So we had a lovely Christmas and everything around here is going alright. It was a hard couple months but I think things are quietening down now. We just got hit with one thing after another and it was pretty rough.
January 14th (I think this date is right) James' very beloved grandmother whom we all called "Oma" had a massive stroke and was not found until the next day. They believe it happened over night but she was not found until about 4 or 5 pm that day. She was unable to eat/drink or talk. She could not move her right side of her body, but seemed to comprehend all that was going on. She would squueze a hand to anser yes or no questions and at one point would even nod. She was in the hospital for several days but it became obvious she was not going to recover and she had made it very clear she did not want any heroics performed to keep her here on earth. No feeding tubes, had a DNR etc. So she was moved to hospice. Not long after on January 22nd Oma went to be with Jesus in Heaven. She left such a legacy of serving others and encouraging others everywhere she went. She shared the love of Jesus every day, whether it was through word or actions. She has left behind so many people who loved her dearly and she will be forever missed until we see her again in Heaven one day!
Several days after Oma's stroke, we founbd out we would be putting Zephyr, the dog my Mum gave me during highschool (who had been living with Mum) down. He was getting slower and decling medically. He could not hear well and was having issues with his hips and seemed to be hurting. Mum had been giving him high doses of pain meds and anti-inflammatory meds for quite awhile and there was not much else that could be done. It got to the point where he could no longer get himself up from a laying down position and my mum and Marshall had to lift him to get him up. They decided that on Friday Mum would take him to the vet and have him board there while Mum was at work and overnight Friday and Saturday I ould meet her there to say my goodbyes before he got put down. Well when Marshall took him there Friday morning, the vet did not think it should wait til Saturday because he did not think he would make it through the night and there was no veterinary staff there overnight to help him if he needed something. So we went Friday night to say goodbye and put him down. When I went in they explained to me what would happen and I was given the option to be in the room or to say goobye and then leave the room before they put him down. I knew emotionally I would not be able to handle being there when he was put down. So Mum and I said our goodbyes. When they brought him in a vet tech was carrying him, as he could no longer walk. It was very obvious this was not the happy Zephyr, even from just a few years ago....this was the Zephyr who was very unwell and very very old. He never would have let someone carry him like that, let alone a vet tech. When he was young - he had to be muzzled at the vet so he would not bite them and still once he was able to get it off and give the vet or tech a warning nip. We said our goodbyes and this was probably one of the hardest things, if not the hardest thing I have ever had to do. He was such a loyal and faithful companion and saw me through so much of lifes ups and downs- and he will be forever missed.
Five days later Oma passed away Jan 22nd.
Then in Febraury we all got the stomach flu- kind of staggered in timing, one after another and all with varying symptoms. Well just as I was getting over the stomach flu I began coughing, which then developed into bronchitis and a sinus infection. I am finally beginning to get better, with two rounds of antibiotics back to back and using my nebulizer regularly. Meanwhile Mckayla and James both got sick again with stomach issues but luckily I did not get it again and we don;t know if Izzy did really. Her stomach is always a bit sensitive so sometimes its hard to know what causes what.
Anyway we are all much better and getting back into the regular swing of a healhy happy life again and we are praying there will be no more sickness and no more sad or difficult news. Perhaps we just got all the bad stuff/difficult times done for the year. We can only hope, right?
Below are some photos of our sweet Mckayla and Isabelle- who truly bring so much suinshine and joy to us on a daily basis. We love being their parents. (More updates on the girls to come soon- got to goto bed now!)
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