A Terrifying Miracle

Not even a month into our marriage, I wrote this blog, where in the middle I said, "My biggest fear now is more of not being able to get enough of Sam. I'm so excited to spend the rest of my life with him, but the fear of what could end that life is so overwhelming and scary. Never before have I felt such a sense of existentialism. I have been thinking a lot about life and how limited it is, how fragile it is, how mysterious it can all be. I am so afraid of losing Sam or of not having enough time with him .... I'm terrified that forever will be too short. My parents, my friends, my family would all say about marriage: there's nothing to fear. But, there is! There's so much out of our control, and I just hope and pray that Sam and I can have a long forever. . . a full life together." And, this past Thursday night, we had a reminder of this fear.

It was the last day of the school year, and the staff party was underway. After sitting outside for quite a while, I came in to check my cell phone. Seeing that Sam hadn't called and that there were no missed calls or messages, I went about continuing to visit with my coworkers. I was enjoying my time, but about 20 minutes after checking my phone, I decided I was ready to head home. As a friend of mine (Emily) and I were heading out after saying our goodbyes, I noticed I had literally JUST missed a call from my brother. My phone listed a long list of missed calls at this point - various numbers I did not know, one from Sam's sister, my mom, his mom, my brother, etc. It was at that moment that I knew something was wrong. Putting it all together as I hit the "talk" button to call my brother back, I knew it was Sam, and I knew he had been in an accident. I had that eerie feeling when you know this is going to be bad as my brother said, "Where are you?" I said, "What happened? What's going on?" in a very serious, short voice. "Where are you?" he continued. I told him where I was, and he said, "Sammy's been in an accident." Trembling and trying not to puke, I looked for a place to sit while I listened to the details that he knew of at that point. People were beeping in, and when the number of the person whom I didn't know called in, I took the call and listened carefully as Donna (a bystander) told me what was happening on the highway where Sam had been hit.

She told me he was in and out of consciousness but he knew my name and phone number. She told me that 3 witnesses had confirmed that a car had clipped Sam's car, sending his Ford Explorer Sport flipping 3 times. She told me that the paramedics were on their way, but they weren't there yet. As I frantically thanked her, again trying not to throw up, I sat on the bench outside the staff party wondering what the hell to do next. Emily said she would take me to my mom's house until we knew which hospital Sam would be taken to. As we got in her car, the paramedics called me - telling me that Sam was alert and talking, aware of my name and number, and he was asking he talk to me. The paramedics told me they were taking him to Parkland hospital, and that I should get there quickly but not to "fly" there.

Emily started driving to Parkland. I called my brother who was with Mom, and I tried to reach Sam's parents unsuccessfully. My brother called me back and told Emily to pull over, that he and Mom would come get me since they were leaving the house already and could get me there faster. It felt like an eternity before I finally saw them pulling towards me. During that time, I had the most frantic, frightening thoughts. Here's a little peak into my stream-of-consciousness: what's happening, where is he, is he okay, stay with me, Sammy!, don't leave me, I'm with you now!!, Dear God let him be okay, we're not done with our life yet!, we want kids, we want to be happy for so much longer, what about our life insurance, what about our health insurance, I can't even think about living life without him, I want to cuddle with him, I won't sleep without him next to me, will he be able to walk or talk, what about our honeymoon, we have plans this weekend!, will he ever practice law again?, what the hell is happening?!, what about his car?, whose fault was this, what was going through his mind, how scared must he be right now, no one will ever know me the way he knows me and no one will ever make me laugh like he does, my mother can't handle this right now, Dear God please let him be okay; Dear God please let him be okay; Dear God please let him be okay; we only JUST had our wedding, what the hell is happening?!

There were SO many other thoughts, but that's just a glimpse. During the 100 mph drive down the Tollway, I continued to think and pray, pray and think. As I asked my brother to slow down, that I might puke, he said, "Amber, I'm trying to get you there." I asked him if there was something he wasn't telling me - to which he said no, that I was the one that talked to the paramedics. I still didn't believe him, though, as the last time I had been driven to Parkland Hospital in such a hurry was when my cousin was in critical condition; by the time we made it to the hospital on that night so many years ago, she was brain dead... so you can understand my fear and disbelief that I had the whole story; my brother probably had that same night running through his mind as he drove his little sister to meet her hurt husband at the same hospital. He asked what I was worried about as I clasped my hands together and closed my eyes trying not to throw up. I replied, "Every f*c^i#g thing you can think of!" It got quiet and Mom held my hand behind me. We hauled a$^ into the hospital, going through the back of the ER with my brother's resident badge. He told me to wait down the hallway, as he made his way to talk to the 10 or so doctors waiting outside Sam's room in the ER. It seemed like another eternity before he came back towards Mom and me - we were both ready to yell and scream and run down the hall, angry that no one was giving us any feedback. Seeing that many specialists did not feel reassuring. I continued to clasp my hands together - it was all I could control, the only thing I could do with myself to keep myself calm. It was in that very moment that I understood (in my opinion) why people pray with their hands together.

