tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87038212011-08-21T09:12:12.689-05:00This blog is for Jim Marventano's family and friends to review his status and updates while he goes through treatment for Stage IV Colon Cancer. We can beat it together!Katenoreply@blogger.comBlogger2341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-27379502034339657742011-06-01T11:39:00.000-05:002011-06-01T11:39:35.383-05:00

Thanks for reading the blog, my friends. I'm going to keep it posted, but I'm done writing.  I appreciate everyone's support and friendship. Thanks for seeing Jim, me, and the kids through one heck of a journey. Embarking on new challenges isn't always easy or fun - thank you for being our cheerleaders through thick and thin. love, Kate

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-51318219355189307132011-05-26T14:27:00.000-05:002011-05-26T14:27:41.357-05:00

So, that's the gentle title for today's post. In the last post I mentioned that things have been a wee bit tough around here. So here's part of the story that goes with that. I've held on to this blog for a few weeks but now is the time to post it. Really?  R.E.A.L.L.Y.? What the hell, cancer? Because...wouldn't you think that we've paid our dues to cancer because we lost Jim? I'm gonna say yes.

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-58592394111127911702011-05-19T10:49:00.000-05:002011-05-19T10:49:50.546-05:00

Lately, it seems that so many things going on around me are unjust. It's not fair. No one deserves cancer, or job loss, or other myriad problems that the people closest to me are experiencing. After a particularly tough last month or so, I've decided to blog about what's good and just in my life. I have always maintained that one of my roles in life is to just BE fun. And HAVE fun. And

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-56677741291091383632011-04-22T14:36:00.000-05:002011-04-22T14:36:21.206-05:00

Last night I heard a very interesting quote. It was "You're only as successful as the five people you're closest to, and that doesn't necessarily refer to money." Huh. I don't know about you, but I started really examining who I thought I was closest to. I have a huge array of friends and relatives. But who do I call when I'm really hysterical? Not many people. I thought about success and what

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-43396053939906755392011-03-14T11:44:00.003-05:002011-03-14T12:48:43.467-05:00

*Watch out. This is an angry rant.You know I've been through several phases since Jim was diagnosed, ranging from feeling helpless to feeling like a party-animal to feeling like I have to explain to everyone at the grocery store why I'm an only parent. And don't even get me started on the phase that I don't particularly appreciate being called a single parent - I am an only parent. Any way, I go

Katenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-86371461808957867652011-02-28T20:47:00.002-05:002011-02-28T21:29:52.516-05:00

So, guess what? I got a job. Actually, I got two jobs.Job #1 - Online marketing and website management for my previous boss, Kimberly. I've mentioned Kimberly in a post or two before. She's my life and work mentor. She's smarter than all y'all. And she can shoot pool and play darts with the best of 'em. And she's interesting. And she taught me A LOT about keeping my trap shut and my game face on.

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-24241864818331735192011-01-31T09:56:00.002-05:002011-01-31T10:43:05.321-05:00

I've had a jumble of feelings about Jim lately. I took the kids to Disney World at the beginning of January because Judi ran the Disney Marathon in memory of Jim. I trained to run it, but the week before I got so sick that I couldn't run. I cried about that. Felt guilty on the day of the race. Wrestled with my psyche wondering if I somehow got sick on purpose so I couldn't run. Guilt and tears

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-80277665632080205822010-11-23T09:21:00.010-05:002010-11-23T11:55:04.703-05:00

It's a new week around here. It's a new chapter.John asked me to marry him this weekend, and I said yes.Engagement as a 38 year old widow is much different than it was as a 21 year old girl. This time I have a built-in flower girl and ring bearer. (I actually have two of each, because John's niece and nephew are a big part of our lives, seeing as how they are also my best friend's children...)At

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-32712625804634432162010-10-19T11:08:00.003-05:002010-10-19T11:35:06.226-05:00

So, today is a great day for this post. You know something weird? I've been contemplating this post for a while. Today is Suzy's birthday - it's the perfect day for it.One of my very best friends is Susan. I personally think that Susan has meticulous taste in friends, because...I'm one of her friends. And I like the crowd that Susan runs with here in Kohler because...I'm part of that crowd. But

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-29331510099146298342010-10-12T19:30:00.004-05:002010-10-12T20:31:22.196-05:00

First off, let me say that I believe my therapist is worth every dime, and then some. One of the things I've been working on with my therapist is establishing boundaries. I'm not very good at it. I just tell people whatever they want to know. I don't stand up for myself very often. I rarely tell people if I believe they are doing something wrong. If someone provokes me I often try and make the

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-20590970040205488402010-09-24T08:24:00.002-05:002010-09-24T08:46:37.231-05:00

Every year I try and make sure I do something meaningful on September 17. This year was no exception. My brother Tom asked if I wanted to meet him in London, England. He was going on business, so we ran around a few days before his meeting started. I thank Tom for such an offer - I wouldn't have thought to do something so special on my own and it was nice to be with Tom to celebrate Jim's life.

