Alex visits!

It's been a great weekend with Alex. I am so happy that he is back and is doing well. I guess we are used to having our quiet house again but it's ok for a few days. Alex saw a lot of friends but took time to take us for dinner and went to see his grandma three times. What a good guy he is. We are going to miss him but maybe we'll fret a bit less (me especially)

Ava and her mom come to visit

What a great week we have had! Ava and Catherine stayed for five days. It was so much fun. We went over to Saltspring on Wednesday and had a lovely day with Auntie Lorill/Heather. Ava is 5 months old and she is adorable. She is sleeping better, smiling and laughing, rolling over, screaming, and full of beans. She never stops moving until she gives in and goes to sleep. Catherine is loving it, and is such a pro. I miss them so much! (But will enjoy having a nap this afternoon).

March already

Well, spring is almost here - although it's been a very rainy spring break. I feel pretty good most of the time though. I feel like things are moving forward. So much has happened - it's been three months after all! As for Alex, he is now working in Airdrie, and living there too. It was a long and challenging road. Son-in-law Paul found out they were hiring at Pro-Pak in Airdrie, and put in a good word for Alex. Alex, who had found a job washing dishes in Sidney, got a call to go out for an interview, and within 48 hours he was on his way. He flew out with just a few possessions and stayed with C&P. No one guessed it would be for over a month! The interview went not so well, but finally the guy called back and said Alex had the job if he could get his CWB rating. He tried, but didn't make it the first time. He practised the following weekend, then went back the following Wednesday and passed two out of three. He got the job, and Catherine and Paul helped him find a place within walking distance of his new job. He is doing pretty well I think. He is proud to be making $17/hr. He can get his license now but can't really afford a car so he is just waiting, walking to work every day. Friends are taking him here and there. I still worry when he doesn't get in touch. I think he still is struggling with some issues, and it's hard not to micro-manage his life. He is 22 after all, and we have to let him go. But, there is progress. I hope he will come back for Easter and for John's birthday. Catherine, Paul and Ava are doing so well. Ava is 5 months now. She is very cute - and very energetic. Catherine and Paul are constantly tired, but they are so good at being parents now, and having a great time. We are excited that Catherine and Ava are coming next week!The crib is all set up for her. Andrew is settled in in Berkeley, with Sheralyn and Jackson some of the time. Sadly, Lorretta has cancer and has been in hospital for almost six weeks now.She is weak and they haven't started chemo yet. It's been a hard time for Sheralyn and Jackson too. Andrew seems to love his job there, and when they are all down there they are having a great time. Heather came over last weekend. She needs more money to pay for a big phone bill.

March 14

Well, I just wrote a long message about what's happened over the last three months but the computer automatically shut down and it's gone. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Here is is in point form, since I don't want to write it all again. It has been one of the hardest times of my life and I just didn't want to write. Ironically, it has also been full of happy moments. . Christmas was great, with all of us here for a big dinner. It was busy but fun. We rented a car so it was a little less crazy car-wise. We helped look after Ava, who was only two months old, and of course, Jackson was over a lot. . Alex got a lead on a job in Airdrie. He flew out on January 9th or so, very soon after getting a call for an interview. After a month of highs and lows, he got the job and started Feb. 1 at Pro-Pak, where Paul works. We will be forever grateful to him for finding that job and for helping Alex through that month while he waited to hear. Alex seems to be doing well. . Alex can get his license now but he can't really afford a car, so he is just walking to work. Friends drive him to the mountain or into town. He seems to be making new friends but misses the old ones a lot. He hopes to come back for Easter/John's birthday. . Heather has not had a great winter. She had a huge phone bill from roaming charges in the U.S., and hasn't had a phone for months. She is working at the daycare. I think roller derby is keeping her going. She wants to get out of Saltspring by May. .Andrew, Sheralyn and Jackson got nicely settled in to their apartment in Berkeley. Just two weeks after they moved in, Sheralyn and Jackson were back, looking after her mom, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It got complicated when she developed a perforated bowel. She has been transferred to Jubilee where she is slowly recovering and waiting to start chemo. . I have been working a lot. I am enjoying spring break right now. We are still hoping to get away on a trip but I am waiting to see about a job possibly starting around April 11th. . We have a new car! It's a 2007 Yaris and we really like it. It had less than 21,000 km. on it and it's in great shape. Nice for Catherine's visit in just a few days! .As soon as Alex moved out I cleaned out his room, and painted it. That was a hard job, with so many dings and nail/tack holes. John put laminate down on the floor and just this week we moved the furniture back in. It's looking good! Next job, maybe the office. I have spent about an hour each day power washing the deck! It is looking good - I'm pretty stiff though! John has been busy out in the yard, trimming things down. We want to be ready! . John checked his mason bees and was so happy to be the proud father of more than ten bees! He put them outside and is kind of worried about them, but I think they will be OK. . We have been going out a lot! We went for dinner at Ferris's on Monday, then to the Debater's taping - very fun. Last night was the Belfry, and tomorrow we are going again. I am enjoying going out, and enjoying just having time during the day to do stuff. Maybe Sheralyn and Jackson will come over today. That's a bit of a catch-up!

