The Greatest Gift

I have just come to a realization that the greatest gift a grown child can give a parent, is a grandchild. Breanne and her fiance Marc had a baby girl last Monday, November 9th @ 1:58 pm. Lyla Denise Marie weighed in at a whopping 6lbs. 5oz; 19" long and was born with very little, but visible blonde hair. She is beatiful, but then what wouldn't any proud grandparent say. I have pictures to prove it! The family is doing great and all of them have adjusted to this new little one in their home and even Grandpa Jack has adjusted. He was never one to want to go over lots to visit little ones, but admitted to me that he was in need of a "Lyla" fix so we were over on Saturday and he had plenty of time to hold her and be amazed at such a small treasure. We believe that all babies are God's gift to us after rearing our children. We can spoil them; we can teach them about life; we can give them sweets; we can buy them things; and best of all we can teach them about God. They are given to us unconditionally and yet we very protective of them, even though they don't live with us or near us. God has truly blessed us last week. Now we await two more blessings as Todd & Michelle and Nicole & Cecil wait for the births of their sons any day now. God is good.

Congratulations Breanne!

Congratulations to my oldest daughter, Breanne. At 2 weeks short of turning 25 she got her drivers license. What makes this so amazing is that she just found out that she is having a high risk pregnancy, her baby girl is being stubborn and refusing to get in the position to be born, plus her placenta is in the middle of her stomach. As well there are a few more hiccups in this pregnancy. But that hasn't stopped her from achieving her goal of being able to drive with her daughter, later in the new year to baby exercise class, get groceries or just go out for coffee. I'm so proud of her to not be so nervous on her second try and to just believe in her ability to pass. And she did! Even though she is seeing a surgeon tomorrow, not knowing when he will schedule her c-section; knowing that her baby will be small (5-6 lbs) but she is very active....this is not only courage on her part but a test to say that she can do anything she wants. I love you Breanne and I know that God will continue to watch over you during these next couple of weeks before you meet the newest member of your family - your daughter, who I'm sure will be just like you - high spirited, kind hearted and loved by all.

Okay update on this blog...Breanne has been booked for delivery on Tuesday, Nov. 10 @ 1:00 pm...ironically Breanne was born on Sat. Nov. 10 @ 1:09 pm...this would be so cool to have her daughter near the same time on the same day. My daughter & granddaughter both on the same day...how cool would that be!

October is Filled with Exhaustion

Wow we have barely gone over 1/2 of October and already we have had much to celebrate and some to things to grieve.

At the beginning of October I welcomed a new son-in-law, Cecil Prins into our immediate family. Then not more than 5 days later I turned a half of century (50 for those that don't know this) old. My wonderful husband threw a Wine & Cheese social for family, friends and co-workers to come to and celebrate with me. I can't believe that I'm 50, and yet I don't feel that old as well I've been told that I don't look it either (so that's a good thing).

Then the day after the party we were called on to spend the last hours of my uncles life. Little did we know that it would take more than 3 days and we would receive another call (half way into his coma) that my father had his bowel rupture and we were once again on the road to Saskatoon to be by his bedside. My sister quickly arranged an airline ticket from New Jersey to be there as well. We had many tasks to complete as my father would need a hospital bed and some home care. We also found out that the toilet in the house needed repair so Jack stepped in and bought a new toilet and arranged for a plumber to come in and install everything...this is a war time home with many things needing repair due to the age. My dad's health was a concern as he is still on chemo therapy for his Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and so this kind of a rupture with no immune system puts him at great risk. He will, for the next 12 months have to wear a colostomy and we are praying that the surgeon can re-connect him at that time. My dad lost about 6 inches of his bowel and was placed on intravenous antibiotics however will not be able to resume his chemo until things heal. We just pray that he will heal medically and that his life can go back to somewhat normalcy. My mom doesn't drive so we have made arrangement with my brothers to coordinate trips to do banking, get groceries and the numerous doctors appointments that now need to be scheduled. All the while that we were dealing with this, my dear loved uncle passed away on Jack's and my, 18th wedding anniversary (a day that will be in our memory forever). So once again, after getting many things planned and scheduled in Saskatoon we once again headed back to Edmonton to finish up with funeral arrangements. Jack was asked by my uncle to perform the service and what a service it was. My uncle wasn't a religious man but he believed in God and so with that Jack had many points mentioned about the time that they had spent together over the years and how my uncle looked forward to going to heaven to be with his grandson that died many years ago(age of 6). This service was about life and what it meant to him and his family. We also celebrated my Grandma turning 90 in just over a month as almost all (7) of her children (with the exception of my mom) were there. It was like a family reunion with lots of visiting and catching up with everyone. We got home yesterday and feel that we got hit by a train...we had a wedding, a birthday, an anniversary, a serious medical emergency, a death and a family reunion all in 16 days....no wonder we are exhausted!

