Thoughts from the East Side

Wow. November 8. I did very well on NaBloMo, don't you think? Amazing. It all went down hill when I went to take care of my grandma for a week when Mom was in Vegas. Grandma is 92 next month and an interesting bundle of the baggage my family carries daily. Then life got crazy when I got home.

(My apologies if this is the first time you're hearing some of this.)

November 16 -- dear friend had a lump removed from her breast

November 18 -- told Beau about friend's surgery (forgot to tell him before), and he reported to me that he found a lump on his back . . . felt said lump. It's big. And hard. And exactly what they tell you to look for in self exams.

November 20 -- found out that dear friend's tumor was cancerous . . . she walked through cancer 15 years ago and cannot have any more radiation. A visit with her oncologist would tell more.

November 22-24 -- Thanksgiving celebrations. Lovely, lots to be thankful for.

November 25 -- An excited Ellie woke up to see the tree full of lights and in our living room. "Daddy, look at that! There's green ones and red ones and yellow ones and blue ones and 'nother one green ones!" It almost makes up for the terrible twos which also hit this weekend.

November 26 -- Beau had his appointment. Likely a cyst, but can't tell without an ultra sound. Scheduled ultra sound for November 28.

November 27 -- Ellie got two timeouts and a spank . . . FROM THE BABYSITTER. Honestly, I can see her getting that stuff from me, but she is always good for the babysitter. Please let this be a short phase!

November 28 -- Beau had his ultra sound. Scheduled follow-up appointment for December 5. Also had congregational meeting at night. Grr for budgets and people who don't contribute to their church like they should. It's not like it's their money! Sheesh. Called dear friend when I got home to get a report from her oncologist. Double masectomy. Then six rounds of aggressive chemotherapy. Cried with friend, laughed with friend, listened, talked, enjoyed the fact that God gives us good friends and brings strong and amazing women into our lives.

December 3 -- found out from doctor that baby is currently in a breech position. This explains all of the pain I've been in--low baby and breech = ow, ow, ow!! He told me not to leave sleep over it (I told him I was--not from worry but from pain), but he also let me know what would happen if Breech Baby doesn't adjust her position. In four weeks, they will do an ultra sound to determine baby's definite position. In five weeks, they would do an external manipulation to try to coax Baby into head-down position. If it doesn't take or if she moves back (most do), they will schedule a c-section for the last week of January. Also, they do the external manipulation at the hospital, because occasionally women go in to labor during the procedure. Coming to terms with the fact that Baby could arrive any time between five weeks and nine weeks.

Later that night -- returned from moms' group to hear that my cousin's wife had their baby--about three weeks early. The baby was breech, so they'd scheduled a c-section for late this week. Her water broke on the 28th, though, so she called her husband at work and climbed into the bathtub so any leaking would not get all over her house. Five minutes later, her husband walked into the bathroom to find his wife carefully trying not to push any more than the foot out of her. Yes. The foot. My cousin called 911 and delivered his breech baby with the cord wrapped around her neck in their bathtub while their toddler was still home!! The paramedics arrived at their house just as Brian was looking for something to suction out the baby's nose. Now I'm losing sleep.

December 5 -- Beau's ultra sound inconclusive. Whatever it is will be removed on Friday (today), and doctor will send it in for biopsy if needed. Super.

December 7 -- Lump removed. It's a cyst. Praise God! It had gotten infected and came out in pieces (I'm trying not to imagine all of this), but it was definitely a cyst. During the suturing process, Beau "squirted the PA in the face (EW!)," so now he has to get an infectious diseases test. It's always something.

And that brings us to the current time. I'm going out for breakfast. I've earned it! Especially because for the moment our two year old is not terrible and Breech Baby isn't causing terrible pain.