December 6

Hello blog, I haven't written in a while. It was great to be in Calgary, and spend time with Catherine and Paul and wonderful AVA! I also helped Andrew move. When I got back though, things got bad. We went out to the parade and sailpast on Saturday night the 24th, not having heard from Alex all day which was a worry. We got a message from him later on that night admitting that he had got in trouble - car impounded for 30 days and a 90 day driving suspension. It's been a hard month for him and for us too. I am sorry for him but also frustrated that he hasn't got a job. I know we will get through this. Thank goodness for the rest of our family! Heather visited last night and today. She and Alex helped decorate the tree. It was fun.

Cabin close-up; Jackson and Sheralyn are coming

We had two lovely days at the cabin. Everything was working. It was sunny, and not too cold for the time of year. I enjoyed our kayak ride to Duck Bay to bring the kayaks up to the cabin. We saw lots of harlequin ducks - beautiful! We closed up yesterday morning. I closed all of the windows and put the bedding upstairs. I put Calcium Chloride around to sop up some of the dampness. Both doors and windows were locked. We had to get an earlier water taxi so we went for coffee at Nancy's, then in to Powell River for a quick browse at the Goodwill (I found my Hearts&Flowers there, but it was a whole set so I decided not to buy it - a good deal at $35!) I was reading "A Good Man" - a bit of a slog but a very good book. I also started on Alex's socks. We brought two DVD's up to watch but the second didn't work, giving us a bit of cabin fever on the last night. It gets dark so early. John got oysters and we had them for dinner when we got home. Catherine called on Friday, in the midst of a panic attack. Poor thing, she can't sleep sometimes. It is so hard for her right now. She phoned again yesterday and talked to John as he was walking to the dock to leave and she sounded much better. I hope that lasts. We got home to find that Alex has had his license suspended and can't drive, apparently because of the accident of a couple of weeks ago. He hasn't found a job yet and it is galling that he has bought pizza gone to parties using the money I have given him. I am going to give it another few days before I go to a counselor with him. I have to remember he has broken up with Sharah and it's a hard time for him. Remembrance Day today. The sun has gone, which is appropriate. We will probably go and visit Margaret. Jackson and Sheralyn arrive tonight!

Nov. 7, 2012

I got tickets to Calgary! I leave Saturday night, the 17th. Catherine had another hard night last night, and I am worried. I am so glad I am going. Holly had her operation today and she thinks it was a success. I subbed for a Grade Four class today. Fun! A highlight was the owls they drew. It was a good day. They also did a crossword about Remembrance Day. I biked to work, since it was a nice day, and I had choir afterward so it was good to get my exercise in. We go to the cabin tomorrow.

Nov. 6

It's been and up and down week! Catherine phoned in tears yesterday, and I felt I should go back, especially when I spoke to her again yesterday afternoon and she was still crying. I would have to miss Sheralyn and Jack coming and several teaching gigs but I was ready to go. Then she called early this morning to say that she slept last night and she is much better - no need for me to go. However, I will go to her shower on the 18th, or at least that is the hope. I will order tonight. Heather's birthday today and at least we got a couple of Facebook messages from her. I sent her good wishes and her birthday money. She is in Nelson tonight and says she will be closer to home next week and will see us then. Alex put out some feelers today. We had a long talk about how to work out this situation of him being home. Expectations, etc. I think we needed to clear the air. I'm glad he got out there and really hope he gets something soon! I know he wants to move out and we are so ready for him to do that. It's election day and we are watching the votes come in. It is very close! We hope Obama gets in, of course, but it is so close that there will be problems running the country. We are going to the cabin on Thursday, and since I work tomorrow, I got busy today and made tuna casserole and sweet&sour chicken so that there won't be a lot of cooking to do. I also made a pizza (very good) and some sausage rolls with the extra dough/sausages. Little Ava's stocking is looking good. It's important to do a good job because she will probably use it for her whole life, at least I hope she will. Maybe she will just decide to get her own stocking when she's bigger. I still have mine! Anyway, I am missing Heather and wishing we could be together. Have a great birthday and a wonderful 29th year!

