In the Spirit!

So, a trip to Camrose today was just the thing to kick-start the Christmas spirit in my house.  (Especially because most of my Christmas music was erased off of my computer earlier this fall and I've just made that grisly discovery.)

Mom and I took Owen to Camrose for the annual Festival of Trees.  I've never been, and I had imagined that William would be less likely to enjoy what they had to offer.  (I might have been wrong - he would have enjoyed much of it, but he would have missed his naps as well.)  We had a chance to walk through the vendor area and pick up some fun things, and then we met Cindy, Luke, and Jonas for some kid fun.  The boys decorated (and ate) their own cookies, pet bunnies, goats, guinea pigs, and wallabees at the petting zoo, got their faces painted, had pictures with Santa, and then made their own snowman craft.  We finished our trip with a visit to McD's for lunch.  It was a great day but I think we're all pooped.  (Owen didn't even get out of bed ONCE to announce that he had a "sticky in his nose" and Mom is sound asleep on the chair next to me.)

Lots of positive thinking today.  Hope to keep it that way.  And it doesn't hurt that Mom and I finished off the day with a hot glass of spiced apple cider.  Yum. 

Friday is a good day.

And I only worked two days - not even including parent/teacher interviews.  But I am tired and looking forward to the weekend.  I did enjoy my days.  It's a good reminder of why I became a teacher in the first place.  Kids make me smile - whether they are 3, 8, or 14.  Plus, I work with some great people and am privileged to be able to call them "friend".  I will work Tuesday and Thursday next week, and I'm thinking next Friday's PD day would be a good chance for me to collaborate with my replacement, providing they have one by then. 

Dr. Dabbs office called today with a surgery date - December 7th.  She wanted to operate 2 weeks after our last appointment, and the 7th is 2 weeks and 1 day.  Can't complain. 

Owen had a "better than good day", according to Bev, his childcare provider.  I loved hearing that!  Mom has been staying home with William for a few days and I think they are really getting to know each other.  Owen and Mom are bonding as well - Owen has been sleeping downstairs with Mom while Jon and I "retrain" William to sleep through the night.  He had been sick for more than a month, then fevers, a flu, a bout of teething, and more colds again, so we had gotten in the habit of reacting in the middle of the night when he called out for a drink or comfort.  That's fine, but now that he's not sick, he's still thinking he needs to have that drink (or more), and screams his little lungs out when we don't immediately respond.  Not needing Owen to wake up in the night, we decided (after Grammie offered) to let Owen sleep downstairs in the other bed.  So far, so great.  It's a great arrangement. 

I have such wonderful girlfriends.  They are such an encouragement to me. You know who you are.  :)

I think Mom and I will take Owen to Camrose tomorrow morning.  Apparently the Festival of Trees is happening, and Cindy is planning on taking her boys.  I've never been, but I've always been curious.  William can nap in the morning, giving Jon some time off.  It think it will be a great way to boost some Christmas "spirit".  I have nothing else to do BUT wait to be hit by the Christmas wave - I am done all my shopping!!  The last parcel arrived today.  Done before December.  That has to be a bit of a record.  Okay - maybe I'm not QUITE done.  Still have to get stocking stuffers...

Happy weekend!

Grammie!

The boys were thrilled to see their Grammie.  Mom and I walked over to pick up the kids from Bev's, and Owen was quite surprised to see his grandmother there (and probably me since it's been weeks since I've gone to pick them up).  It's been so great - Mom is already making headway with William - he's a little harder to reach.  He has always made me work a little harder to get a smile, and he plays the shy card once in a while, which is something Owen never really did.  Anyway, Owen even slept downstairs with Grammie (in another bed) last night and since I have yet to see him this morning, I assume all went well.  I am so happy to have Mom here.  You are all so right - having your mother around in troublesome times just brings a sense of "it's all going to be okay".  I would love to have Dad here as well, but we'll make sure he's involved as much as possible via Skype. 

