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F*$%ing circle of life
2011 has brought me the most amazing event of my entire life - the birth of my son.
However, this year is ending on a very sour note - last month we suddenly lost my severely handicapped niece; and on Tuesday, my Daddy left us as well. Dad has been sick in various ways for many years now - in addition to being 86 years old - between a very aggressive form of Parkinson's Disease, Diabetes, Heart Disease of every kind, a past heart attack, and two strokes... Things started to go downhill for my dad's health when he was attacked with a fire extinguisher while working overnight at the Maine Youth Center back in `94.
I'm so grateful for DS. My maternity leave this summer allowed me the time and freedom to visit my family - including my niece and Dad - much more often than I otherwise could have. Colby's sweetness and laughter have helped my family get through the past month. I'd be totally lost without his guidance - he keeps me focused on what's really important and keeps me positive through this extremely difficult time. Colby was such a great baby the two days we spent in the hospital with my niece and the three days we just spent in the nursing home with my dad. He kept us laughing and smiling through the sadness, and I'm sure that's exactly what my dad would have wanted. I'm told my dad actually passed while my mom, sisters and brother were all laughing about something else happening in the room at the time. 
Re: F*$%ing circle of life
I'm so very sorry for your losses...
So sorry for you losses. It's so great that you got to spend time with your dad and son together before he left.
The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware; joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware. -Henry Miller
http://cookthehumbletable.blogspot.com/
Jake blowing out the candle at Katie's coming home party
Katie Belle
Kristen, Chad, Jake, Katie & Sadie the Wonderdog, est. 6/17/06