I Forgot

Normally, forgetting something isn't a great thing. (I should know because I do it ALL THE TIME.) But this time? Forgetting was pretty amazing.

Yesterday was May 16th. A friend of mine, who has been through the wringer with her baby's heatlth, posted on Facebook that she wondered if she would ever be able to take him to the doctor without being terrified. I started thinking about how long it took before every doctor's appointment wasn't accompanied by fear and enough adreneline to make me feel tired afterward. It was a long time! And still today, waiting for blood test results makes me nauseous. Right at that moment, I realized that I had completely missed his off-treatement anniversary. As in forgot the day completely. And that means that for 11 full days, I didn't think about leukemia once. I didn't think about him being sick or the after-effects of him being sick or the chances of relapse or the fear that went with all of it. 11 full days!

May 5th was the sixth anniversary of his last chemo pills. It was the sixth anniversary of the "We're done" marker. I forgot the actual day, but yesterday I took a moment to appreciate modern medicine and to appreciate that we get to be where we are right now. Yesterday, I watched him pitch at his game, focused and confident; I answered a question about his algebra homework and watched as the lightbulb went on; I got a little teary as he finally popped out his last baby tooth; and I had a long chat with him about his girlfriend and why she had not texted all night. (Oh, the horror.) In short, I have a healthy, sweet, amazing eleven year old.

As soon as school gets out, we'll head to the clinic for his ANNUAL check up. He'll need them for the rest of his life, and for the rest of my life, I'll feel sick waiting for the results. But, I won't worry every day. I won't even worry every month. I know that a little fear will always be there because I learned first-hand that the bad stuff is possible, but I also know that a lot of times, I'll simply forget.

Reader's Theater

This happened a SUPER, SUPER long time ago. So long ago that I had to check to make sure I hadn't blogged about it already.

The complicated relationship between James and Reading has been well-documented here. Things are going so well for him now, and I am happy to report that he is on grade level and is still happy and confident about school. Which makes me want to cry a little. Every time I think about it.

Back in March (February?) James came home, reporting that he would be performing in Reader's Theater. In Spanish! (As a side note to show that I am aware of my own faults..... my friend Judy saved me from missing the big performance when she very nicely corrected me about the date and even more nicely didn't even gloat when I didn't believe her and texted the teacher right then and there to prove that I was, for sure, definitely....wrong about the date.) I showed up on the CORRECT day, eager to see him perform.

It was very serious, a big production. With sets and mood lighting and "costumes." I wasn't sure how James would do, but he was great! As Gran Alce (Big Elk), he had just a few lines, but he read them clearly and confidently! I was really proud of him, and it was one more reminder of how far he has come.

(Another side note: I did tear up just a little when James was up there. But I really, REALLY teared up when James explained to me in the most matter of fact way how the teachers and kids had incorporated the Life Skills students, who join the class for reading time, into the play in ways that were just right for them. One boy "co-starred" with his buddy in the class. They stood together every time, one boy speaking and one boy beaming with pride. Another boy, who doesn't speak, had a classmate sit behind his wheelchair and read his lines while his assistant held up signs with the words. And that was so great. But what was even more great was that to those second graders, it was just business as usual. Of course those boys would be in the play. They're in the class, aren't they?? James looked pretty confused when I said "Oh, that's so nice that they got to participate," and said, "Why wouldn't they participate?" )

Gran Alce, complete with James-crafted antlers.

A very thrilled little sister who was gifted with the lovingly-created antlers and wore them all day long.

Some things....

.....never change.

November 2005

April 2011 ("Staying up" with Mommy)

Smart Boy

We were driving down the street (with the windows down!! Because the sun is out!!!) and saw a "couple" walking down the street. The girl was wearing a leash, and the boy was walking her?!

Josh: Is that a LEASH?
Me: Um. Yeah. I think so.
Josh: Why would they do that???
Me: I don't know. What is that girl thinking?? Doesn't she have any respect for herself??
Josh: THE GIRL? What is the BOY thinking? He is disrespectful!

We must be doing something right!