We haven't heard from Dr. Dabbs' office yet regarding a surgery date, but I do have an appointment on Monday, so if I go back today and tomorrow, then if necessary, a few days next week, I should be ready to pass off my teaching assignment to someone else.  It's quite overwhelming, but I think I'll just have to step back and have very little to say about "how I do things" and just let my replacement go to it his/her own way.  Tough to do when a) I am a self-pronounced control freak, and b) that music/band program is my "baby" and it's success matters greatly to me.  I guess I will just go to work this morning and try to wrap my brain around not coming back for a while. 

I did go back to work today for the first time in weeks, and I'll head back tomorrow as well.  I have appointments on Monday (more stitches out) and Wednesday (CT scan), but I still do not have a surgery date.  Apparently they called today while I was at work, so I presume we will know more tomorrow when I return the call.  Work today was pretty good - I have the best coworkers.  They are encouraging, funny, helpful, and wise.  I was happy to receive the "MRS. FRIESEN!!!  You're back!!" comments from the kids - actual cheering and smiles and hugs from all ages.  It makes a woman feel good.  I love those kids.

William stayed home with Grammie today and they seemed to have had a good day.  William actually slept and ate, and at some point Mom managed to find time to take care of my floors.  It sure is going to be nice having her around.... for so many reasons. 

Another awesome verse from Isaiah:

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  (41:10)

Starting Out

We are still reeling a bit from the news on Monday, but it's been awesome how much peace we have when it's needed.  It seems when one of us is feeling low (scared, doubtful, panicked), the other is in a different frame of mind - more trusting, more stable, and prepared to offer prayers and words of support.  And when the other isn't around, our family and friends have been offering the same.  Really - the words, songs, and scriptures you have shared on facebook, emails, and in person have been so uplifting.  Thank you!  We are so touched by your concern and generosity.

Meanwhile, most of our hours are filled with normalcy.  The boys don't know what's ahead, and that's great.  They continue with their antics:  Owen declaring what he would like to do and when, and sadly realizing that he doesn't get to have whatever he wants, and William constantly getting into things and learning the boundaries in our home.  William is definitely hands on - evident whenever he hears Jon and Owen wrestling on the floor of the living room.  He drops whatever he's doing and runs in to jump on the heap.  Owen still enjoys Thomas the Train, but he spends much more time downstairs creating and narrating stories with his tracks and engines than he does watching them on TV these days.  He also loves to read and we are bombarded with requests for the same two stories several times a day.  How fun it is to see their personalities blooming.  We are so fortunate to have such neat little men in our care.

I guess we are waiting to hear from the surgeon's office re: a surgery date for me.  She had said two weeks from this past Monday, so we are assuming surgery will be somewhere around the 5-12th of December.  I will have three weeks to recover from that, and in there I will be having a CT scan to check my body for more signs of metastasis, and I will be meeting Dr. Smiley, who will be henceforth known as my "drug guy".  I will likely start a drug treatment called "Intron" (which is Interferon Alpha 1) after surgery - perhaps in the new year.  The purpose of this drug is still a little unclear for me, but I assume it is meant to stop or prevent the growth of more tumours in my body, since the cancer is in my lymphatic system and is apt to travel around. 

It's a lot to take in!  I'm a young wife and mother and don't really feel like "someone like me" should be dealing with these things, but here we are.  God is proving to be faithful the more we look to Him, so we'll let Him be our Guide, and our Rest.  How thankful are we for families who raised us in a way that we had our faith foundation laid before the storm really began, and oh-so-thankful for a God who never changes, so we can rely on Him as we grow individually, in our marriage, and as a family. 

IN OTHER NEWS - I'm off to the airport to pick up my mother!  Her flight gets in in about an hour.  I know it's not really exciting circumstances, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to a great visit with her.  She is coming out for as long as we need her help - so through surgery, recovery, and perhaps some treatment.  We'll take it one day at a time - I know my Dad and other family at home need Mom as well.  I do know it gives them some peace to be able to help in some way.  Our families mean the world to us. 

Congratulations on making it through the first blog post!