Well, it has happened again even though I swore it wouldn't. Another year has gone by (and then some). Another year where I have not posted on ye olde blog. Another year where life has traveled at warp speed and I am meekly trying to keep up.
I'm not going to lie. The past 12 months have been a bit of a doozy. They have brought a lot of tears, worry and fear. But they haven't ALL been bad—we've had some good times too and as any therapist can tell you, it's important to focus on the good while dealing with the bad.
So here is our year in a bit of a generic, Reader's Digest Version of a nutshell.
(PS—I am not going to promise anything, but I am going to really try to be back on here more often, even when things get rough. I need the catharsis of writing. Even crappy writing!)
Nearly one year ago to this week, my dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness. The name of it is "myleofibrosis" and it is a form of leukemia. It slowly (or maybe not so slowly) robs his bones and body the ability to produce red blood cells. Blood cells produce oxygen, so they are kind of important. His spleen is very enlarged and he has no appetite to speak of. He is very, very tired and requires blood transfusions nearly weekly. There is so much more I want and need to say about my Dad and his diagnosis, but tonight is not that night. I can't go there just yet. Just know that what he is dealing with is not good and it is breaking all of our hearts.
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| Dad and I, July, 2012 |
In October, my niece and I ran the Chicago Marathon together. This was a dream realized for the both of us. It was my 12th marathon and Lindsey's first. When she was a very little girl she would watch me run and say "Someday Aunt Lynn, I'm going to run my first marathon with you!" Fast forward 13 years and here we are. Lindsey and I were able to run most of the race together and I finished with my best marathon time ever. (3.33). My dad was able to travel to Chicago along with my Mom and my sister and that made it extra special.
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| The Expo... |
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| The Veteran Marathoner and the Speedy Newbie |
In January I had to have surgery to remove a pesky and cranky uterus. It appears my sisters and I have all been lucky enough to have endometriosis. Mine was/is so bad that it is still kicking around inside my innards. But the good news is my surgery went very well and I bounced back in great time. Three weeks post op had me back out running–gotta love modern technology. I am feeling much better sans uterus and for the most part, am markedly better. That is a good thing.
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| A picture of my inflatable compression socks. Because I was bored and tethered to the bed and had nothing else to do. |
In February we bought a mountain cabin! It is a sweet little place up in Fairplay at around 11, 200 feet. We've enjoyed spending weekends up there and will really enjoy it when the heat becomes unbearable down here at 5280 feet.
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| Our Cabin in the Oxygen Weak Woods. |
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| Brothers on sleds. |
In March, things turned upside down again. While on our way to the airport (we were headed to Ohio to visit my dad and mom), Sawyer started to have seizures. It turns out that was the second one he had that day. So instead of going to the airport, we went straight to the emergency room where they proceeded to run tests. To make a really long and hard story short, (because he continued to have multiple, unexplained seizures) we spent the majority of the weekend in Children's Hospital where Sawyer was diagnosed with epilepsy. "Partial Complex seizures, starting focally and becoming generalized" is the technical term for it. He now is under the care of a very talented neurologist and takes two types of medications to manage the seizures and keep them controlled. As of presstime, we have made it FIVE WEEKS seizure free--and that is HUGE. This is another topic I want and need to talk more about, but am emotionally not prepared to do so at the moment.
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My baby. After the longest week of his life.
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The rest of the year has been status quo. Liam rocked third grade like a boss. He tested into an advanced math class, joined the chess team (and was ranked!) and was placed into the Talented and Gifted program. He still loves school and is ready to pursue a career in science/engineering/computer programming/research medicine and/or basketball. He has grown SO tall and has not gained a single pound. Long and lean. A big brain on a stick.
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| Pretty darn good chess player...especially against his mother. |
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| He likes to cook! |
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| Two tickets to the (BB) Gun Show |
Sawyer just finished up preschool and will start kindergarten (gulp) in August. He is still quite an ornery and artistic kid with a wicked sense of humor. Here he is cutting up my imaginary uterus: (isn't that just the cutest thing?)
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| "Do you know what this is? It's your uuuuuuuuderus being cut into pieces!" |
As for Mr. Jenner and I...we're good. We're just taking each day as it rolls along. And here is a picture of us, just because.
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Me and the Mr. Hiking and fly fishing at RMNP (Rocky Mountain National Park, for you non-locals) |
