Wednesday, November 12, 2014

The Busiest People Ever

"We are the busiest people EVER!" Quinn announced the other day.

We were driving home after preschool pick-up, and I'd asked him about his day. As usual, he told me he "played and played and played!" And then, in an adorable pattern I've noticed lately, he's starting to ask things like, "How are YOU, mom?" or "How was YOUR day?" Our conversations are becoming two-way streets, even if those roads often lead to tales about dragon-sauruses who've turned into trolls.

I told Quinn I'd had a "doctor's appointment" (my CT scan), lunch with my friend/book editor, and that we'd gotten good news that day. Just in case you're not on FB/Twitter/within a few blocks of my home where I spent Monday squealing like an excited pig over the news, my oncologist called with my scan results: it was clean. This marks one year of No Evidence of Disease.

We celebrated as a family Monday night, cheers-ing our glasses of wine to Quinn's milk. The twitching in my right eyelid that's been plaguing me since mid-day Sunday has almost stopped. For now, I'm taking a break from my nightly dose of Xanax.

But I've been circling back to Quinn's comment about how busy our lives are, and wondering if we're over-scheduled. I try to give us ample downtime (see: days in front of the TV post-chemo), but I also try to accommodate Quinn's requests to spend time with friends, introduce him to new activities, and maintain a semblance of routine. We still go to swimming once a week. We just planted our fall garden, since that's what you do when it's still 85 degrees outside in November.

On Tuesday morning, we went to our friends' house, where we walked to the nearby Veteran's Day parade. That afternoon, another friend dropped her son off for a few hours so she could make it to a meeting (school was closed). By bedtime, Quinn was fried, and it showed.


I laid down with him as he fell asleep, a habit we're still clinging to. He wrapped his arms around my arm, holding my hand to his chest as he nodded off. My heart tightened. We try to protect him against everything I'm going through, to keep our anxiety away from him, to not talk about potential outcomes around him, but it's impossible for some of it not to seep into our daily lives. And kids pick up on so much. This strong, brave boy, who is exhausted from the hectic flow of our lives, has already had to know too much, sense too much, experience too much.

So, with my good news and the holidays approaching (because when could be a better time for trying to slow things down, amiright?), I'm going to work on making our lives slightly less busy, slightly less anxiety-ridden, slightly less scheduled and see what happens. The flip side of that coin is I'm looking at adopting a dog, though, so maybe we will still be the busiest people ever, just with more slobbery kisses.

18 comments:

  1. I am so happy for you! I am on TDM-1 also. NED since July. What a wonderful holiday season we shall have.

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    1. I'm thrilled to hear that, Lisa! Happy holidays, indeed!

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  2. Congrats on one year! Definitely get the dog. Slobbery kisses are wonderful kisses. :)

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    1. Oh, I am all signed up with rescue organizations throughout the area. We're just waiting for the right one to come along. I'm sure I'll be posting about it in no time!

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    1. I plan to toast and celebrate you-- and your writing--for many years to come! Blessings to you and your busy, soon-to-be-dog-filled life!!

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    2. Thanks, dear one! Lots of love (and toasts) to you, too!

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  4. I intended to say, "We toasted you." Writers really ought to edit their work every now and then!! :)

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  5. Congrats on the good scan result. I understand you want to protect Quinn as much as you can.

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    1. Thanks, Diana. Yes, I take my job as his protector pretty seriously. :)

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  7. Whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!! My day is ending on a very high note after reading about your scan. I cannot adequately express how thrilled I am for you and yours. I have told you previously, but it bears repeating that you kick serious tuckus. And dragon-sauruses who've turned into trolls?! You are right that I have to come visit; the little man and I will be fast friends. I am hesitant to make travel plans with unemployment looming, but I want to come out as soon as I can. I had an interview with JetBlue a few weeks ago for an in-house counsel position and should be able to fly standby for free if I get it so that would it make it easy to pop in on weekends (fingers crossed). Finally, I always love seeing the pictures you post. Love you and all my best to Chris and Quinn.

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    1. My fingers AND toes are crossed for you, friend! Would love it if you could get out here while our weather is wonderful (maybe for baseball season?) Hugs and love right back to you in the meantime.

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  8. oh, Jen - I am so over-the-moon happy for you - a clean scan!!! and so happy for Chris and darling Quinn, too! I can hardly express the joy and relief I feel for you all. and bless that pesky eye-twitching that has been so annoying for having mercy and now dwindling down.

    you are going to love having a dog, especially a rescue dog. honestly, when you see how they live their whole lives just to love you and be loved, filled with an attitude of gratitude, it's a life-altering experience in the very best way. rescue dogs KNOW stuff, and their responses to how each family member is feeling from day to day is such a remarkable and uplifting and comforting presence. I know you will find the one (or they will find YOU) that is perfect for your family. keep us posted when you can announce your new arrival!

    much love and warm hugs to each of you,

    Karen OOxOO

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    1. Thanks for the encouragement, friend! We are possibly going to meet a dog this week, right in time for warm winter snuggles and the holiday season. I have a good feeling about a rescue dog. I'll let you know!

      As always, much love right back to you. You always make me smile.

      XOXO

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