There was a time in my life when vacation looked a certain way. It usually involved a plane, some place warm and if I was lucky, the beach. Last week I got a vacation that looked nothing like that and yet it was, by far, the best vacation I have ever had. It was a vacation to our normal life.
I drove home late Tuesday afternoon following the Stem Cell Harvest to be with Carter the night before Kindergarten. Izzy, being the rock star that she is, got to come home Wednesday because she set a hospital record with her harvest. They have never gotten as many stem cells in one collection as they did from Izzy that day. And rightfully so, she had places to be. She and daddy made it home in time for all of us to surprise Carter and pick him up from school together.
We spent five normal days home like a family. The kids road bikes, played outside in the perfect weather and Izzy got to swing. She didn’t have hair to blow in the wind like the little girls in my picture but I didn’t care. I soaked in each and every moment as I would the sunshine of any vacation. For a moment it was almost as if there was no cancer.
But yesterday I woke up with that feeling you get on your last day of vacation. As I lay in bed watching the ceiling fan spin, I wanted desperately for it to slow down. I feared it would move the day too quickly. I wanted the chain to slow down the speed of the day with the speed of the fan. For the record, the day did feel like it went on forever, I’m just not so sure it was worth it. Like the last day of any vacation it was bittersweet from start to finish. It went from feelings of joy from whatever was happening to feelings of sadness that it was about to end. And that same cycle happened over and over again all day. And then, in that not so perfect way, when everything just falls apart at the same time and the laundry is messed up and everyone is crying…it ended. So here I sit now in a hospital room two hours away from fifty percent of our family again. I don’t know exactly how to do the math on that one, but somehow it adds up to something negative.
Izzy hated the feeding tube in her nose. She wasn’t eating or drinking and screamed when we gave her meds so I requested they remove it. Today they did a surgery to place one directly into her stomach. We’ll wait until Wednesday to start this week’s chemo because it. Hopefully we’ll be headed home by Sunday. This is the start of week seven. Week seven of one hundred. As the weeks go by things will only get harder. I can only hope we get a vacation every now and then.
izzystory 
I love you. Each of you. Praying ❤
I am choked up by the idea of you four being together at the end of Carter’s first day of school. What a great moment that must’ve been! May God’s blessings pour over you in unexpected ways. We love you!
So thankful for the succesful stem cells, and that Izzy was able to go home Wednesday, and that YOU were able to go home and be with Carter..starting the day before his 1st day of school, and that your family was there for Carter at the end of his 1st day of school, and that you all had a nice family vacation! So many things to be thankful for! You guys are on our Church’s prayer team list, there are about 90 people on the team. I sent them an email telling them how God has been “showing off”, and shared with them the Blessings we are so thankful for. I know it’s only week 7 of 100, but I’m praying this is just more weeks that God will be “showing off”! Lots of prayers for you guys, and we are all wearing our Izzy bracelets…some purple, some pink…all for Izzy!! We love you guys!
It was nice to hear some good news. I loved you and Izzy surprising Carter his first day of kindergarten. Stay strong, stay faithful, know prayers are always going up for Izzy and you, the whole family. I read this morning, be still so God can work.
“He is your strong tower. Shelter over you. Beautiful and mighty, everlasting king. He is your strong tower. Fortress when you’re weak, His name is true and holy and His face is all you’ll seek.” ~ Kutless
My friend posted your blog to her facebook page and that is how I found you. It’s a tough thing you’re slogging through. He is faithful. Courage! I’m praying for you all.
A verse that inspired me:
I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the LORD your God and I will be there to help you whever you go. Joshua 1:9
Lord God, according to Your Word, we purify ourselves by obeying the truth. This purification frees us to have sincere love for our brothers, loving one another deeply, from the heart (1 Pet. 1:22).
This love, You tell us, does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth (1 Cor. 13:6). Help me, Lord, to possess a genuine and godly love for others and to rejoice with the truth.
Your Word also exhorts us that if one of us should wander from the truth, someone should bring him back (James 5:19). Please bring strong believers into my life so that we may be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith (Rom. 1:12).
I am encouraged by your family!
I read something that went a little like this~ “Good Morning, this is God, today I will be handling all you troubles, please feel free to enjoy your day.” You may not be on “vacation” anymore, but I think you’ll have more of those normal, and fun times with your family. So happy to hear that you all had a great week! Lots of prayers to you!
Way to go Izzy. What a champ during the harvest! Glad to hear your week was so nice.
Molly- I just want you to know I am praying for you, your family, and Izzy. I’ve been in and out this summer with travel and family, but I have been on watch for you and your family. I have read every word and cried and prayed. Fierce tears of an intercessor that will not let go. We have prayed for you at IndyHOP as well, and my family and their churches are also praying. Just know you are not alone. And even though I don’t know you that closely yet, I love you and your family so much. God is good.
You don’t know me, but I feel like I’ve come to know you and your family through izzy’s story. A friend told me about it. We all have the pink wrist bands, look for your posts, talk about your bravery and faith, and lift you to the Lord. You have a powerful prayer network that continues to expand. We can’t be with you in the physical sense, but we are here and we are vigilant. Pray without ceasing – 1 Thessalonians 5:17