Quick update. For this post, please imagine the opening music from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Mom eyes the walker at the foot of the couch. She moves her feet down to the floor, props herself sitting up, places both hands on the rails, struggles at first, and then hoists herself up on her own 2 feet (with absolutely no help from Dad or me). Ta Daaaaaaaa!
And for her encore, she struts around the room, huge grin across her face. Then Dad and I realize, just as I imagine parents seeing their baby crawl for the first time, Oh no, now she's mobile...
But we're of course thrilled. Love you, Mom.
Have a good day, everyone.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Good News Weekend
This past weekend, Carrie came in to Sedalia for our Engagement Party weekend. Little did we know, that was the tip of the celebratory iceberg. Mark and Maggie drove in from Cincinnati, picked her up at the airport, and then made their way home on Friday night. Abigail followed suit shortly thereafter. Upon arrival, Mark and Maggie got into the Easter spirit and gave us all very nicely decorated Easter baskets. A unique one to each of us. And not unique in just color or types of goodies, but rather, the decoration on the outside of the baskets themselves. One for "Aunt Abby", "Aunt Carrie", "Uncle Adam", "Uncle Luke", and best of all, one big one for "Grandma and Grandpa". Hugs, high fives, smiles, and tears - Mark and Maggie are very proud to say that they will be welcoming a new member to the family come late Fall / early Winter. Congratulations to them and the rest of the family. We all could use some good news this year, and this is just the best kind we could have received. Mom summed up the general feeling that was permeating throughout the house all weekend. As she woke up with Abigail late in the night as is typical, she had a giant grin across her face. "We're going to have a baby soon....I'm going to be a Grandma!"
She has mastered the Mom role for over 30 years, I guess it is time for a new challenge. Can't wait for it. And neither can she.
Love you Mom! Congrats again bro and sis!
Goodnight.
She has mastered the Mom role for over 30 years, I guess it is time for a new challenge. Can't wait for it. And neither can she.
Love you Mom! Congrats again bro and sis!
Goodnight.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Smile and Wave
Mom's latest go-to moves, no matter when you see her and when she sees you, are to give you a giant smile, and wave. Not a giant arm-flailing wave, or a miss america wave, but just a good Mom wave that makes you want to give her walk over, give her a hug, and ask her what's new, how she's feeling, can I get you anything? And in case you are wondering, typically the answer is either No, or, Twizzlers.
The last 4 weeks have been great on all counts. As of Wednesday, Mom has now undergone 3 full treatments of Avastin. She's getting stronger by the day, mentally and physically, and we couldn't be happier. Moreover, I'm also very proud to say that this blog is being written from the comfort of Mom's giant couch. The reason - Mom just up and said, I want to sleep upstairs. So up we went. No time to even think about it. She stood up, held my hands to the stairs. And then literally bounded up them without letting herself rest by putting two feet on the same step. "One step at a time, Mom, we'll get there". "Yes, honey, but one step at a time will just take longer". Wise. Very wise.
So upstairs she sleeps. For those that don't know, if Mom needs help, she rings her bell. She joked that I should have given it to her so she could ring it in Dad's ears. Yeah, he would have loved that, I told her. She of course was joking. But on a serious note, she went to sleep with an even bigger grin than I've seen in weeks, and now Dad won't need to go far to give her a hug in the morning when he wakes up. She'll be right there next to him, where she belongs.
Love you, Mom. Good work tonight.
The last 4 weeks have been great on all counts. As of Wednesday, Mom has now undergone 3 full treatments of Avastin. She's getting stronger by the day, mentally and physically, and we couldn't be happier. Moreover, I'm also very proud to say that this blog is being written from the comfort of Mom's giant couch. The reason - Mom just up and said, I want to sleep upstairs. So up we went. No time to even think about it. She stood up, held my hands to the stairs. And then literally bounded up them without letting herself rest by putting two feet on the same step. "One step at a time, Mom, we'll get there". "Yes, honey, but one step at a time will just take longer". Wise. Very wise.
So upstairs she sleeps. For those that don't know, if Mom needs help, she rings her bell. She joked that I should have given it to her so she could ring it in Dad's ears. Yeah, he would have loved that, I told her. She of course was joking. But on a serious note, she went to sleep with an even bigger grin than I've seen in weeks, and now Dad won't need to go far to give her a hug in the morning when he wakes up. She'll be right there next to him, where she belongs.
