The Calm Before the Storm

It is raining outside. Love it. We have had a lot of rain this year, as most of you know. It makes for a lot of cancelled kids' sporting events and lazy days. I just wished we could go skiing - Mammoth Mountain has a 400" base. Wow. Steve and I have not gone skiing in a number of years and had decided this past summer that this would be our year to take the kids for their first time. Better luck next year, I guess. Our kids have been on many fun vacations in their time - do not feel too sorry for them.

As I type this, I sit in my new living room. Well, not exactly new in decor - yet. Though, I am viewing the rain fall through my beautiful new windows and shutters. Cooper is sitting in Steve's chair looking at me wistfully. Die Hard, one of my favorite movies, is on television.

Where is Steve? Well, he is preparing for the storm - our ceilings are being scraped this week and also as important, but not quite as messy, my new living room is being painted. My parents have been extremely helpful in helping us to prepare and are even coming over today to help make final assessments and give direction for prep work that needs to be complete.

The caveat to all this is that Steve finally caught the nasty cold that Harrison, Maddie and I have had all week. This is where it gets frustrating. My stamina is just not there. As soon as I finish typing this, I am going to start some laundry, help Steve and make sure Harrison gets started on his homework assignment. I am determined and I will accomplish my goals today. Steve thinks he can do it all and he probably can. However, sick as he is, should I let him?

I should mention that I love the way our house is coming together. Steve and I both feel that anything that is postponed in the house's remodel progression now, might as well be put off indefinitely due to my health. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We know our stopping point is not too far off, after which point, projects will be more manageable and/or can wait until after my surgery.

Personally, I am feeling better, though my cold and cough linger. I suspect they will for awhile. I am curious what my white count looks like. Regardless, like my goals today, I am determined to carry out my plans for the next week. What are they? Two of my close friends have birthdays - I intend to celebrate with both. I have special lunch invitations for tomorrow and Tuesday; I am getting a pedicure/manicure on Wednesday; and, I am also celebrating my grandma's birthday with my mom on Friday. (Grandma passed away this summer and Mom and I are going to see Grandma's newly installed gravestone. Grandma's birthday is March 11.)

So, today, truly is the calm before the storm. I am going to enjoy every last moment of it and even "the storm" that is this week, as March 15 (a week from Monday) is my LAST chemotherapy treatment. It is going to be a tough one. The fifth was a tough one. I am going to try not to think about it too much. Something tells me that the chemotherapy is going to be much easier than the surgeries that are in my future. But I am going to try not to think about that either. My best bet is just to think about the here and now.

Or in the great words of John McClane, "Yippee-ki-yay...." Oh, you know the rest!