Voila!  It’s done.

My jigsaw puzzle is complete.  And so then is my goal for the day.

If you look closely enough you will see one piece is missing and it just happens to be the heart of Texas.  I swear I didn’t plan that.  I have torn this room apart trying to find it but all I’m left with is this song stuck in my head — “The stars at night are big and bright (clap clap clap clap) deep in the heart of Texas.”

The puzzle sat with just its frame for days.  It was slightly too big for the table I have.  I’d grow frustrated as parts I’d complete  would break apart.  With a bump of the table, pieces fell to the floor.  I’d pick them up, reassemble and be back at the same spot.  Nothing motivated me to complete it.  It only started to take shape as Nate began experiencing treatment setbacks.

This past weekend Nate spiked a fever.  That alone isn’t unusual for cancer treatment.  We dealt with it as doctors prescribed antibiotics.  But then Sunday I noticed Nate wasn’t using his right arm and he cried out in pain when I changed his shirt.  After speaking up, the doctors ordered an ultrasound and discovered Nate had a blood clot in his PICC line.

It goes without saying that medicine isn’t perfect and fortunately there are options when issues develop.  But it’s so frustrating.  For Nate, the PICC line allowed the nurses and doctors to administer medications and check his blood daily without having to poke him with needles over and over.  The blood clot then forced the doctors to remove the PICC line on Monday and give Nate a new medication that requires twice daily shots.  They’ve come up with a plan to place a new line tomorrow afternoon.  That should resolve the problem.  But in the meantime, Nate has had to undergo lots of needle sticks to check labs and administer meds.  I’ve always had a hard time watching my kids get shots.  So this puzzle has become therapeutic distraction.  When nurses came in to draw blood, I’d work on the puzzle until they finished what they needed to do.  Then I’d console Nate and sit him in my lap as I filled in the center.  He recovered quickly from the injections, but I needed more time.

It took three days but our puzzle has taken shape and Nate and I have had some good times sitting together.  He also had fun picking up and throwing the pieces on the floor.  We also discovered a new favorite state slogan despite having lived in states with some pretty hard-hitting mottos.  How do you compete with “The First State,” “The Show Me State” or “Live Free Or Die.”

But right now New Mexico wins.  The Land of Enchantment.

Sounds like a great place to visit.  So as soon as we are able, New Mexico here we come!