Getting back to normal.

The picture on the blog tonight is another one Trish sent of Raynie with one of her ‘looks.’ She is so funny; she’ll discover a look and use it a lot for a few days. I imagine this is one she’s developed lately since everyone seemed to want to look into her mouth! She is pretty much back to herself. She’s eating, DRINKING, entertaining herself, etc. How blessed we are.

So, things are getting back to normal around Raynie’s house. Gretta, Elena and Garrett are all back home with Joe, too, so they are developing a normal around their house, too. Of course, they are in an apartment while they build their new house, so this is a new world for them. Garrett will be starting in a new school this year, so that’s something new, too. They are all thrilled to be living as a family, though. Joe has always had to travel with the horses, but he gets to stay at home in Lexington with the horses, now, so this is great. He’ll get to go occasionally for special races if he wants, but for the most part he’ll get to be at home. We’re excited for them to get to build the house they love and live together all year!

We have done all our summer traveling, so we’re home for about 6 weeks. We’ll go to Las Vegas in September, but we don’t have all those details arranged, yet. We’ll be working on that this week.

Daniel, the youth intern who has stayed with us for the last three months has just about completed his ‘term.’ Technically he’s still here, because he has a trip to 6 Flags with the kids this week and he’ll be here next Sunday. However, his dad has some surgery on his knee scheduled for this week, so he’s gone to go with him for that. He left today with the bulk of his belongings, as he won’t be sleeping here anymore. He’ll just be back on Sunday to get all the rest of his things. So, it’s going to be just Don and I rattling around in the house again. So, things will be getting back to normal around here, too.

I’m not sure what normal is, but I know what NOT normal is. Breast Cancer is not normal; chemo is not normal; radiation is not normal. Loved ones in the hospital is not normal. I thank God for the opportunity to have another shot at normal in our families!

I’m researching as much as I can about lymphedema, but there is not a lot out there. I’m learning a lot. Tomorrow I’ll call and see if I can find a therapist to get me started. From what I read there is no cure for lymphedema, but there is treatment for living with it and that may become normal for me. That’s okay; it beats breast cancer!