Finally, when my brother came back towards us, he said he's okay. He said he saw Sammy, and that Sam cried when he saw my brother. At some point, Sam's parents had come in to the ER as well. Seeing his mom and dad, I just began sobbing. I held his mom for a long time - just praying that he was okay. I knew Sam was alert and talking, but I didn't know the extent of the damage. My sister and Sam's sisters came soon after that. Then, the doctors called his parents and me back to his room to see him. He was bloody and bruising, and as I approached his bedside and went to gently kiss him, Sam wrinkled his face in a deep cry, happy to see us and very scared. He had a neck brace, and the doctors were about to wheel him out to get a CT scan after many X-rays he had already had. Through tears and broken speech, he said, "I love you. I love you so much."

I told him I loved him too, and I asked him to try to calm down as I stroked his forehead. A minute later, he was being taken out of the room for the scan. The doctor told us that if the CT scan came back okay, then they weren't too worried about him. I don't remember much else of what he said other than they were concerned about what looked like a fracture on his wrist. Faster than I thought, Sam was back in his room - and we were being told that the CT scan looked good - no bleeding in the brain. I asked the doctor if Sam had feeling everywhere, if he could stand, etc. They were not worried about paralysis at all.

Many doctors came in and out throughout the 6-7 hours we were there. They determined his wrist was not broken. They checked his ears which were bleeding, and they determined they were just swollen. He had a bleeding gash on the top of his head, and his knuckles and wrists were cut up. He had debris/glass all around his face - near his eyes and some even in his teeth. It wasn't pretty, but it was a lot better than it could have been! Sam continued to cry at times, telling me how much he loved me. We cried a lot that night. We smiled a lot that night, too - knowing how lucky we were. There's plenty more stories to tell about that scary night but the best one is that Sam lived! He even got to come home that night - around 2:00AM.

I'm sure I'll post more about many different parts of that night: how it felt to be the wife in this situation, sharing care and concern with Sam's parents, the kindness of complete strangers who called us that night and called 911, the fear I felt of losing him or of having a completely different life or lifestyle after the accident, the tender moments we have shared since Thursday night, the reminder of how we need to drive more carefully, the amazing friends and family that came up to the hospital that night just to be there for Sam (and me), whether we find the douche bag that hit Sam and ran, the reminder of how fragile life is and how it could change or be taken away from us in a literal second,etc. But, the best news is that Sam finally made it home that night without broken bones, without a scratch (okay, maybe a few tiny nicks) on his face, without any long-term damage. He has a concussion, and he has a hematoma (sp?) in his right ear. He has lots of bruising around his neck and pelvis - probably from the seat belt that saved his life. He has the gash on his head and the scratched up/scraped up hands/wrists. His watch broke, the car is totaled, we lost a garage door opener, and his clothing were cut off of him, but if that's all we sacrificed in exchange for his life and health, we are in great shape!!

After seeing the pictures of the car that he and his sister took yesterday, I'm positive that someone (God, an angel, his Zaide, my Grandma, ??) was looking out for him and keeping him alive. When he saw the car, he said, "How did I live?!" (You can watch the video I've uploaded to see for yourself just how scary this accident was and how horrible it could have been.) As Sam and I have continued to reflect on what each of our experiences were on Thursday night, as I nurse him to health and take care of the things he can't, as we spend quiet moments together and cry, we are reminded of how much we love each other and how much we want so much more time with each other. We're not done living this life yet! We're not ready to live without each other! We will have children we have yet to raise, we have places to see together throughout the world, we have family and friends we have yet to meet and play with, we have houses we have yet to live in, we have dreams we have not fulfilled yet. I have every intention of living a long, full life with my husband, and I'm so glad that someone else "up there" saw it the same way on Thursday. Dear God, thank you for not taking my Sam away from us.

