What Is Normal?

What is normal?

Last spring was really cold, really late into the season.  Then it was wet.  Kevin was working a lot on farm stuff because a lot of it couldn't be done as early as normal.  So it was the same tasks over a few months condensed into weeks.  And then he had to plant again, since the rain washed some of it away.  It was difficult for me, with Kevin gone all day, every day, and me with the kiddos.  I thought, once all the crops are in the ground, then things could return back to normal again.

And then on July 21st, I headed to High Mass in Colorado Springs in my Ford Windstar minivan.  I looked at the odometer.  I had had the van for 30,000 miles.  I played with the window.  Kevin had finally replaced the window motor on the door, just three days before.  Just the week before that, Kevin had replaced the power steering pump, which had been also ailing that whole time.  I thought things were getting back to normal in general.  My van felt new.  The crops were in.  And then on my way out of town, the drunk driver slammed into us at the light, totaling the minivan and scaring my kids.  We were OK.  There was a whole rigamarole where I found out my license was accidentally suspended.  It was an error, but it took a week to straighten out.  Then we had to find a new minivan.  Once we get a new minivan, I thought, then things can return back to normal.

On my way back from picking up the new minivan in early August, with about 200 pounds of produce in the trunk to can or dehydrate, I received a phone call from my mom and aunt.  They were leaving the next day to visit me, their first trip ever since I've lived out here.  It was actually a crazy trip between my well running dry, the septic line backing up and canning.  My house was a mess, still recovering from that accident.  Once they left, I thought, then things can return back to normal.

Except that it was the beginning of September and then harvest time, with Kevin then working crazy hours again to get everything harvested. Once this farmwork is done, I thought, then things can return back to normal.

Except that I was due with Baby5 on September 25th.  I was uncomfortable, not to mention trying really hard to get the change of season/ new baby clothes / house ready, etc. Once the baby comes, I thought, then things can return back to normal.

Except that he was 11 days late, 11 days of torment for me.  Once the baby comes, I thought, then things can return back to normal. 

Except that I had a more difficult time recovering this time than I had in the past.  Once I recover, I thought, then things can return back to normal.

Except that we had planned a trip to visit my relatives in New Jersey.  By the time I felt better enough to do anything, it was time to pack, pack for seven people. We left for NJ the night before the baby turned six weeks old. Once we get back, I thought, then things can return back to normal.

Except that I ended up staying out there a little longer than I had initially planned.  Kevin had extra time off from work then and was going to help me drive back, which I needed. Once we get back, I still thought, then things can return back to normal.

Except that we got back less than two weeks before Christmas.  Oooh! A lot of preparations, not to mention unpacking and laundry.  Once it's Christmas, I thought, then things can return back to normal.

Except that we had the stomach bug go through our house on Christmas Day and week.  Once they're recovered, I thought, then things can return back to normal.

Except that we had an MRI appointment for my little Vince on the morning of January 2nd.  Once we get back from that, I thought, then things can return back to normal.

And, as you may or may not know, the MRI for something else showed that my Vince has a brain tumor.  My poor little Vince.  I am so scared. 

I also don't know any more what the heck normal is.