With the start of at least one year of chemotherapy just around the corner we wanted to give Benjamin a special surprise, something we wouldn't be able to do in the six or so weeks that would follow. So one Friday evening we gave Benjamin and Ella an early dinner and bath time, got them into their jammies and put Ella to bed. I asked Benjamin if he'd like to come downstairs to the living room with me to read some stories and listen to his playlist (backstory: when each of our kids were born I started a playlist for them and over the years I've have added any song that makes me think of one of them or has special meaning to the two of us).
As we sat on the couch singing along to Tim McGraw's Humble and Kind, the first song I ever added to Benjamin's playlist, we heard a soft knock on the door. I opened it and called to Benjamin that there was something on the porch for him. He was shell-shocked to find his beloved Aunt She and cousin Zozo standing there having come all the way from Chelsea, QC. His shock wore off in less than a second and the next thing we knew he was ushering She and Zoë into the house with so much excitement that he woke up Ella.
Like with any really good visit, no matter the length, it felt way too short. It was an incredible comfort to have them stay with us and it was so long overdue as we hadn't seen them since Benjamin's fourth birthday back in September. It was also the best kind of distraction leading up to a big week: hopefully Benjamin's port surgery and whether or not he was able to get on the surgical board in time, he would have his first chemotherapy treatment.
With my brain in overdrive I did what I do: I threw myself into planning special things for those I love. I set up the basement where my sister and my niece would be sleeping with some of their favourite things. Pink sheets and a cozy faux-fur blanket, a pink flamingo towel, a huge rainbow-coloured stuffy on load from Benjamin, some of our favourite books and a few activities for my niece. Flannel sheets, 2 space heaters, a fan and a fresh fluffy towel for my sister.
Our days were spent outside on the play structure Benjamin had been given for his third birthday, playing hide-and-seek and tag, going for a neighbourhood wagon ride and stopping at one of the local shops for hot chocolate. We also played indoor games, coloured and ate the kids' favourite foods.
For Friday night I planned a movie night on the big TV (a rare treat in our home) complete with individual popcorn bowls, fancy napkins and cozy blankets. On Saturday I promised a glow-in-the-dark pyjama dance party with the music of their choice, which turned out to be a lot of Halloween-themed music including Thriller, Ghostbusters and Monster Mash. We turned off the lights, streamed Just Dance from YouTube on the big TV and broke out enough glow sticks for a full-blown 90s rave. When the kids went down each night my sister and I had amazing 1:1 quality time over a drink. She's been so supportive and helpful through all of this. If you didn't know, you'd swear she's the older sister. I knew that all of this would make saying goodbye on Sunday really tough but safe to say our days and nights were as full as our hearts and our tummies by Sunday afternoon.
Since that weekend both Benjamin and Zoë have said how much they miss one another and how they can't wait for their next visit. My heart aches and breaks having to keep them apart while Benjamin's immune system is operating at a deficit due to his medication but my goodness how sweet the reunion will be, hopefully one day very, very soon. Safe to assume Auntie Kaitie will be pulling out all the stops for the next visit's evening programming ;).
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