A Week of Highs and Lows

This week, there have been no in-betweens. Everything in my
life has veered from one extreme or the other. A few examples:

Clutching the Codeine

My son and I have been passing colds, flu and bronchitis
back and forth for the past two months. This was my week to “enjoy” bronchitis.
Ever tried to blog while you’re loopy on cough syrup with codeine? I briefly
thought about attempting it, but I dozed off before I could summon the energy
to turn on my computer. Instead, I read a Christian murder mystery. The term
“Christian murder mystery” is an oxymoron, but nonetheless, I enjoyed Brandilyn
Collins’ Dead of Night. What I can
remember of it, anyway.

The Shunt

My youngest niece just got out of the hospital after having
an operation to have a new shunt “installed” in her brain (she has
hydrocephalus, a condition marked by an inability for her cerebral-spinal to
drain properly, commonly known as “water on the brain”). She’s doing fine and
may even go back to school next week.

The Graduate

My oldest niece, who’s a senior in college, was just
selected to be her university’s graduation speaker. Quite an honor. She’ll be
sharing the podium with the university president and some big-wig alumnus.

The Cancer Scare

I spent several hours at the breast specialist this week
after my doctor noticed some unfamiliar lumps during my routine physical. After
numerous mammograms, ultrasounds and putting on and off of those delightful
hospital gowns, I was declared cancer-free. My mom had breast cancer and I,
therefore, am in the high-risk category. It was a bit of a worrisome week, and
I’m thankful nothing came of it.

Ladies, be sure to get your yearly mammograms (they don’t
hurt and they only take five minutes) and do your monthly self-exams. Men,
encourage the woman in your life to get a mammogram if she’s over 40 or has a
high-risk of getting breast cancer.

The Humiliation

My son experienced his most embarrassing moment a couple of
days ago. In seventh grade science, they’re studying the human reproductive
system and his teacher chose him to read the section on the male reproductive
system OUT LOUD to the entire class. Oh, the shame! Oh, the humiliation! He
told me he was glad he was sitting in the front row so people couldn’t see how
red his face was.

The Best Mom in the
World

After relating this “most embarrassing moment” to me, he
asked to spend the afternoon at his friend’s house. When I said yes, he
replied, “You’re the best mom in the whole world…other than Jen” (his birth mom).

The Offer

Yesterday afternoon I got the phone call I’ve been awaiting
for three long years. It was the editor from a Christian publishing house,
offering me a contract for my first book, What’s So Great About Adoption?: A
Self-Guided Tour for the Uninitiated. I’m going to write a book about adoption!
I still can’t believe that my dream and prayer of nine years is actually coming
true.