Thanksgiving - A Time To Be Thankful

I'm not sure about today's caption after this past week. Jack and I drove up to Edmonton to be with my Aunt as my Uncle was slowly, very slowly slipping away for good. While we were at the hospice we got a call from my older brother saying that my dad had been rushed to the Royal Alex hospital in Saskatoon. They were waiting for a surgeon to give them an update but from what the ultrasound and xray showed, he either had a blockage or more cancer but in his bowel. So the surgery would be by laproscopic and it would only take 30 minutes, so that was at 5:30 pm. Well by 8:30 we were quite concerned and when we called no one had come out of surgery to update the family. The waiting is what can cause a family the agony...waiting to die, waiting to live - each so crucial for the family left behind. Well by 9:20 we finally received the call stating that my dad's bowel had ruptured spilling into his body cavity. This wouldn't be so bad except that because he had just had his 2nd last chemo treatment he has no immune system to fight of the poisonous substance that was now floating in the body cavity. The doctors assured my mom & family that they had taken extra care in washing my dad's organs and cleaning out the cavity. They also had to cut 10 inches of bowel off (from the rupture) and it now will wear a bag for the next 6-12 months and hopefully he can be re-attached then. So Jack and I decided that the next place to be was in Saskatoon so we left early this morning to drive to Saskatoon to be with family and support my mom through all of this. My sister arrives in the morning so that all of us kids can make some crucial decisions about home care for my dad. He will most likely need a hospital bed; good thing they already have a walk in shower (no tub) so he most likely just needs a chair to sit in; so we called Darin (Donna works for MediChair) to find out a few things. Plus my sister-in-law, Caren says that the Occupational Therapist will help us in getting the necessities for the house to help out with the care that my dad could require. As for Cancer treatment my dad is on hold while the antibiotics try to do there thing.
Are we grateful for anything? I guess we can ask that question but having faith has taught us a couple of things; one is that God will take my uncle when he knows that his last breath is breathed; two, my dad is alive and so God saw fit that he should live through surgery. Perhaps, another thing God will be teaching all of us is patience to deal with another medical concern and see how us all of us will handle this crisis. We must all be patient and deal with one thing at a time. We are thankful that we drove through a lot of bad winter storms and that we got here in one piece. So yes we are thankful to have faith and believe that God is watching out for all of us.

The Big Day

Well we are on the countdown until Nicole & Cecil officially tie the knot. I have done quite a bit of shopping with Nicole to find attendant gifts; search out centre pieces; buy wine for dinner and tonight I was invited to her stagette. Her girlfriends through a dinner party at Shanks and so us ladies (8 of us) along with many men and other stagette groups crowded into Shanks to celebrate everything you can imagine. There was football on tv; along with a boxing match. We met another bride to be along with a groom. Okay we thought he was the groom in the group, as he kept hanging out at our table, only to find out that he just preferred a table of mostly married ladies (me being the oldest). Now you know your old when you go to the bar and they i.d. everyone but you...what's that mean! Okay, I'm not offended as it really is Nicole's night to have fun.
Earlier today I sorted through the basement and started to make some semblance of wedding things. I thought that I would never see the floor but I did and now everything is neatly piled in one area ready to go to the hall for decorating. I even managed to get my sister's bedroom pulled together. I found the plates/napkins for the dessert night on Tuesday along with the tablecloths so things are good. Now I just need to do my accounting so that each event is billed accordingly.
So as I said we are 2 weeks away from a big celebration. All of my siblings plus my parents will be here in less than 2 weeks and I truly look forward to this. I know that it will be difficult see Nicole say "I DO" but when my kids left home they started on their adult life with out me then. I know that each of them have been given the tools to work through life's little maze and find there way in this world. I will always be here for them but I know that deep in my heart, they are headed in the right direction.

