Zach and I went to visit Katie tonight. We brought dinner in a cooler, so we could eat with her. We also brought THE brown bag with extra clothes and pajamas. It goes without saying that we also brought Lady and Diesel 10. We parked on the floor where Ian had figured was the best place to park. I do not have a good sense of direction and usually think my car's been stolen if I park in a large parking lot. I asked Zach to remember that we were on the yellow floor, but he was having none of that sort of adult nonsense. We had just listened to Peter, Paul, and Mary singing Stewball (twice) and he was trying to figure out what exactly a race horse does. He tries to run faster than the other horses wasn't a satisfactory answer. The night before, we'd read a book in which a duck borrows a bicycle and one of the animals he rides by is a snooty horse who is not impressed with the duck's antics. But when a group of kids leave their bikes by the side of the farmhouse, there are enough bikes for all the animals and the horse tries one of them, looking pretty darn happy, even when the bike looks a little small to him. There is no tidy connection between Stewball and the bike-riding horse. Sometimes things just don't make sense. Zach insists on being picked up when we ride the elevator. We found Katie's new room (great view). She was eating dinner, so Zach sat at the foot of the bed with the table between them. I thought he was going to love the vegetable sushi I'd brought, but he wasn't impressed, nor did he care for Katie's noodles and meatballs. Katie brought out a present she'd made for Zach....a handmade seahorse (there's that horse again) sorcerer's wand on one side and a star on the other. It was made out of cardboard and glued to maybe a tongue depressor. (Katie, I might not have this exactly right, but it's right in spirit.) She explained that if she turned it one way, she could make magical things happen. So she showed him how she could hide behind it, even disappear and then whoosh! there she was again. He was transfixed for about 25 seconds and then decided that he should use the wand as a tennis racket and insisted that Katie play ball with him. They played what he called volleyball for a while, the invisible ball going back and forth, back and forth. Then he hit it across the room and he made me go get it. After I'd done that about six times, I introduced Zach to Buster the dog who would bark happily and retrieve the ball without my getting up. Zach liked Buster and Katie let Buster up on the bed when it was time to say good bye. She sang a song about a dog which made Zach start barking. When he and I were in the elevator going down, a nurse told him that everyone at the nurse's station thought there was a dog on the floor. She was smiling, of course, but Zach was not amused. I returned the smile, but I was holding him, THE brown bag, and the cooler, it was hot and crowded in the elevator, so I was not really amused either. When we got home, Zach didn't want to get out of the car because he wanted to listen to another round of "The Earth is our Mother." Finally the lure of seeing G-Pa was greater than the prospect of a night in the car seat, so we went inside where Zach immediately started drumming. I sang "The Earth is our Mother." It's pretty easy to sing, so G-Pa sang with us. It was getting late, so we went outside to blow mommy a kiss, but we also decided to sing the song to her. While Zach was drumming, a hummingbird came by. G-Pa started to take some photos, but Zach pulled him over to join us. Such a fine night and sad at the same time. Zach really knows how to bring you back to the moment, though. I was gathering a few lavender stems, taking in the beautiful night air and light when Zach announced "I need to go poop in the potty."
Comments (10)
Hello Katie: It's been a long time since those days in Marietta, Ohio, when I met your mom and then you and your brother and father. Remember when you and my daughter Kymberly, your mom, and Peter and I would hop in the car and drive to Columbus for a day of shopping? There was a lot of laughter going on in the back seat from you three kids.
Now, you're all grown up and you're a wife and mom (Zach is adorable). I've followed your life through your mom (yes, we've remained friends all these years).
I know you're going through a difficult time right now and I am thinking of you as you fight the battle.
It is wonderful that you have a blog to keep friends and family informed. I'm happy your mom told me about it so I could send a quick greeting. I'll be dropping in every so often to "check" on you . . . Barb
Posted by Barbara (Shaeffer) Smith | June 18, 2008 5:24 PM
Posted on June 18, 2008 17:24
Hey Katie. Wille and I were talking about you today. Were your ears ringing? She said to tell you "hello" and that she is "thinking positive thoughts for you."
You have been in my thoughts many times during the day this past week.
You are an amazing and courageous woman!! Keep fighting the good fight! We are all in this together with you!
Love,
Jean
Posted by Jean G. Barnes | June 18, 2008 11:14 PM
Posted on June 18, 2008 23:14
Dear Katie,
Good Morning!!! Hope all is well with you today. I have rally been enjoying all the pictures and all the POSTS.
I've got to get for a walk before it rains again.
