.

I thought I had it together, books, laptop, pens, pencils.

I was wrong.

I am lacking some essential items.


I need to be carrying one of these at all times, even while walking and most definitely while the professors are lecturing.  Perhaps they have some note taking function I am unaware of.  My huge laptop is out of place!

I am also in dire need of a Bump-It.  This required college female accessory mocks my incredibly unruly gray streaked hair.  No wonder the learning isn't sticking in my head??


I will keep observing the natives and try to discover more essential college gear in hopes of securing straight As.

Wish me luck....oh and please send sweatpants with words on the rear.  I need all the help I can get.

I am thrilled to report that NIco has mono, not cancer or any of the other ugly things that a lump in the neck and low grade fever could indicate.  I have to admit I was more than a little scared of the blood test results.


My family has been largely untouched by tragedy.  Every family has something they suffer through.  Cancer, birth defect, tragic accident killing a family member, natural disaster destroying homes.  We have been so fortunate, but it seems I am always waiting for the other shoe to fall.  I know our time will come when we have to rise to the occasion.


Once again, we have dodged a bullet and been left with our family intact and safe.  I can't thank God enough.

Nico's appointment this morning was ok.  She felt the lump, decided it was a lymph node and then checked all the other lymph nodes on his body.  Including the ones in his groin, much to his embarrassment.    She told us that the fact that it was movable and small were good things.  She offered three choices.  1. wait and see what it does.  2. Do blood work.  3.  Blood work and an ultrasound.  She suggested the middle road so that is what we have done.  


He had blood drawn this morning.  They are running a CBC and an EBP, which I am going to google in a moment as I have no idea what that checks for.  We should know the results in a few days.  She would not, however, speculate on what might be the cause.  I can respect that.


Thanks for all the sweet thoughts in the comments.  

My oldest son, Nico, found a small lump in the side of his neck last week. We go to the doctor tomorrow to have it looked at. I am not too too worried because it feels like the small pea sized lump I have in my arm. I am hoping it is just something like that.


But, as we all know, it is our jobs as moms to freak out internally as we consider all the horrible things it "could" be. A high school friend found a lump in her neck at 16 or 17 that was Hodgkins Disease.


BUT, I keep going back to the fact that if my eyes were closed I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between his lump and my completely not scary benign arm lump. His appointment is at 8:45 in the morning, so at least I won't have to wait all day to find something out.


Have a great return to real life tomorrow!