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-78882511985671914962010-09-07T20:27:00.006-05:002010-09-09T14:56:54.007-05:00

A number of people have asked me to update the blog. The last blog I wrote was after an exceptionally frustrating date. It's been a crazy summer, full of events and revelations and even...a new boyfriend. :)So here's the scoop:That date from the "Argh" post was, simply put, the worst date of my entire 2 year career. Worse than the guy who went out with me for a few hours and then asked me to be

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-39915247587328955542010-06-03T21:46:00.002-05:002010-06-03T22:20:03.082-05:00

Remember that blog I wrote that said that dating now was only slightly better than dating in college because at least now I can afford to drink beer out of bottles rather than plastic cups? Yeah, I was pretty much spot-on with that assessment. Whatever you think might look fun about dating, you're wrong. Dating at my age SUCKS. Now, maybe it sucks because I might have a teensy chip on my shoulder

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-50607041797624060012010-05-28T07:54:00.002-05:002010-05-28T07:59:17.957-05:00

Wow. I would have teased him and told him he's old. I miss him every day. My life isn't the same. Even the happiest of moments are marred by the fact that he's not here to share them. Lambchop, I love you and I miss you. The kids miss you. Your family misses you. My family misses you. Your friends miss you. I sincerely wish you could come home and celebrate with us.

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-78838749335033297962010-05-26T06:58:00.003-05:002010-05-26T07:11:45.063-05:00

Two corrections from yesterday's blog. I know I don't often make corrections but I did think this warrented commentary:1. A shout out to Jen from Custer, SD, who actually donated all 100 of the brats we cooked up for the kegger. And for loving on Eric, who didn't know many people. Katie M., you also get props for that one! 2. In the paragraph where I mentioned friends that helped, I wrote: thanks

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-26023075553346638062010-05-24T20:19:00.002-05:002010-05-24T20:57:41.864-05:00

This past weekend I had my kegger. Yep. A real keg party. Not quite as classless as college, but a real kegger nonetheless. I sent out paper invites with a picture of a keg on it. I had the yard all decorated, 100 brats, beer pong, quarters and flip cup. I had 2 kegs, 8 cases of beer, 2 gallons of kamikaze, and 75 jello shots. Not to mention the rest of the food and drink. It was nuts. 100 people

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-25616882865071807672010-05-03T22:12:00.002-05:002010-05-03T23:21:58.367-05:00

Today I went to the doctor to discuss some issues I've been dealing with for over a year. Honestly, by the time I got there today I was completely torqued up and absolutely convinced I had cancer. I was completely exhausted yesterday, but sleeping last night wasn't much of an option until I'd stayed up so late that I was positively ill.Jim died over two years ago, but to me, the cancer is still

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-31009371330844823732010-04-26T13:11:00.002-05:002010-04-26T13:42:53.000-05:00

It's another beautiful day in Wisconsin. I thought I'd update the blog to let everyone know that I am, in fact, not sitting in the basement huddled in a corner nursing a bottle of ripple.The blog is very cathartic for me. Thank you to those of you who wrote or responded in some way. It means a lot to me. Once I got it all off my chest I started feeling better. Don't get me wrong - I am still very

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-51014840546493329632010-04-22T13:16:00.002-05:002010-04-22T14:20:45.711-05:00

Word spread around Kohler like wildfire this week. A new case of cancer. A child. It's someone I know. The first day I found out, my heart sank and I cried. I called my mom and I tried to problem solve and think of things to help the family. Then I cried more. Yesterday I got progressively worse. I literally ate everything I had in the house. I wrote my friend an email that I hope was encouraging

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-20156616653275591662010-03-14T18:22:00.004-05:002010-03-14T20:20:19.752-05:00

Last week was by far my worst week of 2010. I'm expecting to have more. But I'm expecting to have less than I did in 2009. I'm expecting to have at least half of what I did in 2007-2008. My friend Emily sent me a note on Facebook and mentioned that I needed to let some things go. That I shouldn't expect to do everything in a straight line - that it's okay to dance, move, zig zag and weave through

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-65333653238240817382010-03-09T21:10:00.003-05:002010-03-09T21:12:16.403-05:00

At the risk of being cliche, I'm posting the W.H. Auden poem. It's so...fitting. I've been tempted to post it before but I always thought it was too negative. Well, that's where I am today. Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,Silence the pianos and with muffled drumBring out the coffin, let the mourners come.Let aeroplanes circle moaning

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-52125913791607292552010-03-04T18:26:00.003-05:002010-03-04T19:53:00.528-05:00

Childhood was not my bag. Don't get me wrong - I had a great childhood growing up. My parents are awesome. My home was a safe haven where I could be who ever I wanted. I was raised in a very comfortable home where I very rarely had to do without. If ever. My mom stayed home and I swear it, there were cookies and milk waiting for us every day when we got home. Despite much teasing from my brothers

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-64204562141854867212010-02-23T09:35:00.003-05:002010-02-23T10:16:34.004-05:00

I'm back at church, you know. I dropped off at the beginning of last summer. I got sort of angry and bitter. I said I wasn't mad at God, but maybe I was. I wasn't raised in a religion. My folks believe in God, but they decided when I was a kid that as long as we know who God is and what he means that we would find God in our own way. (Mom and Dad, correct me if I'm wrong on that.) My Dad always

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-19806584896418535372010-02-15T21:47:00.002-05:002010-02-15T23:03:41.055-05:00

In the past I've associated therapy with...you know, crazy people. (Like I'm not crazy?!) Nonetheless, starting therapy wasn't easy for me. I went to a therapist shortly after Jim died that I liked, but I didn't feel that I was taking away from my sessions what I could. I decided to try again with a new therapist that someone recommended to me. I like this therapist. She's everything I'm not.

