Old Time is Still A-Flying
At 2 a.m. on the morning of March 26th, I awoke to find Andrew and Josiah standing beside my bed, grinning excitedly and chanting, "20 and 21, Mom! 20 and 21! How does that make you feel?"
"Old," I muttered, raising up to squint at them in the darkness. I flopped back onto the pillow. "And tired."
And so it has happened. I now have TWO 20-something sons, along with 19 and 18 year old daughters, and another son who will be 18 this summer, 2 16 year-olds, 1 soon-to-be 13 year-old, and a 10 year-old. All of my babies are growing up on me. Still, it occurs to me that Andrew and Josiah were 11 and 12 when I was diagnosed with cancer. The bottom line is: I AM STILL HERE. Yes, I have suffered. Yes, I have lost. Yes, I have even questioned God during my weakest moments. But so far, miraculously, I am still here, celebrating birthdays and enjoying my children (albeit at very odd hours). When you have teens and grown children, you learn to seize the moments when they come.
On the medical front, my appointments in Nashville last week went very well. My spine looks great, and has healed very nicely. The old hip/femur prosthesis is as sturdy as ever. The cancer on the inside ring of my other hip is still there, but doesn't seem to be any worse than it was when it was last scanned. I am going to return to the spinal surgeon's office in three months. He wants to keep a closer watch on things, in case it comes back again.
Also, I made an appointment on April 1st with the local cancer center to see about radiation on the sinus cavity tumor. I keep telling myself that this is the fastest option, but I can't help but wonder if my true motive isn't plain old laziness. I am tired -- tired of traveling, tired of chasing the cure to the ends of the earth.
Overall, I am doing well these days. I'm rarely in pain, and my stamina has improved. My main problems involve my eyesight and the fact that I still have absolutely no desire for food, in spite of the fact that I am now two months past surgery.
Spring is here, and the world is green again. I plan to celebrate every single day, because it all goes by so fast ...
"20 and 21, Mom! 20 and 21! How does that make you feel?"
Blessed. Very, very blessed.
And old as Methuselah's daddy!
:-) Sharon
"Old," I muttered, raising up to squint at them in the darkness. I flopped back onto the pillow. "And tired."
And so it has happened. I now have TWO 20-something sons, along with 19 and 18 year old daughters, and another son who will be 18 this summer, 2 16 year-olds, 1 soon-to-be 13 year-old, and a 10 year-old. All of my babies are growing up on me. Still, it occurs to me that Andrew and Josiah were 11 and 12 when I was diagnosed with cancer. The bottom line is: I AM STILL HERE. Yes, I have suffered. Yes, I have lost. Yes, I have even questioned God during my weakest moments. But so far, miraculously, I am still here, celebrating birthdays and enjoying my children (albeit at very odd hours). When you have teens and grown children, you learn to seize the moments when they come.
On the medical front, my appointments in Nashville last week went very well. My spine looks great, and has healed very nicely. The old hip/femur prosthesis is as sturdy as ever. The cancer on the inside ring of my other hip is still there, but doesn't seem to be any worse than it was when it was last scanned. I am going to return to the spinal surgeon's office in three months. He wants to keep a closer watch on things, in case it comes back again.
Also, I made an appointment on April 1st with the local cancer center to see about radiation on the sinus cavity tumor. I keep telling myself that this is the fastest option, but I can't help but wonder if my true motive isn't plain old laziness. I am tired -- tired of traveling, tired of chasing the cure to the ends of the earth.
Overall, I am doing well these days. I'm rarely in pain, and my stamina has improved. My main problems involve my eyesight and the fact that I still have absolutely no desire for food, in spite of the fact that I am now two months past surgery.
Spring is here, and the world is green again. I plan to celebrate every single day, because it all goes by so fast ...
"20 and 21, Mom! 20 and 21! How does that make you feel?"
Blessed. Very, very blessed.
And old as Methuselah's daddy!
:-) Sharon
posted by Sharon | 9:39 PM
11 Comments:
Yes you are blessed indeed....as are your loved ones to have you in their lives. Even I, way out here in cyberspace, feel blessed to know of you and to be able to respond to your blog every so often in the hopes of making even the smallest positive difference in your day in exchange for all that I receive from your words.
Ten years and still going, growing, living and giving. May your generosity of spirit come back to you tenfold and enrich your life going forward.
What a wonderful tribute to your spirit Sharon that you seized the moment with your two sons at such an early hour. I probably would have thrown pillows -- or worse.
What a fine family you have there and here's to many more decades of you with them.
Best,
DC
You are blessed......and so are your children.
Thanks for putting a smile on my face! I wish you many, many, many more happy days.
You are an inspiration to so many. I hope you will stick around for years and years just so I can read your wonderful blogs. You make even the highest mountain seem climbable. Thanks for your spirit and good outlook especially in these troubling times. Bless you.
k
Sharon this blog made me smile!
I can totally picture your two grown boys doing that to you :)
They, along with all of your children, are SO blessed to have you as their Mom.
Hang in there and continue soaking in all of those fun moments.
HAPPY SPRING!
Love Deb(inOHio) xo
What do you do when you have so much to live for, and have made so many plans in your dreams, and then your body and illness decide to take you on a detour? Your courage is astounding. Your spirit in invincible. You have climbed the mountains set in your path with such grace. I ponder your words often, and have learned so much from you sharing your trials with the world. You are victorious, Sharon. You have made it! Despite anything else and all else that happens from now on, you can tell yourself that you have truly and uniquely won!
Wishing you love, sunshine, warmth and blossoming life.
Go on, go on Sharon.
Best regards from Spain
mommy i love you :) you will always be forever nineteen ;)
Sharon
I wanted to stop by say a sincere "Thank You!" for sharing your story and that of your family with the whole world. This weekend as we remember what happened with Jesus so long ago ... it is also so very good to be reminded of how the very same pattern continues today: people daily pick up their seemingly impossible crosses, and with Faith in God and with the Love and support of Family and friends move step by step through their own personal Calvarys in the Hope of one day sharing in the Peace and endless Joy of Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ!
Please know and remember how many are with you in prayer in your journey, and are grateful for you and your family sharing it!
Wishing a Truly Joyfilled and Blessed Easter to you, Don and the whole Family!!
Sharon,I feel not only you and your family is blessed,You and Don,and sons and daughters are kind of "blessed"-"by human heart" each other.You and Don rised them,and they are rised by You and Don.
What a "human-blessing"they have.
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