That was many moons ago-- The above picture was taken when himself was living in Cincinnati , doing a degree in business- I did not know him then---- After he finished his degree in business, he returned to Jamaica, and worked in their family business's -----and then decided to do medicine , and obtained a degree thru the University of London. At the time, I believe Jamaica was a country run by the English.
Eventually he interned in Ottawa, Ontario, where I met him as I was an Reg Nurse, and a graduate The Hospital For Sick Children, in Toronto. I was Head Nurse in the Premi and Intensive Care Nursery and he would come into my nursery, sit on my desk, and chat with all the student nurses which kinda drove me crazy.
We eventually married--
and then--well, you know, all these children came along------and then------
and yesterday--Son#4 came out to visit (2nd from left)---and--HE IS GOING TO COME OUT HERE AND STAY WITH HIS DAD TO_MORROW AFTERNOON WHEN I GO FOR MY HAIR__PLUS SOME OTHER ERRANDS__Lord love a duck eh!!----
I put it on the Family Chat line, the I need help or I was going to lose my mind----- AND----Low and behold, I found a volunteer--to help me---
---It does require a lot of strength on my part -- and I realize how frightened and frustrated he must feel at this time in his life.-
Now how did I ever get into all of this??--
That is great news that Son#4 will stay with Himself when you get your hair done. It will take the worry from you while you are out and also Himself will have someone else to talk to. Hopefully this will happen more often now. You are stronger than strong and doing a great job coping with the situation. I think a lot of us have tears, they are just for different reasons. Take care. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteNow the son is Not coming--I give-up--LOL--Lynda
DeleteHappy to hear son#4 will stay with himself while you are out. It gives you a much needed break. You are such a strong woman!! Take care, and remember we are all thinking about you and sending prayers your way!!
ReplyDeleteAnd now-- the son--is NOT coming-- Lordy Be! Lynda
DeleteThankful your son will come and keep Himself company for awhile, so you can do normal things, regular things, for a good change! Normal is good!
ReplyDeleteThe son is not coming now-- Lordy BE!--Lynda
DeleteLove hearing your romantic story. You may have been jealous of all the student nurses. It was love from the start.
ReplyDeleteThe photos of your kids and grandkids are great, too.
Roll reversals must really be difficult, but I am happy you are getting help. You will really enjoy your day tomorrow knowing Himself and the pets are in good hands. When you return, your son may be ready to leave!
Have a great time.
I need to get bananas, but can't go out with having Covid and all the ice on the roads. So I will drink oj and have applesauce instead.
Let's be happy! {{{HUGS}}}
I hope that you are feeling somewhat better-- That covid is eveywhere right now---Get better--Rest--Hugs, Lynda
DeleteSo happy your son is going to stay with his dad tomorrow. You will have a peace of mind. Lovely family photos. You have a lot on your plate and take care of the fur babies, too. My older yorkie is sick and on meds. Xray last night shows a mass that needs a biopsy. I am quite upset and worried. He isn't eating, on an antibiotic which needs to be with food, an appetite stimulant, enzymes, heart pill. I had to make a chart to keep up with it. He also may need a blood transfusion. Uhh! So difficult to get everything in him. So many stressful situations sometimes. You are so strong. Remember, I want to be just like you when I grow up. lol Hope you're having a great week. Enjoy your outing tomorrow. Stay warm and take care!:)
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your doggie---How old is this wee dog?--- I know you will take the best care of the little guy- hugs, Lynda
DeleteThank you so much, Lynda! He is 10 years old. My younger one, she will be 8 on Friday. I appreciate your kind words and encouragement!:)
DeleteIt's OK to cry. Sometimes it is a relief valve that lets you get on with your day, after you cry. So glad that son#4 is stepping up and helping out! It gives you a brief, but much needed respite from your full-time job as caretaker! Himself (Fred) is so lucky to have you!
ReplyDeleteLordy Be--I have shed SO many tears-- but--He does not realize there is anything wrong with him--a terrible disease! Lynda
DeleteGlad that your DS will stay w/Himself so you can get your hair done.
ReplyDeleteMy dear, it is a fine line, balancing act, to figure out how to handle this role reversal. Definitely. BUT you figure it out as you go along. Tears are healing. Remember that! I shed a bucket taking care of my parents, too. Role reversal is BEYOND hard!
HUGS and prayers.
