On The Road to My New Life: Snow day!

Welcome!

So here's the Reader's Digest version for those of you who are new to my blog.... My 39 year old husband, David, was diagnosed with a hideous and deadly cancer in
April of '08. We were told he'd likely die in less than 4 months. Obviously, that diagnosis turned us inside out and shook us to the core. At the time, our boys were 12 and 4... can you say 'fucking nightmare'??? I spent the next 14 months being his 24/7 caregiver and advocate... never leaving his side unless it was to get the boys to or from therapy or their cancer support groups. Cancer and the hell that it brings became our universe. And yet, I was able to get myself to a place where I was depending on my faith.... existing on a plane of pure gratitude. I focused my energies on recognizing the blessings that cancer had brought to our lives... yes, there ARE blessings that come with such a dire diagnosis.
Things were good. David miraculously entered remission in April of '09. I was looking forward to the next few months being our 'summer of healing' as a family. And then my world stopped. He left me... left US... on 6 June 2009. And FYI... he told me he was ending our 18 year marriage in a note. As if that wasn't bad enough, he had left me for a 'friend' who also happened to be married. Nice. The next few months are a blur... I descended into a deep, dark depression, and David's vicious treatment of me didn't help. He was running as fast as he could from everything associated with cancer, and that included me... our family, our home and the entire life we had built together. Things went from bad to worse when his cancer returned with a vengeance. He began treatment once again, and I had to dig deep to help him and make things as easy on him as possible. I even offered to have him move home so I could care for him through his treatment. As it turns out, it was a good thing he didn't take me up on that. The hateful way that he treated me during that time would have made caregiving for him an unbearable situation. I KNEW he was dying... nobody else did, because he fed them all kinds of bullshit... but I knew. Because of that, I focused on the boys and made sure they were with their daddy as much as possible.
His final months were a living nightmare... a kind of pain and darkness for which there are no words. No human being, no matter who they are or how they lived their lives, should have to suffer the horrific pain and endless indignities that David did. In spite of everything, I was with him constantly, much to the chagrin of his girlfriend and his mother. 'Too fuckin bad' was my theory. I wanted my boys to see that I NEVER turned my back on their dad. And I didn't. I continued to advocate for him in the hospital... fighting to get him the meds and the specialists he needed. I was there during his final moments of consciousness. I took Reilly to say goodbye to his dad, just before he slipped into that state. I was there when he died. I ID'd his body at the funeral home. I planned his funeral and his Celebration of Life. I placed his ashes in the wall of the Columbarium at the Naval Academy. We had spent half of our lives together, and though I was no longer in love with him, I did those things out of respect for the life that we shared and the family that we created.
The 6 months since he died have brought more changes. I struggle daily to untangle the financial disaster he left me, and I'm fighting like hell to keep our home. The boys are now 15 and 7 and trying to learn how to move forward in their lives without their daddy. I had to get a part-time job after spending 15 years as a full-time mother, and I'm doing everything I can to trim the fat so we can afford to stay where we are. My boys NEED the stability and comfort that come with remaining in our home and community, and staying in their schools. To that end, I will fight with every fiber of my soul to ensure that those things happen.
My greatest blessing is that I now have an incredible man in my life... a man who is thoughtful and loving, strong and sensitive, hilariously funny, and who loves me just the way I am. He is authentic. He knows who he is and is completely comfortable in his own skin. It certainly doesn't hurt that he's 11 years younger than I am and sexy as hell. :0)
Yes, my boys are struggling in many ways... the therapy and support groups continue... and I still have MUCHO 'death business' to handle. That said, I am starting to believe that there might be a happy future ahead... for all of us.
The past almost 3 years have been quite an emotional roller coaster, to say the least. Writing has been the most important part of my day, every day, since this journey began. I am once again being put in a position where I have to learn to survive... spiritually, emotionally, physically, financially... you get the picture. My hope is that I can hold on to my faith, find a moment of joy in every day, be the best mother I can possibly be, and hopefully... one day... emerge back into the light.
December 2010

22 February 2011

Snow day!

Howdy doody. Got a surprise snow day off of school. :0) Good timing, with Gee being here. The only bad news is that I slept like shit, because they didn't make the call until 6 this morning. Ugh!!! I HATE when they do that!!!! We had a good 1/4 inch of ice before I got in bed last night. WTF were they waiting for??? Grrrr....

So I just escaped for a while. I have a couple of quick errands to do, but mostly I wanted to get out to do my writing thing. I think you all need to take a peek at Miss Katy's new baby, Bentley. I'm tellin you... this pup is ADORBS!!! What a squishy little nugget.

He's SO cute!!!

Look at those eyelashes!!!

What a lil love nugget!

Miss Bon Bon... I'm so, so sorry about Lori. You and your family have been on my mind constantly, knowing the long and difficult days you were experiencing. I know that NO ONE wanted to see her go, but you're absolutely right... just going to sleep and never waking up is an incredible blessing. After all of the people that I have watched battle cancer... the constant pain and immense suffering, both physically and emotionally... that is a horrific existence that no one should ever have to endure. So I'm very thankful that she went peacefully, but I'm so sorry, and am sending love and prayers to all of you who knew and loved her.

Good news on our Team DAStreightBoyz fundraising efforts... as of this morning, we have reached $1673.71. Yahoooodle!!! HUGE thank yous to everyone who has contributed so far. :0)

Mom, Dad & Miss Mary, Miss Teri, Nicole M, Dave H, Mark C, Miss Beth, The Benedettis, Miss Sheri, Auntie Nut & Monster John, Aunt Elaine, The Smith Family, The Brence Family, Jen B, The Siek Family, Jill B, Jim S, Shannon N, Andi, Michelle B, Miss Helen, Miss Bonnie, Miss Robin, Kathryn, Tojo, Laurie, Miss Theresa, & our anonymous donor. You have already helped us raise enough to send 3 kids to camp. :0)

If you're still debating whether or not you'd like to donate, consider this: Comfort Zone Camp has served 6500 grieving children since their inception. But right now, at this very moment, there are 2.5 million kids in the US who are in desperate need of the loving care and guidance that Comfort Zone provides. Wow. Every single dollar helps. :0)

Time to scoot. Have a happy day.

xoxo

***Let the sun shine in.***

***Believe that perseverance is the essential ingredient for personal achievement.***

***Learn from all... judge no one... be kind to all... say thank you.***

-Instant Karma