Groneman Family

9 1/2 hour drive home. 1 30 minute stop in Mesquite at McDonalds , 1 other potty-break stop. Thanks to dad's DVD player and my fixed power outlet it wasn't that bad of a drive. It is a GOOD THING we took your dvd player those since mine is apparently non-functional now. Lydia who had abandoned all potty training in Utah came home and immediately went in the potty. Then she did it twice more independently before bedtime and went and told steve when she was done. Apparently, Utah potties are not good enough for Lydia's tinkles. I got home in just enough time to change my clothes and go to work. Good thing my job is more of a break than work. But I just keep thinking of the thousands of things I need to do at home right now....

This is something that is hard to blog about. And it is harder today than it was yesterday. Mom passed on to one heck of a celebration in Heaven (I am sure) 2 1/2 days ago. But I have had my kids and grand kids and sweet husband to distract me from the pain of mom's departure. This is the first time I have really been alone since she died. Katie and Erica...and all of my kids in love...I wish you could have known my real mother. She was an amazing woman. She spent her lifetime loving, teaching serving all those around her. She was fun, and somehow managed to "be there" for those she loved in her life even while being a full time school teacher, Relief Society President, and taking care of her own mother in her old age. Mom was always a rock, and anchor in the storm that I knew I could depend on. And even though in reality she hasn't been taking care of me for a very long time...in fact that role was reversed in the end...she has always been a source of comfo...

Thanksgiving took a far 2nd place to the passing away of my dear mother in law, Oral Haslem.  What a great woman.  Cambrie left California and was able to visit her grandma before she died.  Of course the frail, old and failing body was not what Grandma was for most of her life.  She was a wonderful mother who raised some great kids, including my wife.  When I was trying to court Marilyn, her mother was on my side even before Marilyn was!  She made anyone feel welcome in her home.  I told Marilyn a couple of years ago that going to the mountain was more fun when her parents were there.  Grandpa was always off doodling with something but Grandma would make the mountain fun.  A few weeks back when she was mostly mentally gone and sleeping through most visits, I asked her when we were going to go to the mountain again and she opened her eyes and started talking to me about the mountain.  She loved it.  I can't count the number of water...

It is with a heavy heart that I write this post. From the sounds of it, my mom likely only has a few days to live. Katheryn called from the care center. Mom's breathing is really irratic, shallow and with long gaps between. She is sore all over now, and not just her legs. They have to give her liquid morphine ( in addition to the longer lasting morphine she is now on 24/7) before they try to change the depends, because the liquid morphine gives quick short term relief of pain. But even on both, she cries out in agony to be moved at all. David was with Kathy. He was with his mom when she died a few years ago. He said that what mom is doing tonight is what his mom did, 2-3 days before she died. And I remember, that the day that we had Jack moved to Saundra's (because I was joining Kim on a Sysop trip) he was also in great pain to be moved at all. That was the day before he died. I will go and probably stay the whole day with mom tomorrow. I am sure that mom won't be...

Hopefully I'll be able to post pictures soon; but no promises.  Nelsons had a good Thanksgiving with steve's parents and 1 younger brother (Kyle).  We had dinner about noon.  Kiera had a few bites of beets and that was all because, just like last year, she filled up on junk food before the meal (last year she didn't even eat 1 bite of dinner).  Lydia did better though.  Bev cooked all of the food 100% by herself other than the pumpkin pie that I made.  Too much work I'd say!  Although we had rolls, they were not orange rolls.   But I made some a few weeks ago so it wasn't TOO sad.  After thanksgiving dinner we had a turkey piniata (nothing at all like katie-quality piniatas).  The girls hit it a few times before I gave the bat to Kyle who graciously busted it open.  The girls enjoyed it, but I think they'll like it more next year.  Personally,  I like the tradition more for thanksgiving since Christmas  has en...

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