Valentine

It's -19 degrees right now on this early Sunday morning.  The sun is up but the son is not.  He's still snug in his bed, hopefully deeply sleeping, making up for all those interrupted hours.  I have his medications lined up like soldiers ready to dispense as soon as he shuffles out of bed.

There are no appointments today.  Those are scheduled for tomorrow and Wednesday.  And I'm glad because his birthday is Tuesday and I want him to spend it without getting poked with a needle.  Even the little things seem so much bigger now.

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He feels good today after sleeping more soundly last night.  He said he woke up twice and only had sharp pain when he shifted to his side in the middle of the night.  His voice is stronger today, almost back to normal.  

Yesterday, a knock on our door surprised us.  It ws a "neighbor" we'd talked with a time or two.  She has a gorgeous dog named Luna.  Luna and her Mom, Lori, were outside when I was leaving to walk to the hospital yesterday morning.  Mark was with me because he's walked with me every morning even though he can't go inside.  So we talked with her and told her that our son would be home that afternoon.  She and her husband are here waiting for a liver.  We are now praying that their phone will soon ring and she'll be rushing him over to the very place we were on our way to.  She said they've been here since the 8th of January from their home in New York.

Shortly after we got him home, she came knocking with homemade Spanish Chicken Soup, a tray of homemade Swedish Meatballs over a bed of egg noodles and a variety of cake slices.  She offered us the use of her car should we need it while we're here.  What a warm, warm heart this woman has. I cannot wait to get to know her better.  And I plan to.  All three of us were touched and humbled by such generosity from someone we'd just met.  

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I went for a walk earlier this afternoon while Mark was napping and Nicholas was Face-timing with his girlfriend, Tara.  I was bundled in all my cold weather gear.  Within 5 minutes, my fingers and toes were so uncomfortable I turned around to make my way back.  It happened quickly and I wanted to pick up my pace but I also didn't want to slip and fall.  We've been here for one week today and this is the coldest it's been yet.  At the time of my walk, it was after 3:00 pm and -6 outside with a "feel like" way lower than that.

Tonight the "feel like' is around -40.  Nicholas has to be at Mayo at 7:50 in the morning. 

Guess whose car will be warmed up at 7:40, ready to drop us off? 

Our Valentine. 

And her name is Lori.