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-41232927732360407022010-01-18T13:45:00.003-05:002010-01-18T14:32:02.707-05:00

Being an only parent means...- I have no break unless I hire someone, my mom and dad take the kids or my in-laws do. - I deal with the sickness in the house, even if I'm sick. - I am the disciplinarian all the time. I can't really afford to get lazy and look at someone and say "You handle that" or "your turn" because there isn't anyone else. - If I want to get a gallon of milk, I need to load

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-20439354690773309272009-12-07T21:14:00.004-05:002009-12-07T22:45:22.952-05:00

This weekend Janet and Jim watched the kids while I went to Philadelphia to visit our friends the Kellys. Mark and Jim were best friends, and Terri and I have become very good friends as well. I haven't seen them since Jim's memorial service in Rochester two years ago. It was a long overdue trip. This weekend I got to meet some of the Kelly's friends - two couples who really stuck with them

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-85717803708655676992009-11-18T11:13:00.002-05:002009-11-18T11:20:07.414-05:00

I'm sitting at the YMCA right now. Lots of tiny little ballerinas going into their class. It must be father daughter day because the girls are all excited that their dads are here. The last time Rachels dad got to see her as a ballerina, he was in a wheelchair because it hurt his abdominal area too much to walk. The last time her dad got to go to an event with her, she was just three years old.

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-81705235092765623832009-09-19T15:56:00.006-05:002009-09-27T22:14:19.184-05:00

September 17 was a good day. It was an emotional day. It was an exhausting day.Two years ago, September 17 was a much worse day than it was this year. Last year wasn't as good as this year. But the sadness is like a flood that suddenly gushes into my life. I'd been really not doing well a couple of days before the 17th. In fact, I never once cried on the 17th. But I cried like a baby two days

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-18315794163493398752009-08-31T22:44:00.002-05:002009-08-31T23:05:03.357-05:00

Jim and I were friendly when we started working at Dick's Sporting Goods. That's how I met him, you know. He worked in Bikes, I worked in Clothing. His friend Mark and I were friends. Mark and I used to stand at the edges of our areas (we weren't allowed outside our "area", be it Bikes or Clothing or Shoes or whatever...) and chit chat. Mark would tell me about his girlfriend and I would blather

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-29141857289780664342009-07-15T13:50:00.003-05:002009-07-15T13:55:01.316-05:00

I went to see the therapist today. I was telling her that we were approaching the three year mark for Jim's passing. And she looked at her notes and looked at me. And looked at her notes and looked at me. And then she said "Kate, you're only approaching the two year mark, and what your experiencing is completely normal."Good God. It seems like forever since he passed away. But it hasn't even been

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-24758120354497058532009-07-05T19:37:00.004-05:002009-07-05T19:56:03.334-05:00

This post isn't to say that I'm not doing well. I am. We have a lot of happy times around here and we've been enjoying our summer. But lately, I am overwhelmed with disappointment when I realize that he is, in fact, not coming back. I actually still find myself wondering when he's coming home. I have decided to start therapy again. I need some help. We are approaching the three year mark of Jim's

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-29236761737090865092009-05-28T18:35:00.003-05:002009-05-28T19:43:35.503-05:00

Today is Jim's 40th birthday. I can't believe it. Here we are. The life we were aiming for, but with one major component missing.Goodness gracious I do miss him. We all do. I would have wanted to have a big party. He would have wanted to have a small party. We would have had a small party, because more often than not, I deferred to Jim. Sometimes I wonder what we would be doing on any given day.

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-50653273357834671312009-05-27T16:21:00.004-05:002009-05-27T16:47:36.907-05:00

Okay, first I should clarify: the night I overindulged, nothing actually *happened* - I didn't dance on a bar, I didn't do anything my kids or parents would be embarrassed about. (Although I am...) I just drank too much, felt sad about my life circumstance, cried, got sick, and moved on.This last weekend we went to Iowa for Memorial Day weekend. It was my first trip to Iowa. It's not a real

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-26525879747902852972009-05-17T20:03:00.002-05:002009-05-17T20:25:49.575-05:00

As I've mentioned many a time, moderation is not my forte. It isn't for any Ferguson, truly. There may be those of us that can moderate what we eat or drink, how much we exercise or our tempers. But you'd better believe that all Fergusons struggle with moderating some element in our lives.I run around with a pretty cool group here in Kohler. There are no dummies in this group. These are people I

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-48647604582390817162009-05-08T11:20:00.002-05:002009-05-08T11:26:03.684-05:00

As I'd posted before, our family motto is "It's good to try something new". Rachel wanted me to try some potato chips yesterday. She used the family motto on me! I had to laugh. It also reminded me of something she said to me a couple of weeks ago.She didn't want to try some new food, and I reminded her of our family motto.Kate: Rachel, remember our motto? It's good to try something new.Rachel: {

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-24847038934964265672009-04-30T18:52:00.002-05:002009-04-30T19:03:31.590-05:00

There's nothing particularly special going on around here.It's a sunny humid afternoon. I can hear my kids outside, running around, screaming and laughing with the other neighborhood kids.I worked on the corrugated boat for the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic this afternoon and it's coming along nicely. I worked with my friend/PAC associate Vicki. It was a lovely afternoon of chatting and gluing

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-48567353344738586672009-04-16T20:30:00.003-05:002009-04-16T20:53:54.065-05:00

Once again the blog seems a bit negative, which isn't a very accurate depiction of our every day lives.So here's what's new and exciting in our world:1. We had a fabulous Easter weekend. My folks were here and we took the kids to the American Club for Easter brunch. Rachel and Jake acted like ANGELS for an hour and a half! It was really quite impressive how good they were. They got to meet the

