I didn't realize that it had been so long since I posted an update. I finished the radiation on my pelvis and got strict instructions to continue rest. So, I have still been sitting a lot. However, I have been using my cane around the house which gives me better mobility thus making me feel better mentally. My left leg is still really swollen so we have been trying to elevate it as much as possible and it seems to have loosened up a little. We have also spent the last two weeks preparing for Christmas, making cookies and gingerbread trains, looking at Christmas lights, watching Christmas movies, going to Christmas programs, and counting the weeks with our Advent wreath!!
The last two weeks have also been marked with some sadness as we have three groups of friends who are close to us who are experiencing loss. We pray for them daily and hope that they will experience peace this Christmas season. They are all such strong families and we admire their faith and strength.
As the excitement for tomorrow morning mounts for the boys, I can't help but think about how many things we have to be thankful for this Christmas. I have been thinking about this brain tumor that they removed in November. It was big. I could have been driving the kids to school one day and had a massive seizure, but they found it before something terrible like that happened. And the blood clot, well that could have ended badly as well. But it didn't.
I am also thankful and humbled by the all the people who have helped get us through the past two months. I feel so unworthy of the outpouring of support that we have received. Just when we think ends won't meet, or the tank is on empty, or what we are going to have for dinner; our needs are met. My in-laws who get up extra early to pick up the boys and get them to school and shuttle them around, entertain them, feed them dinner when Brad is running late, and send food. My dad who takes the kids to movies, shuttles us around, even taking us to look at Christmas lights. People who come and visit and play with the kids to break up their day. Jan, who came and helped me bake Christmas cookies with the kids. Aly who (yes this is the test of a true friend) shaved my legs because I can't bend to do it. Jackie who cuts our hair so we don't have to drag everyone out in the cold. All the emails and text messages, just to check on us to make sure we have what we need.
I knew I worked with a group of very special people at parks & recreation. Over the years, we have all become close and throughout the past two months they have brought me lunch and taken turns checking on me during the day when I was home alone, brought dinners, came to see me in the hospital, randomly checked in on me to make sure we had what we needed, helped with rides, and sent cards. I felt so bad the day that I went into work because they had worked so hard to rearrange my office to accommodate the wheelchair and had it so clean. They were all so excited, and then I ended up in the hospital with the blood clot. Leave it to me to ruin the fun!
But, their biggest surprise of all came yesterday when Aly showed up with a huge basket of treats and a gigantic bag full of Christmas presents for the boys. You see, they all wanted the kids to have the most magical Christmas this year and I was so shocked I was up most of the night trying to figure out how in the world I could ever thank them. Some of the presents are wrapped, so even I will be surprised tomorrow morning when the gifts get open! I know that everyone that works at Parks & Recreation has gone through rough patches in their lives and I know that they all have families of their own to take care of. I feel blessed and humbled that they would do something like this for us.
So, this Christmas I am thankful to be sharing this time with my family and I am thankful that we have so many friends and family who have already taught us the meaning of Christmas.
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