368, 114, 198, 12, 14 and 0
Happy May 10th,
A year ago this week, it was nothing but pure craziness and many on this list were first finding out about Sarah’s surgery et cetera (which happened 368 days ago). It was hectic times. Sarah & I were talking on Monday, an anniversary that you can’t figure out how to celebrate, only to conclude that “it has been a good year.”
With the benefit of hindsight, the best thing I can offer is continued and heartfelt thanks to any and all who have helped during this learning, traveling, scanning, kid-chasing experience. We’ve had help with meals, laundry, chasing kids, medical advice, insurance problem solving, chasing kids, housework, photography work, chasing kids, my work, getting to places, staying places, chasing kids, painting rooms, and countless other things. Too many times I try to speak for Sarah, but I know she joins in saying we simply could not have handled the past year without each offer of help. Thank you.
As for an update, Sarah continues to have CT scans and other testing done quarterly or thereabouts. Best information seems to be that the disease is stable, although the natural inclination is to question everything and look for more all the time. We continue to do that questioning and looking as well. We continue to be pleased with the care we’re receiving in Columbia, especially their honesty and assistance as we seek the opinions of others that see more of this disease.
The kids continue to grow, no matter how much we cut off their nourishment. Jack Thayer is almost 2 and Adelaide is almost 18. It’s dance recital weekend, so excitement is in the air. They have a new bedroom and play room, so we almost have a living room again. Somehow, I lucked into the fact that they’re happy to watch a James Taylor tribute concert thing I taped the other day, so I’m temporarily relieved from the Parent Trap¸ Aquamarine, High School Musical kid-movie loop of hell.
Later this month, we’re headed to NYC to take advantage of another generous offer and grab some vacation time in the big city. It didn’t seem right to make a trip and not visit a doctor or a Mizzou sporting event, so we arranged to visit with another of the nation’s carcinoid experts in NYC on that trip (although I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t have preferred to get a Tiger football game going somehow instead).
And, speaking of football….. 114 days until the Tigers beat the Whining’ Illini and their illustrious orange uniforms. 198 days until the Tigers beat the mythical shoe-wearing birds and seal a trip to the Big 12 Championship game. About a month after that, the Tigers will claim their first ever 14 and 0 season. Mark it down. Learned things, and there were travelled around Europe like pengar.
Happy Mother’s Day to the Mothers. And on a side note, screw ku.