A Farewell to 2008

As years go 2008 was one of great highs and extreme lows.  The end of the year coming to a crashing stop with the passing of my mother.

The Year That Was...

12/31/2007

We had an ultra sound with the baby and we had confirmation the little bugger was a boy.  With how much trouble we had the past few years seeing a healthy liitle boy was fantastic.  Upon arriving home where my parents had been watching the other boys the news was both happy and sad.  My mother had been hoping finally for a little girl.  she had 3 grandsons and was hoping for that girl.



Baby in Utero at 18Weeks 3 Days...

1/21/2008

Baby Was Born

3 Weeks later the little bugger decided to show up.  Of course it was in the middle of the night so we called my parents and they headed over to watch the boys who were sleeping.  The year had started out wonderfully with a healthy beautiful little boy.



3/21/2008

The End of an Era... Well at least child making one...

I went in and had the "Boys" taken care of at the Dr.  V is For Vasectomy...  Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

4/08/2008

The Magic Number is 35!  I turned 35 this year... OUCH closer now to 40 then 30... As I Turn 35...

4/20/2008

Happy Birthday Mom... Celebrating my moms birthday, which ended up being her last...

4/21/2008 - 5/18/2008

Out with the OLD and in with the NEW...  I finally got my act together and built a new swing set for the boys.  This was a major project that I was extremely happy went very RIGHT!  I actually surprised myself with how well it turned out.

6/4/2008

My vacation in the hospital.  I even blogged live while under the influence.  I was also treated poorly and had a terrible time recovering. 2nd Night, Poor Treatment.  Had a wonderful Infection of the Lower Intestines... JOY!

6/27/2008

The Loss of a Best Friend.



6/29/2008

DADSTOCK 2008



Went to DADSTOCK!!!  Ate too much, Drank too much and had a fantastic time.  The bonfire was so large and hot it was tough to be within 30 feet of it.  A day of drinking and chatting with other Dads was a welcome get away.  And NO I was not driving… Thanks again STEVE!!!  While I was gone the kids visited Grandma and Grandpa and the wife took the older boys to Six Flags Great America.  They had a long and exciting day as well.

7/30/2008

Oldest Turned 8

8/2/2008-8/9/2008

VACATION!

Each year we spend a week at a Cabin in Northern Wisconsin.  We have a blast at the lake, relaxing and just getting away.  A very close friend watches the house and dogs which is a wonderful thing.



8/12/2008

THE PUPPY!!!

Shoreland's Gandalf the Black...

With the loss of Sebastion we knew it would not be long before we got another Dog.  We were going to adopt another dog as we have done 3 times in the past, but this time was a PUPPY!!!



Not Much of a Puppy any more... Puppy enjoys Christmas...



8/16/2008

Second Son turned 4!

9/5/2008

My OLDER brother turned 40!

10/14/2008

13 Wonderful Years.   The wife and I celebrated 13 wonderful years together.

10/29/2008

Crushing our First Stroller.  Well this day will haunt me every time I get smart with the wife.  While backing up at Preschool I forgot to put the stroller in the van and ran it over.  This was one of our first purchases with our oldest.  Whoops!

10/31/2008

Halloween 2008



12/07/2008

12:18 am the phone rings and I see the caller ID as my parents house.  Seeing this I figured something happened to my 96 year old grandmother.  Picking up the phone I expceted my Mom, but it was my Dad.  My Mom had been taken to the hospital and it did not look good.  By the time we got to the hospital my mother had passed from what turned out to be an aortic aneurysm, she was 62.  This has devistated the family and has made it really difficult during the holidays.  I have been so distracted I have been unable to do much blogging.  We had a wake for her that Thursday Night and there were HUNDREDS of people there which says a lot about who she was.  She had been a Teachers Aid at the local High School for a Dozen years in the Special Ed department.  Not only did much of the staff come, but bunches of students showed up.  The most amazing part was the Dozens of Fire Fighters and Paremedics that showed up including nearly a half dozen Fire Trucks.  My father is a retired Trustee for the Local Fire Department.





 

12/19/2008

My Second Trip to the Hospital.

Well at least this time it was scheduled.  I had to have a Hernia repaired so I go to go under the knife and have my privates messed with by Doctors AGAIN!  Everything went well, but the past two weeks I have been sore as well as sad I can not pick up my youngest.

12/31/2008

FAREWELL 2008!

I will be back at it soon...

With the loss of my Mother and the Holidays I have not been blogging.  After my family gets through this tough time I will be back posting daily again. 

Look for new posts and some new looks for the New Year...

 

Todd...

A Man Among Mommies...

My Mother Passed away today...

Well at 12:18 this morning my phone rang.  I saw the caller ID and it was m parents.  I figured it was bad news and that my 96 year old grandmother had passed.  Well when I answered the phone it was my Dad, but he said the Paramedics were there and my MOTHER appeared to have a heart attack!  At that point we called my MIL and she hurried over so the wife could drive me out to my parents and the the hospital.  She would not let me drive at all.  We stop by the house and see my grandmother.  She told us which hospital and we asked her is she wanted to come too.  She said she did not feel up to moving a all.  Her daughter had just been taken away in what she thought was critical condition.

We were blocks from the hospital and the wife's cell rings.  It was her mother, my uncle called and said my mom did not make it.  We get to the hospital and the family waiting room to find my Dad, Uncle and Aunt, Older Brother and his wife... My younger brother showed up minutes later. 

Apparently my parents had gone to a Christmas Party and on the way back my mothers back hurt.  This is not unusual since she has had back issues for like 20 years.  Well then her stomach was upset and was still having issues with her back.  My parents went to bed with my mom sleeping on the floor which she has done for a very long time when her back acts up.  My dad woke to her in pain complaining about her back and having problems breathing.  She then passed out and passed away...

At this point am am in shock as well as a bit tipsy from drinking Scotch, Vodka and Rum...  No sleep tonight and I feel like my world is upside down.

She was looking forward to my youngest 1st biirthday in Jan.  She was over on thanksgiving and was also looking forward to watching the boys while I recover from my hernia Operation later this month.  Now that won't happen and I may not have the operation since I do not know if it will be a good thing to have me under the knife righ now.  Wife and I are affraid it will be a bit stressful for my Dad.

I dread talking to the boys when they wake in a couple hours.  My 8yo is very emotional and has delt with too much death already.  From the multiple losses we suffered to the passing of his dog this summer.  Finding out his grndmother died will be heart breaking.  My 4yo understands a little since the dog died this summer, but not as much as his older brother. 

What really hurts is 4yo wanted to go see Grandma and Grandpa last week, but she was working so we did not go.  My 8yo was also hoping that grandma would repair his stuffed Dinosaur for him. 

This comes as such a shock...  At times you can prepare for things to come, but when something happens this suddenly there is just too much to take in...

I will miss her and am really sad I did not see her today!