It’s a New year (Same issues)
While the dawn of 2021 has been cautiously optimistic for many of us, much of it feels like nothing has changed. We are still locked down in a world challenged with getting covid under control, we are continuing to hope and pray our kids activities can resume in the spring, and we continue the fight against cancer.
The Christmas and New Years holidays were really wonderful for us this year. Although 99.9% of plans with friends were canceled due to covid, we had a small Christmas with my family and my brother who drove down from Bend to be here for an extended trip. B and Max are obsessed with uncle boom so they’ve been having a blast. We had a great low key New Years and did a 10:30ish pm ball drop with our quarantine team/pod outdoors - the kids were getting along so well we didn’t want to ruin it!
2020 was an especially challenging year for us all, but there are also some silver linings I am hoping I can take forward with me into the new year.
1. Quality time with my family is my love language. I’ve underestimated how important this has been to me, until I’ve gotten the chance to work remote and be more present with the kids. One goal I have for 2021 is to put stricter boundaries on my schedule to be more available for my kids - pick ups and drop offs etc.
2. When times get tough, people show up for YOU. In the middle of a pandemic being hit with a cancer diagnosis was overwhelming to Marc and I. I continue to be so thankful for this amazing community and support. We wouldn’t be surviving this without you. Instead our kids are thriving and your love and support has given me more strength to battle through these difficult months.
3. Health cannot be taken for granted. I think this is the most difficult lesson Marc and I learned this year. In general we subscribe to a healthy lifestyle- we eat well, workout almost daily. But health has taken on a new meaning this year. My goal this year is to focus on feeding my body (within the limits I can stand) food that will nourish and build my blood, and give me natural energy. I want to try to get ahead of this cancer and feel as good as possible. I’ve started a daily yoga practice (12 days in now!) as I’ve experienced the benefits in mind and body in the past. Life with covid sidelined my yoga practice and I had a lot of anxiety getting back into it. I’m committing to at least 10 minutes a day, and so far I am sore af. But my mind feels calmer 🤞🏼I’ll report out in a week once we’ve gotten back into the swing of life and work. 🤣
And then the C word. I completed the first 2 of 12 weekly treatments and so far, feel soooo much better than the first course. The biggest side effect has been fatigue which I am trying to manage with a better bedtime routine and weekend naps. Last week I was able to eat more nutritiously and workout daily which is a huge win. I am praying I can keep this up for as long as possible.
Our January calendar has a countdown of treatments that the kids can cross off each week. 10 to go seems so big and unimaginable, but Marc reminded me last night that next week it will be in single digits. Perhaps the one benefit of weekly treatments.
As of now, my last chemo will be 3/15. Surgery will be schedule for mid - April and then we finish off with radiation ☢️
And hopefully, God willing, this is a one and done thing.
I wish you all had a wonderful holiday and happy new year. Even though 2020 was perhaps the most challenging year for us as a society, I hope you found some silver linings along the way.
