A week of absolute hell

A week of absolute hell –

This had to be the absolute worst week of my life. It was the beginning of August and my family and I were a week away from leaving on our summer vacation we’d been waiting for, our seven-day cruise to Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

 

On Monday, my mom calls and says my 84-year-old grandfather lost his battle with Alzheimer’s and had passed away in Montgomery, TX. I had to drive to Montgomery, console my mom and say my goodbyes to the man who meant the world to me. We can’t stay too long because my 20-year-old daughter had a scheduled surgery at 5am in Katy, TX the next morning. I can already feel exhaustion setting in, how will I have the energy to do all I still need to do? I haven’t even begun packing! We get to the hospital, she goes back for surgery and I sit and wait. Her doctor comes out and said all is well and to meet her in her room. Since it was her first surgery and she was scared to stay at the hospital alone, she asked me to stay with her so I did. If you’ve ever stayed in the hospital with someone you know what I mean when I say I didn’t get any sleep! I come home around 4am and try to catch a couple hours rest before showering and heading back. She was supposed to be released today, Wednesday but once I return she had a slight fever so the doctor wants to keep her another night just to be safe. I agree with him but in my head, I’m thinking can I get a break? Luckily this hospital in right across the street from a Mall, just what I needed. I have to fine the twins an outfit for the funeral on Friday and again I haven’t started packing yet so my mind starts processing all these thoughts. Do I have everything we need for the cruise? Have I printed our boarding passes? Where are our passports?

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My mom calls, some of the family doesn’t agree with the plans my grandmother has chosen. What can I do? She’s 82, she was married to him for 64 years. I’m pretty sure she is going to do what she wants and no one can change that. I try to calm my mother by reminding her this is to honor him not argue about silly things, I asked her to try not to get caught up in it. It’s Thursday and my daughter is finally getting to come home, she’s sore and still nauseous but we make it home and she is in her bed. Now it’s visitation night and I have to be at the funeral home by 5:30 in the Woodlands, “don’t be late” my mom reminds me. I know the traffic will be horrible so I tell my husband “we have to leave by 4”. We make it on time and I see family I haven’t seen in years, I kiss my grandpa one last time and we leave to come home. It’s now Friday morning, everyone’s up and needing mom for something. “Breakfast is on the table little ones then get dressed”, we have to leave. We get loaded in the car and off we go again back to the Woodlands for the ceremony then to the Veterans Cemetery for a full military burial. I’ve never cried so much in my life, I can’t imagine life without his contagious smile. I have to be strong, for my grandma, my mom and my kids. I’m thankful I’ve had 40 years with the most amazing man ever. It’s over, this horrible week is almost over. I say my goodbyes and we all go our separate ways. I still have to start packing so I get home and start preparing for what I hope to be the most relaxing vacation ever, right now I need it and I deserve it.