The craziness kind of all started when our day care situation didn't work out. Luckily, Matt's family was already on their way for a visit so we were able to come up with a short term plan to make the best of a not so wonderful situation.
Matt stayed with Elijah for the first couple of mornings and Miss Janet (our wonderful neighbor) kept Elijah in the afternoon with the assistance of her 5th grade daughter Miss Holly.
Matt's parents arrived on a Wednesday...a little sooner than planned because his dad had to make an emergency trip to Minnesota to care for his parents who had both been suddenly hospitalized. They parked their big RV in our back yard, Meg stayed to watch Elijah and Jim jumped on a plane to Minnesota.
Meanwhile, Matt' brother Jim and family were planning to spend spring break in Rocky Mount. Their trip was up in the air due to the illness of Matt's grandfather. It ended up that Matt's grandfather pulled through and was able to make it back to the nursing home so Jim and family hit the road -- Jim, Pam, Anna, Jessica, Jamie, and Kona arrived at our home Saturday evening.
Matt's dad flew back to North Carolina on Sunday so the Wheeler clan was all here! One big happy family!!! Elijah would be in good hands all week! He got LOTS of attention and loved it!
Unfortunately on Tuesday evening we received the sad news that Jordan (Matt's grandfather) had passed away. Jordan was a remarkable man whom we will miss greatly. Jim and Meg packed up the RV and headed for the midwest the next day. More bad news on Wednesday...Birdie (Matt's grandmother) fell and broke her hip. Her surgery that evening went well but the funeral would be delayed until Monday. Jim, Pam, and family would stay with us until Friday.
Friday was the start of my spring break and I was looking forward to my mom coming to stay with me...she would meet Elijah for the first time. Out of the blue, I called my grandparents house to say hello as I hadn't talked to them in quite some time. This is when I found out that my grandmother who had been battling esophageal cancer since October wasn't doing so well. I immediately figured out that mom probably wouldn't be able to make her trip to NC. I talked with Matt and we quickly decided that we both would head back to the midwest. We bought tickets that night and flew into the Moline/Quad Cities airport on Saturday evening.
We were greeted by my dad and Anne who couldn't wait to see Elijah. Anne made the comment that now I would know how it felt that no one really cared to see me anymore, they would be more interested in seeing my little boy. :-) We arrived back in Cedar Falls at my sister's house about 2:30 am on Sunday morning. We got a little shut eye and then received a phone call early on Sunday morning from mom saying that we needed to come to Reinbeck very soon. We got ourselves put together quickly and battled the thunder/snowstorm blizzard as we made the 25 minute drive to Reinbeck. Matt headed the opposite direction and went north to Minnesota to be with his family.
Elijah and I made it just in time to say good-bye to Grandma Petersen. She passed about 3o minutes after we arrived. Although her eyes weren't open and she wasn't able to speak, I know she could hear me and I know she knew that we were there. Grandpa, all seven of her children, and a few grandchildren were there for her last breath -- her pain and suffering were over and she was now in a better place. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and friend to so many! The amount of people who showed support and sympathy to our family was overwhelming.
Matt attended his grandfather's funeral on Monday. He and his mom drove back to Iowa, picked Elijah and I up in Cedar Falls and we all headed to West Branch on Monday evening. Matt's mom drove him to the airport at 4 am on Tuesday so he could catch a 6 am flight back to NC. He made it back in time for practice that afternoon. Elijah and I headed back to Reinbeck to be with my family. Tuesday night we had grandma's visitation followed by her funeral on Wednesday. Saturday mom drove Elijah and I for our return trip. We picked up Meg (Matt's mom) in West Branch and made our 5 pm flight out of Moline. We arrived in NC at 11 pm and were greeted by an anxious dad who had missed his little boy.
Sunday morning we woke up for Elijah's first Easter. Daddy had done a wonderful job being the Easter Bunny! We had a relaxing day watching Marley & Me, recovering from our crazy weeks & travel, and preparing for the week ahead.
I wasn't exactly excited about going back to work after spending 9 straight days of 24 hours with Elijah. I love, love, love being with him! Fortunately we are blessed to have Meg here to watch Elijah for a few weeks so going back was a little easier.
A week of work, a Saturday, and now it is Sunday. Matt is busy with spring ball as well as preparing a highlight video for the Wesleys. School is always busy for me but I did get to grab a dinner out with a couple girls from school on Tuesday night. Yesterday Meg, Elijah and I got to go to the farmer's market -- great fresh treats! Always lots to do and never enough time to do it all but we take care of the most important things ... being a family and taking care of and loving one another.
The past weeks have been a learning experience in many ways -- I guess that's what life is all about! Until next time...
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