Out with the old…

The last few days have been a bustling time around our house.  We’ve picked up the packages, sorted the stuff, taken down the tree, and enjoyed each other thoroughly.  Widget has been a big help this year.  At 3 and a bit, he is big enough to help put away the Christmas things, sort and start laundry with me, and (most excitingly) play the matching game of ornaments to original ornament boxes.  We spent yesterday morning doing just that — we’d pick up an ornament box and play “find the ornament” on the tree, and then put it away.  Or I’d set a few ornaments and their boxes down in front of him and he’d choose which ones were a match.  He had a great time, and I got the Christmas decorations put away!

And it’s not even Epiphany yet.  (Don’t worry, Aunt Linda.  We’re leaving the creche up and continuing to tell the story until the camels arrive Jan 6, just like we always do.  Although this year the sheep have had to share the stable with two little red fire trucks.  What can I say?  At least he loves the story and the creche.  He’s over there playing something or other with the animals and trucks nearly every day.)

The weekend was a toughie, just because I was recovering from Thursday’s chemo and the boys (ALL of them) were fighting a virus of some kind. I don’t know what they had, but it gave the baby a 102.5 fever and sent Gramma home!  Whew.  The little boys are (finally) much better today, although Daddy is still fighting it.

I’ve been wanting to tell you more of the story about the end of chemo, but I simply haven’t been able to reflect on it enough at this point, and I’m not really interested in thinking about it too much if I don’t have to.  The essential points are this.  

1. I’m done with chemo.

2. I am having surgery January 22 or as soon as the surgeon can fit me in and get time in the operating room for the surgery.

3. I am determined to get back to fightin’ condition asap, and build up whatever strength I can before the surgery knocks me down a bit again.  I guess that puts me in good company with the other 6 million Americans who vowed today to lose weight and exercise.  Nice.

4. But the most exciting part?  I DO have confirmation from my medical oncologist (new on Thursday) that I am DONE with chemotherapy and will NOT need any more after the surgery.  Just radiation, and then I’m done unless this thing gets me again.  This makes me so happy.  So happy I could shout!  (And I would, if it wouldn’t wake the babies.)

Instead, I’ll just share this virtual cake with you today.  Go on, have a piece.  It’s completely calorie-free and guaranteed not to interfere with ANY of your New Year’s Resolutions!