My mom and I attended Alyssa’s high school band and choir concert on Sunday.
Olivia and Tom stayed home because Liv had a really annoying cough and we decided it would be better for everyone sitting around us to not have to deal with her weird, dry hacking.
So my mom and I got to enjoy the concert while Tom and Livie got to enjoy being home in their jammies, watching football (Liv was in her pajamas, Tom was watching football.)
While of course I thought the Jr. High was great, it amazes me how much difference a few years makes when it comes to performing. Alyssa is a freshman this year and her high school choir and band are awesome. I was blown away by the voices I heard and the musical talent of the band members.
When it was over, I told Alyssa that I could hear her voice during the choir’s performance.
She asked, “Is that a good thing?”
Oh my goodness, yes!! She has such a beautiful soprano voice. It’s bright and clear and the tone is so nice. She’s come so, so far and she’s only a freshman.
I told my mom after the concert, “I watch her up there and I marvel that she’s mine.”
My mom nodded, understanding exactly what I was saying.
I am so lucky that I get to watch three more years of this kind of thing.
And there’s more awesomeness to come. Next week, Lyss is auditioning for the school’s spring musical. How fun is that?
A mom, a dad and two daughters. We're living ordinary lives with a twist of 5p- (Cri du Chat) for spice. But we're about so much more than our younger daughter's genetic diagnosis.
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Once a Smartass...
In the car last Saturday afternoon, Olivia was on a roll of pushing Alyssa’s buttons.
I mean, of course she was. A little sister’s most amazing talent is knowing exactly how to irritate her big sister.
Olivia was singing one of the songs from the school program she performed in on Friday. Not that she sang during the actual performance. OMG, no! That would never, EVER happen.
But boy did she sing on Saturday. She was having a blast; mostly because it was driving her sister crazy.
Alyssa finally lamented, “Please stop singing that song! It’s making me crazy.”
Olivia paused singing just long enough to suggest, “Maybe it will be your funeral song.”
I mean, of course she was. A little sister’s most amazing talent is knowing exactly how to irritate her big sister.
Olivia was singing one of the songs from the school program she performed in on Friday. Not that she sang during the actual performance. OMG, no! That would never, EVER happen.
But boy did she sing on Saturday. She was having a blast; mostly because it was driving her sister crazy.
Alyssa finally lamented, “Please stop singing that song! It’s making me crazy.”
Olivia paused singing just long enough to suggest, “Maybe it will be your funeral song.”
Monday, December 11, 2017
What's Best for Her
Last Friday was Grandparents/Friends day at Olivia’s school. As a fourth grader, this is the last time she’ll take part in a program like this.
My mom attended and spent time with Olivia. After the program, my mom and Liv talked and Olivia told her Gram that she was so scared on the top level of the risers that her legs were shaking.
The teachers did notice Olivia’s discomfort and let her move to the floor beside the risers but…this is not the first time Olivia’s been miserable during a school program. I mean, hello, she’s been forced to participate in such programs for, let’s see, seven freaking years.
So after the program, my mom told me and Tom that she didn’t think we should force Olivia to relive that program on Tuesday, which is when the kids are performing it for their parents and siblings. Grandparents/Friends Day is basically the schools way of breaking up the audience into two shows so they can fit everyone into the gym.
Tom and I talked about it, both with and without Olivia and we decided I’d email her teachers today and let them know Liv won’t be there tomorrow night.
But before I could send that email today, yesterday, I attended Alyssa’s high school band and choir concert (it deserves its own post) and I was able to speak to Mrs. F. She teaches both Jr. High and high school choir along with elementary music. She is the one who put together the entire program the elementary school is putting on tomorrow night.
I shared Olivia’s feelings about the program with her. “I was a totem pole,” Olivia declared somewhat stoically last Friday evening. I reminded her of years’ past when Olivia simply could not bring herself to even pretend to sing.
Mrs. F told me, “I support whatever you think is best for Olivia. I wish she’d show me her feisty personality that I know is in there but I agree that if she’s miserable, she should just stay home. It won’t affect her grade.”
So that’s what we’re doing. While the rest of the elementary is singing Elfie Selfie and dancing their little hearts out, Olivia will be at home, taking a bath, relaxing, enjoying a snack and basking in the joy of a long winter’s night.
My mom attended and spent time with Olivia. After the program, my mom and Liv talked and Olivia told her Gram that she was so scared on the top level of the risers that her legs were shaking.
The teachers did notice Olivia’s discomfort and let her move to the floor beside the risers but…this is not the first time Olivia’s been miserable during a school program. I mean, hello, she’s been forced to participate in such programs for, let’s see, seven freaking years.
So after the program, my mom told me and Tom that she didn’t think we should force Olivia to relive that program on Tuesday, which is when the kids are performing it for their parents and siblings. Grandparents/Friends Day is basically the schools way of breaking up the audience into two shows so they can fit everyone into the gym.
