42 hours and counting

I had a wonderful week off of work. Spent some days on the go, and then the last days before going back to work, I had at home. Cooking and cleaning. I even made three good suppers in a row!!! Loved it! Jayde had a tournament in the city last weekend. 6 games in 3 days! Crazy! Since we got blessed with rain prior to the weekend we all managed to stay in a hotel for the Saturday night. Was good to relax.
Now, I'm working on my fourth night in a row. Yup, I've done 3, 12 hour nights, and I'm almost halfway thru my last 12 hour night. I think I'm going on about 15 hours of sleep in the last 4 days. Hmmm, thats why it feels like I'm tired. :-( Tomorrow will be sleeping in the morning, and quick catchup in the house in the afternoon. Then, off to the city for hockey. Tomorrow evening is Jayde's last hockey practice. His last tournament is this weekend. Kyle has another 3 weeks of hockey. It's winding down. But tomorrow evening, I get to take all 4 boys. Should be a wild ride there and back. Jayde and Trent in one rink north of the city, and Kyle and Blayze in a rink in the city. Throw in some grocery shopping, and we'll call it a successful trip!
Del actually started seeding in the fields yesterday. By this evening he had completed 180 acres, and now its down time again. The rest of the fields are much wetter, and will need much sunshine, wind, and heat to get them to a state of driveability. Rain is certainly not what we are wanting, and so the forecast is a little frustrating. If only we could skip tomorrow and move right ahead to Tuesday. Forecasted rain for tomorrow, of course, and the chance of it missing us, well, Murphy's Law would state that we would get the rain!!
I went to a local green house the other day, and spent too much money on wonderful flowers. But, it was so awesome to walk into that greenhouse, and see the bright colors, and smell the flowers.........it was invigorating. So, I loaded the back of the truck and brought home some cheer. I only bought plants for my pots and containers yet, and I actually planted them into the containers on Thursday. All 24 of them. Hopefully with the forecast of sunshine on Tuesday, all the plants will reach up for some rays and become more beautiful. Then I'l be off to the greenhouse again for some annual flowers and some vegetables. Have to pick up some flowers and veggie plants for Dad, as well. He apparently planted 75 potato plants in his garden in town! Don't know what he'll do with them. Guess I'll have to teach him to peel potatoes and cook them! My dad has never been very efficient in the kitchen.....he does not cook. But he is certainly getting very proficient at doing the laundry and yardwork. That is a start!
Dad is getting along okay, in his own way. He usually stays at his RV trailer on the farm, for night. Suppers and evenings are spent at Rol's, my house, or his house in town. Time will heal, and he will eventually be able to spend more time at his house in town.
The flu has been 'sickening' this last week. All of us have been dealing with some form of ailment. Headaches, achy, stomach cramps, cough, fever, and the dreaded de-a-rea!!! We should have bought company shares in the Ibuprofen and acetaminophen industry!! I've actually now combined the advil and tylenol into one bottle and we just pick our favorite color when we need it!
I'm certainly looking forward to spending time camping this summer. Time with Del & the boys in the trailer, or by the fire, or biking. Its going to be great. Reading, playing cards, listening to music, napping, eating sunflower seeds, chatting, cooking over a real fire, browsing in little country stores........the list goes on. So many special memories to be made.
I need to go make my grocery list for tomorrows power shopping. And do my work here. Ha ha, yes I've been coming and going while typing this. I do know where my priorities lie! Thats why I'm good at what I do. Ha-whatever!

May showers, pictures, funeral stuff..........

Laureen giving mom something to drink.

A Schroeder get-together of sorts. Mom, Vicky, me, Kathi, Laureen, Alyssa
Auntie Sandra, Sonya, Lorna
Stacey, Michelle

Mom and her sister, Sandra

Mom, Lucille, me

Helen, Vicky

Dad-lonely exemplified

Lucille & I

Flowers on casket

Left side of front of hall-we arranged flowers and pictures across the front of the hall.

When you entered the hall, we set up a table of some of moms favorite things. Flowers, cookbooks, Bible, candles, birdhouses, music, and of course, pictures of family.

Del, and our model niece, Beth.

Dad's family

Ed & Marion, Leonard & Sharon, Dad, and Sarah & Dave

Looking at the piles of cards, after the funeral. Keith, my nephew, and I.

