This Week

has just been one big emotional roller coaster. One of my brothers has very few friends. Any friends is too many to him, so the few he has are just work associates really. That's the way he wants it. He says having friends is too much responsibility. You get wrapped up in their lives and their problems become your problems PLUS they expect you to help them move whether or not you own a truck.

Such a sad way to live. I can't imagine my life without my friends around - truck or no truck. There hasn't been much going on in my own life this week except for the new job. But lots going on with my friends.

I had several emails this week checking on how things were going around here because I've been quiet. This email was in my in-box last night. "I have to tell you- you didn't tell us about your day yesterday on your blog and I feel like I missed part of your life...you're being followed : )" so here's a recap of what having good friends can do to your week.

The kids were gone to my mom's for a couple of days, so it was quiet here. They had a great time (thanks, Mom) and got home yesterday afternoon. The boys all got much needed haircuts while they were gone and they look great. It doesn't matter who cuts their hair, it's a hit and miss thing if it looks good or not. Jacob and Wes-Man have some awful cow-licks and their hair has a mind of its own. But - back to the week that was.

Monday was Cheryl's funeral. It was less horrid than I imagined it would be. Our pastor did a great job, there was praise music playing in the background and it was short. Now, you have to use your imagination for the next part. The chairs are sat in a U shape around the pastor and casket. I am on the front row of one side with a lot of friends from church. Vicki, Terri and several of Cheryl's other good friends are on the other side front row. Of course Cheryl's family is on the center front row.

Right in the middle of the service, when all is quiet except for the pastor you hear Keegan's loud grunt and then some of the most explosive poop known to babykind. Cheryl loved babies. She would only take babies in foster care and I think she would have cracked up. It was almost symbolic. That poop was heard all over that room and suddenly there was a quick down shift of everyone's head because to look at anyone in the eyes resulted in smiles that were quickly turning into small, silent giggles. As funerals go, that one will be memorable.

When I got to the funeral home Monday morning, Vicki told me that Seth was on his way to Riley's Children Hospital with her mom and she was heading up right after the service. I have asked for prayer for Seth, who has spina bifida before. For his heart repair surgery and recently when they straightened his legs. When he woke up Monday morning, he was puking, had a horrible headache, his head was swollen, his pupils dilated and his eyes protruding. An obvious shunt failure in his head.

Vicki had someone watching her kids for Monday but Tuesday my kids and I went to her house and I watched her 6 other kids, along with my four little ones for the day and night. During a 2 hour surgery Tuesday afternoon, Seth had his old shunt removed and a new one put in on the other side. He is now at home feeling great except for the areas where he has a lot of stitches.

Tuesday was also Jacob's birthday and he ended up baking his own cake, picking out a present, calling several stores till he found it and being content with it not even being wrapped when we ran in and grabbed it. Can you say slacker mom? Well, don't. He wanted to make his cake so I let him. PLUS --

His REAL present happens next weekend. He, along with Zac and Big Guy and a couple of his friends are going on a cave exploring tour. One where you get down and dirty, crawling through mud, wearing hard hats and lights, getting hosed off at the end of the tour. You have to be 10 to do this, so he's been waiting for one of his buddies to turn 10 to do it. His friends are also spending the night Friday.

Ordering the tickets to the cave tour on Monday before the funeral was a bad idea. A very bad idea. I ended up crying and had the ticket agent crying right along with me. Michelle is one kind-hearted ticket agent.

Wednesday was the day my friend, Teresa, sat for seven hours while her husband was having his aortic valve replaced. That surgery went great and Neal is doing well.

It was also the day that Patricia posted her news that she was not pregnant. She had already told me this several days before, so it was not a surprise but it was still sad to actually see it posted.

Thursday - I did nothing. Andi and my sister in law, Kathy came over and we made chocolate chunk cookies and played Rummikubes. We also laid around like slugs and watched Alvin and the Chipmunks. There was a ladies meeting at church Thursday night. I had made plans with Cheryl to pick her up and drive her to it. I couldn't even drive myself to it, thinking of her not being there in the car with me. Instead I went out to dinner with Andi and Big Guy and cried in my car on the way to and home from the restaurant.

Even that day ended on a down note because Bill's sister called to say his dad had been having a lot of pain and test results had come back showing that his cancer is throughout his bones now. He is choosing to forego any more treatments except for pain medicine which a Hospice nurse will administer. Bill is on his way up there now.

Friday, I drove Melanie and Marcus to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. The doctors are still trying to narrow down exactly which strain of Urea Cycle Disorder Marcus has and it's a very long process. In the meantime, Marcus continues to have portions of his brain die. Yesterday he saw a pediatric neurologist who specializes in metabolic disorders.

If you ever think you need to gripe about your kid leaving a dirty ice cream bowl in the sink - go spend a day at a children's hospital. You will drop to your knees and thank God your kids are even able to eat ice cream - or lift a bowl - or say "It wasn't me." when asked who left the bowl in the sink.

Having a week like this one might make some people think my brother is right in his thinking - being a friend brings a lot of responsibility along with it.

On the other hand, if the circumstances were reversed, I know that these friends would be there for me. And if I asked - they would bring a truck.