One Explanation for not Blogging

The reason I didn't update this little blog of mine from April 2012 until just recently is that had several big changes in my life during that time. One of those changes involved leaving my job and moving in with my Grandma Jeane for several months. It was not an easy decision to leave that job with its good pay and benefits, but when I sent the notice to my boss to let her know I was leaving to help my grandma I felt a great sense of peace. I made arrangements to put most of my things in storage or donate things I no longer felt I could keep and made the move from Castle Pines to Broomfield. Because of things that had happened it was easier than you might think to leave the YSA branch (church congregation) of which I had been such a big part, including most of the people who I had called my friends. Some said they would come to Broomfield (less than an hour away) to visit me -- none did. The one time I went back to visit I saw how good it was for me to leave what had become a toxic environment in my life.

I moved in with Grandma in late July of last year, just before the start of the London Olympic. I helped her with everyday chores as much as she would let me. Though I had moved in to help her she was still very determined at 90 plus years old to do many things on her own. I was more than willing to do the everyday cleaning too, but she had a lady coming in once a week to clean the house and would therefore get upset with me when she found me cleaning. I was able to help her sort through some of her mother's old clothes and take them to Goodwill.

Mostly I kept Grandma company. I would take her to her physical therapy and doctor appointments. We would sit together and watch the Olympics or other programs she enjoyed. I suppose I could have updated this blog periodically while watching television, but if I was ever doing something on my phone or computer while the TV was on Grandma would ask what I was doing and want to know why I wasn't giving my complete attention to the television. She could kind of understand how I could divide my attention if I was working on one of my crochet projects since that was mostly my hands doing the work and not so much my brain, but computer and television at the same time was practically a no-no. I very quickly got tired of trying to explain my multitasking and just enjoyed my time with Grandma.

The hardest part about living with Grandma though was slowly watching her decline. Those who were not there everyday like I was or every few days like my Aunt Jane could not see this decline. When others would come for a short visit Grandma would hide her pain, discomfort, and forgetfulness pretending that everything was perfectly normal until they were gone. Because I was there I knew she was forgetting things like taking her medication properly or if the dog had already been fed (not that Megan ever minded being fed again). Grandma would often go back into her office to "clean off the desk" but would get so bogged down in all the junk mail that she would insist on reading that it rarely ever got better. Sometimes I would sneak things out to the garbage or recycling just so she wouldn't try to save what really should be thrown out!

Finally, it came time for me to admit that I had done all I could do for her. I'd managed to get my mom to see that Grandma really needed more professional help. I took Grandma to a nearby assisted living facility a couple of times just to get an idea of the setup and cost. Meanwhile, we'd discovered that her artificial hips (which were 25 plus years old) were failing and replacing them would mean a difficult surgery that she likely couldn't survive. Walking became more difficult and painful for her until the day before her 91st birthday she could not put weight on her leg and had to start using a wheelchair.

It was difficult to watch this slow deterioration, but I am very grateful for the time I got to spend with Grandma Jeane. The things I learned about her life while I was with her are things I will cherish all my life.

Katie and Grandma visiting last August before Ryan left for his new job in Seattle

Blowing out the candles for her 91st birthday

I'm so glad I'm named after my Grandma Jeane!

What Happened to the Rest of 2012: An Update in Pictures

If there is anyone out there who still follows this little blog of mine you may be interested in what has happened since I last wrote over a year ago. Here are a few highlights in pictures:

The Wedding of My Younger Brother (18 May 2012)

Me and my favorite guy!

The Happy Couple

The original Baron Seven

The Baron Seven plus additions

All the "siblings"

The whole wedding crew (Jensen and Baron Families)

Nothing comes between me and my canoli

The happy couple leaving the reception

A Family Reunion (Early September 2012)

The Wedding of My Older Brother (15 December 2012)

Ryan in his awesome, authentic kilt

The Happy Couple

The original Baron Seven

Everyone from the Baron Side

The whole wedding crew (Wientjes and Baron Families)

The Baron Seven plus additions

Me and My Favorite Guy again

The Ring Ceremony

Dancing the Night Away

This is only a little of what took place the rest of last year. I'd put more, but it has gotten to the point that if I am ever going to post another blog I better get these highlights out there or I will continue putting it off. Perhaps I can do another one soon on other things that happened. I have some other ideas that I want to write about and put out into the blog-o-sphere as well so keep an eye out for more to come.

Hard to Believe

It's hard to believe that it has already been over a month since my last blog post...

It's hard to believe how much has changed in my life in that time...

It's hard to believe how okay I am with all the changes that have happened...

