Monday, Monday (Bah daaah, bah daa daa dah)!

Good morning ladies,

I hope you get the musical reference in the thread title - the Mamas and the Papas! 

Its been a while since I posted but I have been reading from my phone, and praying for our little family - especially Vickie and Butch.  

I took Friday off from work, and after a 3 hour drive home from my client, climbed back inot the car for a 4.5 hour drive to Cape Cod on Thursday night.  My hubby and I took a 3 day weekend trip there, to relax and and as a belated anniversary celebration (our 10th anniversary was in May  - and we were married on Cape Cod).  We had such a fun and wonderful time with my cousin and her husband at their cottage, met new friends, walked, biked, and just relaxed.  It was lovely.  I felt so guilty about sharing anything about this trip, with Vickie's current situation.  But I was praying along with you all, every day , several times a day.  And I also found myself looking at my husband, watching him sleep, or whatever... and feeling so very grateful to have our time together this weekend.  We talked about it, and to whatever extent possible, we will do these trips more often now.  Life is passing with the blink of an eye and we want to enjoy it, and each other, while we are both healthy.  With the Lord's grace we will remain healthy - -and we both will work hard at eating right and exercising so we can make the most of it.  

So while I feel guilty about posting of my happy weekend while Vickie is suffering, perhaps this is Butch and her legacy to me and to all of us.  Hold each other close.  Hold those we love closer every day.  And live, love and laugh for as long as possible.  

I haven't met you in person dear Vickie, but I love you and pray for you and Butch and your family of course.  I sure hope this post doesn't make you feel badly.  

As for everyone else in the family, I hope you all in my hearts and feel like we are good friends.  The posts yesterday were just so beautiful - I found myself in tears reading them.  Most of our posts are all full of the same (or similar) sentiments for Vickie and Butch and I do hope and pray you and everyone you hold dear are doing well.  I am working from home today and thus should be able to check back in a bit later, and will catch up with you later on.  Despite our heavy hearts, I hope we all have a good day full of healthy choices!  

Love you all,

Christine

Christine, I know Vickie would not want you to feel bad about posting about your happy weekend. In fact, I think she would find some comfort in the fact that by sharing her and Butch's struggle, it has made us all take note of the good fortune we have to love and be loved; and also her sharing has led us all to recall the good times we shared with loved ones we have lost.  We have all experience loss, but life goes on - we cannot dwell on the pain and sorrow, but rather rejoice in the love we've shared.

It is so important to remember life passes "in the blink of an eye" -- seems to be passing faster and faster as we get older, doesn't it?

We are all "holding our breath" waiting for Vickie's updates...awaiting the inevitable.  Our hearts break for her, knowing the ordeal she faces.  But she herself has told us she is prepared.  Even so, it will be devastating at first.

Mary

Hello Mary...yes...life can be gone in a blink of an eye. I am always sending a text or calling my daughters and grandchildren to let them know how much I love them!!! They do the same for me. We just never know. The best feeling in the world is to love and be loved!! 

I always have Vickie and Butch and their family in my prayers. We all do. We patiently wait for Butch to go home to the Lord. This family means the world to me...and to all of us. My heart is just so heavy these days. I am so happy God answered our prayers and made sure Vickie got some good sleep last night. 

You have a great day...loads of love and hugs...connie d

darling sistas, I am not  upset in any way.  My husband and I lived life to the fullest. We took vacations and cruises and played on the lake and anything else we could think of.  We had a wonderful time just being together and that is what I would wish for any of you. Of course!  Please continue to post as usual. I need to read about life and love and normalcy. 

Butch had one of the best nights he's had in awhile.  He slept all night with no problems. Lisa stayed with me last night and I finally was able to relax and sleep so I'm doingbetter this morning. No changes to report as yet. We are in a holding pattern. I love you all. 

Vic,

the holding pattern is so hard.  Before I wa**** by the drunk driver and ended up with a broken back and crack neck, I was an RN and worked labor and delivery...every once in a while, I would get called to go out and start IVs on patients that the other nurses either couldn't stick or were too busy and from time-to-time I also asked for a day or two out of labor and delivery so I worked on the various medical floors.  I remember families sitting beside their loved ones asking for how long....just how long can he/she last without food, withou****er and I remember a very old RN told me to tell the families, they last long enough to say their own goodbyes, even if no one hears them because their hearing is the last to go so they would hear their families and she thought that they responded in silence to their loved ones and some time between the dehydration and starvation, the patient will realize that he/she isn't going to hold on any longer and they allow death to over take them...and it's peaceful and it's in his or her time frame...

