Finally, A Friday!

This week has been a wild one!

I have been working on a new lifestyle change – one that gets me to a weight and fitness goal, and this past week has surely tested both my resolve and my limits!

The biggest stressor of the week was Hubbin’s cancer surgery. He was diagnosed with both diabetes and cancer a few weeks ago; they removed his thyroid on Tuesday. Dr. Google and the cancer doc say this is one of the most treatable “C” words, but the risks, implications, and possible outcomes has had my insides all twisty and cramped. Just remembering to breathe was a challenge for me, and no amount of relaxation techniques and exercise was able to dispel the cloud I felt. I prayed and prayed; the fear of losing him had me in tears many times, and I struggled to be strong and supportive.

The surgery was a success; he came through it without the possible complications. He had to stay overnight but is now home and thankful to be here (as am I!!!!).

And now we wait for the pathology report, which will take approximately ten to twelve days. That will determine the next steps: radiation, or go on with life, cancer-free.

In other news, storms hit Oklahoma this past week, with multiple tornados briefly touching down (but not here). One of the stormfronts dumped over seven inches of rain on us, and my garden (or what’s left of it – jalapeno, rosemary, and a few leftover tomato plants) was grateful for the rain, well at least in the beginning. I’m guessing that they were wishing it would stop after a few inches, but there it is. Today we are getting much of the same. We have already gotten over two inches of rain overnight (without the threat of a tornado), and it’s supposed to rain all day today; I hear thunder.

But wait, there’s more.

I’ve estranged from one of my children, again, and this time I don’t know if we can come back from this one. We had a disagreement about the tantrum one of the littles was throwing in the car ride. I thought she should deal with the screaming and kicking, but she got really upset with me and swore four-letter words towards me during the whole ride home, kicked me out of her car with a few more F* bombs, and screamed “F***-ing B**** ” at me as she drove away. My grandbabies were in the car during her tirade, which by the way finally stopped the tantrum from one of the littles, but the looks on their faces broke my heart. To top it all off, several of the neighbors were outside; everyone heard the obscenities she was spewing. She has forbidden me to see them again, and though she brought them over to my house for trick-or-treating, they were not permitted to come into my home. We haven’t spoken since, but she sent me a text message about a week ago about needing something, that I just read this morning. I wasn’t sure if I should even respond.

On a happier note, things are righting themselves. Like I said, Hubbin is home and trying to do more than he should, which tells me he is on the mend. I’m finally (yes of course, in the eleventh hour) researching Medicare options and that’s taking all my concentration – it is such a rabbit hole to go down! It seems that EVERYONE wants a piece of my healthcare paycheck, and I don’t know what is necessary, what I should look for, or where to turn that isn’t going to cost me an arm and a leg. My first call today will be to Medicare. I need definitions, costs. That seems to be a good place to start.

Out for now, just remembering to breathe.