Tom and I talked about it, both with and without Olivia and we decided I’d email her teachers today and let them know Liv won’t be there tomorrow night.
But before I could send that email today, yesterday, I attended Alyssa’s high school band and choir concert (it deserves its own post) and I was able to speak to Mrs. F. She teaches both Jr. High and high school choir along with elementary music. She is the one who put together the entire program the elementary school is putting on tomorrow night.
I shared Olivia’s feelings about the program with her. “I was a totem pole,” Olivia declared somewhat stoically last Friday evening. I reminded her of years’ past when Olivia simply could not bring herself to even pretend to sing.
Mrs. F told me, “I support whatever you think is best for Olivia. I wish she’d show me her feisty personality that I know is in there but I agree that if she’s miserable, she should just stay home. It won’t affect her grade.”
So that’s what we’re doing. While the rest of the elementary is singing Elfie Selfie and dancing their little hearts out, Olivia will be at home, taking a bath, relaxing, enjoying a snack and basking in the joy of a long winter’s night.
Friday, December 8, 2017
Last Time
I keep telling myself that this is the last time I’ll have to feel like this. Since this past Tuesday was the last BIG chemo infusion, I won’t have to feel this achy, icky, crappy way again. Right?
Except, we all know that cancer can come back. I mean, we’re doing all we can to reduce the chance of that but it’s a definite possibility. And if it does, I’ll do this all over again.
But for now, I’m going with, Tuesday was my last big chemo. I feel horrible today but for now, we’re going to believe that this is the last time I will feel like this because of chemo.
According to my chemo nurses, the next infusions I’ll be getting won’t be nearly as difficult. They’re once a week for twelve weeks but they don’t induce the crap feelings that I have right now.
I’m holding on to that. I have to.
Except, we all know that cancer can come back. I mean, we’re doing all we can to reduce the chance of that but it’s a definite possibility. And if it does, I’ll do this all over again.
But for now, I’m going with, Tuesday was my last big chemo. I feel horrible today but for now, we’re going to believe that this is the last time I will feel like this because of chemo.
According to my chemo nurses, the next infusions I’ll be getting won’t be nearly as difficult. They’re once a week for twelve weeks but they don’t induce the crap feelings that I have right now.
I’m holding on to that. I have to.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
The Deer
So yes, I hit a deer on the way home from Gram’s house after Thanksgiving dinner. We live three miles from my mom’s house. I was half way home. Which means I was a mile and a half from my mom’s and a mile and a half home. That just feels ridiculous
We finally got an estimate from the insurance company on how much damage was done to my car.
Before I say how much it will cost to fix the car, I would like to point out that I was going maybe 40 miles an hour. Yeah, not all that freaking fast.
That damn deer came out of nowhere and managed to do $8200 worth of damaged to my car. The deer flipped around in the air, hit the ground and then…she got up and ran away!!
Thankfully, neither of the girls or I was hurt. It just crumpled up the hood of my car, damaged the bumper and passenger side headlight. The car is leaking some kind of fluid and the driver’s side seatbelt won’t retract, which the insurance adjuster just said proves I was wearing it. So I guess that’s good.
I’d felt pretty awful while at my mom’s for dinner. I managed to eat the awesome roasted vegetables and, of course, a piece of cherry pie but then I made my way to my mom’s bedroom where I laid on the floor and dozed. Tom came in at one point to check on me and found me on the floor. He asked if that was more comfortable than the bed.
I told him it absolutely was, then I dozed again.
When I finally pulled my sickly carcass off the floor, the girls and I headed home and wham, we hit the deer.
It is amazing what a jolt of adrenalin can do for one’s over feelings of health. I felt better for hours after hitting that damned deer. I hope she was bruised and sore the next day.
We finally got an estimate from the insurance company on how much damage was done to my car.
Before I say how much it will cost to fix the car, I would like to point out that I was going maybe 40 miles an hour. Yeah, not all that freaking fast.
That damn deer came out of nowhere and managed to do $8200 worth of damaged to my car. The deer flipped around in the air, hit the ground and then…she got up and ran away!!
Thankfully, neither of the girls or I was hurt. It just crumpled up the hood of my car, damaged the bumper and passenger side headlight. The car is leaking some kind of fluid and the driver’s side seatbelt won’t retract, which the insurance adjuster just said proves I was wearing it. So I guess that’s good.
I’d felt pretty awful while at my mom’s for dinner. I managed to eat the awesome roasted vegetables and, of course, a piece of cherry pie but then I made my way to my mom’s bedroom where I laid on the floor and dozed. Tom came in at one point to check on me and found me on the floor. He asked if that was more comfortable than the bed.
