can you handle?

Can you handle how incredibly cute this photo is? My beautiful Momma with her equally beautiful boys on their second Christmas.

happy birthday Grandma B!

My Grandma B, the momma of my dear Dad was born 112 years ago today. She has been reunited with her son Clarence Edward--Happy Birthday Grandma!

On July 8, 1961 just outside First Lutheran Church in Butterfield--Anne and Nels Pierson, Margaret and Clarence Blomgren

reflecting

I am THE luckiest woman on planet earth. I am kicking with my Mom in her apartment here in St. James and printing/making displays for my Daddy's memorial service on Thursday.

Here are three of my favorite photos:

new daddy in crib with baby

four generations

newly weds

the call

Yesterday I spent the day with my Blomgren family at my Dad's bedside at St. Mary's in Rochester. He was so well cared for by all the staff--the many doctors, residents, therapists and especially nurses. He was in room 7-512 from early morning on Friday until late evening Sunday.

On Thursday night, he fell from his bed and broke his right arm, two right ribs and his pelvis. He was airlifted to St. Mary's and was put onto a respirator and many lines of IVs to help keep his heart going strong. He thankfully had written an advanced directive stating that he didn't want to have his life extended beyond what God intended. Our family kept him on his life-saving  devices (ventilator, IVs, his internal defibrillator) until his five children all had a chance to come and see him and say goodbye. At about 2:15pm yesterday, Kurt, Mom and I were there when the ventilator and IVs were removed and his internal defibrillator was turned off. 

He spent several hours breathing and beating on his own. I heard him whisper a few words including saying a"yes" to my questions if he was in pain. He was given several doses of pain meds including morphine and he slept beautifully. There were a few times he woke and seemed to have some struggles with breathing, but his nurses, Carrie, Ariel and Stephanie really advocated for the liberal use of pain meds. After a heaven affirming sunset, at 9:45pm, Mom, Kurt and I opted to head back to our hotel to settle in for the night knowing we could get a call from nurse Stephanie at any time. At 10:47, Stephanie called to let us know she thought Dad was taking his last breaths. She was right and reported that she held his hand as he passed from this life onto the next. Kurt arrived in the room about 2 minutes after he had passed with Mom and I not far behind. He looked so peaceful and like he was in no pain on is way "home". 

To the nurses, Carrie, Ariel and Stephanie. We will never forget you and your amazing ability to connect with our family and give our Dad the most incredible journey to the other side. We felt that you listened to us and advocated for our Dad. Carrie gave us a hug as she left her shift and said that we were "the best family ever". It meant so much to us. Stephanie, congratulations on your news and may your growing baby be as beautiful and strong as her Momma. 

happy graduation reception Evan Lee

Today is our special nephew, Evan Lee's graduation party day. Brad, K and O are there while I'm still here in Rochester with Dad. The weather seems absolutely picture perfect and we are so happy to celebrate such a special young man.


Much love to you Evan and all our best in your future career as a SDSU Jackrabbit.

daddy B

I'm currently with Mom in Rochester with my strong, incredible and very sick Daddy B. He is hanging in there right now, but is feeling extreme pain, unable to communicate and in general struggling to keep going.


I can't possibly start thinking of all the ways I admire and love my Dad. But here is a start.
1. He's got a heart of gold
2. He's physically the strongest man I've ever known.
3. He's overcome many medical conditions such as heart attacks, COPD, Emphesema, Prostate and some that I'm probably forgetting to document.
4. He is very hard working
5. He has been a faithful husband for 55+ years.
6. He is a huge softy...very sensitive
7. He wiggled his biceps like no one else I eve met...I don't know if he can still wiggle them, but I wouldn't be surprised.
8. He's the best Daddy in the world for me.


I love you CEB and will always and forever.

the 1998 kids graduation!

sweet Liana Marie and fun Evan lee are now high school graduates. Both with pomp and circumstance on Friday, May 26.

pinch myself

may 24 was a great day. Went to a baby shower for friend Ashley, graduation party for RFPME 6th graders & then to our school picnic. So affirming that I live & work in a great community!

tryouts

Our thespian is trying out for the RFHS play Beauty and the Beast...good luck A!

selfie with my beata

Here is me and my lovely 11 year old. So happy we can still take photos together.

boundary waters

Our wonderful Bradley Cole spent a few days wayyyyy up north in the BWCA with some of his good buddies. He's home tonight and we are so thankful to have him home. Thank you Betty for coming to take care of us while the caregiver is gone.