Barb
1crazydog
Yes Barb-- I remember you taking care of yer parents-p-u were a Saint! --It is a difficult thing for sure!--Lynda
DeleteLinda - I've been reading your blog ever since Spark - seem like sooo long ago and I always enjoy it. I don't always get to read it everyday, but then I read the older ones and catch up. I really admire you taking care of Himself the way you do because I know it is extremely difficult. Let the tears flow when they must. It is your body's way of letting go of anxiety, frustration, and all those negative emotions. I have learned with my children that hints don't work. I have learned that when I need something I have to directly request it. I think part of it is our kids don't want to think about us getting old and needing a little assistance. It is hard because as Moms we feel we are supposed to take care of them, but it is another reversal that comes with age. Hang in there. My thoughts are with you.
ReplyDeleteMarsha --Yu are so right-- Yu have to come right out and tell these grown kids--so different than when I was growing up--but--everything is, isn't it?--and ye, it is horrible, looking after Himself-- Who wudve thought this would happen!--So happy to hear from yu- Lynda
DeleteI'm really glad that one son is going to stay with his dad tomorrow while you go out. Hopefully between the 3 up there it will happen more often to give you a break. Your deserve it and need it to look after yourself too. And hopefully the neighbour will help with the next snowfall. Tonight play the piano and relax.
ReplyDeleteHi Brenda-- Guess what?--The son is now unable to come-unbelievable isn't it?-- Lynda
DeleteI think often the strong are so known for being strong that everybody assumes they can handle things, so when you can't, you have to actually come out and say so! I am glad you asked for help. Asking for help is NOT being weak. Asking for help is STRONG, as you know how much you can handle, and what you cannot handle.
ReplyDeleteBravo!
And, if you don't mind, I can't think of what your one son does. One runs a restaurant, one is a police officer, one flies a plane, your daughter is a nurse? doctor? and the last son, what does he do?
Anyway, I had a very UP day, but yesterday was terrible. I was in a "poor me" mood. Today, I was not. But I don't know why, really. LOL
Hi Marti--Son#4 works for the city-- something to do with water=== He is the one who was going to come and sit with himself--but-now he says he cannot come as has other commitments which he had forgotten about---So Himself will be left alone--AGAIN__ and hopefully he doesnt fall---why were yu in such a bad way yesterday?--My heart goes out to yu--Thank yu for commenting-- Lynda
DeleteHi Lynda, that sucks, that he now can't come.
DeleteToo much hitting me at once. Like you, funds are rather static, and my health insurance went up double. I looked at other health insurances that were available to me to choose until Jan 15th, but though the others may be cheaper, they don't cover the doctors, specialists, and hospitals I need, nor all the many drugs that I take for this, that, and the other.
I was struggling through that, and then I have a birth defect that has been getting worse and worse as I age. I have a much smaller, shorter leg, and a child's size foot which was like a clubfoot when I was born. It was forced into a walking position as a baby by wearing a cast. It has become rather painful to walk. I have to buy two separate size shoes and have a 2" lift put on the shoe. Well, now I have NO shoes which are comfortable. I had a pricey pair custom made last year, and I just picked up a custom brace that was made for me, but it does not fit into the shoe. So now I have to go thru all the documentation and red tape to get yet another pair of shoes made for me which hopefully will fit the brace, but it's still unknown if it will help. I mostly wear a walking cast on the foot.
I often feel sorry for myself over it, and I have a very active dog who needs walked 3 times a day, and just a dash outside won't cut it. I worry a lot about my future. I foresee me being in a motorized wheelchair, and I don't like that thought. Lots of heavy thoughts to think about. No family left, other than a soon to be 80 yr old cousin who doesn't even live in town. Just a boyfriend who isn't much capable of making big decisions for me, nor does he live in town either.
I will be 65 in June, and then I will have to make big Medicare decisions ON MY OWN, and sometimes it all just bites. I had to go back to work part-time just to pay the bills. I may have to go fulltime.
Life sometimes just sucks. :(
Yes they are good kids--but not very thoughtful re. me needing help-- even just to save my sanity----Yu got bananas agin too--aND--We have more snow falling--Lynda
ReplyDeleteAnd now--Barb--the son is NOT coming-- lynda
ReplyDeleteI have been finding myself sleeping in more than I'd like over this past year. I think it's the pain and the struggle of healing from one surgery after another. I hope by Spring I am getting up early like I used to but now in the winter it just doesn't seem worth it. I'm so glad your son is coming out to visit his dad and to stay with him so you can have your hair day. I rarely go to the beauty shop but my mom went EVERY Thursday - even in bad weather. It was very important to her!
ReplyDeleteTake Fred with you................he probably gets scared when he is alone.
ReplyDelete