Nov. 4

We "fell back" last night and I am sort of out of it. I woke up at 6:00 as usual, but it was only 5:00 because of the time change. I worked on Ava's stocking, which is coming along nicely. Then I went downtown and started Christmas shopping, always a good picker-upper. To top it off we went for dinner at the White Spot to celebrate Alex's finishing his welding. I think things are healing- but he couldn't wait to get out of there to go and see his friends, and he was texting most of the time! We watched "The Avengers" last night and I barely made it through without going to sleep. Wish me luck tonight as I try to watch "The Mentalist" and "Call the Midwife!"

November 3

A rainy Saturday - not my favourite day ever, but lots to be thankful for. Catherine phoned last night and she is doing much better. She slept last night. I think little Ava is turning a corner. Also, Alex phoned to say he has got his welding ticket. He seems to be feeling pretty good about himself right now. I started Catherine's stocking, with the idea of a bird design. I visited John's mom earlier. She was quite confused but liked the sweater I got her. I haven't heard from Heather in over a month:{

All systems go

Catherine is still having a struggle with little Ava. Poor thing. The good news is that John's colonoscopy was clean. Yay! Alex is home.

October is almost over - and I'm glad

It has been a month of huge change, ups an downs. Catherine has had her little baby girl, and she is beautiful. Ava is a very healthy little girl, and I was lucky to be there to meet her just about an hour after she was born. I spent ten days with her, and John came for the last six days. It was a very intense time, full of changes, especially for Catherine and Paul. Catherine ended up having a hard time with breastfeeding, and with all the lack of sleep and hormonal changes, she went a little over the edge at times. It is hard to see that happen, and even though I know it will pass, I am sometimes worried about Catherine, who feels things to intensely. She has been so inside herself and it's hard for her to get out of the house. Paul is back to work today, so this will be the "real world" as she says. Paul's family left yesterday, so it will be her first time alone during the day. She may find that she can get in to the rhythm of life with a baby now. Once we get used to it, us moms tend to manage well. I hope Catherine will find this out too. We saw Jackson and his parents a few times too. Jackson is so cute and funny. We are looking forward to seeing him soon so that his parents can go down to Berkeley to find a place for them to live. This weekend was horrible. Alex ended up putting his car into a ditch. He had had a couple of beers a few hours earlier and even though he was not over the limit, the car was impounded. What a perfect storm of unhappiness! The reason he sped off late Friday night is because Sharah was not speaking to him and he wanted to see her. He told his dad this, and then went out. When John got the call to help Alex out, he went right down, and Sharah was there too. I wasn't there but it seems like the two of them really had it out. Both have very quick tempers. Alex is so upset with his dad that he has temporarily moved out. He came home yesterday to tell us that he loves us but still can't come home. He and Sharah had just ended things about half an hour earlier. There were lots of tears on Friday and I am worried about Alex's state of mind. I am going to try to find a counselor for all of us. Added to that, we didn't hear from Catherine all weekend. She had phoned on Friday, and there were tears and she was mad at her dad for giving Ava a cold - not a good way to end a conversation but I had to go to work. We heard that Heather had visited Catherine and Ava too - but she hasn't been in touch either. I feel isolated and right now I don't seem to have a lot of enthusiasm for anything. I guess that is understandable. To end this up and down month, John is going in for a colonoscopy tomorrow. He has to stop eating at noon and then take horrible stuff that will make him clear out his bowels in a very dramatic way. In a couple of days we should have a resolution to all of this. I hope and pray that the doctor will find nothing. I am going to work this morning. That is one thing I think I can still do, and I like being with the people at Deep Cove, staff and kids. It's raining again!!

baby!

Catherine is in the hospital! She is going to be induced, and I am quite a mess. I missed my teaching job today because I got mixed up and thought I was booked for the p.m. It is horrible but I am putting it down to sympathetic pre-labour brain! I am booked for the 7:00 flight tomorrow. We are going out for dinner tonight at the Bengal Room. Isn't that weird?

