Mother's Day 2021

It goes without saying that my greatest gift for Mother's Day is God preserving Thomas and allowing me to continue mothering on earth all six of our children. None of us are promised tomorrow. None of us mothers are promised to continue having all our children earthside today or the next day. I am far from perfect, but I am trying to keep self-awareness every day to treat my children that I won't regret it the next day if, and if, and if . . . . (And I slip up daily.)

Mother's Day was celebrated over two whole days because Thomas had his pre-op COVID test scheduled for Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m.: smack in prime-time Mother's Day real estate! (This coming Friday, Thomas is having his 6-month MIBG scan to check for cancer, a CT scan to check his organs and remaining pockets of fluid [an infection risk], and having his port surgically removed.)

On Saturday, we enjoyed a celebratory breakfast out at Metro Diner . . .

. . . before driving 30 minutes to Sweetwater Farm. I became tearful telling the farm's proprietor what a special day this was: During all those months of Thomas's chemotherapy, he was prohibited from touching animals or digging in dirt, so we had to skip our regular field trips to farms. Thomas was over the moon excited about touching animals again "after being in the hospital for so long," as he explained.

For my local friends, I heartily recommend a trip to Sweetwater Farm. While it caters to the under-8 crowd, we took all our children and I promise the 10, 12, and 14-year-olds had a great time. It is a little hobby farm with lovely pet farm animals of interesting breeds. The grounds are absolutely beautiful with innumerable charming artsy touches. The quad of grass in the midst of all the animals contains all kind of playground-type toys for children. There is sweet, wholesome nursery-rhyme type music playing over a portable loudspeaker: fun, but not oppressively loud, with plenty of areas of the farm that are simply quiet. The farm is wheelchair accessible, with a wide crushed gravel path circumnavigating it, low-cut grass that was easy to wheel through, and even the bathroom is wheelchair-accessible. For $5 a head, this would make a wonderful treat of a visit for the whole gang and I already have visions of reserving it for an end-of-year picnic for our homeschool group.

A 13-minute video tour of Sweetwater Farm is available for viewing:

Children have been grievously harmed socially and psychologically by how COVID is being handled and I found going to Sweetwater Farm a tiny antidote. We saw virtually no masks on faces: just free play outdoors with human beings smiling and talking to one another in the great outdoors and refreshing spring weather. It was just normal, and we need a lot more normal.

Some ladies find refreshment from going out with gal pals, shopping at the mall, or going to a spa, but I got to do one of my top favorite activities ever: gardening with my children running around!

I was already planning to dash to the nursery for soil and new plants for our poolside pots, but I got the extra treat of a girlfriend dropping off 19 Easter lilies to me and a neighbor digging up a massive number of Lenten rose, which they offered for free.

AFTER: These Lenten rose will fill in beautifully!

I also swapped out the color spots in the pots around the pool. 

My big gift was an absolutely charming and wonderful garden arbor, something I've always wanted since I grew up with several in my father's beautiful garden.

Thomas's illustration of the garden arbor

On Sunday, other treats included breakfast cooked by Chris (okay, he cooks breakfast almost every Sunday!), chocolate-covered strawberries made by our 12-year-old, and thoughtful homemade cards!

When I was upstairs reading while whiling away the time for Thomas to finish his overnight J tube feeds, a certain 8-year-old boy brought me pre-breakfast bacon and garden flowers.

Cards and gifts at the breakfast table

As Chris explained . . . Thomas lost his smile in the hospital and now he's found it again . . .

I want to share pics of all their wonderful cards, but don't want to embarrass them sharing something private! I will share this beautiful drawing one of the children made for me, although the sentiment written was even more meaningful.

Thomas's card showing us holding hands

Thomas made me a construction paper flower.

Then as my gift to all you admirers of Thomas, below is a video of him singing "Rainbow Connection," one of his favorite songs. We are blessed to hear this song several times daily and we think it is adorable!

(Note, his voice used to be so loud that he shouted everything he said. When he was four, I took him for a formal hearing test with an ENT because I thought he must be partially deaf, but no, he had perfect hearing. Now his voice is quiet and breathy because it is really damaging to the lungs to be on a ventilator for more than a month and lying still in bed for four and a half months. His lungs will strengthen over time.)

Bonus Reading I found inspiring: What Makes a Good Mother Good? — 10 Characteristics