Losing Our Dads

Wow, Oct. 3rd...it's been a while. Before I can start writing about the everyday stuff that happens around here, I need to write this post.
John's Dad passed away on Nov. 11th, and my Dad passed away on Nov. 19. Sometimes it still doesn't seem real.
John's mom and dad were just here in July, and he seemed like a healthy, energetic 74 year old. Then, in September, he started a "cough." At first, they were treating him for bronchitis...that wasn't going away. It got progressively worse. A couple of weeks before he died, they said it was possibly pulmonary fibrosis. He started on a oxygen tank at home on Nov. 6th. On Sunday, Nov. 8th, he went to the hospital because he was having such a difficult time breathing. I think it was Tues. that he was told he had full-blown lung cancer. John had a flight scheduled to go to Florida on Thursday morning; unfortunately, his dad passed away Wed. afternoon.

Cigarettes suck.
He was such a larger than life person. He's greatly missed by out family!

My dad went to the hospital on Monday, Nov. 9th...the day after John's dad had entered the hospital. He was having great difficulty breathing...fluid in his lungs. He was 87, had bladder cancer, and had suffered a stroke two and a half years ago. At this point, he was very weak. He had the health conditions, and he hadn't been eating much. At the hospital, they gave him something to help relieve the fluid on his lungs, an antibiotic, and blood (his blood count was low...he was losing blood through his bladder). He came home on Friday with the hospital bed was set up in my parents living room; Hospice was helping out. He went downhill rapidly. I'm thankful that I was able to be with him during this time--I took off work---but it was also so difficult seeing the process of death. Tuesday morning till around noon was the last time his eyes were open, and he could attempt to say something. Wednesday morning, his eyebrows moved slightly when I tried talking to him. Thursday morning, his breathing was slowing down, and he passed away around 9:30.

I know he was 87--that's considered a long life--but it just didn't seem long enough for me.

I feel like there aren't many people who know our boys...really know them. It's not only hard losing as our Dads, but these men were also Grandpas who loved and accepted our boys for who they were.

Raymond Rabbit

My rabbit, who I've had for six years, died today. He was an outdoor rabbit that was given to me by one of the teachers I had worked with. The kids were okay with him, but he was my rabbit. Well, I cried for a couple of minutes, and then Matt came into the kitchen. I told him about Raymond. I figured he'd be okay with it; when our parakeets died, he had a kind of fascination by it. So, here's his first response to Raymond's death, "Is this the first time he's been like that?" There I was feeling sad, but how could I not laugh inside after a comment like that? He then went on to comment about needing to put him in the cemetery, a sign that says "Here's Raymond," "We need to put him in a bag", "Are you going to get a rooster or something" (that was very random), and other interesting thoughts. Kyle's response, "I heard." How does that make you feel? "I'm starving." He won't be losing any sleep tonight.

I've been tagged for a six word memoir....I'll need to give it a few minutes of thought.