Fierce

Well, it has been quite a couple of weeks. I can't tip toe around it. We found out last week that my mother in law has metastatic cancer. I am not going to go into specifics as this is her business but it has become ours. George and I are her only family that live in Baton Rouge so it has rocked her world and thus ours. We knew something was going on as her health has declined over the last few months and we just couldn't find the reason.

I think I am still in shock, digesting it a little more day by day and every day brings new developments.
Life... has.... shifted.
Cancer sucks.
On a lighter note, I am learning to ask for help. I realize I can't do it all. Our church has been wonderful, I have fabulous friends who are there for me, I also had to examine my priorities. I let go of some of my commitments that I picked up - the room mom duties, and the volunteer committee. No excuses, they just needed to be let go of so that I could focus on what needs to be focused on...my family.

Over the years, I have become close to my mother in law and we have a good working relationship. I enjoy spending time with her! At times, she is much easier to talk to than my own family - no years of baggage. And she has given me great insight in some key issues. We certainly don't see eye to eye on everything yet I learned to agree to disagree with her and it was a revelation. I was not accustomed to being able to move on if there was not an agreement. Being able to voice a disagreement is HUGE.
We have a great bond and a mutual fierce love for George and especially Riley and Mallory. Her sun rises and sets around those girls. And they came out of my body....so voila - the bond. She was laying in the hospital bed, too weak to move and yet she wants to tell me what to get Riley for her birthday in the weeks to come. Fierce.

She has made great strides and is now working to gain her strength back to return to her apartment on her own and fight the cancer. We hope to keep it at bay for a while longer so that the fierceness can continue as long as possible.

Busy, Busy, Busy

School has started and all that free down time I thought I would have is gone like the wind as my extra-curricular activities are blooming big time. I have begun meeting with contractors for adding on a keeping room and all that entails. In some ways it is similar to my post about cleaning ladies and "they are just not into me." The one I want to call doesn't call and the one I don't feel I'm into, is calling... yet it will all work out in the end. And as my neighbor and good friend says, "It's just a stressful process!" And I had to be reminded of that to begin rolling with other people and their time lines and communication styles.

I volunteered to be Room Mom for Mallory's Pre K class. Yes, I got sucked into the vortex...but I have 2 other moms to help me with that so I'm hoping for the best! Those kids have seven parties during the school year. They are partiers those five year olds...I don't think I would have ever done this in the past, but here we are.

I have also been a part of a committee for an Ochsner fundraiser that will commence in November. I'm learning the nuts and bolts of throwing a cocktail fundraiser. This one includes a fashion show, gaming, and band and is called, Hot Hot Hot!

This week has been crazy. As Mallory's birthday is tomorrow, I realized on Monday, I had no presents, and no food to serve at the party at Little Gym. I had meetings, back to school night with room mom duties, hair appointment, dermatology appointment, and meetings with contractors. A full week. On top of that, getting ready for Adam Lambert on Sunday night. and that should be a story...