Skip to main content

AWOL again

Hello all,
So sorry for the long absence. I really do have a good excuse. Not just Facebook & Pet Society. Although that's been part of the problem! lol Here's a pic of my pet, Tuffy:



Okay. Here's what happened. It snowed here. A ton. Kate had a friend over spending the night and she stayed for 4 days because there wasn't really any way to get her home. Which is probably a mile away. And I drive a Suburban with really good tires. I still wasn't going anywhere! It was a mess. We were really buried. It was kind of fun, though. Like hibernating almost. I had gone to Walmart and REALLY stocked up. So we had lots of food and just hung out doing nothing and staying warm. Some sledding, but mostly just snuggling in.

It also meant that my sister & her family and mom and dad couldn't get here for Christmas. We spent the day with Dave's family and it was wonderful. But it was really, really hard not to see my family. My kids thought it wasn't really Christmas without their cousins. They did come over for New Year's and we did a mini-Christmas then.










After Kenny's seizure, the docs decided we needed to do some tests (they all came out okay, btw). Well, the first one was a sleep-deprived EEG. That was the last time I blogged. I wrote in the blog, updated the look, uploaded and edited a million pictures. Staying up all night was pretty easy. It was for Kenny, too. He played x-box and then would go run outside in the snow with the dogs then come in and watch a movie. (That would put me to sleep, but he stays awake and engaged the whole time.) I fell asleep on the couch about 6:00 am and Kenny woke me because I was snoring! He fell asleep for a few minutes while I was in the shower at 7:00. But other than that, we did fine. Went to the hospital and they hooked him all up to the EEG machine. 20 some electrodes fastened to his head. I'm gonna try to post a pic. Went through the testing, got home about noon. Kenny dozed during the EEG, so he wasn't tired. I was surprisingly awake, too. Then that evening came. Thought we'd go to bed. Umm....no. We were up LATE. Actually, into early the next morning. I think it was that "too tired to fall asleep" that little ones get sometimes. Just could not slow down and fall asleep.


So, the snow dumped. We had no where to go and nothing to do. So we became nocturnal. We were up until at least 3:00 am every night and sleeping half the day away. Kate and Zach were all off-kilter, too, but not as bad as Kenny and I.

So, we started drifting toward a more normal schedule. And then the MRI. Went to the hospital at noon. Somewhere around 1:00, they sedated Kenny. He was groggy all evening after that. Well...until bedtime. Here we go again.

The first week back to school was BRUTAL! So I've not really been able to do much that took any brain power for quite some time.

The good news is that the tests were all okay. What does that mean? Well, it could mean that the seizure was just a fluke thing and is unlikely to happen again. That's what we're hoping for. So far, Kenny's been just fine since.

Zach's been run-down, coughing a lot for weeks it seems. He has baseball at 6:30 am every day, that's not helping. Ran a high fever the other day. Into the doc. Strep test negative. Three days later they call, strep test positive. Sheesh. He's on penicillin now. He's not playing basketball and I really miss it. He, however, does not. He's perfectly happy.


So, some of the other events. Kate's basketball team has been playing and playing well. They took the championship in Pendleton two weeks ago and came in second in the Richland tourney last week. They have this weekend off. She's been running like crazy with AAU practice and school practice. Playing on two teams at one time is tough! It even meant we kind of missed her birthday, since we were at a tournament. We finally celebrated last night. She had a bunch of her friends over to spend the night and we had cake and ice cream and pizza and lots of noise and giggles and makeup and texting boys. Very fun.



I now officially have three teenagers. Lucky me. And I do mean that. With no sarcasm. I am very blessed to have these three people in my life.

It's funny the things that make me miss Dave. Was standing at the soda machine the other day, with a crumpled old dollar bill. Trying to make it go in the machine. The machine kept spitting it back out at me. Over and over. Do any of you remember that Dave could make any machine take any dollar? He had the touch. He used to do this thing where he folded it and unfolded it just right, then held it curved at just the right angle and sent it into the machine with this grand flourish. And the machine would take it. Every time. Stood there looking at the Dr. Pepper I couldn't have, and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

And being at the dentist and actually liking it, because as she drilled my tooth, she was touching my face. The loneliness is unfathomable.

I have those little moments every day. Seems like they come often in the winter. December and January are really hard months. Here are some days:

December 23: the day of the infamous wreck and the discovery of the tumor
Christmas of course
December 28 Dave's birthday
December 29 Mindy's birthday (always celebrated w/Dave's - she still doesn't do cake - only cupcakes)
December 30 Doug's birthday
January 2 Kyle's birthday (he would be 20!!!)
January 6 Dave's first surgery
January 16 Kate's birthday
January 18 Dave's third surgery
January 27 Kyle's death
January 31 Kyle's funeral

Yeah...so I went underground a bit. Wallowed a little. Escaped to the utopia that is Pet Society. And made it through. The sun peeked out a little yesterday...felt a little like a metaphor for me...been encased in ice, brittle and cold, now thawing a little, looking forward to spring.

