Back Again

So, I think my last post was back in October of 2010. What happened? Well, life happened. Couldn't find enough time to sit down long enough to write down my thoughts and adventures. Also, my cellphone was acting up so mobile blogging wasn't a viable option either. My dad is very ill and since my last post I have been back to Sweden twice to help my mom. In November of last year we went back for a month and in April Hayden(my little prince)and I went back for 5 weeks. During this time my dad was hospitalized 3 weeks with congestive heartfailure and atrial fibrillation. Did I mention that his initial diagnosis is chronic lung fibrosis. He is on oxygen 24/7 and he is wheel chair bound. It's been a rough road for all of us...and of course specially for my mom. She is very depressed. So, not only do I worry about my dad's physical health, but also my mom's! It's hard seeing someone you love deteriorate and become literally helpless. My dad used to be this big strong guy who could handle anything thrown his way, and now he is a shadow of his former self. I see it in his eyes...he is starting to give up. He struggles everyday just to breath. So, I feel that I am on standby. I don't want to make long term plans or look for a job because I don't know if I have to drop everything and go back to Sweden.

And trust me, do I need a job? We have been on the constant bad luck rollercoaster since the water leak in our house last spring 2010 when I was in Sweden. That time we had to replace our kitchen and dining room floors and do ceiling repairs. The leak started on the second floor and seeped through the ceiling. Well, believe it or not, but we had a second water leak,again when I was in Sweden,this past May. We have just finished all the repairs. This time we did most of it ourselves. The leak started in a pipe under the laundry room floor, and it ruined the laundry room and the drywall facing my daughter's bedroom and her floors. So we have been patching and painting and laying floors. Enough already! Well, not so...the bad luck roller coaster keeps going!

Last Saturday our dog Daisy got out and got hit by a car. Minor injuries, but 3 hours and a couple of hundred dollars later she is home from the vet with a patched up hindleg (staples, a loose tooth,cuts and bruises). And if that's not enough to make you cry then try having your daughter get in to a fender bender with your brand new car. It's going to cost $5,500 to fix and I won't get it back until July 8th. Thank God for insurance! But I could kick myself for raising my deductible to $1000 from $500 when I bought my car. Thought I was clever and could save a few bucks. Well, I am an idiot...I have teenagers!