Sam, I love you more than you could ever know. You are the most important man in my life, and I need you so much! Thank you for staying with us, for being healthy and okay, for fighting through all the fear and hurt, for loving me and liking me! I hope the scary sh#* never happens again - and may God (or whoever!) keep you safe and healthy always if it does! I love you!

Endings

In my world, May marks the end of many things. In some ways, it more of an ending to a year than December. For me, it's the end of a long school year - the most fun part of a cycle that I participate in each year. I really don't know what it's like for other people in other jobs, so maybe it's the same for others. But, I don't know anything different, as I've been in the school system since I was in preschool myself. You start in August/September, you look forward to Thanksgiving, count down to Winter Break, enjoy a couple weeks off, go back in January for the long spring semester just hoping to make it without losing your mind until Spring Break, and the final end is in sight by April with an exciting countdown in May. It's a predictable cycle - and each time of the year comes with highs and lows unlike any other time of year.

We all remember what this time of year was like when we were younger: getting ready to say goodbye to our friends for the summer, heading to something fun like summer camp or a family vacation, worrying about what the next grade level will be like, wondering if our teacher will remember us and all the fun times we had together, glad that all the hard work we put into that year had finally paid off, cleaning out the desk/locker, checking our books back in, getting to finally throw away the now-tattered-and-torn folders and supplies that were once so fresh and new months ago. . . Well, it's similar for the adults in the school: we're ready for kids to leave so we can clean up, we're ready to be done with grading and report cards and conferences, we look back on a job-well-done year and are anxious about the year to come, we're looking forward to the lazy days of stress-free summer nights with friends and family.

And, while all of this ending is happening, there are other endings that are a bit more superficial but worth mourning just a little: the television shows that helped us get through the year. I know, I'm being a bit petty with something so meaningless as television, but let's be honest - don't you just look forward to a great show at the end of a stressful work day? Don't you just make it through to the next week sometimes - only to see your favorite show and what will happen next? Well, I do. I love cuddling up with Sam on the couch to watch our favorite shows that take our minds off of work and anything else that stresses us out, and May marks the end of many of these favorites. Luckily, many of them will be back on in September, but for one show in particular, we will be lost without it once the final episode airs next week.

Lost is Sam's all-time favorite show. He will certainly be devastated next week when it's finally over. He has watched it from the beginning. Because I didn't want to get hooked on another show, I refused to watch it. Well, about 2 years ago, when Sam had moved in and was studying for the bar exam, I finally caved. I decided that while he was studying, I'd give the first season a shot, so we rented the DVDs of Season 1, and as I expected, I was totally into it. Season 3 tested my loyalty when I was completely annoyed at the story. I watched 3 seasons that summer, then I had to wait a few months before Season 4 was released. I watched Season 4 over Winter Break last year, and together we watched Season 5 as it aired last year. We rewatched every season again this past Winter Break when I was sick and prepared for the final season. The show has given us a lot to talk about as we try to unravel the plot and guess what might happen next. I'm glad I decided to watch it, but now I'm sad that our time with our "friends" is ending. We've gone on quite a journey with these people as we learned to like even the darkest, meanest characters.

It reminds me of when The Cosby Show and Friends ended. Even other great shows like Seinfeld, Sisters, Family Ties, ER, Growing Pains, Dawson's Creek, and Sex & the City - I remember their endings marking the end of some kind of "era." And now, another show has left its mark.

Another ending we're experiencing this week is the end of my sister-in-law's pregnancy. We're going to meet our nephew this week, and we are very excited. But, this particular ending marks the end of her first-born's time as an only child, as the only grandchild. For some reason, I get sad around the time a new baby is born. Even though it's the most amazing beginning, it's a time to reflect on what life without this person has been and how life will change when the baby is born. When my niece, Mara, was born, I remember her mother leaving my nephew, Caden, before she went to the hospital to give birth. She told Caden how much she loved him and how this new baby would never change how special Caden was to her. We cried a little, recognizing that this new baby would change Caden's life forever - she would change all of our lives. Well, I feel the same way about our nephew, Miles. This will be a new start for him, and he needs to know that we will all still love him just as much as ever. The new baby ends the time he has had without a little brother.

