a small, rural town her doctor had to travel an hour to arrive at the hospital. When the doctor finally arrived, they decided to take deliver the baby via C-section.

The baby weighed 3 lb, 3 oz and had complications with many of his vital organs. He was on 100% oxygen and was rushed to another hospital with an excellent Neonatal ICU. Sis encouraged her Hubby to go with the baby while she stayed behind to recover from surgery. When Baby and Sis' Hubby arrived at the second hospital, the baby's heart, stomach, and lungs were all doing well. As of this morning, his oxygen support had been reduced to only 33% and his blood pressure was stable.

They have named the baby Zoe, which means "abundant life," and this precious, tiny one is fighting for his. Things have greatly improved since last night. My sister hopes to be released tomorrow to join her family with its newest addition. My parents are there now to offer their love and support. I hate that I live too far to just pick up and go at a moment's notice. But I offer my prayers and send my love across the miles.

We are all believing that Zoe will grow into a strong, vibrant young man. We serve an Amazing God who is able to do more than we can ask or imagine. I can't wait to see the story Zoe tells through his amazing life!

Welcome Little Zoe...hang in there, we're praying for you!

Rainy Day

I apologize in advance that this will not be the spectacular post that I promised. It's raining today; however, the dreary weather actually matches my mood. My son was up every hour last night (sometimes more than that). So Hubby, Son, and myself probably each got 3-4 hours of sleep. I thought for sure it was an ear infection, but this morning the doc said, "it's just teeth." Wow, who know a few tiny teeth could cause such a disturbance! (My daughter's teeth all came in with relative ease.)

My sadness isn't solely from lack of sleep. It's also from the realization that my son's tiny little body is in so much pain. I thought as I held him last night that there is no worse feeling in the world than knowing your child is in pain and not having the power to do anything about it. There is nothing that can make a mother feel more powerless and helpless. I know there are children in much worse pain than he is in--children who face serious disease, illness, or injury. I do not discount their pain or that of their parents. I cannot imagine bearing that sort of load as a parent...my heart goes out to those who must do so. I know my son will see even greater pain in the days ahead...there will be bumped heads, scraped knees, maybe even stitches or broken bones some day. But last night, as I watched him struggle to sleep and listened to him cry in pain and frustration, none of that mattered. All I could think is, my son is in pain and I don't know how to help him.

As I type this, I've come to an obvious (yet, not-so-obvious to me until right now) conclusion...God must hurt so much for us as we endure pain--either self-induced or simply as a result of the fallen world in which we live. So, bear with me as I make yet another God-is-our-loving-parent analogy. Unlike me, He does have the power to stop our pain, but sometimes He chooses not to. If I were all-powerful (YIKES!), I would stop my children from ever feeling or knowing pain. But God is so much smarter than I am. He knows that by enduring the pain, working through it, and trusting in Him, I will come through the pain a stronger person. My faith will be strengthened and I will be a better wife, mother, sister, neighbor, friend for having gone through it. That doesn't mean it hurts me any less (nor does He enjoy seeing my pain). But He's right there with me the whole time...holding me, telling me how much He loves me (even when I'm screaming at him to make the pain go away)..until finally, the pain is over, and I have grown from it. That must be why He tells us in James 1:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)

I told you He's a lot smarter than I am!

P.S. See, this is why I write...it helps me process my sometimes-out-of-control emotions and come to a rational conclusion! :) Now, off to find some chocolate.

I Will Be Back, I Promise

Still recovering from The Crud...so not much to post. I apologize for the lack of witty conjecture in the meantime. I will, hopefully, be fully recovered soon and make a stunning comeback...one well worth the wait! (Now the pressure's on!)

And The Winner Is...

I'm sure your spouse (if you have one) is a wonderful person; however, I must nominate my husband for Hubby of the Year (and thereby declare him the winner in my book!). And here's why...

Not only does my wonderful better-half work his little techie fingers to the bone all day fixing major network problems for a nationwide health care company, he comes home to do his fair share (sometimes more than his fair share) of helping out with the kids.

Take yesterday for example...his only "real" day off in probably 3 weeks (he's working weekends and overnights for 3 weekends in a row on "major network updates") and what does he do? He plays Mr. Mom the whole day so that yours truly can get some much-needed rest (see previous post if you missed my whining about me sleep-deprivation!). As it turns out, I wasn't just whining (OK, maybe I was, but for good reason). I am sick. It turns out my daughter and I have what my grandmother would dub, "The Crud"...sore throat, congestion, no appetite, overall achy feeling and general exhaustion (add to my daughter's an ear ache...YUCK!). So The Love of My Life sacrificed his one "free" day to nurse our first-born, care for our son, and let Mommy sleep for most of the day to kick this Crud. It helped...we're all feeling better today (well, maybe not Hubby). Still a little "cruddy," but MUCH better, thanks to Dear Ol' Dad!

And that's why I must hereby declare my husband "Husband of the Year." (Please give my condolences to your spouse....there's always next year.) And thanks, Baby...you're absolutely the best!