The Tension

As we wave bye to July, we’re going to chalk up another month in the no-cancer-related-medical-appointments streak. We are being slightly nuanced and claiming a technicality in order to do so, but I’m for it. Everyone loves a good streak, right? High-fives all around.

Jennings saw a local endocrinologist this week to continue establishing a base line for him here locally. This was at St. Jude’s request back at his annual visit in April and the reason I am throwing it out from breaking the streak.

L took him to the appointment where he had another hand x-ray and labs drawn. He has the blood draw-thing down now and acts like it’s no big deal if you ask him about it. I love that so much - it’s the little things that show how far he has come. The results basically confirmed what St. Jude has been tracking. He is growing, though, on a low percentile growth curve. That’s a positive as it means he does not need growth hormone, which plenty of pediatric cancer survivors do, and it comes with its own host of side effects. The base line readings for other hormone levels will help them ensure his body goes into puberty at some point during the typical age range. That is probably the thing they are most concerned about. For now, all looks good and besides being knocked down a couple growth chart curves by two bone marrow transplants, he is no worse for the wear. Other than some slightly old bones…11 years old vs his actual age of 10 yrs 3 mos. We will take this relatively new world of endocrinology one step at a time…

Here's a few from July, several of which involve other medical visits…really loving these high-deductible health plans 😂

Starting at top left: In a “let’s get this over with” kind of way, L uses the summer to knock out the kids’ well visits and other appointments. That’s all four in one exam room…yes, I believe the Fire Marshal would have a problem with that. And no, there is no bulk discount. It’s more the kind of place where one kid gets examined, it counts as a preventative visit, 100% covered. Another kid gets the exact same examination, they see an ear infection during said exam, they say the words “he has an ear infection” out loud, and it turns from a 100% covered preventative visit into that plus an $80 doctor visit. How we have all collectively managed to develop a system like this leaves me speechless. The next one over is the boys celebrating ‘Merica in style. You could argue they’re missing a couple “eagle” tattoos to really round it out…we’ll work on that. Bottom left: Smally celebrated the 4th in her own style with our very first Palmer kid broken bone. That’s 36 combined kid-years without one, so a pretty good run no doubt. All in all, it was the “perfect” broken bone…not super painful, no resetting or surgery, and only in a splint for about two weeks. The last one is the Palmer team in the swim team end of season party family relay event. I thought my pink goggles made me look pretty legit until a couple of the other dads came out in speedos…and I don’t think it was meant to be a joke. Results? Dead last. My goggles flipped off my face as soon as I hit the water and having Small Bear as our anchor was, in hindsight, not the best strategy.

We did our annual Ocean Isle trip in July as well. It was so good to get away and slow down for a bit. Some from that trip are below. We always go to church on the beach down there as one of our traditions. This year, the sermon hit me as especially timely and helpful. That’s not always the case with church on the beach…distractions are everywhere, I’m covered in sweat, and trying to make sure kids aren’t flinging sand into other “pews.” But the pastor preached on Luke 10 and the story of Mary and Martha, fully acknowledging how divisive a passage it can be. Jesus shows up at their house. Martha is busy working away, doing and serving, trying to be hospitable. Mary, on the other hand, sits at Jesus’s feet, listening to all he has to say. Their responses are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Most of us identify with one more than the other and therein lies the debate and the controversy. We shouldn’t spend our lives in either extreme. There are times to slow down, take a breath, be with Jesus. There are other times when we need to live out our faith, serve others, offer the helping hand. The point is to feel that tension. To live into it. The very fact that you feel the tension means you’re getting it, or at least thinking about it. It was especially poignant for me, one wired more like Martha. It helped me actually take a vacation and it also put that tension front and center in my mind as we enter a period where the to-do’s will be piling up.

Left to right, top to bottom: that’s 3 of the 4 up for children’s time during church on the beach, plus that little guy on the far left with his truck and blond curls. He reminded us so much of Jennings at that age and the beach trip we took right before his diagnosis. Next, we always do a girl day / boy day. The girls chose to go to Myrtle for the day. Unless it involves golf, no thank you. The boys and I played arcade games, putt-putt, and fished the point. There is little photographic evidence of any of it. Next, all four playing in the surf on the final evening…L had been playing Scotty Mcreery’s song “5 more minutes” during the week and that was all I could think about. Dinner on the beach! We tried that out this trip with the kids getting bigger and older and love it. Did it twice, one night staying out until after 9p fishing, watching the stars come out, and hoping for turtles to hatch. Caroline and Lauren each nailing it to capture that handstand. Next is all four dressed up for “fancy night” where we go to one of the more expensive, nice restaurants in Calabash. We managed to do a full week family beach trip and come away with 0 family pictures 😂. The twins downing their Sunset Slushes, one of the best parts of OIB. We love it so much that we have a specific line item in our trip budget for it. #kiddingnotkidding Henry straight getting after one of his beach dinners. He’s a big pasta fan like his dad. Wouldn’t have been my first choice for a shirt off, sitting in the sand kinda meal though, but to each his own.

I mentioned the to-do’s piling up…they’re mostly related to 👇

We are packing up and moving out, temporarily that is. That picture is in the rental house we secured, the one I mentioned last time. Financing is in place, we are moving out to the rental (and a storage unit), our contractor is gearing up…all that’s left is the permit. He still doesn't have it. So, we are hoping and praying that it comes through soon and we didn’t jump the gun too bad on moving out and starting a lease! I am told that it wouldn’t be a true home renovation project without a fair share of anxiety inducing drama.

Hopefully in the midst of moving and trying to resettle, we are still able to enjoy a few more weeks of summer. Hope you and yours can as well. We’ll check back at the end of the month to see how things are going.

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve along? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

#allinforjennings