Sometimes, endings are to be celebrated and enjoyed. We embrace those endings. Sometimes, endings are sad and are a time for reflection. Some endings are bittersweet and we can't make up our minds how we feel about them. Sometimes we don't want the end to come because of what might be on the other side or the anxiety it may cause. But, endings are inevitable and life must go on - before it ends.

A Married Social Life

I know it's been a while since I last posted, but quite honestly, there's been nothing entirely new to write about. Our life has been more of the same - at least more of the same constant busy-ness: work, helping with nephews and niece, cooking for Mom, running errands, cleaning the house, working in the yard, weddings, baby showers, visits to Houston, bachelor/bachelorette parties, bridal showers, giving gifts, keeping Mom company, celebrating Mother's Day, celebrating brother's birthday, catching up on our shows, working unpaid overtime hours, trying new recipes, grocery shopping, waiting for our nephew to be born, counting down til summer break, etc! So, there's really been nothing more to write about. . . until today.

So, we had a meeting at work today, where a few of us were gathered to try to plan an end-of-school year surprise for our students. While meeting, we discussed what dates we could meet together to finalize our plans. Looking at my calendar, I began to get overwhelmed by the busy work schedule, the family obligations, and the social commitments. Work is coming to a slow halt soon - but there's SO much to be done before the kids officially leave for summer break. Mom is doing great - but she has her difficult days/nights and can still need help with the house, the kids, the meals. Sam and I are constantly busy with friends, family, and trying to make time for each other. I started panicking a little just at the upcoming weeks, and I made a comment about this feeling. . . something like, "I'm just feeling overwhelmed at everything going on right now." I went on to talk about the social and familial calendar filling up and how others are probably feeling that way, too. A coworker joked with another coworker saying, "And YOU'RE married!" It is a tone that is hard to convey over a posting like this, but it seemed to imply that a married person wouldn't possibly be as busy as a non-married person. I don't think I was reading into it incorrectly, as a different coworker agreed with my interpretation.

It got me thinking, though. . . . well, doesn't EVERYTHING get me thinking?! Anyway, I started realizing that I am often overwhelmed by how my social life increased by leaps and bounds since I got married. It's somewhat naive to think that a person who gets married will "settle down" when, in fact, things have really "picked up" since "I do." Well... before that really, but you get the point.

Since Sam and I started living together, we had a LOT more friends to spend our time with: mine AND his. We have three different sides of the family now: Mom's, Dad's, and Sam's. I not only get invited to MY friends' weddings, showers, parties, but I get invited to HIS friends' weddings, showers, parties. If I get invited to a Bar Mitzvah - that means SAM gets invited to a Bar Mitzvah. We are an "us" now - we have OUR friends and family - which at the very least doubled the events in which we each participate.

Don't get me wrong! I LOVE our friends and family and every second we spend with them all! Time flies by so quickly, though, and before we know it - weeks have flown by and we have had no time to ourselves. We're helping Mom, we're taking care of the kids, we're at a Couple's Night, we're at a shower, we're spending weekends apart helping different friends celebrate different events, we're cooking dinner with the family, we're getting ready for a high school graduation, and so on. Again - NOT COMPLAINING! I'm just trying to make the point that for someone to think that being married means I've "settled down," is beyond misinformed.

I remember when Sam moved home and we had 3 big events in one weekend. I remember saying to him, "Our lives just got way busier!" I loved having so many functions and parties. I loved spending time with friends and family so often and in different venues. It's just a lot - especially for someone who savors alone time - time to rejuvenate and just reflect on life either alone or just with Sam. When my life continues to be so busy, I do tend to get overwhelmed - needing time alone to gather my thoughts. I can't forget that I'm an individual - an individual who needs "me" time, or at least some kind of down time.

So, in closing, I guess my point is that I've learned yet another societal misconception. The world has it wrong when married people are thought of as having slowed down or settled down. Married life is booming with social interaction. Always, I feel fortunate. Most often, it's fun and entertaining. Sometimes, it's overwhelming. Yet, never, would I want it any other way.

On the Need to Redefine the Wife Stereotype Part 2

Last night, I posted a social commentary about the wife stereotype. After he read it, my male cousin emailed me a response to my post, and with his permission, I'm going to copy and paste what he sent to me. I love his response, and I love the discussion that has been sparked. So, happy reading, from Brennan to you! :)

"I've been reading and enjoying your blog and thought I'd comment on your latest post regarding the wife stereotype. I didn't post this in the comments section as wasn't sure how much space I would have. You are free to quote me, though, if you find anything enlightening (or offensive, for that matter). This email, I hope, will serve more as an explanation than a rationalization.

