Happenings as of late...

Haven't had much time to get down to blogging, but have lots of posts twirl around in my head as I do the "necessary".

The Christmas cactus~blooming a little late~

Free carrots! Had help to peel and cut them.  3 gallons steamed and in freezer.

A visit from the representatives gave a little gift, and interviewed us about some possibilities.

Celebrating Veterans Day ~Hospital Style~

What we see from the hospital window~a crane was brought into the parking lot fly the flag today.  It was not there earlier this morning.

Unexpected Blessing

One morning, I quickly washed J's bed sheets so that i could get them  outside to line dry before leaving to go to the hospital to be with my son.  I accomplished the task, however the sky was cloudy, and looked like it could rain. But there was a nice breeze, so i prayed, and left the bedding on the line as i went about other tasks that needed to be done. When i was ready to get on the road, i got the dry sheets off the line and brought them into the house~just as rain began to fall.  I know God held back that rain, and sent the right amount of breeze to dry the clothing~ just because He knew~ i needed~ His grace..!

Passing Time...

Thanks to one of my bloggy friends, I had something to do yesterday while my son was getting a blood transfusion. How did she know I like this kind of word puzzles?  I think the Holy Spirit directed her to send it! Little blessings.

I am a Momcologist!!

“The depth of our knowledge of our child’s disease would keep any Oncologist on their toes.  From the moment the words are spoken, “Your child has cancer.” we learn what perspective really is.  We have gained a new appreciation of the mundane and rudimentary things in our lives.  Moments we never gave a second thought to, are now sacred and crystalline in their value.  Some of our friends fade away. People we never truly considered friends, become steady rocks in our lives.  Our fellow Childhood Cancer families sometimes mean more to us than our blood relatives.
I would gladly revoke my membership to this club, if I could.  Yet, I am constantly humbled and filled with love for the members of this club.  We understand each others lingo, quirks, fears and joys.  Through CaringBridge, CarePages, Blogs, Facebook, Email, and phone calls, 

taken from: I Am A Momcologist

Awareness Month

September happens to be Childhood Cancer Awareness month.

It just so happens that we have a child with cancer.

This is the sign we saw in our clinic today as our son received his treatment....

We celebrate his good days!

Too tired to post

I have been too tired to think lately.  My days are filled with cooking, cleaning, hospital or clinic visits, and encouraging my family, especially my son.  So excuse my absence while I take a nap...zzzz...

---No Ordinary Plane---Makes Me Wonder---

 

I have often seen this plane buzz past our home, headed for not to distant farmland crops. This is a crop duster, spraying pesticides onto surrounding crops.  I never liked it, but didn't think too much about it, until a friend of mine was diagnosed with melanoma.    Whenever she would see this plane she would shepherd her family into the house to avoid breathing the poisonous air.  They were a very healthy minded family.  Fast forward a few years, and here is my son, diagnosed with cancer. I now realize we live in one of the higher percentage diagnosed cancer  areas of the country.

~Just makes me wonder~

They say it hasn't been proven

~But I just wonder~

Preoccupied

This scene has become a normal...for someone who wasn't even born in a hospital!

Following our new normal

There is a new place in blogland if you are interested in following our family through our sons leukemia journey:

jethenrosjourney.blogspot.com

Hop on over to catch updates.

Today

Twas a rough day for me.  Today was the first time i watched my son get his treatments. I had not arrived when he was given his first round last week... He is so brave...I am the one that cried.

I received a judgmental phone call last evening that disturbed my nights rest, hence i am tired and emotional today.

With God, all things are possible...one day at a time.

I am buoyed by the prayers of those prayer warriors out there.  Thank you.

A Day of Shock

Throughout our vacation, our son, J was not his usual active self. He had  a cold, and sinus infection about 2 weeks before leaving... but it had been conquered...or so we thought. Throughout our travel, we recognized symptoms appearing that led us to believe he had a viral infection.

The morning after our return home, Chief took him to the hospital where he works to get J's blood checked. When the lab tech read the values, he wouldn't even give the results.  He insisted that J needed to see his primary care physician immediately, so off they went.

When I saw Chief a few hours later, I saw  fear in his eyes. As soon as he shut the bedroom door, he relayed what the Dr. diagnosed, and burst into tears, sobbing like a baby. The one word summery of our conversation was:
                                               CANCER

What?! Our healthy, active son had what?!  My mind whirled...and spun out of control.  It couldn't be!  But wait...they had an immediate referral to see the Oncologist to verify.  About half an hour later, after picking up something to do while waiting to see the Dr. they left for a second opinion.

Oh how I prayed...and cried... until I saw them later...when the kind of cancer was identified.  It was definitely leukemia, but his blood would have to be analyzed by MD Anderson before knowing what type of leukemia he had. I had never known that there were 8 or more types of leukemia.

J was admitted to the hospital, and given blood and platelets while they waited for the results of the blood test. R offered to spend the night with J while Chief came home to get a few hours of sleep. That proved to be a blessing, though it was a fitful night. For the next day would be another day of trials.

You can follow his journey at jethenrosjourney.blogspot.com