And for those of you without Facebook, I'm on there a lot, you can join and keep up with me there, too. (PETE THOMAS & CATHY BERES THIS MEANS YOU!) I'm going to post one of the responses to one of the little games that goes around there that I posted on FB today.

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

[To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.]

1. I second-guess myself all the time.
2. Grief is my daily companion.
3. I hate it when people say, "You're so strong. I don't know how you do it." Sounds like shorthand for "Gee, Michelle. Your life sucks."
4. As a child, if I came home and couldn't immediately find my mom, I would panic. Not because I was afraid of being abandoned, but because I was afraid something might have happened to her when I wasn't there...I really believed that I could control the world.
5. My sister is my best friend.
6. Dave and I didn't plan on having any children.
7. I still am arrogant enough to believe that I know better than God. Even when I know how insane that is, I still actually think it.
8. I wonder what Kyle would look like, what kind of person he'd be, on a daily basis.
9. I hold grudges.
10. I HATE it when people complain about their husbands. I would give anything to have Dave here doing annoying little things.
11. I adore my children. Really, really, really. They are the best people I know.
12. I sometimes think that Duke is Dave reincarnated.
13. I worry about what people think way too much.
14. I like to sleep. And read. Those two things are the only hobbies I actually have.
15. I am impatient with people who think slower than I do. Actually, I'm impatient period.
16. My life would be meaningless without coffee.
17. I am not afraid of real emotions, no matter how strong.
18. I'm not an easy person to be in a relationship with.
19. There is so much I don't know. I'm amazed at the depth of my ignorance. Every time I learn something new, I discover that there is even more to learn...things I didn't even know I didn't know. And I want to learn it all.
20. Did I say I'm impatient? All the time. About everything. Except with children. Somehow there, I can slow down and watch and appreciate that gentle unfolding.
21. I wonder if Doug is with Dave.
22. I still have flashbacks. Kyle. Dave. Doug. Kenny.
23. Doing CPR on your child is the worst. I have done CPR on two of my four children.
24. My faith is strong enough to survive questioning, rage and sorrow.
25. I hate: brain tumors, autism and heart defects.
26. My life is still filled with joy. A broken heart is not always an empty heart. Mine is filled with wonderful happy moments.
27. Is my favorite number. My first job was at an ice cream place called 32 Flavors, but there were really only 27. I ate ice cream every day. And now I don't like ice cream. I do, however, like white cake. A lot.
28. I wish I had enough money to fly to California, Chicago and Columbus as often as I wanted to. (What is it with C's? Cath, Cheri...Pete, you gotta change your name. lol)
29. I'm an over-achiever so I had to do more than 25. I also talk a lot.
30. I am so grateful to all the people who have helped us along the way. Whitman students who worked with Kenny, our church, district staff, people who helped with meals, people who prayed for us....there are so many.
31. Time does not heal. Still, every day, in every way, Dave is a part of every breath I take. My soul aches without him in a way that words cannot adequately describe. Coping with the hole he left in my heart and my world does not get easier. It does get different. But not easier.

Resisting the urge to go back and edit this........


Comments

  1. As one who DOES keep up with you via Facebook (LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!), I have to recommend to the others that they get on it!

    Your comment about the dentist touching your face was so poignant. I'm sorry.

    ReplyDelete
  2. J32. There's a guy named Peter in Sayreville, NJ who loves me more than I can ever imagine.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi there, AWOL is ok . . . I think. Sometimes the words and heart are just not there and especially in Dec. and Jan. for you. When you do come back it is worth waiting for because you are so eloquent in your words so touching in your thoughts and so totally open that it hurts so way deep to know you hurt like that. I can't imagine walking in your shoes even for a day. However, find comfort in knowing those praying for you still do when your AWOL and unable to write. You have a fan club, me included, that love you from the depth of our beings. Hang in there after all Feb is here. Well maybe not Feb since you have that rememberance of roses but it seems a friend always remembers that and you have your gold rose for ever and ever.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Touch. We need it. We die without it when we are young, or fail to thrive. We miss it, especially when we are accustomed to having it. Maybe the truth is that we fail to thrive without it when we are older, but we do not die -- Drat it! I told my doctor today during my annual physical that I do NOT think I am doing better than I was last year in almost any regard. I don't think he really knew quite what to say, but he was apologetic. Don't you wish that helped?

    I watch couples, especially ones who are my age or older, walk down the street holding hands [Rob always held my hand when we walked, or put his arm around my shoulder] and I am so jealous that I can almost taste it, like bile.

    It hurts. It infuriates. It isolates. It sucks.

    The above list just goes on and on.