As you and Sam seem to have a very open and healthy relationship, I can understand your frustration at being stereotyped as a shrew and Sam being seen as the hen-pecked husband. I think when people make these types of comments, they are really projecting their own frustrations about the perceived imbalance of power in their own relationships. In my opinion, what it all boils down to is sex, or the lack thereof. This may be an oversimplification, but it's not a coincidence that in these situations the word "whipped" is often preceded by a slang term for the female anatomy.

Now allow me to paint in some very broad strokes as I don the hat of amateur anthropologist. For century after century for ages and ages, the relationship between a husband and wife had remained mostly the same. The man has had the power, both physically and sexually. (Again, broad strokes. I'm sure there are many instances throughout history to contradict me). Conflict was often resolved with violence towards the wife, and sex was carried out with little regard for a woman's wants, desires, or sexual satisfaction. Sadly, this still remains the case in many parts of the world, but luckily most "civilized" countries have evolved and are continuing to do so. I am not arguing, however, that it doesn't still happen to our neighbors, family, friends, etc., but simply that it is far less acceptable when it does.

As women have made strides in voting equality, workplace equality, etc., they have also been able to reclaim their sexuality. No longer is sex only about procreation or a man's enjoyment. No longer must a woman simply submit as part of her wifely duties. Again, a very good thing. What is a source of frustration for many men, however, is how sex, or rather the withholding of it, is now used as a tool for conflict resolution. And this is a tactic that most men don't really have the will power to use (nor do I think it would really do us much good). Now, I'm certainly not saying that all women do this, but many do, whether they have made a conscious decision to or not. And many men avoid conflict and submit to their wives to get sex, whether doing so knowingly or subconsciously. Thus begins a cycle of anger and bitterness. Neither violence nor withholding intimacy are valid means of conflict resolution in a healthy relationship, but one of those options has become acceptable to many people even though both wreak havoc on a relationship.

So what to do to stop the stereotype of the shrewish wife? Well, men in healthy, loving, intimate relationships should probably stop making the jokes (and probably stop laughing when the jokes are told.) Sure, it's an easy punchline and gets a good laugh, but if you're in a happy relationship, then what's the point? Appreciate your wife and be grateful for what you have. Who cares what the rest of the world thinks? If women want to change this perception, however, it calls for some introspection. Wives (and husbands, too) need to examine their relationships and be aware of any inequalities that may be present, and then determine how to make their spouse feel more like a partner and less like an employee. Now, as for single folks like me, I'll continue to make all the jokes I want. Or at least until I'm married..."

On the Need to Redefine the Wife Stereotype

Okay, people, it's that time again: I have something on my mind, and it's a little political. If you've kept up with my blog posts in the past, you know that sometimes I can get a little heated about certain topics, and I am not shy about voicing my opinions in this space (or anywhere, really). So, here's what's been ticking me off lately.

I became someone's wife a little over 6 months ago. During this time, I've had a blast as Sam and I navigated life as a legally married couple. . . changing insurance information, joining our bank accounts, learning to put each others' names first on emergency contacts, always checking in with the other about financial decisions, consulting each other on medical issues, etc. We've gotten really good at all of this, and it's been a very fun ride thus far. However, it has not taken long at all for us (yes, US) to recognize the stereotype that wives have. It's as if I went from the dedicated, devoted, sexy girlfriend/fiance title to the nagging, fun-spoiling, frustrating old wife immediately after the rabbi said we could kiss each other under the chuppah. Sam has noticed this too, and the stereotype people seem to have about me (even if they don't know me) continues to resurface. I'll give you a few examples:

