Right before Christmas, we found out the devastating news that my mom has cancer. The doctors were not sure what kind, but they had found it in a biopsy done on a lump near her shoulder. Further tests revealed that it is a very rare form of small cell carcinoma cancer, that usually occurs in the lungs with smokers, but my mom is not a smoker and also it is throughout her body. When we found out, I had just gone back to Colorado after Christmas break. We understood that my mom quite possibly had only a few months left to live, and so we packed up our things and hopped back on a plane heading back east: me, 2 cats, and a 2-year-old! My friend Aimee took us to the airport and my wonderful neighbors have been keeping an eye on our townhouse for us. All in all, things went amazingly smoothly. You'd be surprised how quickly you can define what's important in your life when you need to, and just sort of drop the rest and go from there.
The short part of a long story is that we were planning to move here this spring anyway. Todd had just moved out here (living with my parents!) and had started a job as a climate scientist in DC. We just put things into overdrive a bit.
So, over the past couple of months, we have all gotten to know each other a little better... me, my parents, hubby, kid, and cats all under one roof. We try to help out when we can and try to stay out of the way when we should. My mom tries to stay upbeat while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for the cancer. It is still hard to grasp that she has this disease sometimes, because you can't see it from the outside. She would look perfectly fine if it weren't for the side effects taking her hair away. And I think she would act perfectly fine too, if it weren't for the side effects making her tired, nauseus, etc, as well. She never had any actual cancer symptoms, other than the lump and her hand pain, which has been ongoing and may or may not actually be related. So we are all doing the best we can, taking things day by day, as we try to process this strange diagnosis and hope for the best possible outcome.
In the meantime, Madison has started Preschool nearby and is doing just great. She is the youngest in her class but of course any child of mine is gifted and talented and therefore in the advanced program. She turned *3* on Feb 18th and we had a party last Sunday with her and her little buddies. She is getting quite grown-up and chatty these days. We have been browsing a bit for places to live nearby that will hopefully be close enough to my parents and brother's house, but also a shorter commute for Todd into DC. There are definitely a lot of places to choose from so I feel pretty good that we will find something when the time is right.
Thanks to everyone for your love and support during all of this. We couldn't do it without you. We've had so many visits from family and friends lately, it's unbelievable. Also, I think you probably all have seen the Caring Bridge site, but if not, let me know.
Here is a picture of the incredible sledding Grandma with Madison in December when we were here for Christmas. :)
