I hate ironing. (Geez, I feel like I'm using the word hate a lot these days.). But today when I was ironing my pants this morning while listening to my girls laugh and play while they got ready for the day, it was methodical. I'd like to say I wasn't stressed or nervous and act like I'm so confident that the scans will be clear...but there's always that lingering fear.
This is how the morning started. These were the words I wrote and the one thing that strikes me as I sit here tonight is the word "fear". The day started with the "5 more minutes" but not from my kids...from me. After waking up to a slight headache from the subconscious stress that happens in my sleep which makes me clench my teeth together (yes dad, I should have worn my night guard), we start getting ready to face the day. These days are never much fun and even with the ambien induced slumber the night before, sleep tries to elude me. Yet, we carry on and face the day with the hopeful certainty that all will go well.
Since Gabriella wasn't going to have general anesthesia today, she got to start the day with breakfast that daddy made. It seemed like the start of any other day...chasing the girls around with tooth brushes, clothes, sox and hair brushes...something I will never stop appreciating. Bridget was off to school (which is something she's not totally excited about these days) and being happily picked up by my friend Sandy to play with her buddies for the rest of the day so Adam and I could focus on G. The drive up was great and we continued to prepare G for her MRI without anesthesia. We've been talking to her about it for the last couple of weeks and were pretty confident that she could lie still the whole time. Check in was easy...everything seemed easy...we had the top notch crew with a fantastic child life specialist and procedure nurse...right up until she handed the IV over to another nurse who thought she could get it in the first shot. I saw the missed IV coming but wasn't able to stop it before it happened. But the second attempt was successful and on we went. G got to pick out a movie (Despicable Me) that they would play in these special goggles and she was pretty excited about that. Adam was able to sit next to her during the procedure and they actually thought she had fallen asleep because she was so still and quiet during the whole thing. They asked her after why she didn't respond to the questions and she said she just wanted to be still. That what she was told and she made sure she complied.
I got the pleasure of visiting with Bill, our Team G Ambassador, who came just to support us. I didn't realize how much I appreciated the support until we got to talking. The conversation of "fear" came up and it made me realize how powerful our minds can be. I realized this when G was first diagnosed and our world was flipped upside down. I had come home to be with Bridget for the night while Adam stayed at the hospital with Gabriella after she got her port placed. Driving back the next day, I was overcome with thoughts...incredibly crazy thoughts and thinking what really was reality. I wasn't sure and couldn't wrap my head around anything that was going on. My mind kept questioning reality and wandering...but I let it. I ended up feeling completely panicked and it overcame me.... to the point where I should have probably pulled over and not driven. But I needed to see my G. Since that day, I decided to never let my mind and thoughts have that much control over me. And it hasn't. It's amazing what is actually true "when you set your mind to it", whatever "it" is...is possible. I've always had this overwhelming fear of seaweed. It's kind of funny. When I was about 7 years old and in Jr Guards at Capitola, our first day out was an ocean swim. I remember it very clearly. Not excited about it but confident in my swimming abilities, I went out. Not too far into the swim, I saw what I thought "a monster". I knew it was seaweed looming about 4 feet below me but it scared the ever-living daylights out of me...to the point where I was yelling "monster" and climbing onto one of the guards paddle boards to get away from it. Ever since that day, I have always hated the stuff. I'm all about swimming "in" it and watching it from a far...but seeing it float on the surface brings me back to that day...that fear I felt.
After having my own children and going through G's treatment, my perspective and outlook has definitely changed. I'm not as scared any more. Every day, I overcome a little more and realize that I don't have to fear. I can control it. And I've proved it to myself a few times. I've posted many times on Facebook about the whales right here in the Monterey Bay and going out to see them. So I'm back in the ocean (which I love but have always had a very respectable fear for) in a kayak with my sister and lord knows what swimming around below me searching for the whales. We spotted them. The experience of seeing a magnificent whale that was probably about 100 tons... was just incredible. I'd like to say I was totally fearless...but there's a little worry there which mostly comes from being out in the open ocean with unpredictable wildlife all around....and being a mom with responsibilities and all. It was an incredible experience and the sea, once again, captured me...but in a good way. About a month later, I went back out. This time by myself. I wanted to capture that incredible moment again. I wanted to experience the magnificence of seeing the whales and not being afraid. I ended up paddling right into the middle of a kelp bed...and all of a sudden, I could feel the fear starting to creep up on me seeing that kelp linger below. I paddled past it pretty quickly but I knew I had to go back. So I did. I spotted about 10 otters lying around on the kelp and I watched them. Sitting right in the middle of the kelp bed just watching...and realizing there was nothing to be afraid of. It was healing.
SO....on with the amazing news....Gabriella's SCANS ARE CLEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!! As a friend said to me today, that news will NEVER get old....never ever!!!! (And I like to emphasize it with a few exclamation points at the end. Heck, I could fill this whole page up with exclamation marks!!!!!!)
We met with Dr. Spunt who was taking over Gabriella's care while Dr. Marina was out. She walked in the room with some apprehension and I was a bit worried. While we are always expecting good news, we always have to prepare ourselves of the possibilities and don't want to be caught off guard. She proceeded with the scans G had today and said "everything looks normal". Just to make sure I heard her correctly, I asked her to repeat it again so I could take every word in. "Everything looks normal". We talked about G and how she was doing over all. The one word we always use to describe her is "amazing".
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| Ready for her big day. |
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| Keeping busy as we wait. |
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| Time to CELEBRATE!! |
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| Dinner with our awesome friends Sandy and Aaron and their three little girls, who my girls just adore! Thanks for dinner guys! |
Right before going to bed, I look around the house that looks like a bomb has gone off and I take a deep breath...and smile. All I ever want is for my kids to be happy and healthy. That's all that really matters. The mess can be cleaned up tomorrow but my family is safe...and I am happy.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL OF THE TEXTS, PHONE CALLS AND POSTS TODAY!! We very much needed the support and were so SO thankful for all of you helping us get through this!
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