The garden etc

It's amazing how much things change in a month!!!

Because of the flu, I haven't been able to do much in the garden, even if it has been the highseason for that kind of work. Everything is exploding to life - I'm still amazed how fast everything happens. After the loads of snow we had, I thought it won't melt until June - and now it's almost summer! On Saturday I finally felt the flu was gone, but I had already promised D we'd go see a movie - Rio (great in 3 D :). Unfortunately it was in the daytime, but we went shopping for new shoes for D and visited grandma at the same time. But on Sunday we had all day in the garden :):) - D mostly lay in the swing down left in the lower photo, while I was trying to do all at once :). The "metal"roof on the rabbits' cage had blown off into the dry bushes - those are now gone. I think the garden looks at its greatest right now - filled with tulips and spring flowers and the weeds haven't taken over yet (which they unfortunatley do every summer :(. Unfortunately I seem to have a tear in the dam - the water just sips out in three days (about one forth stays at the bottom), I don't know what to do, don't have the energy to do anything about it. Last spring was the same, but then suddenly the water stayed - I'm hoping for that same miracle now as well.

I was lucky not to have very much work while I was ill, even if I constantly feel I should be writing my own texts when I'm at home, but my head simply wasn't clear enough. Now I'll have work with one of the refugee children, a few really important meetings in the next few weeks - and I really hope to get around to writing as well.

My mother is still in the geriatric ward and I'm slowly accepting the fact that she might not be able to live at home anymore, her body is too weak, she needs constantly help to get out of bed. Right now her heart is again working badly - her ancles are swollen (and fluid gets into the lungs as well) and she has gotten intense medication over the weekend to get rid of it. Now we'll have to see for a few days if her heart can cope on its own, if yes, I'll try to bring her home.

It's hard to adjust - I'm both afraid and relieved, all in a bundle. Economically it'll be harder to be solely responsible for all the costs connected to a detached house. I'm sad for both my mother and my son, who I'd really like to give more time together - it's not the same to go see grandma in a room with three other old ladies and neither for her. Of course, we might be able to take her home for the day every now and then, but it'll be strange to have her only as a visitor. At the same time I'm relieved - I have much more freedom when I don't need to take her needs every day into consideration - D and I can eat elsewhere, go for an excursion quite ex tempore, I can focus on him. My role has been to care for my mother since 2003 when I moved home (but not until 2009 more extensively) - I'll lose a bit of my identity if she isn't at home anymore! 

Lådbilsrally

Teddy had to come to the rally as well

Maybe next year my son can participate as well - if we can find a car for him (local Lions lent theirs to children who didn't have a car of their own - usually fathers or grandfather's take part in a course together with their child, they build the car and then take part. I'm not so interested in building so I guess the only option is that he can borrow one). 

There were really goodlooking cars taking part

The venue was much better for the audience this year, more space to move around on - and better weather :). 

There were different stands as well

It's great when something like this is organized - brings people together. 

D was happy his friend joined us on the stand.

It's snowing!

I've had a t-shirt with a text: When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. This is what I have been doing lately, I've been tired and worried about my mother  -  I've had a flu for a week and a half, with a constant temperature and no energy. But enough to get things I've wanted for a long time: new lawnmower, trailer - and after grandpa fell out of bed, when the leg in the sofa-bed gave in (about 50 year old....) I decided we needed a new sofa-bed. I brought the bed into the porch, and decided to open the package there, I was going to carry it upstairs and it would be easier in pieces. I needed to make a few phonecalls first, so I told D he could cut open the tape on the package. While I was at it I checked my messages and FB, even if I heard him laugh downstairs. When I finally went down I was met by a snowfall of polystyrene (styrox...). His comment: "I played it was winter and snowing". The really fun part had been to throw the small pieces on to our cat. I wasn't too amused, I felt even more tired, and it took me about two days to get rid of all the small pieces that had flowed out into several rooms :(. 