Two Friesen brothers, Dad & Ed.

Relaxing the day after the funeral. On Rolands wonderful deck. Wow, that was a beautiful day!

Monday morning, bright and early, loading calves and cows onto the truck. Yes, the calves went up in ones and two-poor things.

What a two weeks it has been. Its been a time of wonderful time with family, close and extended. Meeting people you haven't seen in a very long time. Reacquainting and introducing to new and old friends. What an emotional time. The time between mom's passing and her funeral was 6 days, and initially we were a little wary of that length of time. But, that was a very special week. We spent days and evenings, together. Chatting, cooking, and singing and playing music. Pianos, guitars, and accordians. It really seemed to help dad to get thru, and I know the rest of the family will carry many special memories. Including the evening of washing ears. Its kind of a joke in my family, that dad has poor hearing. He does wear a hearing aid, but it doesn't seem to do enough all the time. Along with his hearing aid issues, he also has a great deal of wax build up. So, needless to say, I flush his ears quite regularily. One evening, at Roland's , we lined up some family members and started checking ears. Oh, we laughed. You may think you're clean on the outside, but you never know what your ear canals are hiding. I flushed 4 sets of ears that evening, and you wouldn't believe what came out!!!

Shopping for funeral outfits was interesting. Rol gave Laureen and I 1 whole hour to shop! Usually when I know I have to find something, its impossible. But, one hour later, we met in the food court, and we felt quite relieved that clothes had been found.

Family and friends were so supportive during this time of organizing and grieving. The food, flowers, card, phone calls, and visits, were so appreciated. The attendance at moms viewing service on Friday, and then the funeral service on Saturday, was overwhelming. She had impacted so many people in her life.

Saturday after the service, it was nice to kick back with family and relax, and re-hash the days events. Sunday brought more of the same-even celebrated Keith's birthday.

Then came Monday-back to reality. We sold our breeding cows, with their calves. And we were expecting the semi to pick up the animals at 11. Del heads outside at 8, and I get up to make breakfast. Our wonderful cousin, Kathi, Gerald, and kids, had stayed an extra day to help us. The phone rings at 830, and its a dispatcher asking me where to send the truck. At the same time, Gerald pokes his head in the door, telling us the truck is here. Get the boys going!! Well, that truck driver was in for a wait, as we needed to sort the calves from their mamas. He kindly helped us sort and load. It went rather well. Time consuming, but good. Monday night, I went back to work.

Bring that to today. I worked 80 hours in 8 days, was in the city for hockey a couple of times, and I have survived to tell it. Advice to others tho, its rather exhausting to follow up your mothers funeral with a week like that! It can be done. I have an awesome group of co-workers; they are so supportive and encouraging.

What kind of emotion is involved with all this? Everyone deals differently. Some deal loudly, some quietly, some don't, some hide, some cry, some giggle, some get angry, some turn to addictions, some reach out to others...........there's no easy path to get through. My challenge was to work on Sunday, Mother's Day, and remain professional, while looking after my patients, in the room my mom had died in 2 weeks earlier. My mind had to not go there that day. Not till leaving work could I really process the fact that Mother's Day had come and gone, and my mom was celebrating her day in Heaven. Lucky mom! Wouldn't take that from her-but we miss her here.

So, life does go on. For us, its anticipating spring seeding. Will we seed????? Beats me. The weather is throwing a wrench into those plans. An inch and a half of rain yesterday, put an interesting touch on already wet fields from last fall. Hmmmm, we'll see what happens in the next couple of weeks. Snow, maybe?

Hockey is still a factor in our lives. Kyle continues to play his 4 on 4, twice a week. He is really enjoying the skating and fun atmosphere. His enjoyment of going to the rink is coming back. Jayde is playing in a tournament this weekend, and two weeks from now. He is loving the opportunity to play on a team of equally skilled players. Its so much fun to watch him & Trent working hard and pushing themselves to play.

On a mushy note, I think I have the best kids in the whole world. They have been such a blessing! They have remained strong, they have helped where they could, and they've given mom hugs and kisses when needed. I love them so much. My husband, he has been there, right beside me, loving and supporting me, truly a blessing!! I have been so privileged to have the family I have!