September 26, 2011

Feeding the soul

I did something tonight I haven't done in 7 weeks ... cooked dinner from scratch. It was heavenly and exactly what I needed. Hubby had a minor procedure today that went off without a hitch. Once I confirmed he was resting comfortably and would likely be sleeping the rest of the day, I decided to head home to get some work work done. It felt so comfortable and "normal" to be home doing something I've done a hundred times before ... something I haven't felt in a long time. Then I got to thinking the only thing better would be to smell something cooking and eat a family dinner I prepared ... flank steak with potatoes and herb butter. It was amazing if I do say so myself. The only thing better would have been a homemade dessert, but a spoonful of Nutella out of the jar will have to suffice.

September 17, 2011

In sickness and in health

Alternately titled - Marriage: the good, the bad and the hospital

This is not the post where I tell you I have it all figured out. To the contrary, most days I don't feel like I have anything figured out. I do the best I can with what I've got and try to gain what I can to improve. I've received much advice about marriage over the years (mostly good) ... keep a sense of humor, compromise, don't sweat the small stuff, don't go to bed angry, make yourself comfortable in the B&N Self Help section, etc. Throw in kids, finances, friends, family, work, life changes, politics, religion, hobbies and many other things in the mix and you've got a firestorm. Some people just seem to "click" and coast through life on the marriage front. Hubby and I have rarely been on "autopilot". We have to really work at it and sometimes one was working when the other wasn't. Good times. We have a lot of love, tenacity and general stubbornness which has gotten us this far. However, recent events have changed our outlook on life ... and our marriage. Every day is a gift and every day with the one you love is an even greater gift. Other than physical/mental health, putting your spouse first in life is job #1. This is our golden rule now.

Marriage is hard ... we know this first hand. Marriage while one spouse is away is hard ... we know this first hand too as Hubby traveled extensively for his job. Marriage when one spouse is not in good health is very hard ... we're learning this now. Conducting a marriage while one spouse is in the hospital is brutal. There's limited time/space for privacy (and that's putting it mildly), intimacy is redefined, the non-hospitalized spouse bears more responsibility, etc. The focus has to be on the health of the hospitalized spouse; however, the rest of the world goes on ... bills must get paid, children need tending, the house needs cleaning, etc. I feel like I have one foot in two worlds ... the hospital and everything else. The hardest part is thinking about Hubby when I'm not at the hospital and thinking about everything else when I am with Hubby. It pales in comparison to what Hubby is experiencing. We know there are many adjustments on the horizon ... individually and together. We've decided we're still in it, in sickness and in health.

September 6, 2011

1st Day

1st day of Senior year -

Is it me or does she look like she's being patronizing?

1st day of 6th grade -

Is it me or does he look less enthusiastic than Sassy?

September 5, 2011

The Assistant

Sassy had her Senior Pictures taken the other night downtown Minneapolis by the amazing Emily. The Mill City Museum was closed for a private party so Emily took photos outside with the Museum and Mill Ruins Park as backdrop, as well as inside The Guthrie Theater. I had fun playing assistant, aka holding extra clothes/shoes and taking pictures of my own.




Afterward Sassy and I decided to treat ourselves to dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory. Sassy had been once before years ago, but I'd never been. It was delizioso!

September 3, 2011

Transition

Summer has unofficially ended - yesterday was the kids' last day of summer break and Labor Day is in two days. Our summer was full - baseball, college visits, new dryer, new car, up north, summer romance and spines. I'm ready for a fantastic fall - I won't be returning to grad school for obvious reasons, but I'm still hoping for great weather, time to try some new recipes (tomato water martinis, zucchini chips, tomato/corn/zucchini tart) and a little gardening. Of course we're hoping to have Hubby home before the snow flies as well.