Thank you so much everyone. I am so exhausted and so very glad this past two weeks is over. In spite of knowing our family was going to lose my mom and having six and half years to prepare for it, the shell shocked feeling, exhaustion and sadness are overwhelming. The funeral was lovely, just what she would have wanted. And I was so happy in that her friends and family filled the chapel to overflowing. They had to put people into a smaller room with a live video feed once the chapel was too full to hold any more people. Just another GREAT reason stepbrothers and their families weren't there, clogging up space for people who really did care. All four of my mom's nephews from Texas were there and one of them gave a very moving eulogy. I just know she was right there with us enjoying all the warmth and love everyone felt for her.
I had a house full of people and thank God my friends really came through. Bringing all kinds of food so that we could eat here but I didn't have to cook. Dh's aunt and cousin stayed here which was a bit stressful since my basement was full of stuff from my mom's that we had brought over to make room for the hospital bed plus all of our Christmas decorations we hadn't had time to put into the crawl space. But they were gracious about it but I hate not having things more organized when company comes. They left yesterday, my brother and his family left today and everyone else had cleared out on Friday. Its nice to have some quiet but also really lonely now. Dh's aunt and cousin really helped out, babysat dd so I could go have coffee with my cousins the night of the funeral and I felt really bad I put them in that ratty basement! They also gave me $200 to go to the spa for a day to myself. How nice and not a bit surprising. And my sil was also fabulous. She kept the kitchen clean, helped me out tremendously and during the service was right there for me. She really held things together. I have always loved her dearly but she is even more dear to me now. My brother got a good one! God bless her and dh's family for helping me through this past few days.
Disneyland was okay. It was packed on the weekend, often chilly (although it was 14 here one day so I wasn't complaining) and we all got colds. I spent the last day miserable with sore ears, throat and coughing up a lung. I have conluded that I like WDW better than DL. DL is great, but my jacka** father in law lives right there. He picked us up at the airport, yelled at us not to scratch the car and didn't one time say he was sorry my mom died. He gave me some dumb dead flowers and that was it. Dh was so furious. As usual he never one time hugged or talked to the kids. I am so done with him. If he wants to see his grandkids, he can jolly well haul himself out here. Won't happen. That just got the trip off to a bad start. Once my brother and his family got there it improved but the crowds and our colds plus reeling from all that happened just made enjoying ourselves difficult. I am glad we went and I do think the four kids had fun. My nieces turned seven on the 18th and it was nice to be with them. But I am glad the trip is over and I am happy to be home. Our flight got cancelled but they finally got us home about 8 hours late. I made flight reservations yesterday for our May/June trip to WDW. Much less points on our DVC to go there as opposed to DL. And no fil nearby to rain on the parade! We are going for 17 nights total and I cannot wait. I splurged and booked two nights at the Poly for the beginning of the trip. Both kids have always wanted to stay there and it was fun to tell them we finally are. I am really hoping to lose about 25 pounds by that trip, I have four months to do it. We'll see.
Tomorrow I will take the kids to school for the first time in two weeks. I don't even want to think about how far behind they both are. The teaches emailed me some assignments which of course we have not done. They said we had two weeks to make things up but I am just dreading the whole process.
Will not resume doing the home daycare thing. He is such a sweet little boy, love him dearly but I feel like my own kids need me to the point I can't give this little guy the attention he needs. Also ds is 13 and not enjoying having a six year old around each day. I will miss him and his mom but in the end I just think its best if I don't start it back up. She has him in the after school program right now. I wasnt' going to do it this summer or next year anyway. I am ready to get a job in the fall, part time but home daycare won't be it! I really feel like a heel, not finishing what I started but I just feel too much as loose ends with myself. And ds and dd are really having a hard time dealing with the loss of their grandmother. I am going to get them into a grief support group hospice provides and it meets in the afternoons. So that is another reason I need to have my and their afternoons free. I hope daycare mom understands, she is a lovely person but I just have to put my kids first.
I am starting Weight Watchers tomorrow. I think rather than try to figure out how much I have gained back of my 33 pounds (probably half of it

) I will just start over. I removed my wish clippie and will just start back up anew. Its sort of nice to know I can just not worry with what I gained and just start back up witha clean slate. WHEN I get to goal, maybe I can add those pounds I lost and kept off to my total. I plan to go out for a nice fattening lunch at Olive Garden (somebody gave me a gift card) for my "last supper". Then come home and purge the frig and grocery shop for the good stuff.
I am going to start back up with Curves February 1st. I plan to walk as much as I can, the Ipod really helps with that.
Stepdad and I will forge ahead. My attitude about his sons doesn't seem to bother him in the slightest. I was a bit upset when I went over to my mom's and saw that he had moved pictures of his kids onto her dresser but I guess its his dresser now. He sort of prattled on about his kids last night and I just didn't say a word. He is my kids grandfather, the only grandparent they have left and thats all that matters. I want off all of his finances so that stepbrother #1's wife doesn't decide to sue me thinking I am trying to get the old man's money. I was honest and said after all these years taking care of my mom, I don't want the responsiblity anymore. I want to be his friend, stepdaughter but in the end, HIS sons need to take care of their dad. We will probably see him as much as always but there is no doubt things will have to change somewhat. In all honesty, it won't surprise me if he remarries soon, the widows in that retirement village outnumber the men about 50 to 1. And he's still a good looking guy. Hope the new wife is ready to take on the sons. God help her. In all honesty, my mom would be fine with that and would want him to live life and be happy.
As far as my sister, our relationship is strained right now. Too much to go into but her years of treating my mom like dog poop are hard to forget. Brother and her are scarcely speaking and I couldn't care less. I held things together with this family for years for my mom's sake. She is gone now and its up to sister and brother to figure things out. I love them both but have to say I am on brother's side 100%. But I don't plan to sever any ties with her, I just don't want to have to micromanage all the holidays, family dinners etc. She's probably home right now mad as he** thinking we are all mean and also trying to find a new person to blame for all of her problems now that my mom is gone and can no longer fill that role. My new motto: Not my problem! She's a grown up and my new emphasis will be on my children, my husband and my health. I have to take better care of myself to be around for the long haul. No more excuses. I have the rest of this year, until the fall to be home and concentrate on getting my life on track.
Thanks so much for all your kindness, prayers and compassion. I am sorry I haven't kept up with all of you, I am off to journals now to catch up. Thanks again Wish Sisters, you will never know how much you mean to me!
Love,
Amy