Managing Nick’s illness is an ongoing balancing act – matching his food intake to his symptoms, deciding how much of the optional meds he should take and when, going out during cold and flu season without putting him at risk of infection, assessing whether something can wait until the next doctor’s visit or needs immediate treatment. It can be draining, but for the most part it’s working, in that we’ve so far been able to manage the symptoms. The three of us will be doing this dance for the next six months, but it’s all new to us now. With time and practice, we should move through the days a bit more gracefully.
On Saturday, we visited friends in Osgoode for lunch, the first time in a while that we’ve gone out together for something other than a medical appointment, which was a refreshing change.
New Year’s Eve, Nick was feeling good and met some friends for a Pho lunch then came home and decided to try making naan bread. He got so excited when he saw that it was working that he came running to tell us about it, during which time it kind of burnt…still, tasted pretty good for a first attempt.
Ray and I rang in the new year with Rob, Sue, Heather and Murray, who we’ve celebrated most New Year’s Eves with since our children were toddlers. Now our ‘children’ no longer stay home with us and us older folks debate whether to celebrate midnight Newfoundland time (10:30 Ottawa time) or hold out until Nova Scotia’s midnight a half hour later. We broke out the champagne at 11:00 but before we knew it, it was almost ‘real’ midnight so we watched the ball fall in Times Square, had a second round of hugs then headed home to bed.
Nick invited a few friends over for New Year’s Eve. They lasted a few hours longer than we did (think they crashed around 3 am) and they’re now in our kitchen making a pancake breakfast.
Part of me wants to say, ‘good riddance to 2017’, but life is a series of peaks and valleys…with an occasional canyon thrown in…and we have to take the bad with the good.
Tough as the past five months have been, there were a lot of happy memories in 2017. Picking a few photos from each month helped remind me of that.
It’s also hard to get excited about what’s in store for us in the first half of 2018, but all we can do is take things as they come, look for those silver linings and trust that we’ll soon be out of this valley and on to new and exciting peaks.
On this first day of 2018, the sun is shining and the sky is deep blue…but like a venomous snake camouflaged to look harmless, it’s deceptive. Temperatures are at -35 with the windchill and will freeze exposed skin in ten minutes. Wishing you all a warm and healthy 2018.
Happy New Year, guys! 😀
Thank you. Same to all of you!
Here’s to the peaks! 😜 All the best in 2018, folks! Xoxo!
Thanks Rose. Wishing you and the rest of the family a Happy New Year!
Wishing you all continuing strength, courage, love, humour, and all those qualities that you as a family hold do well. Ultimately , recovered good health to Nick xxxx
All the best in 2018 Lou. Hugs across the miles.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you too. The Swedish treats were much appreciated over the holidays. 🙂
Choduras’- you peak, valley, and canyon with heart, courage and an adventuresome spirit.
Thank you for sharing.
May 2018 bring you all an abundance of health and connections, continued strength, courage and love from near and far.
Xo jennifer
Thank you Jennifer. Same to all of you. Hope to see you soon. 🙂
Here’s to a better 2018! Lots of love. ❤️
Back atcha tipster. xo
Happy New Year from all the Aschams in Cheltenham. You are in our thoughts as you make this journey. May 2018 see the path somewhat easier than of late. Kx
Happy New Year from the Choduras. We’re certainly hoping so! xo
Lovely photos. Such a full life of family, friends and fun activities
Thanks Arliss. Yes, we’re definitely blessed in the friends and family (incl. cousins) department. 🙂
Happy New Year!! A long road still ahead for Nick’s treatment, but I’m sure 2018 will bring lots of positive news on that front. Bernie and Tannis.
Thank you Bernie and Tannis. Happy 2018!
Great pics! All the best in 2018–despite it all, I am sure things will be great!
Mike and Michelle
Thanks Mike and Michelle and the same to you. Hope to catch up sometime soon.
A belated New Year wish from all of us to all of you for a better 2018 with hopefully a few more peaks.
It was great seeing you in 2017 and your photos show some of the cool things you did last year…
Love Phil, Ros, David, Issy & Natasha. Xxx
Happy New Year to all of you and thanks for helping make 2017 peakier for us. 🙂