Rough Weekend

On Friday we received a phone call that DHs grandwas was very ill. She has been battling cancer for some time and it seemed to be getting better and her cancer spots were shrinking with new treatment that she started a couple of months ago. We saw her on Christmas Eve and she looked good, although she had just been released from the hospital that day from one of several hospitalizations she had in the past few months. It seems that last week she developed an infection somewhere in her body and her blood cell count was too low to fight the infection. She went from coherent conversations on Friday morning to passing away Saturday afternoon.

DH and I went to the hospital on Friday afternoon to see her and say our goodbyes. She was sleeping when we went there, so DH and I placed our hands on her and I told her that we were there and thank you for being such a good grandma and great-grandma. I told her that we love her and that Logan, Caden and Colton love her. She loved her family fiercly and Logan and her had such a neat bond.

When we got home I explained to Logan that we were not home when he got home from school because we had to go see great grandma at the hospital because she was sick (don't worry, my parents came over to take the kids for us while we went to the hospital). I explained that she had a great life and that she was going to go to Heaven soon to see Jesus. He looked at me, stuck his lower lip out and lowered his head. I asked him what was wrong. He looked up at me with his big blue eyes, lower lip sticking out and said, "I'm going to miss great grandma when she goes to Heaven". Melt my heart! DH and I talked with him and explained in simple terms about living life and death and that great grandma would always be with us and watch over us.

On Sunday we had a fun birthday celebration for all three boys with lots of cake in their face! :) I will post more about this soon, but for today more sadness.

Last night while we were getting the boys ready for bed we heard lots of emergency vehicle sirens. As I went to put Caden to bed I noticed two fire trucks entering our neighborhood. We live in the country and not much happens out here. So, I put Caden down and then I heard more and more sirens and saw too many emergency vehicles to count and then I looked into the distance of the dark, night sky and saw billows of smoke and above the rooptop of another neighbors house I saw huge flames. I instantly got a sick feeling in my stomach. After talking to a couple of neighbors we determined whose house was on fire. When Logan saw it he said, "I bet that great grandma can see all of this. I am so sad, I think I am going to cry. I feel so bad for them, Mom." Ahhh, my little sensitive, caring soul. :)

A fire, no matter where it is, is a huge deal. What made this one unique is that dozens of fire trucks were called in to help put this fire out. You see, we live in an area that does not have fire hydrants because we are not hooked to city water. We all have our own private well water. So the trucks had to go to the two closest hydrants to pump water into the fire trucks so that they could come back and spray the water on the fire. We are about 1.5 miles from the nearest hydrant. And, with the icey cold weather last night the area around the hydrants was freezing and causing a hazard for firefighters. And all of the gawkers that came by it made it more challenging to navigate the area to get the fire under control and eventually put out.

Our neighbors were out to dinner at the local restaurant and were not home at the time. They did have family pets who did not survive the fire. I know that it is sad to lose pets, but am so thankful they were not home at the time. They have three grown children and several grandchildren who live in the area.

Throughout the year my neighboorhood of about 20-25 houses has several get-togethers. I know all of my neighbors and although I am not particularly close to this couple, we feel their loss. The loss of everything is so devastating and to just watch from my window as their house burned down was sickening. I have left messages for two of my neighbors who seem to know what is going on to see what we can do to help this couple.

So, the week that was not looking too busy is beginning to fill up. We have the wake and funeral for DHs grandma on Wednesday and Thursday and hopefully I can do something to help my neighbors this week.

Here's a sneak peak at my next post: CAKE EVERYWHERE!