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-17475590083158092582009-04-06T20:05:00.002-05:002009-04-06T20:34:52.796-05:00

I went to the funeral for my relative that passed away this weekend. It was my first funeral since Jim died. In some aspects, it was harder than I thought it would be. In some aspects, it was easier.One thing I have to say for my family - when push comes to shove, the Fergusons know how to pull it together as a family. Over the years there has been conflict. But come on, what family doesn't have

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-54942398428426471002009-03-30T12:49:00.002-05:002009-03-30T13:10:48.769-05:00

One of my family members passed away today. Cancer.It seems like not a week goes by without a reminder that life is so fragile. That we have very limited time with the people we love. That cancer knows no boundaries.Last week I went out with some friends for dinner. I got to bring a date with me...someone I've been seeing on and off for several months now. After we went my mom teared up and said

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-80100346639019858682009-03-17T20:24:00.002-05:002009-03-17T20:29:05.075-05:00

I am Irish. I am blessed. I have two beautiful children from a man I loved dearly. I have a fabulous family. And friends that are also family.It has been a year and a half. A year and a half of me learning that I can make it on my own. That I can be an only parent. That I am blessed because I have my children and my own health.He was amazing. He continues to be a force in our lives and will

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-77576678282350000292009-03-16T15:22:00.002-05:002009-03-16T15:51:48.303-05:00

It's like a cold. This depression just won't go away. Tomorrow it will be a year and a half since he died. It started setting in around Wednesday or Thursday. I knew it was coming and truthfully, I didn't make an effort to avoid it this time. I just let it wash over me and so far it has ruined five days of my life.I can't escape the "feeling sorry for myself" thoughts. My life is ruined. My kids

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-29571219335968744582009-03-13T20:34:00.003-05:002009-03-13T20:40:26.654-05:00

I said I didn't want to go out.I wanted to rest at home.It's quiet here.I'm alone.My kids are in bed.The house is a mess.I can't bring myself to clean it.I can't bring myself to watch tv.My stomach hurts.I over ate.Music is annoying.My friends are all with their husbands.The boy I like is working.I'm done dating other boys at the moment.Why get all dressed up and geared up to go out with

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-85275313624391481882009-03-01T19:59:00.003-05:002009-03-01T20:40:24.949-05:00

Every year the John Michael Kohler Arts Center holds a corrugated boat race where the Sheboygan River meets Lake Michigan. The race is on the 4th of July, which is a bit difficult because we've typically used that weekend to visit family or friends. But we've seen the race and it's loads of fun. This year we are staying home and we are going to participate in the race.We're building a corrugated

Katenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-47973522449580068382009-02-24T09:18:00.008-05:002009-02-24T10:06:49.612-05:00

I have moved 13 times since I was a kid. My parents sort of started a thing where once we move, we just cut all ties and go. We never go back to visit friends. It just makes the transition harder. If you keep hanging on to what and who you knew at your last home, you won't be able to move forward and make friends at your new home. So I have pretty much adhered to that until this past weekend.My

Katenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-78445891907482393052009-02-15T12:00:00.002-05:002009-02-15T12:42:22.374-05:00

My niece posted a blog a while ago with song lyrics that really get to me. It's an unlikely source - a band called Nickelback. I'd heard the song a few times, and I knew right what song my niece was talking about when she posted it. Nickelback is not a group I would normally listen to, because, well, I'm not cool. But this song seems to fit. The chorus is:`Cause nobody wants to be the last one

Katenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-52410154101613647512009-01-29T18:36:00.004-05:002009-01-29T19:01:18.813-05:00

I'm going through another phase. I am now constantly (and annoyingly, I imagine) reminding my friends that they should amp up whatever relationship they have with their husbands.So rather than consistently harp on my best girlfriends about what they should be doing with their husbands, I thought I'd broadcast it on the blog so everyone can listen to me preach. For heaven's sakes, ladies. You

Katenoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-41269450949216927702009-01-23T11:27:00.002-05:002009-01-23T11:32:39.676-05:00

A couple of years ago Judi introduced me to a blog by a reporter for NPR, Leroy Sievers. He had colon cancer. His blog documented his journey though cancer, and his wife now keeps up the blog, since he passed away this summer. Sometimes her blogs really ring true for me. She's nearly a year behind us in the grieving process but I really feel her pain. Here's her blog post from today:A Season Of

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-33781047958271709202009-01-04T20:17:00.002-05:002009-01-04T20:52:40.421-05:00

It is a new year. I am sincerely hoping that 2009 will be better than 2008. Not that 2008 was really bad for us. Just that it was a time of adjustment and mourning. Another year rung in. Do people remember how special he was? Do they know I still miss him every second of every day? Do they know it knocks the wind out of me to overhear Rachel say "I don't have a dad..." to a little friend?I know

Katenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-88741229166173294082008-12-14T21:15:00.001-05:002008-12-14T22:04:03.992-05:00

Last year I was sort of ready for Christmas. I was sad and numb, but I knew making it through that first year would be tough. It was tough, but Christmas day wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It was a couple of days after Christmas that was so hard. The quiet set in and the letdown began. I'd steeled my emotions only as far as Christmas day - not as far as the 27th or 28th.14 days ago I

Katenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-50004045754691417922008-12-03T21:43:00.002-05:002008-12-04T17:59:59.126-05:00

