A cold

Last Friday, Brad, Maren and Greta all showed the beginning signs of a cold.

I thought, “Uh oh.”

And sure enough, I started symptoms on Sunday and have had a tough week.  It’s just your average winter cold, but my weakened immune system is taking it’s time fighting it off.  My energy level is ridiculously low, and my “catch up week” has been laughably unproductive.  Oh well, the piles and lists and emails and phone calls can wait (thanks for the grace, folks).

It’s both good news and bad news that the cold struck on my “good week” relative to my chemotherapy.  Had it struck closer to treatment day, Dr. Wonderful might have decided to delay my treatment (never a good thing: optimal treatment schedule = optimal cancer-killing).  Had it struck while I was already in the slide–feeling weak and crummy from the chemo, I might have ended up in the hospital because my immune system couldn’t handle it.

So really, having a cold this week was great timing.  Fantastic, even.

I say that somewhat sarcastically, but it really was good timing.  One of my uncles from Australia is in town, so Greta has spent the past 48+ hours hanging out with him and NanaRoz.  Before that Phenom and Chief Sister were on duty.  Greta thinks she is hot stuff having slumber parties and playing Go Fish (as long as you play by Greta’s rules).  Maren and Brad are sticking to their school and work schedules and all of us visit in the evenings.  I’ve been able to parent for 3 hours a day and use the rest of the day to recharge and rest.  A lot of moms can relate to how long and hard the days can be when we feel crummy, so I am thankful that I’m not having to try to be Mommy on these sick-y days.  Family to the rescue, yet again!

This particular chemo has a cumulative effect, so the further down the rainbow I get, the harder it is for me to bounce back–even without a cold in the picture.  I probably won’t feel like Normal Jen until several weeks after my last treatment.  Which, by the way, will be April.  Bring on spring, I say!  🙂  I’m still very grateful for the treatment.  Treatment means that there are tools in the wheelhouse to beat the cancer.  Chemo and I are on the same team; I’m a fan of chemo and what it does to the cancer.  While I’m laying down, resting, I imagine the chemo coming into contact with the cancer cells and obliterating them.  Be gone!  So, while I’m not technically being very productive, I am doing some serious cancer-killing.  I get points for that, right?

It’s interesting as I reflect on what I’ve written above.  God provided things I needed this week: ample space to rest and recharge, meals and gifts to lift my spirits, laughter during my social times, people to meet needs I didn’t know I had.  Settling into my own weakness allows Him to work.  I love that.

Here’s how you can pray for me/us this weekend:

-healing for all from this cold

-I start taking steroids for Green Chemo on Sunday; pray for the next round

-sense of peace as I juggle my Mom Jobs, the To Do lists, and the other priorities that celebrate today

-48+ more years of Doing Today Well

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.  –Phillipians 4:19