More visits

I've felt an urgency to invite people who I know care for my mother, just in case....Here she is with her cousin, who could almost be called a sister, they call each other many times a week. Greta is almost the only one she speaks to on the phone anymore, almost all her other friends have died during the past few years. That is a really hard part about becoming old. In the evening I had to take her to the geriatric ward and she is still in hospital (the part where mostly the elderly are/bädden), but was a bit stronger when we visited her on Friday. So maybe, maybe she can still come home. The problem is the nights - because her legs don't work very well any more, her balance is really bad and she needs help to go to the toilet during the night. My bedroom is upstairs and I simply cannot go down many times a night to help her. She has "aids" around her bed, but I thought of still another handle to put in, to give her something to hold onto. Now I have more time during the day to help her. I so hope she could still be with us during the summer.

I had invited my cousin (at the end of the table) and his wife as well. My second cousin to the left. 

When the teaching ended I had finally time to focus of my job with the refugee children (have only three any more and it's been more quite for about a month with tasks connected with them during the past month, thank God!!). It's a bit hard to  sit and talk with a two year old, so we went for a walk instead to a playground, where I could also speak to a woman, who used to be my "client" as well - when they turn 18 our "offical "relationship automatically ends. This little guy is really adorable. 

During the evening me and D went by car to take some photos (again "my day" to take a good photo in the photoclub). I had also recieved a flu, so wasn't too keen on it. Luckily enough my friend C and her son were outside when we passed, so we went to see them for a while. It's great now that the boys can start playing together!!

D and V were disagreeing on who should drive the great "boxcar" they had - I was the engine :). It wasn't good for my flu, though. I've had a slight temperature since Wednesday (the day after I took my mother to hospital), but since spring exploded, I've simply had to do things in the garden as well, probably prolonging the flu. But what can you do, I'm not ill enough to stay in bed, but I hate the lack of energy to do anything. Today it's raining slightly, D is still with his dad and I've taken time on the computer. In the afternoon I'm going to the wind orchestra concert, I've asked the dad to bring D a bit later. Hopefully tomorrow I'll feel normal again.  

I'

Rabbits etc

Maya and Elmer (sister and brother...and parents to the three other rabbits we have....9) enjoying the warmer weather

Elmer

Maya

"The boys"...until a week ago when I took them to the vet to be castrated. Turned out Oscar to the right is "Olga" (Leo to the left), SIGH.  No point in separating them now, but I really hope and pray they haven't made new rabbits before Leo's operation. 

Leo, Maya and Elsa. After Leo's "caranteen" for three weeks (can still have sperms) I'll try to make a bigger enclosure and put all together. I suspect there will be fights, but I hope they'll accept each other in the end. After all....they are all family!

Finally there are flowers, the leaves have appeared again and today we've had a bit of rain. There is  plenty to do in the garden, but still everything looks good :). Behind the trees you can see my new helper - a trailer! I've been wishing for one for a long time, but haven't had the money. 

(Sorry Julie - you are about the only one reading, but I don't know the names of these birds in English so I'll write this in Swedish). Är så glad över fåglarna i trädgården. Det svartvita flugsnapparparet lyckades hitta en holk, trots alla trastar och pilfinkar (men många av dem finns i vår granhäck).

Och för första gången (tror jag) sen mina föräldrar hade  kor, har vi ett starpar på gården. Det är jag jätteglad över!! 

5th birthday

Are they coming soon? Are they coming soon?!

Yey!! Presents!!

I had invited everyone D wanted to invite - most from daycare + many of the parents (15 kids in all + about  7 parents, a few dropped off/picked up afterwards). Was a bit chaotic and disorganized (attended a 6th birthday party on Saturday, it had less people, a theme, games etc etc....much calmer :), but we have a big house and I think the kids enjoyed themselves. 

Grandma had said she will be in her room, but stayed in the kitchen to see all that was going  on. And many of the mothers talked a bit with her as well. I had been so busy during the week she had been home (had been two weeks in hospital before that), that she thought it was nice to see people for a change :). 

Afterwards to mothers stayed behind to help me. I had time to sit down a bit  as well. 

:)

Next evening: "grown up"party (with a few kids again :). 

My friend B took a few photos of us as well :) (I had time for a shower before the party, but  not to put on make up or do anything to my hair :). 