Remember, I am only a phome call away. I am here for whatever.
Much love,
MOM
Posted by Mom | June 19, 2008 5:00 AM
Posted on June 19, 2008 05:00
I am just getting caught up with all you've been through while I was away. Katie, my heart and soul go out to you, sending you strength to help you through this. I see how well you're doing, all things considered: finding joy in the things that infuse your life with meaning or just temporary enjoyment (from your family to french fries). Continue to use these as your source, while the new life in created in your marrow.
Much love from your cancer buddy...
Posted by Laura | June 19, 2008 6:57 AM
Posted on June 19, 2008 06:57
Dear Katie,
I see that Barbara Shaeffer wrote you. She got married a few years back and is living in southern CA. I'm so glad that she wrote. I remember all those Marathon shopping trips to Columbus and you and Kym got so tired of pushing Peter areound in his stroller. You guys were just too old and sophisicated for that.
Yes, Barbara and I were quite the shoppers and could shop until we dropped. Not so sure that either one of us could do it quite as avidly as we used to do.
Remember the time we all went to that Hotel Restuarant in West Virginia for Thanksgiving ine year and we were too full to have dessert? Then we came home and I made that chocolate Mint cake with all the hot fudge on top. I havn't made one of those in years.
Well a lot of old memories are floating by. My heart is with you today and everyday.
Much Love,
Mom
Posted by Mom | June 19, 2008 8:06 AM
Posted on June 19, 2008 08:06
Hi, Katie's body!
Eva's body here. Just so you know, yesterday Phoenix was 113 degrees. When she woke up to walk the dog before sunrise, the temperature had plummeted to 83. Even the lows around here are setting record highs, and today the Weather Channel is predicting another surge to 113. My sweat glands are exhausted. Of course, Eva's kidneys are taking a bit of a break. She drinks and whoosh! Out my sweat glands.
I wanted to send you the body's version of a high-five, Katie's body. Sure, some old parts have to go; but the rest of you guys are doing a great job. Brain, way to go! You can really churn out the words. Makes a body proud. Lungs, good job. Out with the CO2, in with the O. Heart,you're pumped! Stomach--little iffy from time to time. Settle down and get on with the fuel production. This world is having enough problems with energy. Be a pal here. Fingers, toes, eyes, ears, and the rest of you good guys, stick with Katie, she's the best.
It's amazing what a body can do. Did you know that a bee's body can't fly? That's what aeronautical engineers will tell you--the problem in the ratio of body mass to wings. Fortunately, the bee doesn't know a thing about engineering and flies anyway. We bodies don't need to know everything; we just need to believe that anything is possible. I love it when Eva tells me that she is big and strong and we can do anything together. Anyone who looks at her knows she is little and puny, but we keep doing all kinds of amazing things. Right now we are painting watercolor pictures--not bad. And we have started running on the eliptical machine. So, Katie's body, when Katie tells you that you are getting healthier by the day, you believe her. Together, you and Katie have great things to do. And when you get to doing them, I will be cheering.
Much love, Eva's Body
Posted by Eva | June 19, 2008 11:43 AM
Posted on June 19, 2008 11:43
Thinking of you, Katie!!!!!! You're as strong as they come.
Love,
Mac
Posted by Mac Martine | June 19, 2008 4:05 PM
Posted on June 19, 2008 16:05
Dear Katie,
Hope all is well with you today. It is Friday and I start work tonight and work through Tuesday morning. But I can check in on the Blog at work when I get a few minutes
It has rained so much that we had to cut the grass againj today-the rain and the fertilizer.
I wrote Gretch Montgomery about your BMT and gave her the blog site. So Ihope she passes it around the town and you'll hear from Marietta. It would be good to find out what is going on there.
Well, take care today.
Much love,
Barbara
Posted by Mom | June 20, 2008 10:03 AM
Posted on June 20, 2008 10:03
Dear Katie,
I just looked at all hte new pictures of the start of the BMT. Your nurses look like they are really pleasant-hope that they are. Hope and I know they are very supportive and informative.
Talk with you sometime tonight.
Love,
Mom
Posted by Mom | June 20, 2008 10:20 AM
Posted on June 20, 2008 10:20
Dear Nurses,
Thank you for being there for my daughter, Katie. I so appreciate you making her comfortalble-being there for her physical and emotional needs. She is a great kid as you probably know by now and deserves the best. A great big thank you to you all for taking such good care of Katie, my daughter.
Love to you all,
Barbara
Posted by Mom | June 20, 2008 11:03 AM
Posted on June 20, 2008 11:03