A Year Ago Today Post Two

I am not planning on doing "one year ago today posts" every week for the next year.  This will be the last one, except for maybe when I pass my radiation and chemo anniversaries and you have several months to wait for those.  Up above you will see my cheering section while I was having surgery for my tumor. It was so nice of these people to come and sit with Jim and Lynette through which must have been a truly harrowing time. Imagine, to lose sight of me at 11:30 am and not see me again until after midnight, (There were periodic updates.)  The surgery took about three hours longer than expected.  I was in surgery about 9 and a half hours.

I don't remember much about that time, being medicated and recovering leaves one too out of it to think. It is rather awe-inspiring to think of having such a massive surgery done.   

In a few weeks, a friend I knew for a little while over 10 years ago will be having brain surgery for a tumor deep inside her brain.  She has lots of support and I don't know if she remembers me anymore or not.  But, my heart goes out to her, knowing she will be having major brain surgery, and some of what that recovery 

will be.  

This post isn't flowing from my brain through my fingers as some do.  I guess it is still too painful of a memory to revisit.  It's the day that changed my life, shook me out of complacency, taught me to enjoy life more, made me more fearful, and also more trusting.  

May the thing I take out of this experience is more love. 

A Year Ago Today

A year ago today I had more hair.
 It was also the day I walked into a clinic called the Estabrooke Cancer Center. It was the day I heard the words, tumor, biopsy and malignant used about me.  It was the day that I realized there really was something bad growing in my head and it was called cancer.

A lot has happened in the last year, and I don't remember a lot of it. I don't want to remember a lot of it.  I had major surgery, recovery from surgery time, chemotherapy, radiation, two weeks in the hospital with low blood counts, more pain medication than I want to remember, a feeding tube, cases of ensure, mucus taking over my sinuses, and pain, pain, pain, in my mouth and throat.

I don't really like to think about it. I don't like to go back and think about the physical things or the mental ones.  Once you have cancer there are always a few dark places left lurking around in the back of your mind, and it doesn't do to dwell on them.

I am thinking about life, what I want to do now, what I want to do next year.  I want to remember to be thankful...for the friends and family that helped and put up with me, and those who sent cards and gifts.  I don't want to forget how much that meant to me, and I want to get strength and brains enough back to do it for someone else.

Recovery is still ongoing, but it isn't bad living in here.  I have a few annoyances that I may have to live with forever, but I'm doing fine.

And I'm happy.

The Third Boy

 We have a new grandbaby belonging to us.  My daughter and husband have produced a beautiful baby boy.  Again.  

Christian Bennett born 9:08 pm, May 16, 2013, 7# 15 oz., 21 1/4" long, lots of dark hair.  

My Barry Boy

It has been a very long time since I've had grandboy photos on my blog.  I want to go back and add the few I have over the last year sometime.  It would have been nice to do this before grandboy number three comes along. But it's not happening.  

This boy is just the cutest little guy.  He is still a short little toddler that can finally climb up on the couch, the piano bench and most chairs. Zane at this age was taller and could push chairs around and get too many places.  But that is neither here nor there.  Barry is his own little self.  He is starting to say a lot of new words, but imitating those which he hears us say.  His new one on his last visit was "flash light", which sounds more like "sash-eye", but imperfect baby speech is about the cutest thing there is.  

He can say the usual  things, bye-bye, hi, baba (bottle), mama. dada, papa, but also, sue (shoe), 'side (meaning outside), water, and a whole bunch more that I knew I should have been writing down, but I was trying to keep a four year old from watering everything and an 18 month old from going downstairs, and answering a question every other minute. 

The toys are in the office/guest bedroom and this first thing this little monkey does this time, is sit down with the keyboard.  

(When I wasn't looking.)

Zane can be an over zealous helper with Barry, asserting his big brother role, which results in some very funny scenarios.  He's a big help when it comes to feeding Barry ice cream, which is messily done by Barry himself.  But, when it comes to nap and bottle time, and Zane is trying to hold it while Barry patiently sits up straight and tries to suck at it, is rather hilarious.  

The best times are playing together times, which they really aren't here, they are just playing in the same spot with Lynette to run interference if needed.    

Curls!

The boys have been here several times lately while mom has doctor appointments relevant to the new baby.  I am taking the opportunity to catch up on some much delayed picture taking.  

I've been trying to teach Barry to go safely down stairs, either on his tummy or his behind.  I showed him how myself, (on my backside, not my tummy), saying "bump, bump" on every step.  He did eventually get the going down mastered, but until he did, he went down these shallow steps on foot, saying "bump, bump" all the way down. 

My over zealous waterer.

For The Love of Art

Lynette's love is art.  After seeing what she can do, I love her art, too.  And it isn't just because it is hers.  I think she does a very good job.  

I am very proud of the work she puts into her work, and of the finished projects.  These were all displayed at the high school art show this April.  She had seven pieces chosen, which was more than anyone else.  The first and second pieces, the flowers and the wedding dress were done in Art II, last year.  Everything else, has been completed this year in Ceramics I and Art III.  I cannot tell which one I like best.  I like them all!!

I just wish my photos were better,  but not having my water bottle with me, meant I was quicker than I would have liked to be.  

Watercolor

Figure in Clay

Charcoal

Coil Pot

Slab Pot

Tempera

The Artist Herself

Pastels