The News

I've been doing some writing but haven't finished anything because I've been a little distracted. :) I'm going to be traveling this week, and the day after I return, I start my new part time job! It suddenly feels like summer is ending. I'm trying to cross out all the projects on my to do list before everything changes! It's a miraculous arrangement really. I'll be working for our church - primarily from home. I'll spend Tuesdays at the office on a regular basis to start. A mom friend will be keeping Aida at the house for us which is amazing. Ultimately, I'll be having lunches and other meetings, but Aida should be able to come with me for many of those, I hope. She is an incredibly good baby (knock on wood), so she's easy to take along. 

I'm probably disproportionately worried about the changes. Six hours a day four days a week (plus Sundays), three of which are at home, somehow feels like the dream life I've been leading is ending. It's not, of course, but I'm freaking out a bit. We couldn't get a much better set up, but like I said, it feels like summer is over. That said, we're very grateful. Last time I wrote I mentioned having a meltdown then God showing Himself over and over.  One of those showings came in the form of an email from someone at the church asking if I might be interested in a position they had available. Just days before I had blubbered on the phone to Mom about not knowing what the next step was. I didn't have any idea. This time though, I didn't have to know. It just appeared. That almost never happens. 

So the change is here. Aida will be just fine and will hardly know the difference, so please pray for ME :) Aida is doing well (though not yet sleeping through the night. :) I was hoping to have had imaging this past week, but it isn't scheduled for another week and a half. THEN - assuming all is well, and we're pretty sure it is - we will be able to space chemo a bit farther apart. For now, her numbers are pretty good. They bounce around a bit, but it seems only one drops at a time, comes back up then another drops. More importantly, the drops are still in normal range for the most part. It's hard not to be a little concerned when watching so closely like we do, but we've been in pretty good shape for a while. Praying that continues! And seriously, pray for me in the transition. I'm not TOTALLY freaking out. I'm just mostly freaking out. 

And coming soon...I'm finally working on something of a photo essay. I've been pretty good lately about not wanting/needing to hide the exposed tumors when we're out, but I haven't really been ready to "publish" them. Of course, on occasions when the little tumor on her toe has been visible, I've felt badly for unsuspecting people who don't know how to react to the (basic) answer of what they felt was a simple question...and felt annoyed as Mark was given recommendations for alternative therapy to the chemo poison we're giving her. :) I'm sure they all mean well. Anyway, many of the people who have met Aida have seen her in all her glory, and I know that many who know her story are curious. Somehow it feels better in person, but we'll never see all of you in person. :) Besides, at this point there is a progression to see which I'm anxious to share. So! This week when I have access to a computer that moves faster than a snail's pace, I'll get it put together. 

Until then, time to get to work on that to do list!