Love you, Mom. Good work tonight.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Rest and relaxation
So at this point, we're up to 3 types of eggs if you count egg salad. And I can give any fry cook a run for their money based on Mom's morning breakfast routine.
Dad has decided to join the couch party in the family room, as he is taking some well-deserved R&R for at least the next week. Mom and I are loving having him at home more often.
And then there's Mom, or Smiley, as both Dad and I have referred to her on countless occasions lately. She is walking better, sitting up in the arm chair, currently reading Gone with the Wind during the day, and judging American Idol at night (I speak for the family when I say, how could America not vote Pia into the next round!?)
The siblings have rotated weekends, where this weekend I'll be out in Chicago to see Carrie while Abigail comes home to be with the folks.
Between the second round of Avastin and the nonstop prayer from family and friends, we are doing really well. Thank you.
As I write, Mom has been napping for the last couple hours. Strong odds that there will be a late night request from the kitchen, we'll see if it's eggs or beef roast. I should probably get some sleep as well. Goodnight everyone. Love you Mom!
Dad has decided to join the couch party in the family room, as he is taking some well-deserved R&R for at least the next week. Mom and I are loving having him at home more often.
And then there's Mom, or Smiley, as both Dad and I have referred to her on countless occasions lately. She is walking better, sitting up in the arm chair, currently reading Gone with the Wind during the day, and judging American Idol at night (I speak for the family when I say, how could America not vote Pia into the next round!?)
The siblings have rotated weekends, where this weekend I'll be out in Chicago to see Carrie while Abigail comes home to be with the folks.
Between the second round of Avastin and the nonstop prayer from family and friends, we are doing really well. Thank you.
As I write, Mom has been napping for the last couple hours. Strong odds that there will be a late night request from the kitchen, we'll see if it's eggs or beef roast. I should probably get some sleep as well. Goodnight everyone. Love you Mom!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Round 2
Dad, Mom, and I are doing great. Mom has now taught me two ways to make eggs for breakfast (scrambled and over easy). She's definitely easing me into the cooking arena, which I appreciate. Monday night, her dog Kemba of course won the national championship, though thankfully for mom's sake she fell asleep at halftime and didn't have to subject herself to the cruelty that was the watching of that whole game. All day today, "Butler really shot 18%, wow, that's bad." Mom summed it up perfectly. Then tonight, we hoped Notre Dame women would bring home a championship, but not to be. Oh well. Tonight's an early to bed, early to rise (though I can still hear Mom laughing at Leno!). Tomorrow is one of our once every two week appointments at the hospital to get her Avastin chemo treatment. It's just her second go around, but we're looking forward to it as it seems to have helped out greatly already these past two weeks. All for now, but do want to thank everyone for their prayers and well wishes. Love you, Mom. Goodnight.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Family Car Ride
Very fun weekend as Mark, Abigail, and Aunt Kate all came back to hang out in the Sedalia Wuellner pad. Friday night was an easy one, with quick catch up and early bed time, all except Mark who got in really late but of course in time for a 2 am chat w Mom who is awake at odd hours of the night. Saturday, Mom voiced her opinion of needing to break out of the house and see the real world. So we all piled into the car and went for a scenic country drive along the backroads - completed by a trip to Baskin Robbins for ice cream. Sun glasses, windows down, and rocky road / peanut butter chocolate ice cream on a sugar cone. Mom was happy and so were we. At night we caught the two basketball games, the gamblers in us wished we had listened harder to Mom at the start of the tourney as her dog Kemba impressed the nation yet again. Should be a fun game tomorrow night. And Sunday, always the shortest day for everyone. We had a feast for lunch thanks to Aunt Kate, Mark, and Abigail. Then mid-day, the two ladies headed out, and then by twilight Mark had to do the same. The weekend rounded itself out nicely as Dad will be happy to see when he wakes up that the ND women advanced to the NCAA finals over favorite UCONN. Nice ending to a great weekend, but the real highlight was the same as it was when I was 5. Car ride with the family, dad and mom in the front seats, sun out, windows down, and ice cream before heading home. Love you, Mom. Goodnight.
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