The term "moving forward" is relative, isn't it?{Deep Breath}Okay, people. Here we go. Partying like a rockstar (see previous post) means that I've been dating a bit. Because heaven knows I'm not going to close down a bar on my own, and all of my friends are "old" married couples, so they aren't going to be closing down any bars either.Moving forward is a very good thing. Sometimes it feels a bit

Katenoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-84811548288139386172008-11-14T19:16:00.004-05:002008-11-23T11:58:30.933-05:00

Sometimes it's hard to know what to write on the blog. Sometimes I feel funny about posting something that has to do with me moving forward in my life. Almost as though if I post that I'm moving forward, I'm somehow cheating on Jim. I think we all knew that I wasn't going to be the kind of widow that wore all black and had a tissue permanently sewn on my sleeve for the rest of my life. Although

Katenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-15158795525969825422008-10-26T09:20:00.006-05:002008-10-29T16:48:59.683-05:00

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens...just kidding. If Jim were here I'd be singing that at the top of my lungs as he covered his ears. My girlfriend Sara came to visit this weekend. It was my 36th birthday on Friday, and the best birthday I've had in years.Two years ago Jim had just completed his first chemo treatment when my birthday came up

Katenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-3489319736256433222008-10-19T22:08:00.004-05:002008-10-19T22:28:09.695-05:00

There's a song by the Cowboy Junkies that perfectly describes my emotion at some times. It's almost manic with my highs and lows. I'm giddy with the possibilities of going out and having fun. The next moment I realize *why* I'm going out and having fun, and I come crashing down. The song's words are:She says, "I'm getting that lonely sinking feeling, You know what I mean?"With his hand on her

Katenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-84306256401390136752008-10-12T13:30:00.003-05:002008-10-12T13:38:42.124-05:00

Okay so...for the past two nights I've gone out and stayed out late. Between Friday night and Saturday night I totaled 7 hours of sleep. That's 3 hours Friday and 4 hours last night. Normally I need 8 hours per night to function in any way, shape or form. I feel like I'm in college or something. Last night my babysitter got to go home after I closed down a bar. The last time I stayed up this late

Katenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-78249624354201923722008-10-08T21:23:00.002-05:002008-10-08T21:38:35.221-05:00

Rachel lost her first tooth tonight. It's been wiggly for a while. I bought her a little Toothfairy pillow shaped like a cupcake. It's really cute. She actually swallowed her tooth at dinner! So instead of leaving her tooth she colored a picture for the Toothfairy. I told her the Toothfairy would understand, and she would know that Rachel lost a tooth even if she didn't have it in her pillow.You

Katenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-89032660219327503832008-10-04T17:13:00.005-05:002008-10-04T17:15:37.717-05:00

Screaming at my kids in the Wal-Mart parking lot? Rest assured, Sheboygan. That was your fair widow freaking out. No need to ask. It was me in a full-bore temper tantrum.Got something to say? Go ahead, make my day.

Katenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-79005555926537932122008-10-01T11:20:00.003-05:002008-10-01T11:47:29.505-05:00

Sleeping peacefully in my bed when I hear Jake cry out. Maybe he'll stop. I just lay there hoping he'll just fall back asleep. His cries get more insistent. Finally, he starts calling for Daddy. Poops. I need to get up. I get him settled back down and to sleep. Rachel wakes up and wants to sleep with me. She'll kick me all night. I get her settled and back to sleep. In her bed, not mine. I

Katenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-69369599489165322272008-09-27T19:14:00.002-05:002008-09-27T19:24:49.179-05:00

Today I was getting ready to go to the gym and I could hear Rachel talking to Jake around the corner:R: Just stay away from her Jake, she's crabby.J: Yeah.R: She's crabby because Daddy died.R: She's just crabby. You might want to stay away from her.Kate: Um, Rachel, are you talking about me?R: Yes. You're crabby because Daddy died aren't you?K: Well, I'm not crabby right now. But the fact that

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-15747162420924784942008-09-24T19:03:00.002-05:002008-09-24T19:08:50.627-05:00

I was thinking about buying some new exercise clothes today, wondering what the shorts in the catalog felt like. Are they cotton? Poly? Or swishy?Then I actually laughed out loud. Jim had a penchant for swishy pants. I call them swishy pants because the material makes that swish, swish, swish as you walk. I never understood Jim and the swishy pants. I think he put some on once and got such a kick

Katenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-53858293400495808732008-09-17T21:33:00.006-05:002008-09-17T22:07:23.548-05:00

Here we are on the 17th. I can't believe it's been a year. It's been the longest year and the shortest year of my life. (Although I said that during his year of treatment, so it's a toss up.) Leaning more toward the long side. It was a rough road without Jim.When I started the day, I intended to be totally positive. But you know what got to me? Wal-Mart. We were out of some staples and I stopped

Katenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-30891368135258966392008-09-13T20:25:00.008-05:002008-09-13T22:05:42.188-05:00

So when I posted my epiphany blog on August 17, I guess I didn't realize how much I was effected by the revelations of that day until a little later. I decided that it's time to do some things for me. I came up with two biggies. 1. I joined a gym. With babysitting. It's a really nice gym. I resisted joining in the past because I felt like I should be working out/be a member at the YMCA for my

Katenoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-83864090392577016792008-09-10T15:07:00.003-05:002008-09-10T15:09:47.856-05:00

The new Cabelas and L.L. Bean catalogs came today in the mail. Jim loved getting those thick fall catalogs. He used to sit down with a red Sharpie marker and circle the things he wanted. Um, yeah - he did that as an adult. Sometimes he was bold enough to mail the whole L.L. Bean catalog to his mother with the circlings.I miss him today.

Katenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-2466247576071218702008-08-17T21:36:00.004-05:002008-08-17T22:57:11.336-05:00

Today is the 11 month mark. I cannot believe we're nearly a year out from Jim's passing. I cannot believe we've survived nearly a year without him when 13 months ago I wondered how we'd survive one day without him.Next month is supposed to be the month we feel the pressure lift - you know, how people always say "The first year is the hardest". I don't forsee a magic lifting of the clouds, but in

Katenoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-53717570145324695562008-07-08T21:07:00.004-05:002008-07-08T22:21:52.922-05:00

I've felt like blogging lately, but I haven't known what to say. It's been a big couple of weeks. We spent a week at the cabin, and the first weekend we were there we had 10 adults (12 counting my folks) and 12 kids visit. I asked all the girls that I took to Chicago and their families. It was nuts. We had a great time. We got completely mosquito bitten, the kids played on the beach and nearly

Katenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-80340010674356817492008-06-23T22:15:00.005-05:002008-06-23T22:48:02.479-05:00

The Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic holds a picnic for the survivors annually. Actually, it's a national celebration, but every clinic seems to celebrate on a different day. The Vince used to hold it with the other cancer clinic in town, but it got so big that they divided the picnic into two, and were better able to accommodate all the patients and their families.Two picnics. This year, there were

Katenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-57360246166573623232008-06-17T19:14:00.003-05:002008-06-17T21:44:15.360-05:00

Today is our anniversary. I'm feeling a little sad today. I've been feeling a little sad for the last couple of weeks. The sadness seems to ebb and flow. Jim and I really didn't celebrate our anniversary. We got married in June, and from that date on I knew that he'd be on his annual fishing trip with the Musky Marauders pretty much every year for the rest of our married lives. And I was okay

Katenoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-89939076097581775192008-05-30T18:55:00.004-05:002008-05-30T22:05:47.456-05:00

Before Jim passed away, he asked to be cremated and he asked to have his ashes scattered up in Northern Wisconsin, on Forest Lake.Jim always complained that he didn't get a cake on his birthday as a kid. His birthday is May 28, and it inevitably fell on a Memorial Day weekend, so his family would be out camping. Let's be clear - he got a cake for his birthday. Birthdays are a pretty big deal at

Katenoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-17109528352661877332008-05-13T08:33:00.010-05:002008-05-13T13:39:42.752-05:00

My finish time for the Journey's Half Marathon was 3:16:45! I am so proud. Mom and I walked together - we ended pretty much in the middle of the walking pack - despite the fact that we started in the back. We even beat out 22 half-marathon runners. Not bad for a first attempt!I made a shirt for the event - it reads "In Memory of Jim - My Husband, My Hero". And I wore a hat that Aimee (LaRock)

Katenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-79725588637949236822008-05-05T21:38:00.002-05:002008-05-05T22:31:57.730-05:00

Okay, so you know I signed up to walk the half marathon in memory of Jim.There's more to it. I am walking in memory of Jim - and the Journey's Half Marathon was a big goal for him. (For those of you that don't know, Jim was a great runner when he put his mind to it. And great legs! My friend Stefany was sitting in her car one day in Atlanta and thought "Oooh, hot Italian guy out running - Oh My

Katenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-23076345278192942962008-05-02T12:35:00.002-05:002008-05-02T13:06:49.189-05:00

I couldn't bear to leave the blog in such a state of pity-party. Here are some great things that are going on in our lives:1. I have been elected VP of the Patient Advisory Committee at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic! Needless to say, I'm very, very, very excited about it. It's a 2 year term. I am looking forward to really digging in and helping the President as much as I can. I am really

Katenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-59162748642197836192008-04-26T20:32:00.007-05:002008-04-26T21:13:47.508-05:00

I had a great week this week.My Dad and I took off on Tuesday morning for a three day retreat. We took lots of walks, talked, read, meditated, and ate all vegetarian meals. It was great. My Mom was kind enough to watch the kids while we got to go have fun and refresh our spirits. We got back late on Thursday, and my folks left on Friday afternoon.I am already burned out.We didn't have a plan for

Katenoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-82328534112860427522008-04-08T18:39:00.002-05:002008-04-08T18:58:08.933-05:00

Sometimes I'm so confused by my choices. I started a goal setting group a few months ago, but then cancelled the meeting last night because I wanted to watch The Bachelor. (Sad, I know.) Today was another tough day of moping and low-lows. So low, in fact, that I had cereal for dinner again. My kids had only slightly better - grilled cheese, yogurt and broccoli. I just couldn't muster the gumption

Katenoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-66599870348277436852008-04-06T18:09:00.002-05:002008-04-06T18:45:21.383-05:00

I've been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster the last few days - elated because the weather is warmer, depressed because it's a new season without Jim. After Jim passed away, it just seemed like we rolled right into winter. We had a beautiful fall, but as far as I was concerned, it was basically winter. So the coming of spring makes me happy - to see a little thawing, robins in the yard, and

Katenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-87707228278287904972008-03-12T22:19:00.002-05:002008-03-12T22:49:20.925-05:00

Boy do I miss Jim. It's a lonely night tonight. I'm a little sad, and working on self-improvement and introspection activities just doesn't hold a candle to plowing though a box of Girl Scout cookies and watching The O'Reilly Factor. I'm watching the news about Elliot Spitzer and wondering why he would engage in such self-destructive behavior while I'm literally eating an entire box of

Katenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-21284383925728628522008-02-23T20:14:00.005-05:002008-02-25T22:00:41.222-05:00

The fact that I'd ever run out of things to talk about me. I love talking about me. I never ever run out of ways to talk about me. And yet, here I am. I'm done talking about me. I'm sick of hearing about me.It's been just over five months since Jim passed away. Today I cleaned out his sock drawer. A nice woman at my church has agreed to make quilts for the kids out of Jim's clothes, and this week

Katenoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-30536578671702229902008-02-20T20:57:00.001-05:002008-02-20T20:57:59.068-05:00

Jim hated water chestnuts. He thought the texture was gross.

Katenoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-13691133818100018632008-02-19T10:26:00.003-05:002008-02-19T23:35:07.211-05:00

After getting hit with the flu bug two weeks ago, we are still recovering. We're pretty much back to health, but goodness it takes a long time to fully recover.I've read that people get all sorts of physical ailments when they aren't properly dealing with their grief, so of course I have to overthink it and wonder whether I'm in denial or something like that. Or it could be that I let Jake ride

Katenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-87865608685052016762008-02-17T09:59:00.002-05:002008-02-17T09:59:46.487-05:00

Thanks to all my Valentines that thought of me and the kids on Valentine's Day!

Katenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-32048350214977918502008-02-15T21:32:00.004-05:002008-02-15T21:46:52.919-05:00

Sometimes I just can't believe this is my life. I am feeling terrified because my Mom had to go home after being here for a week. I can't very well expect her to move in here, but at the same time, I'm still scared that I can't hack it on my own.Today I was driving on the highway, listening to Go, Diego, Go! for the 100th time as the kids were watching it in the backseat. My mind seemed detatched

Katenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-68108774119262273542008-02-14T00:16:00.004-05:002008-02-14T00:44:42.579-05:00

1. Rachel is kicking rear-end in junior kindergarten. (That's my G-rated version.) She's listening during carpet time. We've had three good days this week. Keep your fingers crossed.2. Heaven help us, I'm doing the Valentine's Day craft at school in the morning for 19 little ones. We're decorating flower pots and in lieu of a flower we're sticking a giant lollipop in the middle with a picture of

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-67337416030918011102008-02-09T20:50:00.000-05:002008-02-12T10:26:18.684-05:00

As I may have mentioned one or 600 times before - moving to Sheboygan was quite an adjustment for me. I was overwhelmed with the whole Kohler-Stepford-Stay-At-Home-Mom thing. I was fresh off Atlanta, and I'd just given up an terrifical job that I'd only had for six weeks. Before that I'd spent 5 years at a great company where I learned a lot. I was tenative about staying home, and although I was

Katenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-72596264578177739252008-02-04T11:38:00.000-05:002008-02-07T22:18:13.780-05:00

Oh geez.If you ever call my house repeatedly as a telemarketer, rest assured I'm going to get annoyed. If you call my house repeatedly asking for my husband who passed away in September, I'm going to try and politely blow you off at least three times. And then, when you call, just after I get my kids to bed and my hands are wet and soapy from frantically washing dishes before LOST starts, please

Katenoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-92204394158182916752008-01-31T23:03:00.000-05:002008-01-31T23:34:30.567-05:00

Tonight was the first time in months that I've been able to sit down a watch a tv show. I've been waiting for the season premiere of LOST. I love it. (Does this make up for the fact that I watch The Bachelor? No...I guess to do that I'd have to be watching some kind of PBS documentary.)I can only remember a handful of nights when I've been able to watch tv - really sit there and pay attention -

Katenoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-50633237348238988342008-01-30T20:33:00.000-05:002008-01-30T20:56:20.361-05:00

Jim was king of the invention. I looked back in the blog because I remembered someone commenting on Jim's leaf bag stand. Home Depot most certainly did rip off his idea! He got sick of the leaf bags always falling over so he constructed a stand that enabled the user to wrap the bag over the top (like a trash can) and voila! Easy yard cleanup. Then just remove the leaf stand and drag the full bag

Katenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-6172978328571715012008-01-29T17:33:00.001-05:002008-01-29T23:47:06.365-05:00

The last post started me thinking about all of Jim's little idiosyncrasies and quirks.I was thinking that these are the types of things that shouldn't get lost as years go by. For Jim, the list includes:- Gum chomping, obviously- Jim could touch the tip of his nose to his forehead. He showed me on our first date.- He told people he lost the cartilage in his nose during a football accident. In

Katenoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-7978194660983421972008-01-28T16:48:00.000-05:002008-01-28T16:49:38.635-05:00

*smack*smack*smack*smack*smack*Until my shoulders are up to my ears and I finally say "Are you enjoying that gum?"And they both said the same thing: "Yep."

