Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Jack's backpack, which he carried from preschool until fifth grade. I tried to toss it in the trash, but the Man was appalled I would even consider such a thing. And you wonder why decluttering my attic is such a problem.

I need to make this quick. I have a haircut appointment in forty-five minutes and I mustn't be late, especially since I cut my own bangs last week and did a remarkably bad job of it. It's become hard to look in the mirror.

It's 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning. The Man has gone to work, and Jack and Will are still asleep. This is the first summer that Will has slept in. As we know, sleeping means growing. It won't be long before I'm the shortest person in this house.

Right now, I'm trying to fight off a cold. I'm supposed to go visit my mom tomorrow, but she has approximately ten white blood cells right now, so I can't go if I'm the least bit sick. Will had a cold last week, and I can feel it coming after me, so I'm drinking lots of tea and taking zinc lozenges every two hours. I feel like I have 1/8th of a cold. I'll probably put off my trip until Thursday, just to be safe.

So, my mom has had one round of chemo and is home from the hospital, though she could go back again if she develops a fever. I'm very sad to report that after some initial good news, we got bad news--my mom has Stage IV Lymphoma, and there are cancer cells in her bone marrow. There is still hope the cancer can be tamed into remission, but it will be a hard fight. Please keep praying!

In the midst of all of this, life, to nobody's surprise, goes on. People get haircuts, boys spend too much time on the computer, dinner gets made. On Saturday, the Man picked up Jack from camp. Good thing Jack called on Friday to ask what time he was getting picked up the next day--we had planned to pick him up Sunday. We can't figure out why, since every bit of documentation says clearly Pick Up Your Child on July 27th and Not a Second Later. We're old; we get confused.

So Jack arrived home an inch taller, relatively clean, nails recently clipped (I dreamed a couple of weeks ago that he never clipped his nails at camp, and when we picked him up they were like Cher's.) It's clear he had a great time, because he actually told us stuff that happened. He actually shared with us. Amazing! And then he went upstairs and we haven't seen him since.

Will is getting over his cold, and I hope to take him to the pool today. It's beautiful outside, sunny and in the low '80s. A good day to swim, and if you're me, lounge in the shade, fight off a cold, hope that everyone gets well soon.

12 comments:

Pom Pom said...

Hi good Frances! I shall keep praying for your mama. I'm sorry you have a summer cold. Boo. I am going to a friend's for an afternoon of swimming, floating on my yellow noodle. Bliss.
I'm glad you've had a little quiet (when the boys are in their rooms or playing on the Interwebs).
I think you guys start school sooner than we do.
Keep reading poetry to your soul. xo

Angela said...

Love and hugs from this side of the Pond. Keep hanging on to Isaiah 43x

Nancy McCarroll said...

Sorry to hear about your mom. A fight it will be.

Boys getting taller and nails being clipped. Feel like I know you a bit.

Take more zinc and rest up.110riseswe

Susan said...

I hate learning this news about your mom. Cancer plain stinks.

Clipped nails, taller boys, sleeping in. I suppose in one way it's reassuring but sometimes it feels maddening when everything is continuing on and you want to shout, "But it's not alright. Nothing's right in the world."

Shout, cry, worry, be grumpy. Do it all. And above all, pray and know that you are loved.

Gumbo Lily said...

I'm sorry, Frances, to hear the news about your mom. You are right, amidst cancer and hard news, God still asks us to "do the next thing," knowing He is with us in all of it. I hope your colds go away soon.

((Hugs))
~Jody

GretchenJoanna said...

I pray your mom wins the battle. God bless her and give you all at least a measure of peace.

Leslie said...

I am praying for your mom, Frances. Can we know her first name?

Is that duct tape on that backpack? :)

Hugs and blessing,
Leslie

Tracy said...

I fought a cold with zinc and echinacea last term. I got half a sniffle and a bit of a sore throat - not enough to prevent me from teaching for a WHOLE day! I'm sure the stress of your mum's news is impacting on your cold-fighting abilities though. I will certainly keep praying for your mum - it's nice to hear little glimmers of hope about her prognosis. I've always struggled with the fact that I can't just cocoon myself when life gets too hard or too sad. I guess that's how we pull ourselves along and do things like endure and persevere. But I don't like enduring and persevering when I most need to do it!!! Hugs to you. One step at a time.....

It feels good when you get your kids home and they've survived without you. Nice to know it's possible. But kind of sad too. I told Mr Busy I feel like he's a little boy being trapped in a big boy's body. He agreed.

Heather said...

I'm sorry about your mother. I'll keep up with the prayers.

I think it's funny that you checked your son's fingernails when he came home. I've never had a child away at camp before, though, so it's just something I would have never thought of.

I hope you can stave off that cold!

Jo said...

You know the only reliable way to declutter is when no-one else is around!
Oh, if only we could wave a magic wand so that no-one we loved need ever suffer.
Sending loving thoughts winging your way dear Frances.

debbie bailey said...

Praying for your mama. Stupid cancer.

magsmcc said...

Bon courage, dearest Frances. Bangs and boys will all come right, and I do pray so for your Mum too xx