Yesterday, when my DH and I took our granddaughter home, I was holding her and she is a very tall little girl and we were hugging and she was holding on asking me to stay just a little longer and finally we had to leave...she stood in the yard waving at us and I stopped before pulling out on the road and waved and blew kisses and DH said, we need to go and I said, it's just so hard to leave my babies and he said, yes but we will be back next week...Butch, I think, realizes that once he says, even if it is only silently, his last goodbye, it's the last time you guys will have him and it is much like saying bye to the kids...we just hate to do it, don't we? 

I am still holding out that you keep your emotional and physical strength up and that you and the girls get some comfort in the fact that he isn't hurting and that he loves you guys so much that he is making his last goodbye last...more for you than for him.   Hugs, my friend.

Hello Jeannie....what a wonderful post...I liked the part about your granddaughter and saying good. That is exactly as it should be. Butch will know when he is having his final goodbye.

My heart is so heavy...Butch and Vickie are so special to me and all of us. 

Take care...enjoy your day....love and many hugs...connie d

Good morning our precious Vickie!!!

I am so glad Butch and you were able to get some much needed sleep last night. Thank goodness Lisa was there!! Prayers as always for all of you. Butch is a strong man. God will let him know when the time to go has come. 

Christie sent me the nicest post on Facebook. I about made me cry. You have some pretty wonderful daughters!!! But then....you are a pretty wonderful family!!!! I thank God for you every day!!  I love you sweetie!!! 

I will be checking in throughout the day. I am right here for you.

Lots of love and bunches of hugs to you....connie d 

Good Morning Christine, and OFF,

First and foremost, Sweet Vickie, I continue to pray for all of your family.  I am glad you and Butch were able to sleep last night.  I am sure you feel stronger after your rest.  You continue to be in my prayers, as we await Butch's departure.  I am so happy that both of you had such a good life together.  I had a great guy, but didn't realize it till he left.  Huge regret in my life.

Christine, I haven't been on the Cape since 1979.  My hubby was stationed at Ft. Devens, Mass.  We traveled all over New England.  Couldn't afford much, but enjoyed what we were able to do.

I am still pretty exhausted, and a little sore after my marathon of walking and resting off and on for 24 hours, minus a two hour nap Friday and Saturday.  I will share about it later.  

As for the weight loss, I did manage to lose quite a bit of weight in the process.  I weighed 222 on June 12th.  I am down to 216 now.  I hadn't thought about that till I got home.  

Today, I have some gardening to do outside, and cleaning and laundry to do inside.

Love and Prayers, and tons of Hugs,

Trish

Hello Trish.....my heart breaks for you over the husband you had so long ago. He sounds like a wonderful man. You were very blessed!! Why do things need to happen like that? I am so sorry.

I am proud of your weight loss...won't be long now and you will be in Onederland!! 

I can see why you are exhausted. What a crazy busy day you had with that marathon. I am so proud of you!!!! 

Have a great day....lots of love and hugs to you....connie d

Good morning Christine and everyone.....

You have been missed!! I know your job is keeping you quite busy. I am so happy you had such a lovely weekend with your husband and friends. Good for you!! (I didn't think Vickie would mind). I am glad you and your hubby are making more plans to get away. Time does just fly by!!!

It is nice that you are able to work from home today. No dressing up and no make up!! Comfort is the way to go!!!!

I did get the Monday Monday reference...LOL....now thanks to you it will be in my head all day!!! 

As for me..... I had a bad eating day yesterday. Not such good choices!!! Now I am mad at myself. Oh well today I start following the plan again!!

I have an appointment this afternoon with my therapist/psychologist. I need her to confirm that I am still crazy!!  

I continually keep Butch and Vickie in my thoughts and prayers. I don't know how much longer he will be able to hang on. He is a pretty tough guy. God Bless them all. My heart is just so heavy. I know we all feel that way. I am keeping them very close to my heart. I love that family!! 

I will check in again later. Have a good day!! 

Prayers for our precious OFF Family and there families.

Special prayers for Judy as she has her surgery on Thursday. I am still praying for her sister, Bonnie too. I hope she gets stronger every day and can go home soon.

Much love and many hugs to all...connie d