The Empty Nest is Coming

I've put it out of my mind, but now I must face what's coming. After moving here in June, bringing our youngest, I hoped the summer wouldn't go by so quickly. He earned his PhD and is leaving soon to prepare for his first job. I'm so proud of him. He'll be an Assistant Professor and is eager to get started.

Looking forward to each call or Face time

Our home is going to be too quiet. Hubby and I will feel lost without him. The youngest child has an exciting future, but I will miss him terribly. He's so caring and is always asking me if I need anything. It will be sad to not have his cheerful face around. He's been so helpful and is very sensitive to my chronic illnesses.

The first time I came to discover I had a chronic illness was when I had 3 miscarriages. After testing for everything (and then some), the doctors had no answers. When 3 doctors conferred, they came to the conclusion that I was allergic to my pregnancy.

The condition that caused my pregnancy losses is now called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. In the early 80's there was little understanding of this. My doctors made a great diagnosis and treated me with antihistamine, Brethine, and baby aspirin. This helped me deliver my last two babies safely.

While I was pregnant and taking these drugs, I worried every minute of the pregnancies. I didn't know if the babies would make it to term. This problem was my first diagnosed chronic illness, and I'm glad that I didn't know how many more would follow.

My latest worry has been the Avascular Necrosis in my wrists. My ankle bone replacement is working and I can walk with a small limp. But if I stand long, my foot throbs and swells. I hope and pray that in the long-term, this Talus bone replacement will be successful.

Well, getting back to my topic - facing the empty nest. I don't know exactly how I'll feel when he boards that plane, but I'm sure I'll cry. I'm so thankful to have the comfort of Hubby, who is very generous and caring. We'll both feel sad and will have to trust God and take one day at a time.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble.  – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

@2025, copyright Lisa Ehrman

Disclosure: I'm not a medical expert. This post contains my opinions and experiences, and is not meant to be taken as medical advice.