Friday, Day 33 arrived in a celebratory way. David had his radiation treatment, and came home and was able to finally say, "One More Week". It seemed like (in my head anyway) it should be a celebratory moment, yet as we looked into each others eyes, it didn't feel like it. I see them stealing the soul of David. His eyes are vacant trying to keep from falling into the vortex of the torture being heavily applied to him. There's not alot of conversation except, "How are you feeling, babe?", and the answer, "I'm good". But I know he's not. It's a mere existence of day-to-day feeling like $hit. He's able to fix meals, and actually prefers it as he scours the kitchen over and over trying to find what "sounds" good to him. His taste and smell are now completely gone. The saliva in his mouth is as thick as honey. He finds nothing satisfying really, and the one thing that still speaks to him is fried chicken. Even then, it's met with difficulty eating it. He's not a smoothie kind of guy, and although I can offer them all day long, I'm lucky if he drinks one - or maybe two, at the most. He just wants food. His pain has increased, with a sore neck, headaches, and constant nasal rinsing to bring moisture to his sinuses. He's in survival mode, and prefers to rest and sleep. My heart aches.
But did you
I did. We had talked about it all week, and knew with the upcoming winter storm - and Lauren's need for assistance with her move, I would make the trek back to Gunter. It was the hardest weekend to leave him, and the best weekend I've had in Gunter since the last 34 days this adventure started. I had my usual cry for about the first hour in the car as I drove away from the apartment. Then turned in my audio book and cruise control. I was headed to Dallas first, where I would pick up sweet Brooks and take him to Gunter while Lauren and Ryan moved Saturday morning.
Tula ready and Brooks buckled in |
I don't know if anyone has yet to be in the car with Brooks for an hour, but I will say he did great. His 4 month old self played with his toys, coo'd, and looked out the window. He looked at the circus of dogs in the car with him: Tula, Sugar and Maybe. Tula was happy to be heading to the farm for some free ranging to run and play without a leash. Brooks eventually cried, and although I was unsure about stopping or not for a little break half way through, I pressed on. He fell asleep and would stay that way for the duration of the trip.
He’s so peaceful |
Our arrival to Gunter included a welcome committee of Angela and Paul. They were there to help me, and would watch Brooks while I emptied the car of all the things needed to watch a baby for 24 hours, plus all the things I had in the car. I actually had Lauren's car and left my truck (with a truck bed full of chicken feed, dog food and pine shavings for the chicken's coops). I would have to get that tomorrow when I trade back cars.
Angela and Paul came into the house, and with Sugar in Paul's lap.....
Paul is one of Sugar’s favorite people ❤️ |
and Brooks with Angela......
She’s Nana #2 to Brooks |
I then set about unloading the things from the car. I was able to do many "outside" things like inspect the parameter of the house for water pipe leaks/issues, do a quick check on the animals, and get every thing inside. I'm sad to say the parameter check showed me a busted water faucet on the north side of the house that was actually frozen solid with the stream of water running down the house frozen in mid steam like a waterfall frozen in time. This faucet is our usual culprit and although we had it double covered, the north wind and wind chill was too much for it.
Bummer, and I keep moving all while my eyes were taking in 2 weeks worth of activity to which I was not privy to. What has happened in the last 2 weeks? Seemingly alot. I see another evidence of a hawk attack on a chicken, and I crumble knowing I HAVE to get my silkies and frizzles moved to a safer location. It will be so much work, but I have no choice. I have to move them. Plus, the north wind will be too much for those little girls and Carlos, so it's time to move them to the south side of the house under the deck awning for protection from hawks - and the cruel north wind.
Oh dang, I need to get back inside with Angela and Paul and let them head out. They have plans, and did me the favor of giving me time (without having Brooks outside) to investigate the farm, and unload the car. So grateful for their help!
Now what
It's go-time with Brooks. Everything will have to wait. I'll need to call a plumber, pick up the chicken remnants and do a full inspection after I take Brooks back on Saturday. For now, I have a baby to attend to, and he's the light of my life. We play, have a bottle, play some more, he has a bath, put on clean clothes and do you know by 7:10 pm he's fast asleep for the night. And besides one wake-up for a diaper change, he sleeps until 4:10 am.
Ding! Brooks eyes pop wide open and here come all the smiles. Hi Brooks! He's so happy in the morning hours and it's non-stop smiling and coo-ing. My heart is full. He plays, and has a bottle and a morning nap. Life is better-than good.
First time in this bouncer |
Tasting everything |
So if your thinking what I'm thinking, you asking me how I'm going to handle the hour and 15 minute drive with a 4 month old over to Fort Worth. Yeah, me too. How will this work? I strategize all morning about the pros and cons regarding the timing of it. Since I packed the car while he was napping, all I would need to do is get him and Tula back in the car and head out. Easier said then done, but it's do-able.
I finally decide that the next upcoming nap would be in the car, and when that time came, we darted for the car. First, he had his bottle, and then burped. Now, time to get everyone to the car. Buckled in, diaper changed, toys in his lap, Tula in the car and we are off again for a long ride. It went like this:
Gunter, happy. Celina, crying. Prosper, coo-ing noises because he gave up the crying. Prosper/Frisco line, asleep. Success!
Another long car ride?! |
Brooks, Tula and I pull up in front of the house and the moving truck is just about empty and Lauren and Ryan are scurrying about. I end up staying in the car with Brooks so that he could finish his nap, but after the movers pulled away in their now-empty truck, Lauren came for her baby boy. We made our way inside and I watch as Brooks wakes up when the cold wind touches his face. He's now in his home of the next 2 years, at least, with a room of his own. Goodbye apartment life, and welcome to a bedroom to call your own and a backyard. They are thrilled - and exhausted.
