It's happening

I remember when Sarah and Hannah were babies and I'd be somewhere in town and people would stop to talk. Most people would either be amazed that they were twins or have a story to tell about their twins. When my parents came to visit after the girls were born & we went to the mall, people would stop and look and Papa would say "We charge a quarter to look." (He had a good sense of humor.) And, many people -- who were not in the thick of trying to take care of infant twins -- would say "Treasure these moments." 

I knew they were right. And, I knew that I was so lucky to have these sweet little baby girls. But the truth was, I was LOOOOONNNNNGING for time away from their lovely selves. I could not WAIT until they went to preschool. Two and a half hours of ME time (even if that meant grocery shopping) sounded heavenly.

Preschool came. And in that time, I met some great mamas and became good friends with some of them. The girls, too, became good friends with some of their classmates. They played. They learned. They had fun. I went grocery shopping, or had lunch with the ladies or played on my own. Turns out two and a half hours goes really quickly.

Then it was time for them to go to kindergarten. That was even more time to myself and more days a week. They learned. They played. They made good friends. Me, too. 

Elementary school turned into middle school and middle school turned into high school... 

People have told me through the years that high school, in particular, goes very fast. I've found that that's true, but it still seemed like I had a lot of time. Even last year, when they were in eleventh grade, they still had one more year to go.

Somehow, though, it all of a sudden became the summer before they become SENIORS.

Last week, we went to see the movie "Boyhood."  It was really good... Lots of good parts in that movie, but the one that really got to me was when she was talking to her son before he left for college. And, I just cried and cried. The tears would not stop.

I have a friend whose oldest daughter graduated from high school last June. My friend kept telling me  -- all through the year -- about how emotional she was and how her husband and daughter didn't like it, but she couldn't help it. She'd cry at the last cross country meet. She'd cry at the orchestra concerts. She took a day off of work to get ready for the graduation party and she found that she was just crying at home alone... I sort of understood, but not really 'cause my girls were still in eleventh grade. They had a whole year ahead of them. WE had a whole year ahead of US. 

But starting last week, I began to understand. My girls -- my little bitty, teeny weensy, twin baby girls --- who needed me so much when they were born...who cried when I left them in the nursery at MOPS...  who cried for the first month of kindergarten and who followed sweet Mrs. Francis around the playground for the first three months of kindergarten.... my girls, who were quiet and reserved... my girls who used to be picky eaters, who loved (still love) "Arthur" and "Little Bear"... my girls who used to dance around the family room to silly music... who loved listening to "Room Six Songs" in the car on the way to school... my sweet girls who would practice their multiplication tables in the car listening to School House Rock... my little girls who used to be afraid of cats until we got Reba and Faline... and dogs until we got Raney.... those tiny little three year olds who were in no hurry to potty train and pushed me to multiple variations of bribery to help them hurry a bit... my girls who used to take a million books to bed with them when they were still sleeping in a crib... the same girls who ran out to the car at the end of 4th grade to tell me that they wanted to play the violin in orchestra.... those little girls who did not love learning to swim... who went with me when they were in 4th or 5th grade to lobby our representatives to fund more Alzheimer's research and treatment.... those little girls who had (have) beautiful imaginations and played games like "Sally and Nalley", "Thorny Prickles" and "Springtime Offices"... THOSE little girls are soon to be seniors in high school, which means they will soon graduate and move away from home and be grown up.

As much as I have known all along that one day they would be grown up, I really didn't know. I had no clue it would actually arrive at my house. Not really. I mean a parent knows things, but they don't really become real until it actually happens.

So... I pray that THIS year is the most wonderful year of their school career. I pray that they learn a lot and grow a lot and have a lot of fun. I pray that they begin to see a little more clearly what they hope their future looks like. I pray that they each -- as individuals -- discover a little more about themselves and begin to discern what the correct next step is for them. I pray that their friendships deepen and strengthen... I pray that every single day of this school year is helpful preparation for all of the years that lie ahead.

I pray that I will be an encouragement and a help as they prepare for the next few years.  And, I pray that they, in turn, will also help me prepare for the next few years of their "grown-up-dom."

I pray that this year and the all the years that follow teach them how to live and love and support all kinds of people -- whether those people are just like they are or are very different -- while still holding onto their values and principles.

I am so thankful for the gift of those girls. 

Dear Mama,

I sure do miss you... 'Member how I used to call you every day or close to it? Loved that... Sometimes we didn't really have anything to say... we were just shootin' the breeze.

There are things I don't really want to tell you... Illnesses, divorce, "not-fun" stuff... So, I'll leave those out.

I miss sittin' on the front porch. I've been trying FOR YEARS to figure out how to make a picture book out of a front porch story. I sure hope I can do it.

Celeste lives in Bellingham now. It's been good to have her here... (Can't tell you how it came to be that she moved to Bellingham 'cause that's a little bit of the "not-fun" stuff...but sometimes "not-fun" stuff can cause good things to happen.) She lives in an apartment with a friend and has a boyfriend and works at a local software company. Last time you saw her, I think she was about 17. Lots has happened since she was 17.

