Interview with C at 7 Years Old

Who is your favorite person in the whole world? Mommy
What is your favorite color? blue
What's your favorite television show? Wild Krats
What's your favorite outfit? my Adrian Peterson jersey
What sport do you like best? baseball
What song do you love? That's What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction
What's your favorite cereal? Trix
Who is your best friend? Knut
What do you want to be when you grow up? a race car driver
What's your favorite book? Junie B. Jones books
What are you really good at? playing on my DS, baseball, and wrestling Daddy
Where do you wish to go on vacation? Hawaii
What is your best memory? visiting Oregon and Disneyworld
What would you buy if you had $1000? an iPad, an iPhone, and a few games for my DS
What vegetable do you hat the most? spinach & green beans
If you could have a wish, what would it be? probably to have a motorcycle
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Superman
Who is your biggest hero? Daddy
What do you like to do best with your friends? have playdates with them
What do you hope you'll get to do before your next birthday? play football with my friend, Knut

Interview with A at 7 years old

Who is your favorite person in the whole world? Jesus!
What is your favorite color? turquoise
What's your favorite television show? Arthur
What's your favorite outfit? a rainbowy-flower dress that ties behind my neck
What sport do you like best? tennis
What song do you love? Trouble by Taylor Swift
What's your favorite cereal? Captain Crunch (even though we never have it...Mamma Sue does though!)
Who is your best friend? Skylar
What do you want to be when you grow up? a vet and a professional gymnastics person
What is your favorite book? Pinkalicious
What are you really good at? the splits, swimming and snuggling Mommy
Where do you wish you could go on vacation? Disneyland
What is your best memory? being in Oregon
What would you buy if you had $1000? a horsey, even though my mom and dad probably wouldn't let me
What vegetable do you hate the most? lettuce
If you could have a wish, what would it be? to have one million dollars
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? cookie dough & fudge brownie
Who is your biggest hero? my daddy
What do you like to do best with your friends? play on the playground with them
What do you hope you'll get to do before your next birthday? to ride my horse at Camp Kici Yapi again

How to impress the ladies

The other day while we were at the cabin, J and C were playing catch with the football. This is how the conversation went:

C: Dad, do you know how to impress the ladies?
J: No, Buddy. How do you do that?
C: Well, first you have to get a motorcycle. Then you have to get a ramp that is 11 feet high. Then you have to be able to do back flips off of it. And that's how you impress the ladies.
J: Ok-I'll have to remember all of that.

The funny thing about this conversation is this...When my mom and dad went on their first date my dad came to the house to pick up my mom. On a motorcycle. My grandma made him turn around to go back home and get a car because there was no way she was letting my mom get on a motorcycle with him! I love that story.

Just remember men...a motorcycle and a ramp. That's all you need! If only it was that easy...

How do you tell them?

How do you tell your kids that their Mamma has cancer? Yeah, I wasn't too sure either. But, leave it up to my mom to do the talking. She was great.

The kids know a little bit about mom having had cancer before they were born. They have seen pictures of her without hair. That's about all they really know about her being sick. I wasn't quite sure how they would take it since we haven't had anyone else in our family who has had cancer.

A was the first one to understand what Mom was saying...

A: So your cancer is back?
Mom: Yup.
A: I don't want your cancer to be back.
Mom: Either do I.
A: Will you loose your hair?
Mom: Maybe.
A: What else will happen?
Mom: They'll give me special medicine to help make me better. And I'll need lots of hugs to make me feel better.
*cue the hugs*

Through all of this, C didn't say much. That's kind of what I figured from him. He was more concerned about playing games on Mamma's phone, since that's what Mammas let you do, you know. Mom told A there was a book and she wanted me to read it to her right away. I think it helped a little bit, walking through the emotions we all might feel, how Mom might look different, etc. All of the appearance and how she feels stuff is yet to be seen. All I know is that her belly hurts-different from before-when nothing hurt at all.

The kids will definitely be a bright spot through all of this. They'll bring Mom back to a good place. On her down days, seeing them will bring a smile to her face. On her good days, they'll help make things even better (since gooder isn't a word).

A wanted to see Mamma's wigs from before. Mom already said she's not wearing any if she looses her hair. Good for her! I remember how hot and uncomfortable they were for her. A tried them on the head my mom still has. She was funny about not putting them on herself. :)

We will get through this season of life. Just like we did 8 years ago. It's crazy to think that 9 months ago everything checked out ok. That 5 months ago we were hyper-focused on the heart. And now we're here. AGAIN. Brutal. No one signed up for this. No one wants to be here. But here we are. And ready for the fight of our lives. So to you, ugly cancer spots, hear this:

We are ready to fight you! So to you, ugly cancer cells floating around...this time we are armed with 7 year olds who don't know any better. We have 7 year olds who will pray every day and every night for their Mamma. You don't stand a chance against us!