Fathers' Day bittersweetness

This post is a hard one for me to write, but an important one.

Franz and Cyprian left for Wisconsin at 5 am. on June 14th to work on the fenceline at my parents' farm. Driving our farm truck, they had a little delay in Virginia when the truck tire went flat. There was a nail in the tire. This is the fifth time we have had a nail in a tire, again likely due to my boys and their building projects out in the driveway. Thankfully it worked out that there was a shop close by, and the tire got fixed. With them driving straight through all the way to Wisconsin, I got a text around 2 am. on Tuesday that Franz and Cyprian had made it safely to Grandpa Klein's.

Just ten minutes before that I had received a text from my dear friend that her mother with cancer had died at the hospice center. It was a night that I spent in prayer and meditating.

All was going well at Kleinshire. The boys and I were keeping busy with chores and projects. I weeded a lot of the garden. I pulled out all the posts and stakes from the peas and mowed down the section of the garden that was done and overgrown with weeds. I took to cleaning the side of the garage where brush and leaves and random things had collected. I felt good, and I was drinking plenty of water.

Thursday night June 16th in the evening I started to have a pounding headache. I put the boys to bed early and went myself. I woke up with out the headache but I was starting to bleed. The Saturday before Franz left I had taken a pregnancy test and it was positive. I felt things were not quite right. So I got in touch with my midwife. At that point we determined that I had a threatened miscarriage. So, I was suppose to take it easy.

That in-and-of-itself was an overwhelming thought. I had a box of cucumbers and heads of cabbage sitting on our table that I had just picked from our garden. I was going to make dill pickles and raw sauerkraut. I stood staring at the box after getting off the phone with a friend who also advised me to take it easy. Realizing how much I wanted our baby to be okay I started trying to figure out what I was going to do. I had the boys watch some TV. Then while Chrysogonus napped I also tried to rest. I had some spotty bleeding and a little clotting but nothing real heavy. I got in touch with our friends who are our farm helpers when we are away. I asked them if they could do the all the animal chores, while I did just the milking of the goats. They sweetly and quickly agreed. Then the next morning Saturday another wonderful person and her son came out to play all morning with the boys, so I could rest. That evening I had been invited to a Moms' Evening Out. I felt that it might be a good idea to go and relax and enjoy an evening out with other moms. I already had a babysitter lined up. So, my sweet babysitter was dropped off by her mother, and I explained to them what was happening.

I went and had a very enjoyable evening. Next day again after asking for some help with kiddos while going to Mass I had more wonderful people and friends offer help. When I finally arrived home after running some errands, I called Franz to talk. I had to cut our conversation short because I was feeding the boys a late lunch and they were grumpy and starting to fight. After tucking Chrysogonus in for a nap, I took a pregnancy test, and it was negative. Now, up to this point over the last week I had taken four different test and they all had been positive. It hit me so hard seeing the the negative test. I maybe cry once or twice a year. Well, I started balling. I called my Mom, who told me I should call Franz.

I had been trying so hard to be strong, and now I felt completely beat. It took a bit, but I finally got to talk to Franz. I told him he needed to come home. Meanwhile shortly after getting off the phone with Franz, the friend who had come Saturday morning with her son called and asked if I wanted company. It was a God send. She came with her mother who had been a nurse. They watched and entertained the boys while I milked goats and tried to rest. I was emotional, and I was dreading the idea of spending a night alone without knowing what was happening. I finally with encouragement made the decision to go to the emergency room. This was because at this point I was not feeling well, I had a terrible headache and nausea, and my shoulders hurt. I had had an ectopic pregnancy after Cyprian and before having Clement. So, I was concerned about a possible ectopic pregnancy.

The awesome friends agreed to follow me to Wake Forest, where other friends had graciously agreed to keep the boys overnight while I went to the emergency room. The friend who followed me with her mom, dropped her mother off and drove with me to North WakeMed, staying with me the whole time and lending her wonderful presence and support.

Franz and Cyprian were catching a ride first with my brother and his family from my parents' farm to Madison. In Madison Franz's brother drove Franz and Cyprian to Chicago, so that they could catch an early morning flight out.

In the emergency room it was determined that I had already miscarried. There was nothing retained, and so I was free to go home. So, at 1 a.m. my friend and I headed to her place, which was not far from where the boys were staying. The boys were asleep, so I decided to stay at my friends till the boys woke up in the morning and then go pick them and my van up.

Again the awesome friend followed me and the boys home. She stayed and played with the boys while I again milked goats and tried to rest with Chrysogonus at nap time. This same friend when Franz and Cyprian were close to arriving at the airport went and picked them up.

