Home, Sweet Home

Got home yesterday in time to take eight girls to see "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" at the community theater. Due to my jump and run on Thursday, we had two cars at my parents. Took off with the oldest, and left Daddy to wrangle the two little ones.

Thursday night was good. Well, not good, but it was good to see Heather's friends banding together to help her. Stopped by another friend's house after. She's the kind of friend I didn't mind, at all, knocking on her door at 9 pm. She welcomed me into her home, even though she's got a lot going on. It was funny... I knocked quietly - no doorbell ringing at 9 pm with four kids in the house. No answer. So I called. She answered with, "How did you know I was thinking about you and had just written a note to call you in the morning?" I replied with, "Look out your window, I'm standing in your driveway..." We talked for about 45 minutes.

Friday, the kids and I goofed off at my parents. The only thing the kids were concerned about was Grandma and Grandpa's new hot tub. I made an apple pie, a pumpkin pie, a cream caramel pumpkin cheese cake and a couple salads. Friday afternoon I took off for the visitation around 4:45 - got in line at 5:15, didn't hug my friend until 6... There was a mass of people. The visitation was supposed to run from 5 - 7, but there's no way. People were snaked around the community room, waiting in line to go down the hall, and into the chapel. I will say, I'm glad I went. I about lost it, though, when I looked at the coffin. It was closed, and they had pictures the kids had drawn with, "I'll miss you daddy." I didn't really cry until I got to Heather. I shook his mom's hand and expressed my condolences. I got to her and just held her, and we both cried. She squeeze back. Hard. I whispered in her ear, "I know you've heard it alot, but I am truly sorry." What else could you say? She said she was glad I came. I was too. Told her I'd call her later, because now wasn't the time. Went home rather sad.

Arrived at my parent at the end of dinner and the beginning of wine time. I mixed a drink. My husband called at 10 pm, saying that he'd just landed and was heading home. He'd come down in the morning. Thirty minutes later, he called that he was on the way. The house was too quiet. He arrived at 2 am, to six drunken adults. Some more than others - my uncle said that "Some Bailey's would be good about now" at midnight. I found some in the basement and brought it up. My dad and uncle proceeded to drink a bottle and a half.

Saturday - I didn't go to the funeral. Selfish, but I'd said my piece at the visitation. There were going to be so many people there anyway... The rest of the day we "recovered" and ate. Had Thanksgiving dinner with the family. Saw my sister for the first time in six months. We ate a wild turkey my dad had shot earlier in the week. Ate and ate and ate. Didn't really drink...

Sunday got up bright and early. Took the carseats out and loaded up the big girl. We did have a good time at the production, but it sure wore me out to herd around 8 six year olds. Did have another parent there - so we were each responsible for four...

Crawled in bed at 8:45, and fell right asleep.

Today I'm trying to rest my back and my jaw. I'm not quite sure what did it, but my back is hurting something fierce today. Unfortunately, my chiropractor is 220 miles away. My jaw - when the going gets tough, I clench my jaw in my sleep. It was bothering me yesterday, but is worse today - probably because I tried to eat 'normal' yesterday even though it hurt. Today food doesn't even sound good. Neither does trying to pick anything up off the floor.