Re-surfacing

I promise that I really didn't disappear.  There has been a whole lot going on at our house over that las few months that has consumed most of my energy. 

The week I spoke at the homeschool conference my older son has an emergency appendectomy.  This meant that I spent 3 nights at the hospital with him.  Everytime the nurses took his blood pressure they dislocated his elbow.  I must admit that I was pleasantly surpised to discover how much better our local hospital is at keeping things latex safe.  I guess that all my hours of advocacy over the years has paid off.

My son's recovery was complicated by the fact that he had not been able to weight bear on one foot for 2.5 months.  Getting up and moving around is critical to healing.  Initially he had dislocated and badly sprained his ankle.  As it was starting to heal a new problem developed.  We don't know to this day what the cause was although for a while gout was suspected.

Thankfully we did get him up and moving.

My husband had surgery 2 weeks ago.  The plan was that a cyst would be surgically removed from his abdomen.  When the procedure started the surgeon discovered that he was dealing with a large tumour.  the surgery that should have taken a hour took 4.5 hours.  We discovered after the fact that there was a family history of malignant hypothermia.  My husband spent 6 hours in post-op while they struggled to stabilize him ~ all the while I was left waiting with no information.  I think that it was one of the longest days of my life.  Needless to say I was a mess.  I still had to come home and tell our sons what had happened.  In hospital my husband required transfusions because of further complications. 

He has now been home for almost 2 weeks and continues to heal.  We met with the surgeon yesterday to discuss the biopsy results.  The long and the short of it is that the surgeon believes that the tumour was completely removed.  He does not believe that further treatment will be needed but has referred my husband to the cancer clinic for additional assessment before chemo and radiation are ruled out.

Yesterday my father had surgery for suspected bowel cancer.  The surgery went well and now we wait for his biopsy results too.  It feels like we have been riding an emotional roller coaster for months now.

After weeks of suvival mode homeschooling and housekeeping we are trying to re-establish routines and tame clutter.  As much as I need the routines back in order I am finding myself pulled to my gardens to renew and refresh myself. 

We may have more bumps in the road ahead but we will get where we need to go.  If anything we have grown strong as a couple and a family over the last few weeks.  We have seen our sons step up to the plate as much as they are able.  They have looked out for and supported each other.  My husband and I are closer, communicate more effectively and are more deeply committed to each other than ever before.  We have been blessed with support from both homeschool and church friends.  So, despite the numerous hurdles we are finding the silver lining.  We will get through this.