7

Our charming, handsome, funny, smart, musical, spirited, goofy. imaginative, and amazing OJO is now 7 years old.

pops concert

On Friday and Saturday night, A had a wonderful Pops concert where he sang beautiful songs. My favorite song of the night was by Camryn Shea called Rise Up. The Madrigal group he sings with sang a great spiritual and then the final song was We are The World.

I love that our boy loves music!

1954

This photo gem landed online and is more than likely from 1954 at Janice and Buddy Romsdahl's wedding. My momma, Loie, Marge, Mavis, June, Beverly and June. I love that my Mom was able to name everyone and give a point of reference. Memories are priceless.

catching up

One of my dear students who is getting ready to move onto the next level of school is getting dangerously close to passing me up in height...she is such a dear girl too.

one lucky lady

I am a very lucky lady indeed. 

My Mommy and I at Christmas 2009...the last time I could find a photo of the 2 of us together

my Mother's Day roses from Bud and Betty and my carnations from church

3 beauties lunching with Dad and Mom on Mother's Day

pretty little beauty at the Healthy Kids Running Series-legs still tired from her miler on Friday

O running a 1:44 in the 1/4 mile at Healthy Kids Running Series

birthday party photos

Here are a couple of birthday party photos...the top is don't drop the storm trooper and here is O with his good buddy Gracie who dressed as Princess Leia.

6:08

Our KGO raced on Friday her final Fun and Fitness Day. She ran the Schurman Shuffle in 6:08...her top mile time just keeps getting smaller and smaller. Run Katie Run!

happy mother's day!

To my beautiful Momma Vivian, lovely MIL Betty and sweet sisters in law Kim, Joan, Ibby and Molly. Happy Mother's Day...love you all and admire the women you are and the dedication you have to your children.

birthday party birthday party

Our sweet soon to be 7 year old had a really fun birthday party at Pizza Hut on Saturday. Thanks to Bud and Betty, Brad, Anders, Katie, Osten, Marci, Tim, Coulter, Gracie, Jayden, Maggie and Wil for being there to celebrate a little man who loves the Dark Side of the Force.

pops concert

Tonight I went to our 16 year old's Pop's Concert and they sounded really pretty great!

hello

My friend Julie just called to see if I could go to the Lionel Ritchie concert with her at Mystic Lake. I am excited to go "Dancing on the Ceiling!"

retro day fun

retro day...Abby from the 80s, Sara from the 60s and me from the 70s

oh what a beautiful morning!

Wow. Brad and I wake up very early every morning to work out. It is starting to be a little light outside as I'm working the elliptical and today, I saw the most beautiful sight. The trees are starting to burst with leaves. The leaves are still very small so there is still a lot of sky you can see between trees. The sky was a lovely melon and blue, the sun was shining and the trees were adding a little element of green and movement.

Oh what a beautiful morning.

The winds are also fragranced by flowering crabs, plums and starting to smell some lilac too. AHHHHH.

green day

Today was our annual Green Day. Our class learned about the water cycle, played a Who Am I game, learned about renewable energy and made smoothies with our pedal power, learned about Macro and Micro bats, helped build a bird nest, made leaf prints, learned about recycling (did you know you can't recycle #6 plastic in our area?) and captured and identified macro invertebrates on the South Fork of the Kinni. It was a jolly great day.

up north at the cabin

On Sunday, we headed up in the later morning (our 16 year old driving) to enjoy some time at the lake and get it ready for the summer season. We got to see cousin Nate, Kimberly, Natalie, Micah and aunt and uncle Wade and Diana. It was a very enjoyable and relaxing day.

he's our shining star

On his 16th birthday he...drove to Eau Claire to sing at State Music

contest (received a 1), worked a shift at DQ, went with his Mom to the new Guardians of the Galaxy movie. Man I love this boy.

cinco de Mayo

16 years ago, Brad and I traveled to the Bloomington Illinois hospital, OSF in the early morning hours just after Cinco de Mayo celebration. I will never think of this date the same after that life changing day.

We love our Anders Cole...our Seis de Mayo baby.

may the fourth be with you

Just couldn't resist with the the Star Wars love happening at our home.

d queen

Our soon to be 16 year old is starting his new job at Dairy Queen today! How exciting.

dos de Mayo

It is the 2nd of May. We just planned our soon to be 7 year old's birthday party. It will be at Pizza Hut the theme is Star Wars and he is crazy excited to have three of his best buds able to make the day. One is still a maybe, but he is thrilled! His party will be 8 days before his birthday, so I hope he realizes that the real birthday is yet to come ;)

13 years of wedded bliss

Happy anniversary to Brent and Molly today! 3 children, one home and a forever love. Wishing you happiness and joy today and always.