The very first day of summer break, our daughter, Lisa, became ill with cellulitis and a lung infection. (Three weeks later, she is still ill.)
The next day, my neurosurgeon gave me the news that I had two collapsed discs in my back and that I needed a partial spinal fusion. That's now scheduled for later this summer in July. (No wonder I was having problems keeping up with my students whenever we walked someplace!) I am very stressed about the surgery, wondering if I will be healed enough to start the school year with my class - I do not want to have a substitute teacher begin it for me.
Craig's mom was hospitalized a few days after that and then went into hospice for pancreatic cancer. That's a whole new territory for us to negotiate, tinged with sadness and concern as pancreatic cancer is very painful in its end stages.
A week later, my mother went into the hospital for a week with pneumonia and a strep infection that had migrated into her lungs. I divided my time between our moms, sitting with one, then going to see the other. (I am thankful to be out of school and able to spend the time with them!)
Our kids and their families all came into town to say goodbye to Craig's mom, so we have been hosting lots and lots of people in our home. It has been good to be able to be together as we go through some tough times
With all the intense emotions, busy days, worry, and stress, I have to work to carve out my barn time. But when I see that pretty head raise as I approach, and hear Abby nicker at me in greeting, my spirits lift and I am glad I squeezed in some time with her.