• Sam and I (both) made a great meal the other night. It happened to be a turkey meatloaf that a friend of ours had introduced us to. When Sam took some left-overs for lunch the next day at work, he got grief from his co-workers who ordered pizza that day. Apparently, they think I MADE him eat the meatloaf. Embarrassing for him already, because it's "meatloaf" for starters (a dish I, myself, feel is a little nerdy just because of the All-American stereotype that comes from that word in and of itself!), but the fact that he didn't waste the food and stuck to his "better eating routine" is somehow my responsibility. Sam did stand up for me and himself by stating that eating the meatloaf was his decision - not mine! It was evident from his perspective, though, that the insinuation was that I was behind the whole meatloaf-eating situation. I wouldn't mind taking the "blame" for his good eating habits and avoidance of the pizza, but I wouldn't have cared if he dumped the meatloaf for the pizza or saved it for another day. For some reason, though, his coworkers assumed I was the one "making" him eat meatloaf. I mean, who really cares?
• Earlier this evening, my brother was dropping me off at home and asked what we had planned for the night. I told him we needed to clean the house a little bit. When Sam opened the door for me, my brother yelled from the car to Sam, "Hey! Wanna go to the Mavs game tonight?" Sam looked at me, and I told him that would be fine if he wanted to go. Deciding not to take my brother up on the offer, Sam said no. I suppose my brother assumed I had told Sam not to go when Sam looked at me, so my mature brother replied to Sam with a "Wha-puuuush!" and a whip motion. Again, insinuating that Sam couldn't go do what he wanted because of me - he's "whipped."
• In making future plans for the week, Sam told someone that he could only meet for a specific time period, and that if their meeting ran longer, he'd have to leave because "he told his wife he would be home by then." I can already hear the jokes being made because of that one little comment, as if I'm sitting at home with a whip ready to beat him for not coming home the minute he said he would be home.

There are several instances where I know I've been the "blame" of some decision - the need to go home, the need to talk to "the wife" first, the need to please me - but, I feel like I'm one of the most easy-going wives out there! Sam agrees with me actually, so where does this "wife sucks" stereotype come from? For starters, let's look at the idioms in our ever-so-colorful language. Expressions and euphemisms that have to do with wives include: "ball and chain," "old lady," "battleship," "old axe." I don't know about you, but I hate those expressions. True, a husband can also be referred to as "old man," but for some reason, there seems to not be as much negative connotation with that word "husband."

Think about it. Which sounds more positive - "boyfriend" or "husband?" Which sounds more positive - "girlfriend" or "wife?" In MY opinion, we give the word "husband" more prestige - a man who has actually gathered the nerve and the money to ask a woman to be with him forever must be a pretty mature, responsible, secure man. Alternatively, "wife" has less prestige and honor - the image it seems so many people have is one of holding a man back, of constantly nagging her husband, of keeping him from eating the things he wants to eat, of always thinking rationally and not having any kind of fun. When I was "Sam's girlfriend," I was fun, exciting - not a drag or a drain. Now that I'm "Sam's wife," I'm boring, rule-bound, and serious.

According to the definition listed on the IdiomSite.com website, a "ball and chain has come to mean wife. Originating from the presumption that a man's wife has held him down, thus keeping him from doing the things he really wanted to do in life." It's interesting to me, though, considering that Sam is the one who often uses me as his excuse - he just has an easy out, now. Say a man needs to think about whether or not to buy something from a salesperson, "I'll have to check with my wife," he says. Or, say a friend wants to meet for drinks but the husband is too tired, "Oh, man, I wish I could, but my wife's waiting for me at home." Or, even if he really does want to eat better, but he's afraid of social punishment from friends and coworkers, he can just blame the wife, "Yeah, I promised my wife I'd stick to this eating plan." Honestly, I don't mind that Sam could use me as an excuse; I'm glad he'll do what HE wants to do. If I can be that for him, great . . . but, if all men went around saying these things about their wives as if we run their lives, then that's what we wives become... "balls and chains!" When will that sterotype end, then?

Maybe some wives are nagging and annoying. I'm not one of those, and I know a lot of my friends are also pretty cool wives. Just because a woman gets married doesn't mean she automatically starts to fit the stereotype that our society has for wives. Similarly, people seem to have preconceived ideas about attorneys. Sam has learned that he's going to be made fun of for eternity for being a an attorney. People have this idea about attorneys that keep surfacing for Sam: the money, the schooling, the work load, the lying, the prestige, the smarts, etc. He's noticed it's similar for me when people learn we're married . . . there's this underlying assumption that I'm the more romantic one, that I'm the needier one, that I'm the nagger, that I'm the one with all the rules, etc.