October 8 2012

It's a lovely Thanksgiving Monday morning. The weather continues to be spectacular, with 20 degrees yesterday! I went for a run yesterday morning, got some pumpkin soup made (there are still about 12 bags of frozen pumpkin from last year in the freezer!) then went in to Victoria to see "Red" at the Belfry. It was excellent, as most plays there are. I don't know why I nodded off for a few minutes. I guess it was dark and comfy. I saw Lloy from book club, who I haven't seen in years. I didn't recognize her at first since she has had a nose job! I think she had a lift too. She does look good. Her nose was just too long! We had errands to run of course, before and after, then came home and had a steak dinner. Not too Thanksgiving-y but we will have the dinner tonight, with Alex, Sharah and Margaret. I am missing the other kids and their spouses and Jackson like crazy but we just have to roll with it.Catherine will probably be phoning soon and I will be off to Calgary! I want to get a good bike ride in today, and other than that, it will just be relaxing and cooking!

October 3, 2012

Welcome Reid Alexander! Kelly was induced this morning and gave birth to a little boy just tonight. He weighed 9lbs.12oz. and all is well. I worked at Deep Cove in the Grade 5 class (English) this afternoon. It was fun and pretty cushy since there was early dismissal. I am there tomorrow too. I went to see Mary Anne in the fashion show at Resthaven Lodge. It was great! Another sunny day. I went for a bike ride down W. Saanich Road via Brentwood and Mt. Newton X Road. It was nice.

October is here

It's October 3 already! There is a cool feel to the air but it is dry and sunny. I should go to the gym for a change but I love being outside on days like these. I have ten passes to use up in two months, so I am waiting for the rain! We had Heather visit on Monday and then again on Tuesday. She is on her way to Kimberley, but not for too long, which makes me feel better. I think she is doing well and seems happy. Alex continues to work away at welding. There was drama with his cell phone bill yesterday. It turned out there was not a problem but there was a lot of tension at home. The good thing was that it totally took my appetite away! I still haven't lost any of my summer weight though, but I feel good. I just don't want to gain any more. I worked a half day yesterday and will work this afternoon too, and maybe tomorrow. Friday will be a morning in Martine's class, unless there is a call from Calgary! I am thinking it will be next week sometime. There has been a lot of waiting for things to happen the last few weeks!

Good end to September

After a worrying weekend, we heard from Andrew that he has been offered a position at Berkeley! Everyone is happy! Details will follow. We had a turkey dinner tonight. It was nice. Heather didn't come after all but says she is coming tomorrow. It was a beautiful day!

Week of September 24

Hi there, It was a busy week with teaching/recovering from teaching! The weather has cooled, and it rained yesterday for the first time in months! It was nice - at first - to hear the rain coming. I was in Dean Park walking when I heard it coming. It was a bit of a bummer for Alex, who is camping at Port Renfrew with Sharah. Last time he camped it poured rain - he seems unlucky at finding good times for camping. Still some worries with him, but it's good that he did that, and the skies had cleared today. Heather is coming tomorrow, Sunday. We will hear all about her move to Kimberley. I am sad about that but maybe it will be good for her. We are going to cook a turkey, but maybe not a Thanksgiving dinner. I finished Kelly's socks and mailed them express on Thursday night. I hope they make it before she goes into labour. She is already four days over. It's an exciting time for her and of course for Catherine. Today we are getting the i's dotted and t's crossed for our renters, Cole and Mikaela Bartels, who are moving in to the condo October 3. Catherine and Sheralyn are going to help with that.

september 25

Subbed at Deep Cove for Johanne Chouinard,and will be in tomorrow too. I like the K's but I am tired after a day of being with them! I will be in Thursday for Matthew Makuch. I should be getting paid soon. Heather e-mailed to say she had given her notice and is moving to Kimberley for a while. I don't know what to think but I don't know exactly why she is doing it. She is coming over on Friday she says and then I'm sure she will be busy packing and moving. Catherine had another ultrasound today, and all is well with the baby, as we suspected. Just a couple of weeks to go now. Kelly is due any day! I have almost finished the socks for her.. I heard from Laurie, who had got the book I sent over via Holly. I felt bad that she didn't get into the choir. John made a nice dinner, pork chops on the BBQ with mushrooms and potatoes. We watched Downton Abbey, end of season one. We are anxiously awaiting the second season! Andrew hasn't heard yet from Berkeley but is still hopeful.

Thursday, Setpember 20

Subbing at Deep Cove School today. Yesterday at Keating for Douglas Fraser. Today was better than yesterday! The weather continues to be beautiful. John went fishing yesterday and caught two little fish, which we had for dinner tonight. Choir started yesterday. I wish we were better (especially some of the guys) and I wish we could sing some more modern numbers. I will hang in though. I went for a bike ride today, Mt. Newton X to W. Saanich Road. It was hard but nice and warm. Now to settle in for Jeopardy and Downton Abbey - one of my favourite things to do at night!