Day 42 and Day 43 Sunday, and Monday arrives

 

Me: 

Wait, no this....

Either way, it’s seemingly intense when I blog, yet funny, it doesn’t feel like it. I rather enjoy it. 

Whirlwind

Sunday was a whirlwind day. I was lucky enough to have Lauren and Ryan bring Brooks to Gunter and drop him off to me for some Nana-Time. I got him Saturday, and had him until Sunday evening. We had such a wonderful time together, and at 4 months old, he's smiling, holding himself up, coo-ing, and being an all-around sweet, sweet baby. I think the best part was that he was all mine. He and I got to experience the farm together. 

We fed the animals each morning and night. 

Please look past the bottle burp-up as we made our
way to go and pet the donkeys

They insist on treats at all times now

We walked down and gave the donkeys some treats - who are now completely and utterly spoiled. 

He prefers to read and watch at the same time

We played, sang and danced to music and videos. 

He left grudgingly with fist in mouth

And then, it was time to give him back to mom and dad. Brooks and I stayed in a consistent cycle of bottle, play, nap, diaper, repeat. It was heaven on earth having that time with him. Just he and I in the world. 

Plumbs Up

While Brooks and I were hanging out, the plumbers came out visit us on Sunday. They got everything squared away at our house, and we were happy to see them. I'm well versed on how and where to turn the water off on our property because we've had to do it before, on several occasions. I feel like this winter storm last week really brought out the appreciation for plumbers. Much deserved.

Breaking It Down

It was also time for me to start taking apart the puzzle so many put together for us this past week at the farm. With the winds turning from the south now, the warmer weather is upon us and it's time to re-do a few things. I unplugged heat lamps, freshened the water in all heated water buckets to boiled water, and unplugged various electrical cords which the generator was sourcing. 

What I found the most fascinating was the ability for the chickens to survive this bitter freeze for days on end. 

All the single ladies

How are they able to do this, I don't know. Maybe since they are really tiny dinosaurs, they are strong and durable creatures. 

Yep, they love the cat food

My original estimate (in my head) of losing half of my flock turned out to be much, much less. We lost 5 total over the last 43 days of us being gone, and only 1 being due to the freezing cold. We had 2 hawks attacks, one natural (old age) death, and one neurological disease issue. And one of our old girls who could not withstand the cold. How these chickens stayed well day in and day out is attributable to several factors - one being the caretakers and friends. They made all the magic happen with cleaning, food and unfrozen water. Those are the exact things needed to keep a chicken alive and I thank Rosie, Angela, Paul and Anthony who ALL made grand efforts to take care of our animals. All the animals, not just the chickens. 

Get into Winston’s smile 😃 

I mean look at this happy boy. He's gained so much weight now, and smiles. 

Walmart greeter of the Graves farm

Yes, he smiles and is completely content to live out his senior life here at The Sunshine Senior Resort for dogs. He's our first official senior "stray" resident, and after his wonderful example of a stray's will to survive, he inspires me to live life in our older age with grace and hospitality. He welcomes everyone to the farm with open paws. 

Another area thriving happens to be the garden, snow and all.....

The broccoli looks a little iffy, but it’s still growing 

And the little girls, they busted a move and made it through as well. Simply amazing. 

8 little ones

These little darlings enjoy the heat lamp

And as another turn of events happen, Lauren and Ryan decide they too will pursue chickens in the backyard at their house in Fort Worth. After checking ordinances, they are cleared for takeoff. Who knew this chicken lady would have her own chicken daughter. I know, weird, but weird things happen in my life more often than not. 

Top of the world

While things on the farm are looking up, and Brooks is hanging out with me, we FaceTime'd David to see what he's up to in Houston. In a wonderful turn of events, he was scheduled and able to go for his radiation treatments on Saturday and Sunday. He was thrilled that MDA was able to open its doors again, as things in Houston are still in recovery mode after last week (as they are in many places). 

