Not a typical sunday

This week has flown by so fast, but I did get a great deal accomplished. I bought a dress for my son's wedding. No more flying around to all the stores trying dresses on anymore! Yea! It is a steel blue color, kinda simple but elegant. I had my sister come and see it, so it was family approved. I am not a big into fashion. I just want my clothes to be comfortable and fit OK, and I will put any accessories on that people tell me look good. I kept telling the sales lady that my sister would be more excited than me and she was.

I spent the remainder of the week making all the final arrangements for the bridal shower that I am giving in August and designing save the date announcements for the wedding. I am enjoying having these tasks to do.

Today is my dad's 89th birthday. He as rushed to the hospital last night because he fell down yesterday and wasn't feeling well. They plan to run more tests today, so we don't really know what is wrong with him. He is looking better today than yesterday though and we are hoping he can come home tomorrow. The hospital brought him a birthday cake, but he couldn't eat it because he can't eat before his tests. Poor man, he has been waiting around all day for them to take him. No food since yesterday! We will see what happens. Needless to say, no pasta family dinner today!

My husband took the header picture of a building a couple of towns away from us. I thought I would post it because it is fun to look and see who you recognize in the painting. Enjoy!

My uncle passed away yesterday. He battled cancer for a long time and never gave up right to the end.

My aunt told me that she had a dream the night before he died. In the dream, he told her that he was moving because he found an apartment with a big piazza that was perfect for them. It gave me healing chills to hear about that dream. So now I picture my uncle up in heaven in an apartment with a big piazza waiting for the day when my aunt is ready to join him.

We are all taking his death pretty hard. He was the patriarch of our family and it feels like more than a person is gone, for we know that in his leaving some of our family history and traditions are gone, too. It is hard for me to explain. I know all of us will want to carry on so much of what he gave to us, and we will try, but it will never quite be the same. It is the passing of a man we all loved as well as the passing of an era.

My husband said it feels like one of the faces of Mount Rushmore has disappeared.

Posted is a picture of all of us on Christmas Eve from a few years ago. It was my uncle who really kept this tradition going strong all of these years. He is in the white shirt sitting on the couch.

Long time no update

Easter was spent at my mother and father's house with my sister and her children and my husband and sons. We all shared the cooking, so no one had he burden of doing it all alone. I made a spiral ham and cornbread casserole, my husband made his famous cheesecake, my sister brought kielbasa and string bean casserole, and my mother made sweet potatoes, salad, and strawberry pie. Plenty of good food and it was all delicious. As usual, the day went speeding by.

So much going on in the family. My uncle was admitted to hospice. He has been fighting cancer for a long time now and it seems there is nothing more they can do for him. My husband and I visited last week in rehab. He was hoping to make it home for Easter. Seems it was one of the last days where he was up and talking and was fairly comfortable. The next day he developed complications and soon after he went into the hospice program. He is still fighting with every breath, but not ready to let go just yet.

I just remember the way he squeezed my hand when we said good-bye, it was different than it would normally be. I knew what he meant, good-bye - maybe forever. I do hope to get up to hospice to see him again though.

We are planning to take the grandmothers to my son's graduation in a few weeks. We have to plan everything carefully as we need to get overnight care givers/companions for the grandfathers who can't make the trip. I think we are all set calling upon our siblings to stay over night with them. But we never know until the last minute if things will be stable enough to actually take the primary caregivers (the grandmothers) away from their duties. After all they are the most experienced with the needs of their husbands. But I know that both grandma's are looking forward to getting away from their care giving duties for awhile and get some respite and celebrate with their grandson!

Wedding plans are in the making. I think I have picked the mother/son dance song. My son likes it, so that pleased me. I am trying to post it here to share, but not sure if it will work.
www.imeem.com/people/pDUVwBq/music/4Skpm4Xj/dar-williams-the-one-who-knows/
We will have to practice it to see if it is a good dance to song. Right now I just sing it everyday in the car when I am driving to work.