It's All Good...Until It Isn't

I have been intending to get caught up here...lots of photos of finished projects and things going on to talk about.  And, lately, the coronavirus pandemic.  But, of course, I have not taken the time.  Until now.  When I have some news to share that is not so good.

In my previous post, I was ecstatic with the news of my son's cancer-free status.  After a full year of treatment including chemotherapy and surgeries, he was pronounced free of cancer.  

A short 4 months later, Matthew had an MRI.  Just, you know, to keep an eye on things.  Well.  Yup, the cancer is back...metastatic colon cancer.  We knew there was a high probability (65%), but we hoped he would be the exception to that rule.  He has spots on his liver...not large, but there, nonetheless.  A plan was agreed upon...Matthew would forego chemotherapy until fall (he will have periodic checks to keep an eye on growth/spread).  He wants a summer to drive his Mustang and ride his Harley.  I don't blame him...he had no summer last year, what with chemo and surgery and work.  And, it would be foolish for him to start chemo now and play around with his immune system with the virus running rampant.  

Matthew is a paramedic, so he is already way too exposed to the dangers of this novel coronavirus.  He will continue to work...to quote the man himself, "...I need to do for which I was created and that is to help others....'  

My son is strong and courageous.  As he said to me,  "It is what it is, Mom."  






"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

It's All Good!

Well, here we are nearing the end of summer.  I, for one, will be happy for the temperatures to cool down a bit.  It is a fact that dry heat is much easier to live with than high temperatures with high humidity.  But, 99 degrees is still darn hot.  And, we have had a rather long spell of those darn hot days.  YAY...sweatshirt season is almost upon us.  I have always loved fall, but in Wisconsin, winter followed too closely behind.  Here, there's not so much winter.  So, I am definitely looking forward to the next several months.  

It is all good.  Truly!

My son, Matthew, had a PET scan last week.  He is completely cancer free!!!  Two surgeries and chemotherapy did it for him.  We are all thankful beyond belief!  We do know that this cancer sometimes recurs, but for now...smiles all around!

After saying that, nothing sounds very exciting.  So, I'm gonna leave you with those happy thoughts.

More to come...




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Hey Mom...I have cancer.

How do I even breathe after hearing that? 

What do I say? 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Matthew is my firstborn.  Since I first laid eyes on him and held him close, I have thought that the sun rises and sets on him.  He is special in a way no one else could be.   

Matthew is just 44 years old...and Matthew has stage 4 colon cancer.    

Cancer is so very scary.  But.  I am keeping positive thoughts.  I pray for him.  I worry and cry for him, though.  

I am travelling to Wisconsin to spend time (11 days!) with my sons.  I know...it is not the best time of the year to be in Wisconsin.  But, I need to be there.  

                 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

That's My Son!

A few weekends ago, my work supervisor, Lisa phoned me...she had sent a photo via email with the caption, "you won't believe this". 

This is the photo...Lisa in an ambulance with my son, Matthew, sitting next to her.

When I saw the photo, I said, "huh?" and wondered if they had ended up together on some sort of a training exercise (him being a paramedic and her being in EMS school).  

But, no....Lisa is the patient and Matthew is, well, the paramedic. 

Here's the story:  Lisa had slipped on her wet kitchen floor (that her husband had just mopped...what a nice guy!) and injured her knee.  She went to the clinic in her town, which is about 20 minutes from here.  There was a concern, so she was sent to Madison for a CT scan.  And, because of a health issue, transport by ambulance was suggested.  They called the ambulance company in her town and wouldn't you know...my son, Matthew happened to be working at that station that day.  When he walked in, Lisa (who had never met him but knew about him) immediately recognized him as my son.  Said he looks like me.  huh?  Anyway. 

Just look at my son...all professional.  

I am a proud mama!  





"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Merry Christmas

Well, here it is Christmas Day afternoon.

The festivities are over.

I went to son Matthew's this morning.

He made us a huge breakfast.

Conlan and Jasmine loved the tv/floor pillows.

I received a very nice framed photo of the kids

and a new mouse pad with a photo of the kids on it.

Love them!

Here's Conlan.

(aka up & coming rockstar)

In his suit, no less.

He asked for a suit for Christmas...

can you believe that?

An almost 8 year old?

Perhaps more Michael Buble than Jon Bon Jovi?

(Gotta tell ya, though...I've seen Jon in a tux...looks so good!)

Here's Matthew, hard at work.  Makin' bacon, methinks.  

And, here's Miss Jasmine, Miss Blue Hair (before her time...isn't it usually the old ladies that dye their hair blue?).

Unfortunately, those are about all the photos I took.

But, here are some of your favorite brown dog!

With a new...you guessed it...WART HOG!

From Santa (aka Aunt Julie)...

 

 

 He hasn't let it out of his sight.

It was a great day.

I need to finish up 3 gifts and get 2 packages shipped.

Then, I will officially be done with Christmas.

Right now, though?

I am going to sit and spend some quiet time reading.

In my jams.

Snuggled with Tag.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

50's Dance...

My son, Matthew, with his daughter, Jasmine.

They are going to a Father/Daughter 50's dance tonight.

oh, how fun!

I wonder if they'll actually dance???

I can't wait to hear all about it.

From both perspectives...{grin}.

 

Lookin' good!!!  Have fun tonight!

My Family Christmas...

Yesterday was the big day...

my sons & their families were all here.

What a wonderful day.

Here's my little helper, Kaylynn.

Kaylynn with Daddy and her stepmom, myRachel

(that is what Kaylynn calls her).

Matt's family.

Paul's family.

Conlan...

Devin...

Jasmine...

Kaylynn and her silly Daddy...

 

Beautiful grandchildren!!!

Thank you for the wonderful day!!

A Great Afternoon...

for a motorcycle ride!

My son, Matthew, and his wife, Jesika, stopped by to replace my tv's converter box, which had gone kaput a few weeks ago. Wasn't that nice? Course, I had begged and begged for two weeks...telling him he was the only one who could do it for me. ~grin~

Here they are...just arrived! Matthew has a Honda GoldWing (his Harley-riding Grampa would roll over in his grave if he knew his grandson was riding a Honda!)
Cracked me up...as soon as they got off their ride, they both checked their phones for messages.
And, while they were here, they helped me move some furniture around. I had just found out that I'll be getting something new (to me) tomorrow, so the timing was great! It was so nice to have two strong young people to help. Course, you know, about all I did was say, "I want the sofa sleeper here, the antique dresser in the office (more on that at some other time), and the table in the sunroom."

So. That's that.

Now for the quilting news. I cut and sewed and trimmed and ironed all day yesterday. Got a quilt top about half done! woohoo! Sorry, no photo, yet.

Today, I started on my wonky log cabin quilt. It involves a lot of cutting/pressing/trimming, but it is a lot of fun! And, one can be as 'wonky' as one wants to be. (I think I'm kinda medium wonky.) Here's my first block...
That's all I have today. Be sure to check back tomorrow for some really fun and awesome news!! (for me, anyway...~grin~)