How was your weekend?

“How was your weekend?”

“Not long enough.”

I have either said or heard this Monday morning dialogue hundreds of times in my life, but it has never rang truer than in these past few months. Train rides, plane flights, and car trips may be nuisances, but it’s always worth the commute to get home and see Mom. Abigail and I arrived back home late Friday night, to Dad offering us almost a dozen different food items immediately after we hugged hello. Mom was napping on the couch, with the faint comfortable hum of “Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives” in the background. She woke up for a quick catch-up about our work weeks, and then it’s upstairs to bed.

Saturday, I think Mom and Dad were the first to rise by more than 5 hours (needless to say, both napped later in the day). Mom and I got a chance to talk wedding for a bit, knocking out a couple of my groom tasks while I am home. And while we watched a couple food network shows, Abigail was putting on a culinary show of her own as was evidenced by the pasta with Bolognese sauce dinner. During our family movie night of “Secretariat”, she put on an encore performance with some delicious chocolate chip cookies and chocolate dipped strawberries. Mom, Dad, and I were full and happy.

Sundays are travel days and are always over before I want them to be. But we made the most of it, Mass in the morning, another hour of wedding talk around lunch, quick pseudo-fashion show as Abigail returned from the store with some “gala-type” outfits for Mom who is excitedly preparing for a charity “Dancing with the Stars” event in Sedalia in a few weeks, and some quality mother-son bonding time over NCAA basketball and searching online for some good magazines to read. Shocker, guess who is the proud new owner of a subscription to the “Food Network” magazine?

And then we arrive back in our cars, back in airport terminals, and back sitting on trains to our homes away from Home. I have to admit, I do look forward to going to work and seeing friends on Mondays. But tomorrow morning, when they ask, “How was your weekend?”, I’ll politely, but sincerely respond, “Not long enough.”

Love and miss you already, Mom. See you in a couple weeks.

Rocky Road

I was able to go home last week for mom’s last day of radiation. It was great having the family together for a few hours that morning before Mom, Dad and I returned to Sedalia for the week. It was quite emotional watching mom come out of her last treatment to ring the bell signifying the end of her cycle of radiation. Everything that went into completing the radiation is what was so emotional yet so satisfying. The determination of our mom, the time it took, the changing of her physical appearance, the worrying from the kids, it all adds up. We are all so proud of her and can’t be more excited to have her in the comfort of our home for a while.

Once we got out of the hospital and back to Sedalia is was straight to the couch in the new makeshift bedroom/family room. Mom’s iPad is always on, the phone is always buzzing, and the tv is on either The Food Network (she’s still getting cooking ideas) or Jeopardy. She takes her baby steps around the first floor of the house to get around, sneaking into the kitchen to make a grilled cheese for lunch or to satisfy her large sugar tooth. Rocky Road ice cream, peanut m&m’s, and oreo cookies are the drug of choice.*

*If anyone from Apple or Breyer’s is reading this, send iPads and ice cream.

I find it a little more than ironic that mom’s ice cream of choice is Rocky Road. We all know this process is not going to be easy. There are ups and downs just like anything in life. Right now though, we seem to be having more ups. Just for her to be walking on her own is a huge victory. I can’t help but think that this is leading up to the mother/son dance at Adam’s wedding come Halloween. I can’t wait!

Also, a lot of people have been asking how our dad is doing. It appears to me that he has turned into some sort of a Michael Keaton hybrid of Batman and Mr. Mom. He’s busy working, fighting crime, doing the occasional load of laundry, paying bills, making sure mom is comfortable, and getting sleep when he can. I'm always amazed at how little sleep he seems to get by on. Things are going to be much more settled now that mom is home. Exhale.

See you in 5 weeks mommy.

Back home

Just want to say that Mom's face and smile were so priceless upon ringing the bell. The whole family was present and it was an amazing experience that is hard to describe. Know that Mom is the bravest, most incredible person I know, and we couldn't be happier that she now gets to spend some quality time back in Sedalia and not have to trek back and forth to St. Louis every week.

Currently, Luke is manning the home front for the entire week, as the other siblings are back in their respective cities. As always, looking forward to getting back home and hanging out with Mom. Thanks again for everyone's love and support. Love you, Mom! Goodnight.

Mom rings the bell!

She came, she saw, she rang the bell. Mom went 30 for 30 and is officially done with radiation treatment. The full family was here to witness, applaud, and hug. Wherever you are, say a prayer of thanks and celebration for Mom. It's a really good day. We love you, Mom!

Time for the Main Event

Super Bowl is over; now it's time for the Main Event that we've all really been anticipating. Barring any glitches, set your clocks to 8 AM - the time Mom will have officially, and heroically, completed all of her radiation treatments. Love you, Mom. Goodnight.

Super Monday

Big weekend for Mom, as she continues to look better than ever. Abigail somehow snuck her out of the house today and took her furniture/bedroom shopping in Kansas City. Long story and long day short, Mom reported that she and Abigail had a great day together and she was certain she would sleep soundly tonight after all the walking and shopping.

Tomorrow is one of the biggest eating, drinking, tv ad watching, football cheering days of the year, but it ranks as the second most important day out of the next two. Pretty certain no one in my family cares who wins or loses in the game, just pumped to have Luke back with us in St. Louis tomorrow and to prepare for Super Monday - Mom's 30th and last radiation treatment which she will proudly signal by ringing that bell to the applause and hugs of her family and friends. Already getting goosebumps. Thank you to everyone who has shared these past 6 weeks with us, through prayers, flowers, well wishes, hugs, food, drinks, and just being there for us in any and every way possible. We are very blessed to have such amazing friends and family in our lives. Enjoy the game tomorrow and get ready to cheer for the one who we know will always win - Mom.

We love you, Mom! Goodnight.

Batten down the hatches

Mom and Dad relayed that they are also "battening down the hatches" in St. Louis. Luckily they are only across the street from the hospital in order to continue the treatments during this blizzard. On the other side, Mark and Dad were supposed to be traveling today, which may need to wait at least a day. By this time, Mom has crossed off numbers 26 and 27 - on 3 more to go! Love you Mom!