We are family

I am not sure really where to start this, so I guess the beginning is a good place.

This past weekend Joel and I enjoyed a weekend away at St. Malo Provincial Park. We camped beside Sarah and Jay. (Joel’s sister and her husband) When Sarah booked our sites, we blindly picked from an online map, but when we drove in I was quite happy! There was a thick bush that surrounded our site. It was quite large and served big enough for our truck, tent, and tying up the 2 puppies. I thought we were going to be quite a hike to the washrooms, but the little paths through the bush provided easy access. We were lucky to go with Sarah and Jay as they have a lot of camping supplies and were much better prepared for the weekend than us. Although Joel packed the tent, chairs, air mattress, and the items from outside, I spent the afternoon (I took a half day from work) packing up things from inside the house. This included bug spray, sunscreen, food, clothes, bug lanterns, water, mattress pump, etc. I thought I was fairly well prepared for my first weekend camping trip. It turns out there were many things that never occurred to me, but I have since made note of them. Joel and I have kept all our camping things in a large Rubbermaid container so when we do go, I do not have to spend so much time packing. Although I spent the first night in the truck (the air mattress had a hole) and the second night very uncomfortable, I do think we might be able to get in one more weekend trip together before the end of summer. We are also planning a fall camp out in Sarah and Jay’s front yard for a Harry Potter marathon. Their place is very relaxing for us since the dogs do not even need to be tied up, and makes it more of a stress free camping trip for me.

When we got home I took a nap to catch up on some of the sleep I missed over the weekend. Then Jen, a friend I worked with at Boston Pizza was in from Vancouver. She came over for a short visit which was nice to see her.

Monday, although normally I would be golfing, I wasn’t really feeling up to it. Plus Martin and Barb were moving so I thought I could help. Although I spent very little time in their condo, it is absolutely beautiful! It feels like a bungalow inside and not like an apartment style condo. My mom liked it so much she has asked the Hayward’s to keep an eye out for one that goes for sale.

After Joel and Martin moved a truck load, Martin was not feeling well. He asked Joel to drive him home and went for a cold shower. Immediately after that he called himself an ambulance. He was having a heart attack. Joel drove quickly to the condo to inform Barb, but realized she was already home by the time he got there. (she had to close up the windows when we left so she was close behind us) The paramedics worked on Martin at the house before taking him into St. Boniface Hospital. I cannot say enough good things about the staff at St. B. When Joel and I arrived they were very helpful and lead us directly to Martin. They answered the questions we had both professionally and to the best of their ability. I left the hospital by 10 or 10:30 while Martin was still in the ER. By the time Joel dropped me off and went back, Jay and Sarah were there too. Joel came home around 1:30 and got up for work at 5:30. Martin is a fighter, and successfully had an angiogram on his left side artery that night/early morning. When we went to visit yesterday he was sitting up, eating and looked so much better. It was great seeing him like that and made both Joel and I relax a little bit.

We had Sarah and Barb over for dinner last night. With the move happening Barb doesn’t have a lot of food in her fridge, so I thought this may be a way that I can help.

Last night Sarah drove home in my car so Jay could catch up on some sleep. He drove Sarah to the hospital and had to head back home that night since they are both putting on space camp as one of his programs. He did not arrive home until 2:30 and the program starts at 9am, so it would have been a long day for him.

Barb has since hired movers to finish packing and moving the house to the condo, and my mom has offered to help on the receiving end to unpack. I will go there Thursday too to help so that when Martin comes home his new condo feels like home.

It was a very scary experience, but I am lucky to be a part of such a supportive family. Between the Hayward side staying strong and being so concerned with each other member, and my parents offering their support and help wherever and whenever they can, I really am lucky and thankful. I do also appreciate all the kind words, and offers for help from other friends and family. Really, it reminds me what great people I have in my life. Thank you.

For now, that is all I have, so enjoy ~