Laughter Is The Best Medicine

If there's one thing I can say about my family, they know how to laugh. In the face of adversity, we've always been able to "make fun" of any situation. Today was no exception.

Rach was boasting of some of the skills she had regained. What you can't hear in this writing is the tone, with her slowed slurred speech, but absolute fun she is making this statement with, "Dad, I can do my own laundry...(her giddiness was palatable but then came a long contemplative pause) BUT I can't fold it yet", as she breaks out in laughter. "It's just ends up in a big ball when I try", as she laughs more. She is such a joy and she is trying so hard. She seems to find the humor in the little things rather than finding the despair.

Lately, she has spent some time learning to do her own hair and apply her makeup. To be honest, the results have been scary at times. Rach is pretty fair skinned and because of the medicine she is not allowed to be in the sun, which kind of gives her this pale white skin color on top of her whiteness... well, on top of that, she's been dang sick and that'll knock the color out of you. In other words, this girl just doesn't have much skin color. I'll get to the what all this means in a bit.

We were talking to Jordan about graduation (yes, the forgotten child in this, and is quickly going to be a high school graduate) and in walked Rach with her walker. Clunk, bonk and a bang later, she enters our bedroom (trust me, she won't be sneaking around the house any time soon). On good days, she can support her weight and can take a few steps on her own with out her walker. This day was one of those "good days" and she took the steps toward our bed. You have to understand her steps, its more like a toddler learning how to walk. Her arms are forward and she has a very herky jerky gait.

Jordan took one look at her, as she is now lunging toward him and virtually landing on him. Jordan just cracks up. He's looking at this wild haired, dark eyed (remember that part about applying her own make-up), pale skinned zombie flopping on him and starts making these "zombie noises" himself. You know, those deep groan "uhhhhhh, uhhhhh, uhhhhh" sounds you hear in the movies? Rach busts out laughing, because now Jordan is standing with a blank stare, arms stretched doing his own best zombie imitation, making fun of his sister. We all laughed.

Today, I am thankful for laughter, and I am so glad my kids can find things to laugh at in all this too.