Knitting4fun: September 2006

Scarecrow Days

A little town not far from us has an annual event called Scarecrow Days, and we have never attended. This year we decided to drive out and see what it was all about. It includes a town wide yard sale (there were about 50 of them), the stores have sales etc etc. The little town was bursting at it's seams there were so many people in town for it!

After we wandered around we went to Uncle Arnold & Auntie Shirley's. They are in the process of moving and we had told them that we would be in Souris so we would stop by and see if they could use some extra hands. My uncle is not in the best of health and was not able to do anything pertaining to the move, which he really found hard. They had had a big crew in yesterday and moved most things, but there were still things at the old place so we went over and helped bring them over. The rest was pretty much things that Auntie Shirley would have to go through herself and decide where she wanted it put.

Today I thought my uncle looked so much better than he did at the funeral on Thursday. I think just the fact that their house has sold, they are all moved has eased his mind a lot. This is one thing that he really wanted to have done while he was still here. He wanted to make sure that Auntie Shirley did not have to worry about the house, moving and all that herself.

They really have the nicest little place, everything that they need for sure. Only 2 steps up into the place which is great for Uncle Arnold. The rest is all on one floor, compact enough that the hose from Uncle Arnold's oxygen can reach anywhere in the place which is nice, yet at the same time they have enough room for everything they need.

Thursday

Thursday was Auntie Lila's funeral. I had always known that Auntie Lila was a strong woman but in some ways I don't think I realized just how strong. Once she was told that the cancer had spread and was continuing to spread quickly she got her husband and boys to come to the hospital and she discussed her funeral with them. She told them exactly what she wanted. Sitting in the church listening to the minister speak, you could really tell that Auntie Lila had had a lot of input into her own service. The service was very short with no tea following, exactly what she wanted. She had told her family that all she wanted was a small funeral, but that was one thing that they could not control. The church was packed to the rafters, with many standing. I will certainly miss Auntie Lila and Uncle Billie and her boys will be in my thoughs over these next few weeks that is for sure.

Rest in peace Auntie Lila

The rest of our week.

Tonight we will head to Virden right after work for Auntie Lila's viewing and then to my cousin's house for coffee. Tomorrow we will go back to Virden after lunch for her funeral. She had requested that Gary be a pallbear so he will do that. After the funeral we will go to Auntie Ev's for coffee and a light supper. Auntie Lila requested that there be no tea after the service. Friday Gary and I are both off so we will just veg a bit and visit with people who have come for the funeral.

On Saturday if it is nice we will be heading to Souris to the Scarecrow Festival. We have never been before so thought we would go and see what it is all about. I also want to start some deep fall cleaning on the house. Not being home for weekends all summer is telling and the corners, closets etc are in need of a good clean out and it is also time to purge out some things that we really don't need anymore. Saturday night Gary & Crystal will go to the hockey game.

Sunday I think we will continue to clean, probably just pick one room and clear it out and then go to it. Moving things out to vaccum behind desks etc and all that real fun stuff. We also have a fair bit of painting that we want to get done but that won't be this weekend that is for sure.

Her fight is over

Dad phoned just a few minutes ago. He went up to the hospital this morning and met Uncle Bill and the boys coming out. Auntie Lila passed away peacefully this morning. It is not fair and she is far too young but at least she is now free of her pain and at rest.

Camping is over for another season

This weekend we packed up our trailer and pulled out of the campground. I have to admit that I am rather glad to be done for the season. It is time to get things done at home for a change. The list of things to do is very long! The weather this weekend was wonderful! The sun had warmth in it, but the air had that fall nip to it! Dad came out on Saturday for a visit and stayed for supper. In the evening we went across the road for bonfire. It was nice and cozy sitting around the fire. On Sunday everyone was busy packing, cleaning and getting ready to pull out. The group we spend most of the summer with is talking about having one or two potlucks over the winter which would be lots of fun!

On Sunday when we went to get Dad's truck he said he had been up to see Auntie Lila. The morphine is not longer able to control the pain for her. They tried a different drug and it didn't work either. So she is having alot of pain now. I feel so badly for her husband and her boys having to watch her like that. When Dad left the hospital Auntie Lila's nurse was at the desk and she talked to him for a few minutes. She said that she was doing all she could possibly do to keep her comfortable but the meds just weren't working well. She also told him that the drs in Winnipeg and in Brandon have no idea how she is still with us. So so sad!

