After we got home we tried settling down. Tried to rest back up from the three nights at the hospital with little sleep. We know that Grandpa and Deedee came in town and hung out with the girlies while we were at the hospital. We face-timed the girls regularly. Stacy and Mimi brought stuff to us while we were at the hospital. When we got home they all were there while we tried to get back to normal. Mentally exhausted as we tried navigating FMLA papers, insurance calls, and nurses. There were sweet moments and we even managed to have a few pictures of them. Outside of the pictures the next week or so is hazy in our mind. We made it by the grace of God. I am sure we missed thanking people for blessing us this week with food, help, and loving on us. We missed work and getting things done at the house. I wish we could remember everything to personally thank each person for their kindness and prayers. As things come back to us we may randomly send thank you notes or a text but please know we are thankful for all of our friends and family. We leaning into God, each other, and drawing strength from friends and family praying to God on our behalf.
Monday evening, Mimi and the Rhoads came over for dinner. Chris had said he was going to lay down as the smell of the food was getting to him. Lisa walked out to eat with everyone. As we were close to finishing dinner the phone rang and said “hubby”. She immediately started walking to the bedroom as Chris did not sound right. Upon entering the room there was cold sweat, the ned was soaked, Chris was saying he did not feel right, slurring words, and then his eyes rolled back in his head. Lisa’s heart was racing! As she remembered Stacy was in the den she yelled and her sister came running. It was a chemo reaction but neither Chris nor Lisa knew what to expect with the reactions. We got cold clothes to wipe Chris down and cool him down. Stacy continued talking calmly to him and getting him to drink water as Lisa went to make a protein shake for him. He drank the first shake and then a second. As he started re-hydrating he started talking more normal and freezing. Lisa convinced him to stand up while Stacy and Mimi striped the bed to put on new sheets. When he was back in the dry, clean bed we wrapped him in blankets to warm back up as he drifted off to sleep. Lisa was still nervous. Stacy massage her sisters feet with oils and soothed her fears letting her know it was a normal side effect. Dr Willey texted too confirming the same thing. That night Mimi and Stacy stayed at our house just in case to help ease Lisa’s mind.
Thankful our sister is in medical field and stayed with us though the night after a rough evening. It helped Lisa sleep a little more knowing if she yelled Stacy is a light sleeper and would come running. Mimi and Stacy enjoyed their morning coffee together the next morning.
After a scary Monday night Tuesday we needed a calm Tuesday morning. Lisa was able to snuggle on the couch with the girls before school. That afternoon we wanted to have fun and laughter in the house. We still had not gotten to celebrate Deedee’s birthday with her so decided to celebrate and add a little joy in our life and celebrate. It was not as big of a celebration as normal but it was sweet time. Mimi went by to get Crumbl cookies for us on her daily visit to make sure we were okay. Leia played “Happy Birthday” for Deedee on the clarinet while Ivy and the rest of us sang. We enjoyed the cookies and celebrated being together for the day. It was a great ending with our little family snuggled up together again in bed. So thankful for sweet gift of time and any moments we get together!
Wednesday, Kelly came to town. It was sweet to see her. Lisa was still in a fog so there are not many pictures but that evening the sweet night snuggles with daddy’s baby girl was snapped and chris reaching out just to hold my leg was captured. We still are holding each other for dear life; God please heal Chris!
Leia and Ivy has always gotten 150+ items for their schools can food drive. It was important to maintain this to Leia. At 7:30 Wednesday evening she came into our bedroom to tell momma that we forgot to go to the store. Lisa asked aunt Kelly to walk in and asked her to please go to Walmart. Leia went with her. They did a math game to figure out how to maximize her budget. So thankful Kelly took her and drove her to school the next day to drop them off. Sisters are blessings!
Chris was having trouble in the shower so Grandpa headed to Home Depot Thursday to get a shower head that had a removable nozzle and installed it for us. Thankful for a dad who loves us and willing to help during this difficult time.
Uncle Johnny holds a special place in each of our hearts. He was the first family member that Chris introduced Lisa too; she had to pass his review before Chris inducted her into meeting the rest of the family in Gatlinburg. When we were entering the hospital, Johnny was boarding a cruise but called each day to check on Chris. When they returned to port Wednesday morning Johnny texted to see when it’d be okay for him to come up or if we would want him too. When Lisa told Chris about the text, Chris’s response was to tell him to “get his booty up here” (with more colorful language not fit for our family blog). Uncle Johnny went home unpacked and repacked. Thankful uncle David let Johnny take his car to not lose time and start driving since Johnny’s car needed an oil change. Thursday afternoon, uncle Johnny arrived. We loved seeing him! He had told us in 2019 he was coming to visit; it took his favorite AL nephew getting sick to make it up here but we are glad he made it! There were hugs, tears, big smiles, and laughs.
Thursday afternoon the Rhoads came by to give Chris a happy, “Chris Strong” bracelets they had made to show support for him during his treatments
Ivy showed daddy a happy surprise of a cookie basket Ricky, Dawn, Isla, and Kellen sent us then teaching uncle Johnny hand claps (Leia said: He was not that good.)
Friday evening was the Jinga night. There were belly laughs! First time we had the belly laughs like that in a while. Momma’s heart was full of joy hearing the girls laugh and being part of it. We did bless uncle Johnny playing with hurricane Ivy who wanted to make sure Johnny lost.
Saturday, momma’s heart was full watching Leia teach Ivy to play her clarinet and enjoyed watching Ivy have fun playing Jinga with Grandpa
There was snuggles all around
Momma went to get a massage and by Mimi’s to install the birthday gift we gave her too. Chris felt good and we all got to enjoy sweet time together. Grandpa and uncle John took the girls to ride bikes at StarLake. We all ordered in Indian food and shared sweet fellowship over dinner. Chris ate some of the chicken and naan as well. Blessed for a great day with some of those we love dearly!
Sunday was beautiful day! Chris, Gene, and uncle Mark enjoyed Sunday football. Mimi, Deedee, Lisa, and uncle John took the girls to StarLake to ride bikes. It was the first time in a while Lisa got to walk more than a mile. Thank you God for blessing us with the time and health to enjoy the day. The girlies built an amazing fort in the basement to hide out in when they needed to escape.
What a beautiful weekend!!