Sarah and Hannah will soon be SENIORS in high school!!! SENIORS!! They're seventeen! Last time you saw 'em they were 10 years old and in fifth grade. Lots has happened since fifth grade. They are runners now... They're in the orchestra (Every time I go to a concert, I think about how much you would love to hear them play.). They (we all) went to France this summer. You would've loved it. Especially the countryside... Harv and I went to London. I thought of you and Papa when we were there and wondered about what you saw that I was now seeing. I also thought of you and Papa when we went to Harrod's and I saw all the yummy food. Wished I could've brought some Stilton home 'cause it made me think of Papa. Plus, I love it.

I am older now too... Fifty-dang-two years old. I have some aches. I don't sleep as well as I used to. But things are pretty good... (There are some "not-fun" things, but I can't tell you about those.)  I think of you so much... I try to keep tellin' stories of you. I keep lookin' at photos. Sometimes I see myself in the mirror or I look at my hands -- or today, I saw my TOES(!) and think of you. You sure were a good mama.

Harv and I still love living in Bellingham. We have a dog now. We got her in 2009. You would like her. She's sweet. Her name is Raney and she makes us get outside and see lots of nature. 

Harv is still working for the same company -- though only part-time. Can't tell you why that is 'cause it's part of the "not-fun" series of events, but we are thankful for all the many blessings that we see everyday.... "We're just as thankful we're as well as we are..." (tell that to Pop.)

Oh... there are other stories of Laura and Robert and Mary... Some good...some "not-fun", but we are all just tickin' away! 

And, we all miss you so much...  And, we miss Papa so much, too. 

Wish I could sit on the porch with y'all tonight. 

Harv went for acupuncture yesterday. She told him that the success of acupuncture runs the gambit: some feel relief right away, some feel it later, some don't feel it at all. She inserted the needles and then let them sit there for a few minutes. Afterwards she used little suction cup things to draw blood to the painful areas.  He's all spotty now. 

He didn't feel immediate relief, but he's got two more appointments for next week and we are hoping that he begins to feel the benefits of the treatments.

Monday he'll see our local oncologist and will have an infusion that day, too.

The Genistein (immune booster supplement) arrived the other day and the pills are GIGANTIC so, for now, he's chewing them (which doesn't taste good). Y'all got any tips for easily and "pleasantly" ingesting sawdust-tasting, giant pills ?

Next week, Harv, Sarah, Hannah and I will volunteer for Obliteride, the fundraiser for which I rode last summer. If you'd like to participate in helping to put an end to cancer, check out this link....

We are thankful for the beautiful weather... The sunshine feels so good! And, we are thankful for the last days of summer where we can be at home and just take it easy. 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! 

Looking for relief

Tomorrow Harvey goes to an acupuncturist to try to find relief from some pain he's had in his shoulder/neck area. We would appreciate your prayers that it makes a difference. He's been having trouble sleeping because of this pain. 

Thank you... 

More info...

Dr. Lin called and CEA count is up to 6. He did a blood test to see if a new drug would be helpful. Turns out that drug (don't remember the name) won't be helpful for Harv.

So, he'll start with Avastin (infused) and continue on the Xeloda in combination with that. And, HOPEFULLY it will make a difference and squash those suckers! If it doesn't make enough of a difference, we'll probably need to add something else.

Luckily, the Avastin is easier on his system than some other infused drugs.

Also, Dr. Lin said that there are some approved clinical trials out there for immunotherapy "stuff." Some of those trials have long waiting lists, but we can work with the current drugs while we wait.  

More information as we learn it.

Have a good week.

-chc

Short update...

Went to the doctor today to get a CT scan of Harv's lungs. Basically, no dramatic difference since last month. So, we'll pretty much stay the course and add a supplement. Depending on what the blood work says, Dr. Lin might add another oral drug for a little more kick. We'll go back in 6 - 8 weeks for another scan to see if there has been anymore change.

On a different note, we had a really nice trip to England and France. We got back last Thursday. We all had a great time doing lots of fun things. London was great. Paris was great. L'Isle D'Abeau, the alps and Solutré were great!! And, our stop in Iceland, though short, was a neat experience, too. (Thank you Delgado Family for hosting us while we were in L'Isle D'Abeau!)

Praying that people all over the place feel hope and peace as they go to sleep tonight.

Travel

Pretty soon, we're gonna be heading over to France to catch up with our girls (all three girls will be there when we get there)...

Just wanted to ask y'all to pray for a good trip. Harv doesn't have a TON of stamina so we have to move at a slightly slower pace than we did the last time we were there. He does okay, but he gets tired fairly easily and somewhat winded. I, on the other hand, tend to want to walk really fast all over the place.    

I think we're gonna need to splurge on taxis a little bit more than we might be inclined to just so we can take advantage of all that is out there for us.

Please pray for everybody to feel good and for us to just plain ol' have a good time. 

As is true for most family trips, my brain is currently full of details which makes it a little bit hard to be excited yet. But, I am really looking forward to the trip. (Don't love to fly, but am hoping for a lovely, smooth, uneventful flight.)

Thank you for keeping up with us. Thank you for your prayers. 

Love to you all.