I Love To Go A Gardening
Growing Our Life in Northern Michigan
Category: Blog Posts
Packing…
Yesterday morning we took JJ to have the lab tests that the surgeon wanted him to have before we meet with him. The Phlebotomist (the woman who took his blood) was one he had had before. She’s always pretty solemn when we first enter… Continue Reading “Packing…”
L’Chaim!
On March 11, after the oncologist had given us the results of the after-Chemo CT Scan and blood tests, he exclaimed to JJ “You are going to INDEEEAAPOLIS!” to have surgery to remove the cancerous lymph node in his back. The oncologist sounded so… Continue Reading “L’Chaim!”
Taxes & Cactus & Cake
When JJ was a little boy, I used to tell him that sometimes Summer and Winter battled each other–with one day warm and another day cold. The times when they fight is called “Spring” and “Autumn.” In the Spring, Summer eventually wins the fight… Continue Reading “Taxes & Cactus & Cake”
Busy Days of Prep
We have been busy making plans for JJ’s cancer surgery in a few weeks. Little by little everything is coming together. When I talked to the surgeon’s nurse last week, she told me about an organization named Pro-Care that has partnered with local hotels… Continue Reading “Busy Days of Prep”
Butterfly Wings
Many years ago, I thought that if I ever wrote a book, I’d title it “Butterfly Wings.” Everyone would think (or so I imagine) that I had given it that name because butterflies are beautiful. Only I would know that I had named my… Continue Reading “Butterfly Wings”
This Too Is The Kindness and Truth of God
Whenever a person–or someone he cares about–is diagnosed with a serious illness or other forms of suffering, he begins to wrestle with issues of life and death, the purpose of suffering, and beliefs about healing. He can ignore these things at other times, but… Continue Reading “This Too Is The Kindness and Truth of God”
A Wintry Day
We woke up to a beautiful wintry world. I don’t know what the official totals are, but I think we got at least 7 inches of new snow. I believe I must be the only person in the whole Midwest who welcomed the snow… Continue Reading “A Wintry Day”
The Doctor Appointment
Last night I didn’t sleep well. My thoughts wouldn’t shut off and I tossed and turned until after 2 a.m. Then I came downstairs. JJ was still up because he couldn’t sleep either. I settled into EJ’s recliner. Several cats settled next to me.… Continue Reading “The Doctor Appointment”
Hurdles
We ran out of milk, so this morning I walked to the little store a block and a half away to buy more. The temp was 37 degrees! The high temp was almost 50 degrees! With temps so warm, I left my mittens at… Continue Reading “Hurdles”
Surgery
EJ and I have battled wooziness, congestion, and a cough all week. I’ve been concerned that JJ would get sick as well because of his weakened immune system. He has struggled with some lingering effects of Chemo, but he doesn’t seem to be coming… Continue Reading “Surgery”
The Waiting Room
I feel better than I did on Saturday, but I am still struggling with congestion and a cough. Last night I only got a few hours of sleep because I couldn’t get comfortable and my coughing kept me awake. It was a short night… Continue Reading “The Waiting Room”
Sunday
Yesterday went by in a blur. We made it through the whole winter without getting sick, but yesterday, March 1st, both EJ and I were sick with swimmy, achy heads, coughs, sneezes, and aches. We felt awful, so we didn’t do much. Hopefully JJ… Continue Reading “Sunday”
The Bald Eagle
Even though JJ is done with Chemo, he still has to get his weekly blood draws for a while. So this morning we all got up at about 8 a.m. JJ was grumpy about having to get up early (he is a night owl,… Continue Reading “The Bald Eagle”
Exercise
It’s nice to have a week without any Chemo. Yesterday morning I went to the grocery story in a nearby town to pick up a few things. I was really surprised to see employees busy in every aisle. At first I thought they were… Continue Reading “Exercise”
Future Plans
Both Saturday and Sunday I sat down and began to write a post, but I never finished them. For some reason, an intense week of Chemo really tires us and it takes several days before we regain any energy. We have been sleeping late,… Continue Reading “Future Plans”
