Wesley's Great Adventures

Hello everyone! Sorry it has been so long, but life has been extra crazy and sad the last few months. As most of you are probably aware, my mom passed away on February 25 from complications of a 10 year illness that progressed past the point where doctors were able to help her anymore. She fought a long, hard battle and never really complained. . . just kept on helping everyone else until the day she died. She was always there for everyone else and will be greatly missed by all. . . especially me. It has been hard adjusting to life without her. She was always the one I turned to and picked up the phone to call when something went right or wrong. So many things remind me of her and I try and remind Wesley all the time how much his Nannie loved him. He was her special little boy and she always said he was her medicine, for he always made her feel better when she was down. She would drive over just to get a kiss from him. She will be missed!!!

Adding to this sad news, my grandma just had a really bad stroke on Sunday and isn't expected to live very long now. She isn't in a coma, but it is just like she is sleeping all the time now. She can't swallow and therefore can't eat and it was her wishes not to be kept alive if she wouldn't improve, so, sadly enough, we are just praying for her to be pain free and pass away peacefully. It always brought a smile to her face when Wesley came to visit and Wesley has been asking about her now and wanting to go see her. I just don't have the heart for him to see her laying there so helpless after just going through everything with my mom. I barely do myself. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.

If I haven't shared enough sad and bad news, here is some more. Erick got offered a really good job in February near St. Louis, MO. He actually had to go back for a second interview the morning after my mom passed. He started on March 30, worked in Minneapolis for 4 weeks to train, and then started working at the job site at the beginning of May. (All the while I'm being a single mom at home with a child going through the terrible two's, separation anxiety from his Daddy, and confusion about his Nannie not being around anymore. . . it has been a challenge, thank goodness we only have one child) He was supposed to be the Lab Manager/Quality Assurance Mgr for this company that was moving part of its plant down from Minneapolis (the part that produced food preservatives). He has pretty much been living in a hotel since May until we could sell our house and me find a job there so we could get a new house. We were just getting ready to have an open house this weekend on our house and he got a call from the higher ups yesterday that they would be letting him go. They said that the government is really coming down on them and new safety/food guidelines are coming out that require the person in his position to be certified and have more experience. At least they told him that he was a really good employee and worked hard. . . but, that doesn't pay the bills, does it? So, thank goodness we hadn't sold our house and moved yet. I did get alot of packing, cleaning, and alot of the "honey do list" completed finally. I guess that's a positive not. So, for those of you who we told we would be moving soon, I guess we won't be unless another job comes up that is worth moving for. At least this time, maybe our house will be ready to be sold. :)

Lastly, on a positive note, Wesley turned 3 and Erick turned 34 this month. I will post the pictures of Wesley's birthday parties (yes, multiple parties) soon. He actually had 3 parties. . . one at daycare on his birthday, one with just me the night of his birthday since Erick was away working, and one the following weekend with the local family. All he wanted were balloons and goodies. I think he was happy. I hope he doesn't think he gets 4 parties on his 4th birthday. All he has been talking about for the past 6 months was his birthday and his birthday party and turning 3 on his birthday. The morning of his birthday, I take him to daycare and Ms. Lisa asks him how old he is today. . . what do you think he said? 3? No, of course not, he said he was 2. I couldn't believe it, after all the build up of turning 3 and then he said he was 2. Too funny! For Erick's birthday, Wesley had to get him balloons so we went to the local grocery store. Two of the teenage workers came to help us blow up the balloons. Wesley asked what they were doing and I told him they were blowing up the balloons. He said "Thanks guys!!!!" in a cheerful, happy tone. After they blew up the balloons and they handed them to him, he reached out and shook each of their hands so properly and said "Thanks!" It was hilarious. It shocked me, and it totally shocked the two boys. How mannerly!!! I was proud. :)

Well, I'll end this for now. I'll try to keep up better, but I think you'll understand why I haven't been around for a while. Keep us in your prayers and thoughts. . . as well as my family with all they are going through now too.