    Thank you for inviting me to join you on Facebook. I do not seem to be able to get enough contact with you and your kids. Facebook is fun...

    Claudia

    ReplyDelete
  5. I LOVE YOU, TOO, PETER!!!
    From the first day....
    and until the very last....
    hugs....

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm glad you updated. I've missed your words! Addicted to facebook here....would love to be friends on there. How do I find you?

    ReplyDelete
  7. On facebook, search for Michelle Bond Meyer or meyer1986@charter.net and add me as a friend. Looking forward to seeing you there, Leslie!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dearest ChelleBelle,

    Hooray, you are back! Hibernating is a perfectly acceptable thing to do in December and January, especially THIS December and January! We were just worried you had fallen into a snow drift, never to return. Actually, your snuggling in sounds really really good and much needed. When I read your list of dates...well, I think I would just bury my head for those two months for sure. As if the holidays are not bad enough. So, I want to know, WHY WASN'T I INVITED TO KATES BDAY SLEEPOVER??!!! Sounds very fun! Sooo glad all is ok with Kenny, whew. Glad the sun is starting to shine for you my friend, it will, in due time, it will. Hang in there. I sure wish we could all fly and see each other again soon, too. Maybe this summer...somehow.....sending you love dear friend. And NO, I REFUSE to do facebook!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think the only way I'd have time for Facebook is if I gave up some sleep time. Not! Sad to be too busy to learn how to navigate a site that everyone I know uses daily. I have been obsessed recently with finding out how in the world we're going to pay for college; are there people on FB who can help with that?

    Rambling, because I'm sick AGAIN (didn't I play this tune about 6 weeks ago? Sheesh). Yuck mucus head. Yuck chapped nostrils. Yuck being really tired but not sleeping because I can't breath right. I'm sympathizing with Whacky and his strep, poor kid. Hope he's getting well. Glad to know Kenny's blessedly normal; may it be a lone, random weird thing that never happens again.

    Love you and miss you. Think about you all the time and suspected hibernation was going on. What's wrong with that? Our kids are fun right now, it's good to be snowed in with them.

    Meg got her hair cut and looks too grown up. Got her permit too! Ack, driving lessons again. So far so good; I think she'll be a talented driver because she's a little scared of it.

    W/ tons of love, -Deb

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kyle

Tomorrow is January 2. One of the five happiest days of my life. It's the day Kyle was born. Dave was so excited. All through the pregnancy, Dave was sure this was a girl. He bought this little pink sleeper. He was just sure that Kyle was a girl. Actually, he was sure it was a girl all four times! But if he were to be a boy, his name was to be Kenny or Erik. Kenny or Erik. Erik or Kenny. We went back and forth. Dave said, "Oh, it didn't matter anyway, since Amanda Loree was going to be born." A few days before Kyle was born, we had an ultrasound, because there had been so much confusion on his due date (turned out he was 3.5 weeks overdue!), and we discovered he was a boy! A boy! We were amazed. And suddenly decided to name him Kyle. Don't ask me why or how. It just happened. Dave's brother, Bob, was in town for the weekend. I'd had a lot of contractions on Dave's birthday, he was hoping that Kyle would be born on his birthday, but it didn'

Tumor Board

Tuesday, August 17, 2004 1:13 PM CDT We met with doctors at Harborview yesterday. Dave has a new growth in his right frontal lobe. This new growth is very small, but it was not evident at his MRI in May, and shows on the MRI in July. It's quite scary that it has grown so quickly, and is in a new place. It's also scary that it grew while Dave was on temodar (chemo). The doctors from the tumor board are recommending gamma knife. Gamma knife is high intensity radiation that is very accurate and focused on the tumor growth. There are 201 beams aimed at the tumor. (See the main page for a link to information about gamma knife, you have to scroll to the bottom.) On Thursday, August 19, 2004, Dave will undergo gamma knife at Harborview in Seattle. We are hoping that this will halt the growth of the tumor. He will go into the hospital at 7:00 am and they will place a halo or frame around his head, by screwing it into his skull (ouch! They will give him some IV pain meds). They took x-r

Goodbyes

So I had my first Walla Walla goodbyes. The first was my eye doctor, Dr. Poffenroth. He's taken care of my eyes for 25 years. He's more than just an eye doctor.  He's a caring person and a friend. As I left my last appointment, he handed me a card with a referral to a friend of his who practices in Port Angeles. I looked at the card. And realized...I won't see him again. I've been living in a bit of denial. I know.  Big surprise. With all the excitement and chaos of moving, And all the stress of living in limbo, I somehow missed that I'd be leaving some things some people behind. I know I'll be back often. To see my kids and the new grandbaby, friends and family. This fact allowed me to forget... there are some I won't see. Even though we promise to keep in touch, Life has a way of getting busy. Good intentions and all that. I  have written many times about Walla Walla. It's a magical place. Safe, nurturing. I never thou