Nearing the End

What would it be like to be nearing the end of our life? Would it be scary? Would we be afraid? If we were still able to communicate, we would say the things to family that we wanted them to hear or would be want to make them feel good about life with out us? Right now my dear uncle is in this exact predicament. He has now been moved to palliative care in the hospital and will be kept comfortable. Between the brain tumors turning to decay and the multiple blood clots in his lungs, life as he knows will be over.
Jack (with all his books) read me a passage about a man's wife who was dying. The wife began to live each day with tremendous clarity and love. When it was nearly the end her husband got the courage to ask her a question - What does it feel like to live each day knowing you are dying? She said to him, What does it feel like to live each day pretending that you are not? Isn't this how we all feel when we visit someone nearing death? Unsure if it will be the last time we talk to them; are we searching to say the right thing; do we want to tell them that they are the best person they have ever known....my uncle is telling family right now that he is very tired and that he just wants to go and meet up with his grandson who left us at the age of 6, some 19 years ago. Now to me, that is hope. It is the strength from inside that tells him that there is something better for him on the other side and that a very special family member is waiting for him.
Now I sit and wait for my call (perhaps the last conversation) from a dear uncle. Jack had his call this afternoon and Jack says the conversation left Dana in tears and I'm sure Jack as well. I know that it won't be easy but I think that the truth and assurance that we will always be there for my aunt will help ease his mind.
God Speed my dear Uncle Dana...you will be missed but I know that Kevin is waiting for you and one day we will all be reunited together. The pain will ease for you and in time our pain will be diminished as well but your memory will always be one filled with joy, happiness and much love. Love you lots.......

Closer to the Big Day

Today, was Nicole's day! Something that all mother's look forward to and dream about (next to their wedding and birth of their children). Breanne (one bridesmaid) and Leah (another bridesmaid) helped put on Nicole's wedding shower today. It was marvelous with almost 30 ladies there. A big thank you to all my dear friends that brought some wonderful food to help with the celebration (after all a women's get-together always goes well with food)! Nicole was literally moved to tears with some of her gifts and seeing some of the ladies there. We had invited a lady Patti, (her daughter and mother-in-law)- Patti was Nicole's babysitter when we moved to Calgary many years ago. Nicole has stayed in touch with the family but she never thought about us putting them on the shower invite list. So what a pleasant surprise for her.
I got to meet Nicole's mother-in-law to be, and what a nice lady. This lady is afraid of groups and has a phobia so it was nice to meet her and tell her that it's okay if she can't come into the room...she did, after her daughter arrived. She also told me that Nicole has been a special gift in her life for all that she has done to help her over come her phobia. As well, Nicole called her mom for the first time yesterday, when she put on a surprise 60th birthday dinner at her house. She said that no one has ever done that for her...now there's a warm, fuzzy feeling of good will towards a person that needs to be cared for. I know my daughter and I know that these kind gestures come from her heart and in wanting to help someone in need.
So I've got one big event done and a couple more to do before this year is finished. I know that with God on my side, good friends that care about me, my loving and supportive husband, that I can get through a couple more events. I love my children dearly and no one or nobody will take away the joys that I will be celebrating with them. I stand my ground in my beliefs as well I stand before anyone that dares to question these decisions. I believe that I am a deep,caring, supportive person for anyone that I encounter and all I ask is for the same respect.