It's hard to believe that I've been at my job for almost 6 months...

It's hard to believe how blessed I am to have this job at this time in my life...

It's hard to believe how much I enjoyed my Easter weekend over in Utah...

It's hard to believe that part of me didn't want to come back to Colorado...

It's hard to believe that a month from today my little brother will be married to an amazing woman...

It's hard to believe that this will be the first wedding in my immediate family in over a dozen years...

It's hard to believe how many truly amazing people I have in my life...

Fun with Counting Down

For the last several weeks I have been noticeably counting down on Facebook. I've been having a lot of fun with it to. I haven't really told anyone to what I've been counting down though some already knew and others figured it out. But there are those who have asked and asked and asked again why I was counting down. Every time I saw one of the comments asking about my count down I laughed to myself. So many people couldn't seem to put 2 and 2 together. Well, since it's almost the end of the count down and I don't think many people will read this before hand I will elaborate and explain.

On February 16 it was only one more month until my birthday. In addition to that I realized that since this year was a leap year that day was 29 days before my birthday instead of the usual 28 AND this year I am turning 29. So, why not start a count down: 29 days until my 29th birthday? This is what I posted: "To count down, or not to count down - that is the question... I think I shall count down (if you know to what then shhh, don't spoil it for everyone)...29 days...". What made it even better is that I no longer have my birthday visible on Facebook - it was a personal choice. I'd rather get 5 to 10 birthday wishes from people who actually remember than 100 from people who only saw it on a website. Like I said, it was a personal choice.

So, I continued to count down. Some figured it out. My new roommate, Heidi, took it as a personal mission to give me one card for every day leading up to my birthday. You should see my bookshelf display of cards! It's quite magnificent!!! Those who had no idea what I was counting down to were going crazy - 'twas hilarious!!!!! Several asked if they were out of the loop which I found funny because there was no loop to be in. Some thought I was counting down to St. Patrick's Day - that's one day later my friends; learn to count. ;^) Clues were left, though they were very subtle in nature. Mainly, the point of the count down was for me to have a fun way of keeping track and pique the curiosity of others. I think I did a pretty good job.

I'd explain more, but I'm getting to that point in the night where thinking clearly is becoming quite a bit more difficult. My bed is calling my name and I really want to go sleep with it. So, for all those that have been wondering, if you are reading this, you now have the answer. I have been counting down to my 29th birthday! Happy Birthday to me!!! :^D

Where Does the Time Go...

I keep meaning to write something more on this little blog of mine. I come up with great titles for posts and cool topics to include. The next thing I know more time has passed than I realize and I still haven't written anything. I was going to post something last week when I heard about Davy Jones from the Monkee's passing away (the song Daydream Believer is one of my songs and where I got the name for this blog). Then I was going to post something about Dr. Seuss. Now I just feel like writing something would be a good start...

How about I catch everyone up on my crazy life?

A month ago I was very content with living by myself. I have a nice little one bedroom apartment in a lovely part of the South Denver Metro area. I spend a lot of time with friends so I mainly only sleep in my little apartment (though I do have people over on occasion). But things slowly began to change. I felt myself becoming more lonely than I had been in a while. I used to be someone who could be perfectly content at having a whole night alone to just relax. Now I feel like I don't know what to do with myself if I have "that much" time alone. I like being around people more than I ever thought I would. I also became aware of a friend's predicament with her living situation. It wasn't a bad situation but she was facing some very tough choices with deadlines on those choices coming up rapidly.

There had already been a couple of times where she had spent the night on my couch because it was safer for her than driving home drowsy. Then the times that she would stay with me became more frequent and I knew that something was up. I sat down to talk with her and - one thing leading to another - I asked if she wanted to move in with me. That was 2 weeks ago. We both gave the idea plenty of thought and prayer and felt like moving forward with this idea was a good thing. We got mixed reactions from family and friends, but ultimately it was our decision, not theirs. I got rid of my dining room table and chairs that I'd had since 2004 when I moved into my first apartment in Monroe (I hadn't used it as a dining set since September anyway). We got some good friends to help us and moved her in with me. That was just over a week ago.

If you had told me last month that I would have a roommate again - and not one out of necessity - I would have laughed in your face. But this really has been a great move for me. Miss Heidi Jo has helped me feel not so lonely. She and I are getting along great. We have a friendship based on being blunt with each other so we know we can say things like "Hey, this thing you did really bugged me." or "I really like that you did this." I've had roommates where the communication was almost non-existent. That only adds to the tension of living with someone day in and day out. I am a firm believer in good communication which is why I truly believe living with Heidi will be even better than I originally thought!