The New Year

Wow, we are already into the new year, where have I been?  I'm so far behind with my blogging.  Work has just been busy and I haven't had the time here to post and I don't seem to take the time in the evenings.  I don't even know last what I was talking about.  So I will just start with today and try to work backwards.

My Christmas and New Year was nice.  I had the week off between and it was a pretty relaxing time for me and the kids.  Mike had to work but got to come home early a few days so I think it was a fairly easy week for him too.  Nick and Marie loved their Kindle Fires and Kevin liked his GPS. 

Kevin arrived home the Tuesday before Christmas, but not to the best news.  His biological father was in the hospital so him and I ended up driving to West Virginia the next day (5 hours each way).  The whole day was pretty depressing and not the way either of us wanted to spend it but we felt it was the right thing to do. Kevin's older half brother (he has 2, I think in their mid to late 20's) had contacted him to say that their dad had terminal Cancer and was in the hospital not doing well and that he wanted to talk to Kevin and Matt. Why he didn't try to reach Kevin weeks ago I'm not sure. It's pretty clear he's known he wasn't doing well for some time.

I didn't realize the gravity of the situation and I guess Kevin really didn't either. Evidently his father had a heart attack the day before and died and they brought him back so basically just the machines were keeping him alive. Then the 2 half brothers left like a hour before we arrived (something with the babysitter) but I just felt they should have waited for Kevin to get there since they hadn't seen him but once when he was a little boy. So it was just Kevin and I arriving and the nurse talking to us about his father, a man neither of us knew. He hadn't seen his father since he was like 5 or 6 and his only memory was of being hit with a belt and stood in the corner for hours so seeing his father there in the bed with all the tubes and wires I'm sure was a shock. I did ask if Kevin could have a few minutes alone in the room with his father so we all left. We were at the hospital maybe a total of 20 mins and then it was back on the road for another 5+ hours.



I felt like crying but I never did and neither did Kevin. We didn't talk much on the way home and I just kept thinking how I wished his father had made more of an effort for him. My sister too for that matter. How it just seemed like they both abandoned him all these years. I know he has Mike and I but of course it's not the same as your real parents. Anyway, it was a sad day.

Christmas morning they turned off the machines and his father passed away.  He was buried Thursday but Kevin said he wasn't driving back to go so we didn't.  Kevin ended up spending most of his time home at his friend's house.  I know he was just trying to cope with it all but I felt kind of hurt especially since he didn't even buy me a Christmas gift.  He did go out after Christmas and get me something but it just felt like he was checked out from us during his visit.  He heads back to South Carolina today so I said my good byes this morning. 



Ok onto brighter things, the kitties are doing well.  Smudges just adores Crystal, treats her like a momma and they sleep together often and play together a lot.  Smudges is warming back up to me and comes and sleeps in my lap sometimes so I'm liking that.  He's crazy when you have food and has the sweetest little cry that you can't help but feed him lol.  He actually sits up on his hind legs and begs like a dog. Crystal is still as crazy as ever and has climbed up in the Christmas tree like 3 or 4 times now lol.  Thankfully she hasn't broken anything yet.  Sassy is still the same sweet kitty she's always been though I guess feels neglected at times because of the other two.  All 3 kitties love sitting with Mike in his chair and often all 3 are with him at the same time :)  I need to take a picture of them sometimes.  I think it's in part they just love his blanky he covers up with :)

I finally got my new smart phone and it only took almost a week to activate lol.  I swear I was about ready to send it back.  The texting still isn't working so I still might be sending it back. It seems ridiculous to me that it's taking so long for them to sort it out.  I guess I will have to call again today about it.  I've been on the phone with them for hours it seems in the past 2 weeks.
Had my TOPS Christmas party, company Christmas party, Mike's Christmas party and a madrigal dinner all in just a few days not to mention then Christmas and New Years and more eating. It was a total food fest but I managed to get through it with little damage to the scale.  My weight has been around 182-185 so I'm ok with that.  I've gotten to the gym 2-3 times a week, with so much going on I don't think that's to bad. I definitely have some work to do so I can get back in leeway (was 183.6 on Wednesday at TOPS) and back in the 170's. 
Well I always say things work out like they're suppose to. An older couple came a few weeks ago to look at the cottage and the woman is taking the place. They've been together 32 yrs but it's clear she's had enough of him and is ready to be on her own.  I think she will stay for years to come so I'm happy about that. She came and signed the lease Wednesday. I'm really glad the young couple I was going to give it to didn't take it. They really wanted a 2 bedroom anyway so it all worked out like it was suppose to.  I really like the lady a lot and I can see us becoming friends. 

We went and saw Kevin's sister on Thursday.  We picked my mom up and she went with us.  The baby is getting so big and she's very cute.  She's still unsure of us all but enjoys Marie a lot.  I hope this year we will get to see her more often since they are right in Baltimore now.  I had plans to see my oldest sister (not Kevin's mom) but she canceled saying she was to tired.  Her father-in-law is dying of Cancer and I could just tell she wasn't up for company.  She called me yesterday though and talked a long time so maybe we will start talking on the phone more often.  I do hope we can have a relationship again.

I talked to my best friend on Christmas day and that was nice.  I thought about going to see her too but I just think we might need more time.  I will call her this week and see if she wants to see me and if so maybe I will make plans to go see her and my sister sometime this month.  I'm just going to play it all by ear.  I'm feeling ok about everything and they seem to too so that's the important part. 

I feel bad I've been away so long but I just haven't had the time I use to at work and until I can figure out a good routine for myself my posts might be hit and miss.  I have been trying to read everyone's blogs but not commenting much either.  Hopefully I will find a balance for myself over the next few weeks.  I do miss blogging and everyone here.  Thanks for reaching out to me I do appreciate each of you.

Here's to a great new year for all of us. 

Till next time...