More News

There isn't really much more to report about Auntie Lila. They have taken her IV's out, it was a decision that was made with her, her family and her doctor. The doctor explained how that the IV was no longer working the way it was suppose to work, and he body was retaining the fluid. If they continued with the IV her body would just retain more and more fluid and she would be in considerable pain that they really wouldn't be able to do that much about. If they removed the IV's it would only make a difference in her outcome by no more than 2 days, but her remaining days they would have a better chance of keeping her comfortable. They decided that comfort was more important at this stage. My uncle has pretty much been in her room contstantly. She is now in the palliative care room which has more comfortable surroundings for the family. One of the big plusses of living in a small town are that everyone knows everyone. My four cousins, plus my uncle have all been told that they better not even dare trying to come to work. They are all to take as much time as is needed to be with Auntie Lila. At least one of the boys stays with Uncle Billy all the time, taking turns to go home and get some rest and shower.

This afternoon, during nap time, I put in the movie Bambi. Bambi is the first movie that I ever saw in a real movie theater. It was Auntie Lila that took me to that movie. I remember it as clear as if it was yesterday. The talk we had before we left for the theater about how I had to be very quiet, I had to sit through the whole movie, how we would get treats when we went in and that was all the treats we would be getting and then again stressing about having to be VERY quiet. I was doing so well, and I can remember sitting there watching the movie quietly. I was enjoying the movie so much that I wasn't moving in my seat at all. Then Bambi put his nose into the flowers and Flower popped up. I can remember being so surprised, standing straight up out of me seat and saying in a loud voice. A SKUNK!!!!!!
Auntie Lila took my brother and I to more movies after that but I don't remember any of them like I remember my very first movie with her.

Auntie Lila

Last night my dad phoned to say that Auntie Lila wasn't very good at all. The hospital had put a sign up on her door stating no visitors. Guess we all knew it was going to come to this, but didn't really want to admit it to ourselves.

Auntie Lila was diagnosed with colon cancer about 3 years ago. Unfortunately when she was diagnoned the cancer had already spread to her liver. They tried to scrape the liver, but it didn't work and the spots came back as well as more. Despite her being on chemo since then till not that long ago the cancer continued to spread. It had spread to her lungs and now we suspect that it is in her bladder and kidneys as well as back in the colon.

She is in the hospital and they are able to keep her comfortable with morphine, and for that I am very thankful. I wish the outcome could be different, but since it can't I can only hope that she just peacefully drifts off to sleep and out of her sufferring!

The Visit

Because Auntie Lila has taken a real turn for the worst, Auntie Winn and Uncle Gunby decided to come to see her. Auntie Lila and Uncle Billy were suppose to be going to Ontario to visit them in Ontario but it was looking pretty clear that that was not going to happen.

Gary and I went in on Sunday Sept 10th to pick Auntie Winn and Uncle Gunby up at the airport. I was a bit apprehensive about this as Uncle Gunby has been diagnosed with alzheimers and I really had no idea how he would handle the trip, different surroundings, people that he probably wouldn't remember. Well I am happy to say that he handled it all really well. There was a couple of things that I noticed different about him were, rather than just strike out the way he used to he would hang back and just follow along; the other was that he was extrememly quiet. He was always a person to talk and talk and loved to debate but not now.

When we got to Virden we stopped at the hospital and I went into the hospital with them to help them find Auntie Lila's room. I planned to just go in with them, say hi, and leave but they said to stay and visit. That was the first time I had seen Auntie Lila since the wedding in July and I was really shocked how much she had failed. She was of course very happy to see her sister and visited for a bit, but soon we noticed her eyes were heavy so said that we would go.

Through the week Auntie Winn popped up to the hospital for short visits throughout the day. For the most part Auntie Lila was pretty good and they were able to have some nice visits. Auntie Winn said she was really glad she had come home when she did.

Gary and my dad took Auntie Winn and Uncle Gunby back to the airport on Sunday Sept 17th. They had to leave at 4:30 in the morning so they were back to the trailer before lunch time!

New hair do!

After many years I have changed hairdressers. The last one I had was pretty set in her ways, and did pretty much what she wanted to do. You could go in and tell her I want this and this and this and she would say okay, and then just do what she wanted. I really like my new hairdresser and have been really happy with what she has done to my hair. I went in the other day for highlights and a cut and she said...how about if we try...... and I said sure. So I have copper, blonde and brown highlights in my hair now and I am really liking it and having fun with it. Not sure how well the pictures will show it though.

Christmas Stocking

In January when Ryan & Tammy were home Tammy asked if I could make her and Rawley Christmas Stockings to match the one I had made Ryan a number of years ago. Of course I said yes... it is always nice to have someone to make things for. *S*

Sweater

I am doing sweaters for my 5 daycare boys. They will all be similar to this one only different colors

Shrug

My three daycare girls are getting shrugs in their Christmas parcels. I finally found a pattern that I really like and think will fit them well.

Camo hats and mittens

My 3 little daycare boys are getting camo hots and mittens in their Xmas parcel. I did 2 different types of hats, one was stocking stitch and the other I ribbed to the top.