Memorial Day Weekend

No campfires for us this Memorial Day Weekend.

After Lora's graduation, we headed north to visit Jon's mom.

Two weeks ago she had a hysterectomy

and we learned that she has cancer.

Cancer is kind of a hard word to swallow.

I'm finding that some people treat us like she's already dead.

But there have been so many advancements in medicine to treat cancer.

And if ever there was a strong-willed woman who could put up a fight,

it's Jon's mom.

She was supposed to start chemo and radiation after the holiday

so we wanted to take the kids up to visit her before she got sick.

It was actually a lovely weekend, weather-wise.

The kids got to play outside a lot.

And spend lots of time with Great Grandma Wales.

Grandma and Grandpa got Evan a bug catcher

and Haven a new toy too.

Evan and Daddy had fun catching bugs together

and then playing ball

and playing in the water hose.

They had fun, to be sure,

but they could tell something was wrong.

They didn't quite understand why Grandma wasn't playing with them.

Grandma wasn't moving much at all.

She was weaker two weeks after her surgery

than when we first Skyped her a week after her surgery.

Her stomach/incision area was very puffy...like preggo-belly-puffy.

Sunday night she began having a hard time breathing and was experiencing chest pains.

So Tom (Jon's dad) called 911

and she was rushed back to the hospital.

I can't even begin to describe how frightening the entire situation was.

I'm not going to lie...

I thought we were going to lose her.

And we almost did.

Turns out she had a reticulating tumor on her colon

that left a knick

which was seeping gas and liquid into her body.

The doctors told us that another 24 hours and

the story would have had a different ending.

Praise the Lord!

So Monday morning when we were supposed to be leaving

we were staying, and waiting for her to get out of surgery.

She had to have a colostomy.

And in a month or so she'll have to have it reversed.

And then she'll have to start chemo/radiation.

Everyone of us got to see her before we had to leave.

The kids were so good with her, tubes and all.

I know they can't wait to have Grandma back up and running with them!

It's going to be a long journey

starting with this summer

but we're so thankful that the doctors

were able to correct the problem!

Please keep Connie in your prayers as she continues healing

and building her strength

and trusting in her Lord.