Good things and...challenging things

Good:
I just got mentioned extensively--and fairly positively--in something called The Week, and initially I didn't read that because stuff that has pictures of tiny babies usually uses my work as horrible stuff, and I just don't read it (blah, blah, blah, supportive of reproductive justice, how terrible Piepmeier is, blah).  Apparently this magazine is cool, though, so have a look.

Challenging:
I pushed my mom to go home, refusing to recognize that I'm in the most physically challenging experience of my life (hello, radiation treatment--you are exhausting!  I mean, really, really exhausting!)    She seems willing to come back in 10 days.

Good:
My mom is willing to return.

Challenging:
At that point I'll have three weeks left on the radiation, and I'm struggling with asking her to come back.  She has a billion friends in Cookeville, where she lives!  My dad doesn't come move in with me!  Three weeks is a long time, particularly considering that she's been with me since August 15 (with significant breaks when my friends have come to stay with me).

Good:
Friends have stressed to me that if anything in the world happened to Maybelle, I would be there for as long as she needed me there, no question of it.  And of course that's true.

Challenging:
Have y'all noticed how much I'm willing to push myself?  To prove that I can do this?  Both to kick into my anxiety right now, and to show the world (mostly myself) that I am okay, recovered, able to be a professional?

Good:
Because I had brain surgery and I'm having brain radiation, I'm not experiencing pain.  If I do have pain, Advil cures it.  And if I feel nauseated (which happens a lot), I take Zofran which is a miracle. I have the kind that dissolves under my tongue, and I'm feeling okay in about 15 minutes.

Challenging:
But I'm recognizing that this is the most challenging physical experience of my life.  See challenge above.

Good:
Maybelle's kindergarten class is so wonderful that I want to throw myself on the floor with joy.  Maybelle feels that way, too.  Hurray for you, ECDC!

Challenging:
I'm too challenging in the mornings to take her to school. I'll be going to bed very soon.

Good:
I love writing.  Love it!  I have a blog to write on, and even more importantly, I got some fantastic and very helpful suggestions for my book--my book!--that will allow me to keep working on the book I really love.  I have an introduction and chapters 1, 2, and 6 in progressive states.  Woo hoo!

Maybelle is focusing on her feet because she's determined
to learn to peddle her part of the bike.

Challenging:
I'm just so tired.  It's taken me three days to write this blog post.  It's taken me five days to address possible revisions for my book.

Good:
Maybelle and I still remember how to ride the bike!

Challenging:
Mild expressive aphasia.

Good:
My neuro-oncologist assures me that this is temporary.  Caused by brain surgery and radiation.

And now I'm going to bed.