It was late Sunday night that I rolled up to the Houston apartment. With the truck unpacked, I settle into a coma-of-sleep while unfortunately, David does not. Sleep does not come easy for him right now.

David is solemn and quiet, moving around the apartment as if he's in a state of zombie-ism. He's beat, he's tired, he's unable to sleep, he's this and he's that and he's more of this and that. He's everything and more MDA said he'd be. There's no getting around it. They have sucked the life from him, and he's in a perpetual state of resting, sleeping (trying), self-care, medication-taking, and attempts to eat and drink. 

After today? He has 2 more treatments. He's going to make it, but it's not going to be pretty - nor should it be. It's still our best hope that I will pour him into the car either Wed or Sat of this week, depending on what it is he wants to do - and head back home. He needs to be in his bed at home and start the actual healing process. The recovery itself will take as long, or longer, than all the treatments took. Weeks and weeks. The recovery is something that when you start this whole process - you are not thinking about. You're busy thinking about treatment. Now, he's thinking about recovery and what that will entail for him. Lots more time. 

Really, more lessons

This is where more learning happens. Treatment is almost complete and another new chapter starts. Ah, the lessons we will learn from this recovery process. We are stepping into unchartered waters once we leave cancer island. All the safety nets here are released, and he'll be back in his own boat rowing toward his "old life". But there is no old life. He's drifting right now. There's a new life waiting for him. He sees it, too. He gives pause for the uncertainty in it and new beginnings. I can see the wheels turning in his mind as we approach the ringing-of-the-bell. 

He's now able to see why people walk to ring the bell as if defeated. Because they are. His thoughts of once ringing the bell with vim and vigor have turned to resignation. He'll ring the bell because he's done, that's why. He'll ring the bell to show the others he did it - and you can too. And although he's living at the corner of Beat Down Way and Hit Me Again Street, right in the heart of MDA......

He's ready to wave the white flag and be rescued from its grip. He's ready to start making decisions other than what time his appt is today. I'd normally say something like, "One thing I know for sure is that David will ring the bell at his final radiation treatment with delight and a huge smile on his face!". But I've come to doubt myself. He may prove me wrong, and do that. But we both know why people ring the bell the way they do - with a sense of "okay, I'll ring the bell" because what's behind ringing the bell is not worth ringing a bell for. Complicated. 

Stay in your lane

This is where we try to stay in our lane and say, okay, go finish on Wed and ring that bell to announce to yourself (and others) that you did it. YOU did it. No one else is suffering physically like David (and like all the other cancer patients in treatment are). Just them. The patients endure the pain and suffering. The caregivers work hard too, but it's not the same. It's a team effort and we are all cheering from the sidelines, no doubt. That in itself has seen David through this. Connection to friends and family is key, and he's been blessed that his people, his tribe have all been there with their pom poms in the hands and their arms in the air screaming Give Me a D! D Give Me a A! A! Give Me a V! V! Give Me a I! I! Give Me a D! D! What's that spell?! Gooooooo David!

I can see David trying hard to paddle his own boat, stay in his lane, and think about what his future holds. This enables him to look inward and listen to his knowing of what's next for him. He's been spending some contemplative time lately. All this time in bed, in the quiet of his mind, thinking. What's next in his life. What does all this really mean. His whole perspective on life has shifted. This is the greatest teaching cancer has to offer. 

Somewhere over the rainbow

As we slide into the ending of this chapter, we take you all with us. We will march these last days together. You are busy rebuilding your own life after snowvid last week. You are busy living your stories and struggles. We are grateful you are here. 

I'm happy to report the farm in Gunter is doing well, and we are looking forward to the future. I can imagine David will be happy to be back home, as will the horses, and Sugar and Maybe who became the best car riders ever. 

Midnight arrivals are our thing

Everyone will be glad to see everyone on a daily basis again. We are not quite there yet, but as you can tell by now......I'm feeling it. We still have Day 44 and 45 to come, and as we all have seen, anything can happen. 

Happy Day to you all,

C