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-40417956534171839892008-01-24T14:00:00.000-05:002008-01-24T14:13:05.904-05:00

People have always sort of giggled when we've mentioned that we've been anxious to move to Wisconsin. We moved here in part because we wanted to be closer to my parents. But we also moved here because Jim was looking for Smalltown USA, where people know each other and are friendly, where we can make it anywhere around town within about 10 minutes. Jim was looking for wide open spaces, relatively

Katenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-73612132778053346592008-01-22T20:58:00.000-05:002008-01-22T22:36:21.993-05:00

Stomach virus has hit our house in a big way. As I mentioned the other day, my mom made an extremely well-timed visit yesterday. Jake has had explosive diapers for the past few days. Last night I got sick, and today Rachel got sick.My mom pointed out that she can do diapers all day, but when Rachel got sick at the dinner table tonight, she said "Um...that's all you." I know. That's why there are

Katenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-5765492158156513322008-01-20T17:11:00.000-05:002008-01-20T18:13:21.154-05:00

When Rachel was a baby I said to Jim "Geez. I don't think I could make it as a single mom." Huh. Who knew.I believe that kids need two parents. I don't care who the parents are - husband and wife, wife and wife, husband and husband. But I think there should be two parents in any home. Not for the kid's sake - kids turn out just fine with a single parent. I think it's for the parents' sake. For

Katenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-90517578497022171802008-01-16T14:42:00.000-05:002008-01-16T15:34:04.648-05:00

Nothing's going wrong today. Not really. Jake is sick today. So I was sitting on hold with the doctor's office Muzak playing in my ear and an old song "Daddy's Home" by Cliff Richards came on. Ironically, Cliff isn't singing about an actual daddy - more of a hypothetical "who's your daddy" to his significant other. Listening to that stupid song I had a sudden and very intense flash of anger.The

Katenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-52477871770872381682008-01-14T23:20:00.000-05:002008-01-14T23:41:52.856-05:00

I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted. And the really amazing thing is that it's been a good week. I made it through a solid week - meltdown free! Wonders never cease!I am feeling good about things.- I cleaned up a lot of the house. Someone stopped by unexpectedly the other day and I was okay with letting them in the house. (We all have to overlook the dining room table, but even

Katenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-87924057461210592072008-01-07T22:25:00.000-05:002008-01-07T22:45:56.212-05:00

So, I've been cleaning house. Taking better care of myself (see Resolutions, below) means getting some of the stressors out. My number one stressor right now is the mounds and mounds and mounds of paperwork and junk that seem to plague my house.I've been taking things to Goodwill. I like to rotate toys - Rachel and Jake have so much that they forget what they have and then they don't use it

Katenoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-91021504184059652872008-01-07T21:10:00.001-05:002008-01-07T21:23:25.334-05:00

Death is nothing at all - I have only slipped away into the next room.Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by my oldfamiliar name, speak to me in the easy way which you always used to.Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be the householdword that it always was. Let it be spoken without effort.

Katenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-45896912681703073082008-01-05T21:12:00.000-05:002008-01-05T23:08:11.695-05:00

Christmas was nice. We made it through okay. You know what hurt? Christmas Eve. Surrounded by a mound of kid things to put together. My brother Kevin and his wife Becky assembled a spring horse with amazing grace and cooperation. My Dad blew out a hair dryer trying to inflate a mini-bounce house. (It's a long story with that one...) If Jim had been there, things would have been different. A

Katenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-6449227047636792008-01-03T18:14:00.000-05:002008-01-03T18:19:02.002-05:00

by Cynthia G. KelleyMy grief is like a river-I have to let it flow,But I myself determineJust where the banks will go.Some days the current takes meIn waves of guilt and pain,But there are always quiet poolsWhere I can rest again.I crash on rocks of anger-My faith seems faith indeed,But there are other swimmersWho know that what I needAre loving hands to hold meWhen the waters are too swift,and

Katenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-71206729012961343922008-01-02T20:59:00.000-05:002008-01-02T21:14:27.984-05:00

Happy New Year to all!I've got two resolutions for this year. I love resolutions. I am very good about following through on my resolutions (which is why I never say that I'm going to exercise as a resolution!) and in previous years, I've had some successful year-long ventures thanks to my resolutions.Without further ado:1. I will take better care of myself this year. - I will go to bed earlier

Katenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-6776111892157154212007-12-17T22:27:00.000-05:002007-12-17T23:23:26.072-05:00

It was hard to outdo Jim at much of anything. When we were first married he taught me how to play backgammon. He'd win nearly every time, until I'd start crying. Then I'd miraculously win and he'd deny throwing the game. Then I'd get mad because he let me win.Over the years, we had a number of talks about not telling other guys what to do. Other guys don't want to know what's wrong with their

Katenoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-62460870967052421292007-12-16T22:28:00.000-05:002007-12-16T23:13:55.685-05:00

Thanks to those who expressed concern for me this last week. It was a tough week - it sort of slid downhill and the last blog was an accumulation of nearly a week's worth of stress. (Or did I write it on a Wednesday? In which case, it was only half a week...) I rarely get that sad. Writing all that on the blog was a luxury - I sat here and cried and wrote. But before that, I'd cried in front of

Katenoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-19765353445741173072007-12-13T20:23:00.001-05:002007-12-13T20:47:44.670-05:00

On a day like today, there's only one person I want to talk to. And he's not here.On a day like today, I start to wonder if this isn't some kind of mega-karma kick. You know the saying "What goes around comes around..."? Well what the hell did I do to deserve this? WHAT THE HELL DID JIM DO?On a day like today, it doesn't matter if the sun is shining. It's not.On a day like today, I eat an entire

Katenoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8703821.post-9481209983980489362007-12-10T20:26:00.000-05:002007-12-10T21:02:12.750-05:00

I'm going through another phase. This is one where I feel the need to explain to people why I'm on my own with the kids.Buying a Christmas tree: I explain that my husband passed away, thank you for tying the tree to the car for me because I was nervous about getting a tree.Flying alone with two kids: I explain that my husband passed away and that's why he's not here helping.Changing Health

Katenoreply@blogger.com5