Busy Being "Normal"

Finally, an update for the "update". It is going to be a long one so get ready!!!

We have been enjoying a wonderful past week and a half too much with the busyness of the regular family activities that our reporting was neglected. For us this was wonderful! Although you may find this first part a little boring. please bear with me because it was most delightful!

This is how it has been for the Tamming household:
- daily school routine has settled in
- piano lessons and practices are well established
- Coffee Break has once again begun
- the girls began figure skating for their first week
- Nicole is enjoying her Tuesday nights out with GEMS
- Meagan was able to go on her first school trip of the year - learning about the various jobs around the town
- Sarah enjoyed a fun "backwards" day in JK
- Stephen's days filled with ministry work, doing what God needs and wants him to do here in Trinity
- I had the opportunity to look after two little girls for dear friends for a morning
- I enjoyed relaxing with cups of coffee with Lisa and delving into the chocolate cake I believe tasted as delightful as the cake looked. At least that is what I am telling myself even if my taste buds are not cooperating.
- I enjoyed an afternoon stopover at Julie's while the girls played with their little buddy, Jacob
- doing the bedtime routine once again while Stephen is back attending of church ministry meetings at least three out of the five weeknights
- the church ministries are under full swing and Trinity is now buzzing with programs in which we can discover more about our God that we are blessed and comforted, dearly loved and upheld by
- a weekend in Strathroy celebrating Hilda's birthday with the whole Tamming clan
- finally just doing the regular household stuff like laundry, cleaning, groceries, cooking some old time favourite supper, all without much thought about cancer.

What a blessing to have a "normal" family week and a half!!!!! Praise God for these moments!!!!!

And now for the week to come and what occurred yesterday. There are two things to be thankful for. First, during my doctor's visit, I was told and was able to feel one of the tumours which is breaking up in pieces. Great news! Second, I am happy to report that although I was quite anxious about my treatment and any possible reactions, all went well. After a Zantac, Benydril and Cort ozone IV and a fifteen minutes break, the nurses proceeded with the scheduled chemo treatment. There was no change to the chemo regiment I am on. I am most thankful that there is the scope of medicines available to fight this disease, its side effects, and reactions to the chemo meds. Even though the side effects are not that pleasant to have to deal with, I continue to pray that the outcome is going to far outweigh them.

Once again it was a long day. It was nice that Hilda, my mother-in-law, came to accompany me on this day. I hope that she enjoyed this experience with me as much as it was a pleasure for me to have this time to spend with her. It was another opportunity for a family member to see first hand what is going on in the life of our family and how we are all affected by this major change. But also to see how many other people are dealing with this disease and that we only see one treatment centre for a few hours one day.

It was a bittersweet day since my dear chemo friend, Glynis, has beat me out of the chemo ward. It was her last treatment date and I had to joke "that I could not believe that the chair beside her bed was not available for me to join her this last day." Then I had to add "How dare the nurses not save it for me." We are actually not even in the same wing so the conversations could not even occur across the aisle. I am glad that she has completed this stretch of her journey and pray that the Lord will continue to heal her. I am sure that she will be doing the happy dance next week, after the dreadful side effects go away, as she and her husband Gilles take a much deserved vacation. I will miss seeing her smile on my last and final chemo day.

I am feeling pretty good today and will continue to enjoy these next couple of days before the side effects knock me out. I was given some stronger pain medicine to try to lessen the aches in the muscles and joints that I was told will continue to plague me next week. I keep reminding myself that I have only about eight more days to endure, four next week and four more in four weeks. The end of the nasty side effects of the chemo treatments is nearing with each passing "normal" day.

I hope that you too take great pleasure and enjoyment in your God given "normal" days.
Cindy