Getting Back to Normal

It seems Monday and Tuesday have set the pattern for what our new normal will look like, at least for the short term. Charlie got up this morning and dressed for work, had a bite of breakfast (his old routine was to drink a protein shake of some sort after a workout at the gym), and went to the Harper office for a few hours. He definitely doesn't have his former stamina back yet, because those few hours were followed by lunch at home and the requisite rest period. He was pleased today to be able to postpone the nap until finishing up some paperwork he had brought home. Almost every evening since that first week home from the hospital, he has been taking a walk outside in the fresh air, which has lately been becoming pleasantly cool after the sun goes down. At first, one of the kids or I would go with him, because he needed a steadying arm to finish the trek slightly uphill on the driveway, but he has been able to take Scout as his walking buddy these past few nights instead.

Cole went back to school on Monday after a weekend of constant reminders from me to take it easy and do sedentary activities for a change. Easier said than done. He has also stayed after school both days so far for football practice, although he is doing more standing around than anything. He told us today he practiced long snaps. However, I certainly don't envision my 5' 3", 106-pounder taking the field as a center anytime soon. :) The trainers and coaches have told him he can return to conditioning drills as soon as he has been cleared by a physician, so we're hoping to get the OK next week. Then we'll play it by ear as to whether he will get back into pads and a helmet this season or not. (Secretly, I hope for "not", but we'll let a neurologist render a professional opinion to help us make the best decision.)

We continue to keep at the front of our minds an attitude of gratitude that Charlie's surgery was successful in removing the cancer. The little bumps we encounter on the road to recovery are just that -- little bumps. We have been taught these past few weeks many lessons on how to love on people in crisis, and already God is giving us opportunities to put what we've learned into practice.