Easter weekend - mile 2!

A second week of chemo/radiation treatment was followed by a weekend of new faces and holiday fun!

First, a changing-of-the-guard of sorts went on in Meeker last Thursday: 

While I have been keeping Jason entertained (tap dancing and stand-up routine, mainly) at the hospital, the boys have been in the ever-loving and wonderful care of their grandparents. 

For the first two weeks after surgery, Mojo was single-grandparenting the boys with such ease and competence, there's not even a picture to prove it! There are however plenty of pictures of the dog...

Then last week, Dado popped in to provide back-up... and a little silliness!

So last Thursday, Mojo & Dado escaped unwillingly departed and headed west for a birthday visit with the Etheridges... and Yaya & cousin Susan (aka Thelma & Louise!) pulled in to take over!

It was a seamless transition and they jumped right into the fray helping the boys color eggs, sitting in the cold rain to watch Hamp win his baseball game, and helping Sam inventory all his stuffed animals!

So, when Aunt LaDonna & Uncle Jim came to visit for the weekend we officially had a party!

We all trekked down to the hospital and used our recent road trip capabilities to finally take Jason out to dinner to get some more Red Robin Onion rings - for real this time!

The Easter Bunny found us in Grand Junction - he hid all 65 (!) of the plastic eggs and filled the boys' baskets with fun toys and treats. We took advantage of the beautiful weather to have a picnic lunch at the park and watch the boys (big and small!) play at the playground. 

serious conversations!

Meanwhile, Jason continues to work hard at rehabilitating his body, making small victories every day. Chemo and radiation treatments are still unremarkable. Most importantly, there has not been a single day that a friend has not stopped by to say hello and visit with us. Greeting cards plaster the walls of our hospital room and constantly remind us of how many people we love and cherish. There are so many thoughtful words of encouragement and inspiration and friendship written in every card, but I have to share one phrase that has meant so much to me recently:

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.