Missouri Musings

I'm sitting in the waiting room of a surgical center as a doctor works to remove tonsils and a tumor from Ryan's throat.  I hate having a loved one be in pain, and I'm a little fearful.  Ryan will have a difficult recovery, so I will play 24-hour nurse for the next couple weeks.  Most likely, the tumor is just a strange growth that enjoyed the comfort of Ryan's throat, but the doctor couldn't rule out lymphoma.  The tumor will be sent to the lab for testing over the weekend, so we are praying we get a phone call soon telling us he has a clean bill of health.  I haven't been too worried until the past couple days when my anxiety has risen as I've allowed some "what if" scenarios enter my thoughts.  We've experienced some crazy trials in the years we've been together, but we've never had a major health crisis.  I know it's inevitable to battle health issues as our bodies age, but I'm hoping we have many more years before we have to fight those battles.

I've spent the past 4 days in bed.  I got so sick last Sunday that I've been in a medicated fog ever since.  Today I'm grateful for many things:

• the priesthood blessing Ryan was given last night by our home teachers.
• the many prayers being offered for Ryan by friends and family near and far.
• the blessing that I'm feeling mostly better today after many days of sickness.
• having all my kids in school so I was able to take actual "sick days" - I went back to bed every day after getting the kids out the door.
• having the internet work at our house this morning after the router stopped working a couple weeks ago - it's not easy to attend online college when you can't get online.
• my brand-new SUV will be brand-new again after getting body work done this week.
• the awesome family vacation we had in Florida.
• Tiffany and her family are coming to visit in a week!

The nurse just sent me to a consultation room where the surgeon will come speak to me in a few minutes.  Hoping my Ry-man is OK . . .