We made it...

Hello Friends,

Hunter and I made it to Red Wing, MN late Wednesday evening after 3 very long days of travel. On Thursday there was a snow storm, so I am so glad we were already here and didn't have to navigate that.

Hunter is doing okay. She didn't poop for almost 6 days and I had a mini breakdown. After bawling with her Walla Walla vet Dr. Wicks (at https://avmcww.com - I can't recommend them enough!!!) talking me off the ledge letting me know I am not killing Hunter and I'm doing all the right things - well, Little Miss Hunter walked into the litter box and pooped. FINALLY!!! I could finally sigh a breath of relief. She is still not doing great, but we are figuring things out. She purred again for the first time in a few days last night. She talked to me this morning for the first time since we arrived at this new place with 2 other animals on the other side of our door. So send some good good energy to this 15 year old gal as we settle in here.

My mom had her first round of Chemotherapy yesterday. While I was not able to be at the hospital with her, I was there when she got back to town and got to hold her and talk to her in person and that was AMAZING! She was tired so we didn't visit for too too long. Today I will head over there in a little bit and make her and Jon some chicken soup and do whatever needs to be done whether cleaning or just be near. She thanks you all for all of the thoughts/prayers/love/juju/energy/etc.... ya'll have been sending her way.

I will hear more today about the full treatment plan, but I do know it's a combo of chemo and radiation. Her chemo is very intense. Like, for the 2 days after treatment every time she uses the restroom (pee or poo) she has to close the lid and flush twice and then clean the toilet. Wash her hands and wash the basin. And after 2 days I will spit spot clean the bathroom. If she vomits - one must use gloves to clean it. Etc... That's the intensity of the drugs they are putting into her. Super scary. Yes grateful for the potential of prolonged life, but Holy Moly... that shit is intense. She will start to loose her hair in about 2 weeks. Oh Mama.... I can't even imagine what that's like. All I can do is hold space for her. And now I am here to do exactly that.

Let's see... what else?! Me? I'm doing okay too. It was the least enjoyable road trip I have ever done and I am sooooooooooo happy to be here! I am happy that I get to hold my Mama's hand as she navigates this super intense experience!! I am even happier that Hunter pooped!!!!! I have a lot going on inside my little HeartMind. I know this. I am holding space for me too. I have kept my breath work and meditation each morning of the journey. Each day I am adding in a bit more of what was my morning routine before the move. Each day I find another thing (my tea spoon, my herbs, my neti pot) and I add in even more. It's kinda like my birthday. Each box I open, I am opening gifts that I knew I liked, but finding my socks again is such joy (especially with the snowy weather here).

So we, all of us here in Red Wing are transitioning and embracing all that holds. My sister and her family having 2 new housemates, my Mom & Jon to her treatments, Hunter & I - so so much.

The last things I'll write with this missive is this... today I will talk more extensively with Mom & Jon about her treatment plan now that there is one. I am not sure how set the schedule is and it can change at a moments notice if something doesn't go as planned, but I want to try to be able to drive her and be with her for chemo/radiation days as much as I can. So there will be a bit of inconsistency with our teaching schedule. That said, I hope to know ahead of time so that I can do a week's schedule at a time. I don't imagine it will be multiple days in one week. It's looking like chemo will be one day every 3 weeks. And radiation... not sure yet. Please be patient with me. Maybe once we settle into the "routine" of all of this, I can add in some drop-in classes at other times for anyone who is available. We can figure this out together if ya'll just have some patience with me for the next few months!!!!

Okay... I think that's it for now. I'll talk to Mom & Jon today, but as of yet, still plan on a regular teaching schedule next week! The links are the same and a message will come out on Tuesday morning with a reminder and the links. Hopefully some parts will still be the same and familiar :-)

Love you!!!
CJoy