For the record, since a ring has been placed on my finger, I have not changed at all. I want people to know that just because I said, "I do," doesn't mean I became an "old lady" or a "ball and chain" or any other weird wife expression. I simply became legally married to Sam. I don't mandate what he eats, what he wears (although I'd like to!), what he spends, where he can go, who he visits, where he travels, etc. And, he doesn't oversee any of this for me. We want to share our lives together, and we want to have input on how we each spend our lives, but that doesn't mean either one of us wants to dictate how a person lives. There is mutual respect, love, admiration, and support for each other - not nagging or hounding or whipping, for goodness sake! There's sharing, discussing, and compromising - not threatening, complaining, or lie-detecting. So, for all of you wives out there, tell your husbands to help stop this negative wife stereotype. Let's redefine wife-hood - we are sexy, independent, free, supportive, nurturing individuals who have men that want to stand by us, with us, and for us!

Chemo #1

As the last few drops of chemo run through mom's port, she's feeling okay and even letting me take pictures of her! Of course, she held up her index finger in one picture to document "Chemo #1," and in the next picture, she flicked off the machines, so she's still got that "Screw Cancer" attitude and a nice sense of humor. All-in-all the morning has gone smoothly - just pretty long. We got here around 8:15 so she could see the doctor first. Meds were taken last night and again this morning before even coming here. Then, around 9:30, they called her back to start the treatments. Before the official chemo began, the nurse administered a round of steroids, Benedryl, and anti-nausea meds. Then, they started with a 15-20 minute round of Adriamycin (the "hair-loss" med, as she calls it). It's red and is given through a syringe. Then, Cytoxan, which took about an hour. Finally, a 45 minute round of Taxotere before one short round of saline. All of these drugs have miserable side-effects, but not everyone experiences them. So, we'll see how she responds to them. It's both sad and uplifting to be around all these survivors - with and without hair, with and without fingernails, with and without energy... everyone's experience is different, so there's no telling what will happen in the coming days, weeks, and months. But, today has been okay so far. I think the experience of being here with Mom today has taught me several things: not to listen to the misery of others, as each of our bodies are different - horror stories (and even positive, uplifting stories) are really not helpful; the actual distribution of the chemo is not scary - Mom slept on and off as we watched a funny movie to occupy the time and our minds; chemo is not just the actual "chemo" treatments - she still has more meds to take when we get home and in the coming days (she's one walking pharmacy!).

Tomorrow, she comes back to get a shot, and day 3 will really be a telling point, so the doctors tell us. Hair loss typically happens between days 14-17, so she's finishing up her hair products and cherishing the time she has left with a full, gorgeous head of hair. She's looking at her hair-loss as liberating, and she's motivated to have fun with her new look. She knows her hair will grow back; she's more worried about the long-term effects chemo can have on the body (heart damage, bone damage, joint pain) and the temporary possibilities of infection she can't fight off and leukemia. It's amazing to think about the risks of this drug - a drug I'm glad doctors and researchers have found but could potentially cause future harm. BUT - we are being very optimistic - and Mom's quite a trooper!

Well, the nurse is ready to wrap things up here, so gotta wrap up this post. We're about to schedule her next round of treatment - 3 weeks from now. And, as I type, Mom just asked, "Where are we going for lunch?" I just smiled back - glad that she's up for food and going somewhere!

Another Blog Site - Check It Out

Okay, yes, I'm crazy - but it's spring break so I currently have a lot of time on my hands - and Sam and I are really into a new idea we had. So, I'm inviting you all to check out our lastest JOINT blog: http://www.journeytoourroots.blogspot.com/ where we will explain to our readers a new challenge to expand our tastes for healthier foods. Enjoy following us there, too!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Last night, we celebrated Mom's birthday at one of our favorite Italian restaurant's, Cappuccino's. Lilly and Mara, my nieces, wanted to make up a song for their Grandma on her special day. So, although the lighting is horrible in this impromptu video (I think I hit the wrong button considering the darkness of the restaurant), you can at least enjoy the audio and love & laughter of two special girls. Happy Birthday, Mom!

Caden and me in our matching school All-Star shirts!

6 Monthiversary. . .

. . . That's right! It's been 6 months (and 2 days) since our wedding day. Half a year. It seems so fast, but it also seems so slow. There's part of me that thinks, "Wow, already 6 months!" but there's more of me that looks back and says, "It's only been 6 months?" And, don't misunderstand. This bigger part of me is not upset about the marriage or thinking anything like the time is creeping by because I'm unhappy or anything like that. In fact, I asked Sam on our actual "monthiversary" if he was as happy now as he was on our wedding day. . . to which he answered, "Much happier now, by far!" . . . not that he was sad or unhappy on our wedding day, of course, but that he is so much happier now. I agreed entirely. I feel so much happier now, but I'll come back to this point in a moment.

