Conversations for the record

Last Monday when we arrived at school, I had the following conversation with Aggie as we were getting out of the van. She was very positive and upbeat the entire time.

Aggie: Mom, you’re the best mom in whole world and I’m never going to let you die!

Me: Well, honey, actually God controls when we live and when we die.

Aggie: But, if you die and Daddy dies, who will take care of us? Will we have to take care of ourselves?

Me: No. We have lots of family.

Aggie: Oh yeah, we have LOTS of family.

Me: So there will be someone to take care of you. What made you think of that?

Aggie: It was just in my mind.

Me: Well, I know, but I wonder what made you think of that?

Aggie: God.

(I just smiled and so did she. Can’t argue with that answer, huh?)

Then the next day, Tuesday, as we were getting ready in the bathroom she just looked at me and said:

Mom, I’m sorry about your cancer and your surgery.

Then again on the way home Tuesday, yet another “C” conversation. Munchkin had turned on the light in the back of the van and the other two kids were tattling on her. I told her to turn it off because they often forget that the light is on and it stays on for long periods of time. I explained that she needed to turn it off because it could run the battery down and the following conversation ensued:

Aggie: Yeah, if the battery runs out we won’t have any light when it gets dark.

Me: Well, actually it will run the battery down in the van.

Aggie: And the van won’t work?

Me: Right, and then we’d have to walk and I’m not up for that.

Aggie: Yeah, because you had cancer for a few days and then you had surgery for a few days and then you had cancer and you have to rest A LOT!

I just kind of laughed and agreed.

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving we were looking at Seth’s blog and he had links to pictures of the kids. McGrooter and Aggie were sitting with me in the chair and we were pulling up the pictures. He also mentioned a coworker’s friend who passed away the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and had a link to her blog. The kids asked to click on the link and I did. Then we had yet another conversation that I probably should have avoided, but didn’t.

Mc: Who is that?

Me: That’s a friend of someone Daddy works with.

Mc: It looks like she is in the trees.

Me: Well, actually she is in heaven now.

Mc: What happened to her?

Me: She went to be with the Lord on Wednesday.

Mc: Why did she die?

Me: Well, she had cancer.

Aggie: Does that mean you are going to die?

Me: Uh, hers was much worse than mine.

Aggie: Oh, ok.

So needless to say, my kids are very in tune to what is going on around here. They seem to be doing well with it for now. Hopefully the next treatment won’t be bad and they won’t see me as sick.

2 Comments

1+3=9

1 possible lone cancer cell + 3 precious children = 9 more treatments

I’ve been off the blogosphere for 2 weeks now. My last treatment really knocked me out and I was in the bed for a few days. I slowly recovered and did not have as many side effects as I did the first time. I tried to get out Saturday after treatment and got very out of breath. Other side effects kicked in on Sunday. However, I rebounded this last week and had some good days. I was feeling almost kind of normal. I definitely don’t have lots of energy, but I felt better than I have in a while and was able to make it to work some last week.

Today was treatment #3. It went well. I met a nice lady today that was there for a new medicine to treat her rheumatiod arthritis. She is only 42. I know that condition is difficult to live with on a daily basis. Talking with her passed the time quickly. I have actually felt decent today for having all this poison pumped in my body. I am really hoping it will continue. My sweet mother-in-law sent me some Juice Plus to try and, believe it or not, I can tell a difference in my bodily functions. I’m going to continue taking it this week and see if it helps me make it through the rough spots (which usually start the day after). There has been LOTS of sickness at school lately and so far I’ve only gotten a slight cold. I pray it stays that way.

In other news, my grandfather had a heart catherization on Friday, my youngest child had a fever virus the end of last week, my son threw up this morning, and some good friends of my parents’ (and us) found out today that he has colon cancer. My sister is saying that she doesn’t think they will ever move to Gainesville. I told her it’s not Gainesville, it’s just life. Life happens and God is still good. I think we see His goodness so much clearer when life happens. I read a devotional the other day that said that when things are going well for us and we are happy, we tend to forget God and our need for Him. Lately, He’s not letting us forget our desperate need for Him!

Please pray for Don Swan as he will undergo a colon resection tomorrow (the same surgery I had in July). He does have some spots on his liver that they will evaluate and probably treat with chemo.

Thank you for your continued prayers for our family. We need it!

 

2 Comments