Hello,
Well, I have had assistance since surgery, in the way of family members from out of town staying with us and giving me moral support and washing dishes (there has been more to it than that, but can you tell the things that matter to me the most?!). Anyway, the last of them was my kid sister, whom my kids call Auntie Isa, and we were sad to see her go. She, like her predecessors, offered a great deal of help around the house, and we also shared a great deal of laughter. We will miss her.
With her departure my husband, who was truely grateful for all the help we have received, put on a bright face and declared that it would be nice to have the house occupancy back down to four again. I, personally, was terrified at the prospect. Could I really take care of the house by myself? Feed everyone, play creatively, etc.? I recently saw a bumper sticker that said "Simplify or die." and I realize that this message, although meant for the broader public, was really coined and placed for me to apply to my housekeeping practices: This gourmet cook has to adopt easier meal plans; we don't really need whatever it is; my kids just want my presence, not presents. These are things I know, but they are practices I have been unwilling to adopt until now. A week or two ago, I realized that if I had emerged completely unscathed from this (what has been life altering surgery, in that I had done some soul searching, and made many discoveries) I would have, to a great degree, gone back to life as normal. Apparently, I still have some things to learn, and some work to do. So I will go forward and try to reduce; I will finish some of those jobs I had started then put aside; and as we enter a time of uncertainty I will try to walk the talk - slowly - like the guy or gal with the big SUV and the afformentioned bumper sticker (I 'm thinking it was not a hybrid)!
Happy Father's Day!
Julie
Julie had a Vestibular Schwannoma, which is a tumor generating from the sheathing of the Vestibular, or balance, nerve. It was a large (2.7 cm) tumor originating in her right inner ear. The surgery to remove it, which took place on March 27th, lasted nearly eleven hours. But, by all accounts, it seems to have been very successful. This blog is a tool for friends and family to follow the progress of her surgery and recovery. Photo by Tina Amerson
Queen Josephine
Looking out over her domain
Family photo
The Erlons Holiday 2008
3 comments:
This entry created tears in my eyes. Don't we all need to look at what we are doing and what we think we want to acheive. I will see you tommorrow and I am most looking forward to it. God bless all of those that have come to help you. I know they all love you guys very much!
Julie~
Hi! I'm Kay from the AN site. Thanks for sharing your blog with us. I lived in Round Rock when my AN was discovered 12 years ago (I was 25). We went to Houston - wonder if Dr.s Kemp were doing this in Austin then? My ENT, who had an office in Austin & RR, said he always referred his 8th nerve patients to Houston...Hope all continues to go well for you. If you ever need to talk to someone who has been there and is trying to keep us with kids to, please contact me. I also have a blog www.threecurlygirlies.blogspot.com
Continued healing my friend!
K
Hi Julie-
Debbi here - also from the AN forum. Love your blog, and love your attitude! Sounds like you are doing great. It's definitely a life changing experience, but I believe it will turn out to be life changing in a GOOD way for most of us!
Debbi
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