I told him it absolutely was, then I dozed again.
When I finally pulled my sickly carcass off the floor, the girls and I headed home and wham, we hit the deer.
It is amazing what a jolt of adrenalin can do for one’s over feelings of health. I felt better for hours after hitting that damned deer. I hope she was bruised and sore the next day.
Monday, December 4, 2017
The Tree Is Up, the Tree Is Up, You Guys...THE TREE IS UP!
I knew this past weekend was our best chance to get the tree up and decorated before the dullness of chemo descends tomorrow.
Last year, I did most of the decorating. For some reason, neither Lyss nor Liv was all that into putting ornaments on the tree.
This year, though, Olivia was quite the helper. And, best yet, she didn’t put three ornaments per branch. She’s growing up!! Awww….
Tom, because it’s his schtick, lamented the fact that I’d even bothered with the tree. He likes to be all Grinchy/Scroogy and then I have to remind him that we have kids and so he’s not allowed to be anti-Christmas.
Friday night, before I even opened the box stores the tree, I moved the furniture in the living room. We’d decided to put the tree in the corner by the front window rather than directly in front of the window this year. But that meant the recliner needed to move, which meant the couch, which is a U-shaped sectional, also needed to be moved.
I ended up spinning the couch, curve of the U was against the tree/window side of the room and moved the recliner so it was now on the left side of the entertainment center. It makes the room kind of cozy. If nothing else, change is always kind of interesting.
We didn’t deck out our entire house this year. It felt like a bit much to take on. But having the tree up, and the Nativity all placed just right by Liv, it makes our house feel good, like we’re ready for this season of love and giving and joy and peace.
That’s something that even chemo can’t take away. Right?
Anyway, here's a blurry picture of two girls and a Christmas tree:
Last year, I did most of the decorating. For some reason, neither Lyss nor Liv was all that into putting ornaments on the tree.
This year, though, Olivia was quite the helper. And, best yet, she didn’t put three ornaments per branch. She’s growing up!! Awww….
Tom, because it’s his schtick, lamented the fact that I’d even bothered with the tree. He likes to be all Grinchy/Scroogy and then I have to remind him that we have kids and so he’s not allowed to be anti-Christmas.
Friday night, before I even opened the box stores the tree, I moved the furniture in the living room. We’d decided to put the tree in the corner by the front window rather than directly in front of the window this year. But that meant the recliner needed to move, which meant the couch, which is a U-shaped sectional, also needed to be moved.
I ended up spinning the couch, curve of the U was against the tree/window side of the room and moved the recliner so it was now on the left side of the entertainment center. It makes the room kind of cozy. If nothing else, change is always kind of interesting.
We didn’t deck out our entire house this year. It felt like a bit much to take on. But having the tree up, and the Nativity all placed just right by Liv, it makes our house feel good, like we’re ready for this season of love and giving and joy and peace.
That’s something that even chemo can’t take away. Right?
Anyway, here's a blurry picture of two girls and a Christmas tree:
Friday, December 1, 2017
Little Joys
While there is a lot of pain and indignities that go along with being a chemo patient, there are also a lot of joys, pleasures that come even during the pain and frustration.
-Sweet eleven year olds who don’t care if you’re sick, they just want their mom.
-Fourteen year olds who still want you with them even though you’re bald and kind of gross.
-Husbands who will rub your back for hours just to soothe the aches.
-Movies with my mom and Lyss, even when you don’t feel good.
-Friends who are amazing and sweet and kind and never forget to check in.
-A mom who is always there, always supportive, always understanding even though she’s got enough going on in her own life.
-An understanding employer who makes it easy for me to come and go as appointments are made and kept.
-Christmas!!
-Sleep.
-Healing incisions that lead to more and better sleep.
-Christmas socks. It’s December 1st, I’m now allowed to wear Christmas socks for the rest of the year. Wheee!!
Like I said, it’s the little things that bring joy that really get use through the little things that cause angst/frustration. We will get through it because there’s no other choice.
-Sweet eleven year olds who don’t care if you’re sick, they just want their mom.
-Fourteen year olds who still want you with them even though you’re bald and kind of gross.
-Husbands who will rub your back for hours just to soothe the aches.
-Movies with my mom and Lyss, even when you don’t feel good.
-Friends who are amazing and sweet and kind and never forget to check in.
-A mom who is always there, always supportive, always understanding even though she’s got enough going on in her own life.
-An understanding employer who makes it easy for me to come and go as appointments are made and kept.
-Christmas!!
-Sleep.
-Healing incisions that lead to more and better sleep.
-Christmas socks. It’s December 1st, I’m now allowed to wear Christmas socks for the rest of the year. Wheee!!
Like I said, it’s the little things that bring joy that really get use through the little things that cause angst/frustration. We will get through it because there’s no other choice.
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