Strategy

On Sunday I'm driving 10 hours round-trip to drop Quinlan off at Brown University's Pre-College Summer Program for two weeks.

It will be the first time he's been away from home without family.

I am trying to hold the lesson of this essay in my heart as an alternative to totally losing my shit.

Which may or may not work.....

I Was Thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis Close

I almost blogged this week.  I had a whole thing in my head about school finishing up, Quinlan going off to Brown for two weeks for their summer pre-college program, the upcoming college applications and senior year and graduation and then he's gone and in my head it was a little witty and a lot bittersweet and when I sat down to type it up it just slid out of my head between my brain and my fingers and it was absolute crap.

I'll try again in another four months.

Math

I took three tubes of SPF 55 to Mexico and came back with a tube and a half remaining. This totally means I get to go back next month, right?

Happy Kidneyversary to Us

One year ago today, my older brother gave me one of his kidneys. It's been a long year of recovery for me, with rehospitalization due to bad reaction to new meds, weakness, physical therapy, and persistent scar pain, but one year later, I finally feel like I'm back. As of 2 weeks ago I'm back to full time work, I'm seeing friends, I'm participating in my life in a way I hadn't fully for years. It's an amazing realization.

It's been a tough year, one made possible by unwavering support from Michael and the kids, and by the incredible ongoing encouragement and love from all of our friends and relatives. There are times that it truly does take a village. So, happy kidneyversary to you all for seeing us through! From here it just gets better.