The next day grandma and granddad arrived - they hadn't been here in a year (live three hours away by car), mainly due to the fact that grandma had undergone a few operations. Here D is showing off how he and I make pizza :). They stayed two  nights. Unfortunately I had a table at a fleemarket in Jeppo and had to run back and forth - home to cook and then back again...and in the end I sold for 6 euro, when the table cost 15 :( :(. I had hoped to sell D's pram, but no luck :(. 

1st of May

 D turned five on the fourth of May and I had a hard time finding a slot for his parties. The weekend before he was supposed to go to his dad's for one night and come home for the end celebration of this year's "musickindergarten" - once a week he has taken part in a musically focused hour together with kids his age. Just before we were going to leave on Friday to his dad's he suddenly got quite a high temperature and had to stay home. I was really relieved, I had worked on four articles for a personnel magazine + started as a substitute teacher in senior highschool (German) and was rather tired. I was glad to stay at home that evening. D fell asleep almost immediately and more or less slept until the next morning, when the fever was almost gone! So on Sunday  we participated in the first of May celebrations in "Uusikaarlepyy/Nykarleby" anyway. 

We have had a wind orchestra in Jeppo for more than 30 years now - I played for many years  when it was started. It has become a really professional one and a joy to listen to. It also gives a lot of  Jeppo children a fantastic opportunity to practise music and has been a platform for many into a career in music later on. On the first of May the orchestra always marches through the town of  Uusikaarlepyy  (20 kms from Jeppo, we're a part of  its municipality) and play at a small quaint café by the river. The men's choir and the children from music kindergarten sing as well - greeting spring and the sun :).  

D in the middle with blue hat. There was a cold wind, even if the sun was shining. As a single mum it's difficult to  both be  with my son and take photos....I'm glad his good friend L and her mum were there to keep him company while I was trying to make photo memories. 

D and his friend were among the youngest children participating -   and didn't do so much singing :). 

The church in Uusikaarlepyy in the background. 

The "graduation" (a bit too long for the small children, who had to sit and wait for a long time). D in white shirt  sitting on the stage closest to the camera.

I was really tired and didn't want to go to a place where children can ride a steamtrain afterwards (more or less part of the normal first-of-May program). I was really happy when we could go together with  L and her family for lunch instead. 

Grandma

It's been intense. On Sunday (Mother's day in Finland) I could finally wind down. D's grandparents left in the morning (they had been here for two nights - first time in a year!) and then I had a whole day without anything planned. Since the weather was really nice, I decided to bring my mother outside, hoping it would cheer her up and also give her some energy. I have been worried about her, I think she might have something of a depression. No wonder, the minute she starts feeling a bit better, she ends up in hospital again. 

D's granddad made him this car  for his second birthday, if I remember correctly. 

D threw the ball at grandma - she is very seldom outside and he really enjoys it when she is. Last  summer she had to be goalkeeper for him :). 

Surprised :)

Unfortunately during the night the doorbell chimed - it hasn't done it in a long time, but I knew immediately where to go. The button is next to my mother's bed, in case she needs help during the night. She had slid onto the floor, was sitting with her back against the bed. Luckily enough she hadn't hurt herself, but it took some time before I was able to get her back into bed. She has no strength of her own, her knees can't take any bending or pressure, so I simply had to lift her and then roll her onto the bed. I'm surprised she didn't hurt herself. We didn't want it to happen again, so every time she needed to go to "her loo" (next to the bed) she rang the bell. I was also so shook up after the first ring, so I didn't sleep between one and four o'clock, so it was no problem to go downstairs two more times. I really thought this was it for her (sleepless in the middle of the night makes you imagine the worst possible scenarios), but she has been able to move around today. Her heart is really weak, but I've invited her cousin (her best friend) over tomorrow, so I really want her to be able to stay at home until that at least. They have been like sisters all their lives.

We've been here before, and she has managed to pull through, let's see if she manages it still one more time. Now I would have time to care for her better, but there is a limit to how much I can do for her. We just have to wait and see which direction things are going.