I think I feel that time has passed so slowly for various reasons: Sam and I have never kept track of the length of our relationship - months, years, days, etc. - until we got married. I wish I wasn't even aware of how many months we've been married, but it's so fun to celebrate each 6th of the month. We also think we both feel this way because our honeymoon is still so far away! Or, maybe it's because the wedding seemed to have crept up on us much faster than it's left us. Or, maybe it's because I miss it everyday and feel like it was much farther away than it really is! Who knows, but I wonder if other brides feel that way - that the time after the wedding moves slowly in the first year.

So, going back to how happy I am now. . . I just am so happy in my marriage! I think Sam and I have done a good job in keeping our marriage high on the priority list, if not first and foremost, during the difficult times we've shared in the past 6 months. We've been on the "same page" through it all, and it's so nice to know we have each other to talk to, to confide in, to calm each other, to retreat with. It's also nice to not have the wedding to worry about and to, instead, be planning our mutual future as we schedule our honeymoon plans, as we think about our finances, as we think about when to have kids and what we want for our family, as we dream about future homes, as we take care of the errands and daily chores.

Sam's one of my most favorite people in the world, and I love coming home to him (or more often than not, him coming home to me!). I love knowing we are just starting out and have the rest of our lives together. I love knowing no matter what, we'll get through it together. I love knowing he'll be by my side. When you look at your future job or home or anything, you never know who you'll work with, who you'll live next to, where you'll worship or grocery shop or anything - but I know no matter what the answer to those mundane questions are - Sam will be there with me to find out! How exciting that really is. I never thought about it like that until after the wedding, and it's so reassuring. So, as I look back at 6 married months - no matter how far or near it seems to the wedding - I have learned a LOT and I know I am truly and significantly happier and happier with each day! Happy 6 months, Sam!

The Plan for Mom

This morning, we went to meet Mom's oncologist for an update on her current status and to find out more about the protocol for her treatment. First of all, I loved her oncologist! He's so empathic, very informative, quite respectful, and extremely thorough. The basic report is that: we're dealing with Stage 2 breast cancer; they're still not sure which came first - the malignant cells in the breast or the malignant cells in the lymph nodes - but it matters not; she does need chemo; she most likely needs radiation on both sides. The doctor went on to say that a team of doctors studied her case to help think about what the best treatment plan was. Given the uniqueness of this case, the doctors used Mom's situation as a learning tool, which pleases me to know that many people helped determine her most aggressive and proactive plan...I just hope they know what an amazing woman they are helping and that she's not just "some lady" but a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, an aunt, a cousin, a friend. (I have no doubt that her doctors keep this in the forefront of their minds - they are all such kind, warm-hearted, gentlemen, but it crossed my mind to think this way when her oncologist was reporting how many people thought about this "case.")

Bottom line: she'll need 6 rounds of chemo - each round 3 weeks apart and lasting about 4 hours at a time. I've learned a lot about the chemo treatments. He explained what medications make up the chemo treatments and the side effects of each med - which is a list that includes but is not limited to nausea/vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, low white blood cell counts, lung damage, leukemia, teary eyes, and heart pump damage. Luckily, with MORE medications to help prevent and "ward off" some of these side effects, the only ones they can't really control or "keep a watch on to monitor" are the hair loss and fatigue. She's expected to drink a LOT of water everyday to help stay hydrated, therefore to help with fatigue. She's also supposed to monitor her temperature to make sure she doesn't have any kind of infection.

So, after a chemo "prep class" and a standard echo-cardiogram next week (on Mom's birthday), she'll be set for starting chemo about a week & a half from today. I say she's "set" rather than "ready" or "prepared" because there's really nothing that gets you "ready" for that. She's doing a great job looking forward and trying her best to mentally prepare for what's ahead, but that's hard to do when it's such a daunting, long road. We're trying to make the most of the pretty miserable situation - looking at the bright side that at least she won't have to fuss with her hair or worry about the kids splashing her at the pool this summer since her hair won't be an issue. We'll make the most of chemo treatments - listening to music, watching movies, reading good books, or just chit-chatting away. We'll buckle down and kill what's left of this piece-of-$h#t cancer. (Amen!)