4/19/14. The post where I talk about my family.

4/19/14: in the middle of a brief stay at home for Good Friday and Easter services before returning to my parents' home (accompanied by my patient, long-suffering husband this time) to spend a little more time visiting with the whole family.  Now, to catch you up on the previous trip...

While the nerve conduction study was extremely unpleasant, the pain was transitory, so as soon as the test was over, I felt well enough to make the drive to my parents' home for Mom's first visit to her oncologist's office, where she will go for her chemo treatments.  As I've probably mentioned before, I have a brother who lives in the same town as my parents. Since my other brother was also in town visiting, our entire clan accompanied Mom and Dad on the visit.  

The employees at the cancer center are probably still wondering what hit them.  Any time our family is together you can bet it will get loud, with lots of witty banter and laughing.  (At least we consider ourselves witty - others who have the misfortune of being around us when we get rolling may disagree.)  We were cognizant of our surroundings and so were careful to be considerate of others, but once we were alone in the lobby, we created what could probably best be described as a "ruckus" while Mom waited to be summoned for her appointment.  Because that's how we roll.  The nurse found a larger exam room so we could all be in the room with Mom during the visit.  Or maybe it was so she could get us out of the lobby.

The visit went well.  The oncologist wasn't phased by Mom's entourage.  He answered all our questions and proved he could keep up with us when it came to witty banter.  She will start chemo treatments in about ten days, and I think we all have a good idea of what to expect.  We feel very fortunate to have found a wonderful oncologist and what appears to be a really good treatment center within 20 minutes of Mom and Dad's home.  

We celebrated the successful visit by gathering up the rest of the family and taking Mom out for her first restaurant visit since before she went to the hospital.  The ruckus continued at the restaurant, with the addition of the two year old and six week old grandchildren to make things even more interesting.  We capped off the night with cupcakes, at Mom's request.  Our family visits are entirely too infrequent these days and even with the circumstances and a nerve conduction study earlier that morning, I'd say it was a very enjoyable day. 

The only thing missing was my patient, long-suffering husband.  Which is why I'm taking him along for round two.  He and I will head back tomorrow after Easter services and a celebratory lunch with his family.  (When you are the music director for a church, making it though Easter services without collapsing is something to celebrate.)  No doctor appointments or nerve tests this time.  Just a continuation of the ruckus.  Let the witty banter begin...