We unpack for a couple of hours, and then it's time to say Goodbye. I really wanted to stay there all weekend, but this would be not the case right now. Back to Gunter I go. A winter storm is coming and I've got to settle everyone in for what 0 degrees is going to feel like.
Yes, yes, and then what
Back home and I'm back in action with my trusty crew of Winston, Sugar and Maybe. Now it's Saturday early evening and I only have about 2 hours of daylight, so I get to work.
More protection from the elements |
I move the Little Girl area to the south side of the house, along with their 2 coops and fencing around them. They are now better protected from hawks with the deck above them. They are now better protected from the north wind, snow and ice as the house will be their barrier. I'm now exhausted, but elated at the results. The girls and Carlos head up into the coop for the night. Goodnight, Sweet Peas, sleep tight.
I then empty out the truck's loot. Chicken food, cat food, dog food all 40 lbs bags or heavier. I carry the huge bag of pine shavings into the protection of the barn. I feed everyone dinner with warm broth on their food. I prepare the farm for snow. I put on a few more faucet covers in the dark of night, using my headlight, as I still had a couple exposed from where water once came to fill water buckets for the animals. Not anymore, they are all frozen, and all water must now be toted from the house to the heated water buckets for the animals. I place 2 pales in the house for this, and make several trips out to fill them all up. Success again. Time to collect eggs, clean the barn a bit, and tuck everyone in for the night. Well, I mean, they are already all in their resting places so I tell them Good Night, as I still have one last chore to do before I shower and lay my own head down.
Life out here
Tractor Supply is open for 5 more minutes as I pull up. I've not been able to get hay for the donkeys yet, because the bed of my truck was full with other feed, and the truck was in Fort Worth until late Saturday. Now, finally, I arrive at Tractor Supply and an able to get 2 square bales of hay for my sweet donkeys. Sugar and Maybe are asking when can we stop. I tell them soon. Very soon. Back home and using the dolly, I take the hay to the donkey's shelter and bless them with 2 bales of hay, until I can get more. They are trilled with the hay, and are just doing their best to weather this cold, cold environment. Hang in there y'all! We will get through this. Now, I can go back inside the house.
There's a problem though, you see, as I lay my head down to sleep I'm warm and cozy. I had made a deal with myself to minimize heaters and such with the farm animals as it's a fire risk. But my 5:45 am and much tossing and turning, I rise to go place all my heat lamps out. I know I'm going to leave Sunday, but if I do it as safely as possible, the animals will be more comfortable.
Off I go
Whoa! Sunday at 5:45 am has the farm covered in snow. I'll need to wear 2 pair of pants, 3 sweatshirts, a toboggan, 2 pairs of gloves and my big farm jacket. Boots on and I'm out the door. I feed everyone more warm broth in their food, and climb the ladder to the landing above the Tack Room. I grab all the heat lambs and back down the ladder I go, all while making plans in my head for who gets what and where.
First up, Winston.
This should help some |
He gets a heat lamp pointing at the door of his dog house. I have all kinds of tables set up around the entrance to his dog house to protect him from the brutal wind, snow and rain. It's kind of janky, but it works great.
Next up, is the Little Girls (and Carlos) area. Newly living on the patio on the south side of the house....
Ignore the dangerous electrical cords |
My girls are so happy! |
I place a heat lamp (hanging strategically placed) to point into their newly set up area. It's their favorite coop to roost in at night, and I'm hoping it will help bring about a little relief to them during these harsh weather conditions.
New view from bedroom window 🤪 |
Then, into the barn to hang a heat lamb over the most commonly used egg laying station.
Very popular today |
This is all a risk, I know. But I don't see any other choice. I said I wasn't going to do this due to the danger involved, but I've secured the lamps well - and feel it has to be done.
Saturday night falls
As Friday and Saturday wind up and I feel like I've only placed a high level of what really happened in these two days, please know this. It was busy and I did my best. The plumber has been called (can't come until Wed and that's a whole nother story), CatLand is cleaned and ready for another week of inside-the-laundry-room barn cats. All the things I brought from the apartment in Houston are now put up (less to bring back later!). And in clean sheets, I collapse into bed. Literally fall into bed and never want to get out of it. Too cold. More to do tomorrow, Sunday. I talked to David late Saturday night, who is exhausted as well, as he's fighting a fight bigger than himself. Hang in there, babe. You got this.
For now, time to close and pick back up again Sunday morning for Day 35, which happens to be an eggstra special day for David and I!
Can't believe this cold weather,
Cyndi
2 comments:
Happy Anniversary to you! I catch up one to two times a week. I'm so glad to read your posts.
The thing that resonated most to me was how little of the tough stuff you remember, even by the end of the day as you weather any storm (no pun intended as we embark on a frozen Texas for almost a full week).
My hope is that you remember silly things like binging Marrying Millions and David "rubbing in the ointment" which made his face all bloody. These things endure after hardship and heartache.
Love you guys!
Thank you, Sarah, for the well wishes on our anniversary! ❤️ And I think you are spot on in regards to your unintended pun. This bitter cold snow storm is reminiscent of the storm we are weathering right now. They will both pass, and the rain will bow, the sun will shine, and we’ll look back and laugh at the silliness through it all. I’m smiling just thinking about that. 😃
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