We had planned a couple of months ago to go camping Thanksgiving weekend. Brian and I had gone back and forth with the idea several times because we still have boxes to unpack... but it's not often (first time since May I think...) that I have a possible Sunday off so we hated to let it pass us by. When Chris got sick we again reconsidered the weekend plans. Camping doesn't exactly sound like a great activity for someone in pain... but then the dr put him on something to help with the pain. So the camping idea was again considered.
When you hear that your child might have something serious like cancer your mind goes on many journeys. All of the "what-ifs" take over. I thought "What if he is too sick in the coming months to take a family trip" "What if he ends up not able to walk" "What if this is the last opportunity we will ever have to take him camping..." Of course all of these things are going on only in my head because A) I don't want to be dramatic B) I don't want to scare anyone else and C) I won't dare utter these things aloud. No matter what Chris had... I decided life is too short to keep putting things off.
We finally decided on Thanksgiving morning to leave for camping THAT afternoon (after Turkey lunch at the in-laws). We would take Christopher's medicine, plenty of blankets to keep him warm and comfortable, and an air mattress to keep him off of the ground. That first night was quite interesting. Isabel and I headed up first (so the boys could watch the game) and we got the tent all set up and some of the things unpacked. By the time the boys got there it was too late to inflate all of the air mattresses (due to the quiet hours in effect). We decided to only inflate Christopher's and the rest of us could sleep on the ground. We got him tucked in all comfy and cozy on his mattress with tons of blankets while the rest of us huddled together in the other tent. Christopher slept GREAT! He stayed warm and had a peaceful night - waking with the regular pain he has had for the last week. He took his medicine and was ready to go in an hour or so. The rest of us however were not so fortunate. LOL We froze as we tossed and turned all night trying to get a wink of sleep. It was worth it though! Knowing that he was comfortable and not being put under any additional stress made it worthwhile. We had a great time and Chris decided he wanted to stay another night. (We all slept on air mattresses that night!)
We got the good news while we were camping Friday. I never thought I would be glad to hear my kid has strep! But it was like I could breathe again! We still have to do the bone scan Monday to further rule out the possibilities of any malignancy... but I am resting in this diagnosis and trusting it is the source of his problems.
I have learned - or rather been reminded - a great lesson through all of this... We always say - tomorrow, next weekend, next summer.... it's time to just say NOW. Not in an impulsive/reckless way... but to take time to "smell the roses" that might not be there tomorrow, next weekend, or next summer.
No comments:
Post a Comment