I'm Ba-ack!

I know you didn't know this, but my laptop died this week!  As a result, I have not been able to blog for the past several days.  So annoying.  But, my fantastic husband showed up with a new laptop yesterday evening!  I am so spoiled, I know, but boy did we both miss having a computer for the last couple of days.  iPhones are wonderful, but they just can't accomplish quite everything as cheerfully as a computer. Shew!

That being said, it has not been the easiest of weeks.  As usual, after my B treatment, I did not feel super-great for two days.  I don't feel awful - there is no threat of losing my lunch, really.  I just feel kind of drunk.  If you know me, you will know that I may have an occasional drink, but I never get drunk.  I really hate the feeling.  So, feeling dizzy and tired for two days is not my cup of tea.  My mom and Matt allowed me to mostly rest up in bed, but unfortunately the mom-duty called on Wednesday night and I was forced out of my confinement to our church Christmas Pageant.  Which was hysterical and possibly the best one I have been to as my niece played Mary and my son played Joseph.  They stole the show when Mary dropped the baby Jesus and Joseph decided to lounge on the job.  I will try and add some photos soon, but alas, I am struggling to get to know my new computer.  (My have these things changed in the last five years.  This thing has a touch screen!  And the startup window is SO different now.)

On Thursday, I was feeling much better.  But, I had to get dolled-up once again to go out for The Berrall-Kons Group Christmas dinner.  It was a lot of fun, but exhausting for me, and I made my husband take me hone at 7:15pm.  Good thing, because that night HE came down with some kind of virus and was up all night coughing and tossing.  Add that to Declan's asthma attacks and this Mommy got approximately two hours of sleep.

Friday was not a good day.  I had some lower-back pain all week and was pretty certain it was my kidneys.  We decided to call my wonderful nurses to speak about it, since I really didn't want to enter the week of Christmas worried about anything and they decided I should come in for a lab test and some fluids.  Thankfully, the lab tests were negative for any kind of infection or other problem, so I felt a little silly being there, but the fluids (and IV drip for over two hours) did fix my kidney pain.  And, since we ran into Dena while there, she cheered me up hugely by telling me that many patients on my chemo regimen come in for fluids on their very first week and every week after.  She felt the fluids could only help me.  You always know what I need to hear, Dena!  Thank you!

And, since Matt was not well the evening before I forbade him from coming to the hospital and exposing other cancer patients to his nastiness.  Luckily for me, my friend Steph is off of work for a few weeks and she was kind enough to go with me.  We had a nice time talking, although my brain was malfunctioning (I hope from sleep-deprivation and not chemo-brain, which apparently may be a real thing), so I sometimes was not making the best sense.  Steph is such a trooper!  She is also a great advocate, telling the nurse things she knew were important.  I am so blessed to have her as a friend.

It was not the best of weeks, but in the end, it turned out great and I am feeling a ton better, not just physically but mentally as well.  I did not want to go back to the hospital yesterday, but it turned out to be for the best.  Plus, I had several awesome things waiting for me on my return.  The first of which was a card from Pastor Krysta Deede.  It said such wonderful and nice things - it just made my heart lighter.  Thank you SO much, Krysta.  And then, an e-mail from a friend, Bridgett Manteufel. It was so good to hear from you, Bridgett!  Thank you so much for all your words.  So nice!  And then, this laptop appeared!  Awe-some!  Thank you, Mattie!  You add those to the gratefulness I was feeling towards my mom and Steph and all family that texted and called to check in on me (oh! And, the phone call from Beth that cheered me up early on), and a week that started out looking kind of bleak, turned into a thing of wonderfulness.

Christmas is supposed to be the "most wonderful time of the year", but it often turns into just too much pressure, stress, and despair.  I hope that we can all take the time to forget about the perfect presents for a few minutes and reflect on the greatest gift ever given - the birth of Jesus.

(And, happy children home for Christmas break, everyone!  Good luck!!!!  Yikes!)