Now that Franz and Cyprian are home I am trying to process the loss of our little baby. This time has showed me many blessings through all the worry, anxiety, and sorrow. I pray God blesses those who have showered us with prayers, love, and kindness.

I believe our miscarried baby is a girl, and we have named our little one Anastasia May Klein. Now we have two angel babies. So, as hard it is, I am thankful for another little one in our family tree.

Being a Father takes a strong man. I am thankful for my husband and his presence. It was a bittersweet Fathers' Day for us.

The wind down of our first official school year and a road trip for a wedding in WisconsinW

Cyprian had asked me when he could be done with school. I told him that he would be done for the summer the end of May. Franz was done teaching at STMA and graduation took place the last weekend of May. Cyprian has finished in a fashion. I still have some math pages I want him to work, and reading over the summer, with intermittent writing as well. But let's face it. IT IS SUMMER, and being a boy and kid, my little men just want to have fun.

We headed to Wisconsin June 2nd. Driving part way and stopping to sleep in hotel in Indiana. The next day June 3rd we drove the rest of the way to Stevens Point. Settling in at Great Grandpa Klein's, we went to the Church rehearsal for Johanna's wedding that evening. Afterwards we all had a tasty dinner at a fancy restaurant. The boys along with their cousins and young uncles enjoyed kitty cocktails and tons of bread. By the time the plates of food arrived not one of the boys, or kiddos could eat much of their food.

Next day, the wedding day, was spent in preparation of persons and last minute details. The wedding took place at 1 p.m. and went beautifully.  The reception hall was open around 3:30. Most arrived around 4. There was a long social period. Then supper and of course dancing. My boys again along with the young uncles and cousins drank numerous kitty cocktails and rootbeer. I found out later that my boys would pop up on the stool at the bar and ask, "I want a beer!" There was also a table of candy. I have no idea how much each of my boys consumed. There was enjoyable dancing for all. Franz and I even got to dance, just the two of us a few times.

At one point Franz and his brother Stephen played a game of chess out in the parking lot. While several people enjoyed cigars and drinks. I was inside visiting with family and friends and unsuccessfully trying to monitor my boys. After awhile I too went outside and got to put on some boxing mitts and have a go around in instruction and punching with Jamie, Franz's brother. Shortly after this the boys who were melting down were gathered and put in the van. We got back to Great Grandpa Klein's and got sleeping and crabby boys to bed. Then Franz and I too happily tucked in.

Sunday we cleaned up and packed. Then we went to Mass at 10:30 with half the Klein clan.  Afterwards all the Kleins except the newly weds had lunch out in Great Grandpa's backyard. I got to put on the boxing mitts again and this time in my Sunday dress:') We finished packing and headed out to go to my parents farm.

We arrived at Jude's Acres late afternoon. Several of my family members and their children were present. Supper was a large affair. Which is the norm for us it seems with the large families on both sides. The boys happily played with their cousins. I have all the boys and my sisters and brother all have girls except one little guy. My boys lost no time in getting beat up. Cyprian climbed a metal gas tank and hit his knee really hard bruising it. Clement, when all the children were climbing on the teeter totter, got hit when the one end went flying up. Seriously, you should see Clements face. It has several cuts from the imprint of the teeter totter end. Cletus got hurt some how, but I am forgetting what exactly happened. Oh, and how could I forget, Chrysogonus at Great Grandpa Klein's right before we left, climbed a chair tipping it over and catching the corner of another chair. He had a nice swollen black eye. It doesn't take long for my kids to get into trouble.

Monday Franz and I tramped all over the farm exploring the fields, pasture, and woods. Also, we weeded the whole garlic crop that my parents have. I helped some in the house with dishes and kiddos. My sister Rachel did most of the cooking while we were at the farm. She is an excellent cook. The boys along with the cousins played outside most of the day. They did have a quiet time in the afternoon all sitting down with books. Maire, who is a very good reader, read stories to all the kiddos.

Tuesday was spent packing and spending more time outside. We headed out in the afternoon, making the long trip home back to NC. Between Franz and I, we drove straight through. We stopped for breakfast at Biscuitville in I think Burlington NC. Just before home we stopped at the hardware store in Bunn to pick up some electrical tape. Before leaving for WI we had sprinkled Dietotamacious Earth on the carpets. Literally right before leaving Cletus pulled the handle of the vacuum with the switch cord off. So, we knew we needed to fix the vacuum right away or we would be walking all over the dusty Dietotamacious Earth.

Well, we did make it home at last. The trip to Wisconsin was a very fast, busy, wonderful trip. The craziness does not end there. But this post is too long already, so adieu!