Goodness - this was going to get updated a little faster I thought......however, life just apparently 'happens', and then all of a sudden it's been a couple of months. So once again, this is a slightly old-ish update, but for family history sake - now it's a documented old-ish update :)
WHAT???? Back up a second. We were Not prepared for that announcement. That isn't something we were planning on. At all. Cancer is something that happens to other people. For the first month or so, it seems fairly surreal.
However, 3 months later - What a remarkably positive attitude Carol has about this whole thing. And how well she's responding to treatment. Truly inspiring to all of us.
Nearly 5 rounds of Chemo down, and soon a bone-marrow transplant (and WHO KNEW the miracles of modern medicine?....She is actually going to be her OWN DONOR for the transplant!)
Truly a blessed time we live in, and what a remarkable woman she is!
With in just a few days of mother in law being diagnosed with cancer, we got another phone call that her mother - Grandma Britt had passed away (my mother-in-laws- mother) (got that?)
So last minute arrangements were made, Chemo was put on hold for a week, kids were shuffled around, and thanks to many wonderful friends picking up our parental duties - we were able to spend 5 days in North Carolina with some remarkable people.
GrandpaWoody Britt is quite sincerely the cutest southern man you'll ever meet. There's a sparkle in his eye, and the best southern accent you'll ever hear! He spoke at the funeral and it was truly touching.
Almost all of Jason's siblings were abletomake the trip, and we had a fabulous time experiencing a little of NC and just visiting together. Some of the NC highlights were visiting the U.S.S.North Carolina, eating at Captain Ratties (best darn clam chowder I've ever had !), and of course eating authentic North carolina barbecue and hush puppies with the whole fam! Husband and I both agreed hushpuppies could become a staple at our house, AND that we'd weigh much MUCH more if we lived in North Carolina!
The day before we were to leave there was a big storm on the weather front. Stores were closing early, gas stations all but deserted,and you've never seen the canned food isles at Walmart so bare! And honestly, there was no more than a few flurries in the air. We spent a good chunk of the night chuckling at everyone's apparent terror about the impending storm, which we were certain would be no more than a 'light-dusting' of snow.
So.....imagine our surprise when we woke up the next morning, ready to head to the airport and this is what we saw:
The pictures may not do it enough justice, but the ENTIRE van was completely ICED over - 1/2 inch to an inch thick. (it sort of looks like water in the picture - believe me, it was ICE). Completely.
We then embarked on the scariest 2 1/2 hour drive of my life. If you've never driven in an ice storm, then there's absolutely nothing to compare it too. The roads don't do that here where we live. Thick thick ice - not black ice - just plain old thick ice covering every part of the roads. I think we lost count of cars that had gone off the roads after 20 or so.....and that was in a relatively short distance too. My heart was a pounding! Just having experienced a crash in poor weather the month earlier, I think I was a little hyper-sensitive to the driving conditions, and quite honestly I don't know if I had ever been more relieved in all my entire life than when we FINALLY reached the airport.
It's always good to find your way back home again.
Me, Stef, and Heather back at the airport.
4 comments:
I"m sorry to hear about Jason's mom's diagnosis. Happy to learn that she is tolerating the treatment well. That's very sad that his grandmother died during that time too. Lot's of hard things to deal with all at once.
It's great that you guys were able to make it to the funeral. Sounds like you had an enjoyable time with the family. Glad to hear that you survived the ice storm. That's crazy!
I love that middle picture of you. :)
My mother-in-law has recently gone through chemo and radiation for breast cancer. Man, it is just no fun. Hope they both recover.
And glad you survived driving in the ice!
Wow, sorry to hear about your Mother In Law. I hope she continues to do well in her treatment.
All this time I have thought Hush Puppies were shoes. :) I will have to google just exactly what they are. I am always up to trying yummy new treats.
Life does happen it seems there are moments when we are reminded on every hand that it is mortality.
Glad you had a good and safe trip.
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