It’s almost hard to remember back a year ago when churches were open, hugs were acceptable, travel plans were being made and smiles on faces were visible. Life just seemed so simple. For us, our plans for the new year of 2020 included a trip to see Justin in February, summertime flea markets, and a long-planned visit to Germany in September to spend time with our German Daughter, Carolin. It was on our way home from Justin’s last February that…
It’s hard to explain, waking up Christmas morning the other day should have been filled with joy & excitement. The chance to be with family, opening presents, eating more than I should, and just plain having fun. That’s not what I felt, Christmas was different this year. I woke up with a knot in my stomach that I just couldn’t shake. Not that I didn’t feel well, just one of those uneasy feelings. I continued on with all my morning…
Merry Christmas to all our friends and family. A cold but joyous day to celebrate the birth of Jesus and his humble beginnings. Over the past couple of days, we were blessed to see a number of our children and grandchildren. Some in-person, some remotely, always with joy in our hearts and a smile on our faces. To all of you who have lifted us up in prayer, called, visited, sent cards, brought John meals or silently carred, THANK YOU!…
Who starts all the sayings we are familiar with and how do they become part of our everyday vocabulary. My dad was prolific with these types of sayings and will share that at some point. But, ‘The difference is like night and day’ is the one that is appropriate here. First, let me apologize for not updating you sooner. Sometimes, as my past friend, Lyle would say, “I was up to my waist (not his exact word) in alligators, trying…
Time marches on as we head to mid-January and our next decisive appointment. Arriving home from the hospital last Thursday evening, our challenges with life haven’t subsided yet. With a feeding tube now in place, Suzanne has had some struggles so far. The nutritionist set the amount she was to have administered every day, not considering that she hasn’t been eating well prior. The result, an overstuffed stomach and gastric explosions from both directions; not what she needed. After figuring…
When we make a decision about anything, our experiences help us rate that decision on whether the reward is worth the risk. Whether to pass the car ahead of us; Whether to cook the Roux a little longer (you’ll have to look that one up :); Whether to marry someone; Whether to buy a house. What we decide is based on what we expect the outcome to be. Today was no exception to that concept. Suzanne’s doctor had to decide…
Remember that time you sent your kindergartner to school for their first day? The first time your child went on an overnight campout? When your High Schooler left on their Senior Trip? That’s how I felt yesterday as I dropped Suzanne off at a Hospital that’s 100 miles away and drove off into the distance. For the first time since this all began, I won’t be by her side, I won’t be involved in her recovery, won’t hear what the…
A couple of years ago, I was part of the Church Christmas program, ‘Christmas through the Years’. Church members presented a number of vignettes portraying what it was like during Christmas for different time periods in history. The time period I shared was World War II and how my dad, Charles Bruns, handled being overseas for Christmas during the war. My part was well received and many commented that they hoped I would do it again sometime. With that in…
Preparing for the round of appointments last Wednesday, a nurse called in advance to ask how Suzanne was doing; some loss of taste has occurred, nausea, morning sweats, congestions, cough, and throat pain. All these symptoms are very consistent with where she is in her treatment plan. They also fall right in line with COVID, UGH! So we knew somehow that her appointment that day was going to be more difficult. Knowing a COVID test was 1st on the agenda…
Today was Suzanne’s six-week checkup at Rush Medical Center, six weeks since she finished her treatments. Up early and on the road before 8 am on this brisk December morning. Arriving at Rush around 10:15 to start what turned out to be a long day. COVID was our nemesis today and I will share our experience in an upcoming post. So let’s get to the meat of the matter as that’s what you want to know. Suzanne had a CT…