And tomorrow comes .....

"Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life, with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow."~Dorothy Thompson

Taylor ever so sweetly wanted to do the night time reading ritual with the boys.I thought I would take that opportunity to do a post before it got too awfully late,as I have a ton to get ready to prepare for Round 3.Hard to believe that it is time already to head back.Am I ready?I suppose.Ready to get on with the next phase.Which means we will be one step closer,God willing, to placing this latest obstacle in the faced and overcame column.What I am never ready for is leaving the other kids.And Mark.Life is fairly complicated here in the Needham household.Some of which I will share and others,well,let's just say ... the timing is not quite right.The big girls are all in such crossroads of their lives right now.All managing and doing a fabulous job of juggling and living but still needing me.Jess just began her last semester at Pepperdine and is busy wrapping that up,while working and interning at Amgen as a trainer in their work out facility.It sure would be nice if that parlayed into a full time gig after graduation.Her boyfriend of almost 3 years,Matt, has committed to a job here in California.A big question mark in their future answered but with it, the knowledge that that decision made for some very sad family back in Chicago.I promise to love him as my own Jean.And then there is Caitlin.Caitlin continues to do her amazing job with Community Catalysts of California.A full time job, as well as going to school.She is about to embark on one of life's most rewarding yet challenging experiences ever and I only wish I were closer to lend support both physically and emotionally.And Miss Taylor.A soon to be high school graduate.So sure she wanted to test her wings and fly far away to San Francisco for Special Education,is now debating whether that is the place for her.She has a boyfriend,Brandon, who has committed to Arizona to play football and with that,young love,feeling the pangs of an uncertain future.I wish so much I could ease their way but in the end it is their way,not mine.I hope they know I am here,always.Even while holding their baby sister during chemo,I am still here for them.Then there are the boys.Jake has amazing adaptation and coping skills.I worry less about him than I do Joe.Jake made me cry tonight though.I was getting ready to take Zoey to bed and told the boys to say goodnight to her.Jake very lovingly came up to her,gave her a big hug and said,"See you after round 3 Zoey."So very sweet but so sad at the same time.And Mr.Joe.He is one complex little man.We went to a doctors appointment on Saturday to discuss his new medication.We started him on Clonidine about 6 weeks ago for his ADHD.Joe's issues are that, with a major impulsivity component and associated rage as a chaser.Throw in some OCD and you have complex.However,we see glimmers of hope with this medication but it has been a battle to balance the drowsiness side effect.I HATE to see him drag like that but hopefully he will begin to adapt to the dosages before long.So ... you see .. they all need me and I them and this is not forever and as long as we see it that way,we will find our way to the other side.As for my day ... I wish I cold say it got better.Let's just say that I had to break into my emergency cache of Xanax.Late this afternoon I found out that my dear friend has been diagnosed with breast cancer.Talk about a shot to the solar plexus.I was speechless.I felt helpless.I gathered myself and realized it's not about me and how I feel but about her and her family,who I love.So I called and told her WE will all get through this together.Parallel journeys,different but the same and both rooted in the same positive,faithful and hopeful philosophy that our two families will absolutely fight these battles and win.Tomorrow comes ...