Thursday, December 21, 2017

Back from Our Alberta Trip

We are back from our annual trek to Alberta and fortunately all our flights went without issue.  On the Thursday before our airport was once again shut by fog but that seems to be over now as we have rain again which is much better than fog for travelling.  Our family is well, we saw all four kids and realized that is likely to be one of the last times all six of us will be together for quite some time, likely until one of them gets married!  This is due to the fact that my eldest stepson is moving to Ottawa which is so far away we will be lucky to see him once a year.  Fortunately though we stay in quite close touch with each other, usually talking to each of them by phone or facetime once a week or every other week.  I kind of figured this would happen sooner than it has and who knows in several years if any of them will live in the same town as each other.


We also got to see my Mother-in-law who has alzheimers and who is in a facility outside of Edmonton.  She actually looks better than she did a year ago as she moved here about 10 months ago and they deal specifically with those with mental health issues and diseases of the mind such as Alzheimers.  She has gained a little weight, is feeding herself again(wasn't last year) and was awake and actually talked to us for almost two hours.  She no longer knows anyone..but then again after being there for a while she said to my hubby "I am sorry David, I don't remember you".  Apparently she did remember his name though which made him happy.  Sometimes the wires connect and sometimes they don't but it was one of her "good" days and was nice that all the kids and us got to see her on an up day.  She ate cake as it was her 83rd birthday on Sunday.  I asked her how the food was there and she said it was ok, which is huge as in the past the standard has been to complain and cry and beg to go home.  I think the reason why she seemed so much better is this facility finally has a handle on exactly what type and how much medication to give her whereas most senior facilities just don't have the time and manpower and tend to over-medicate.  This facility seems very well run, just a bit clinical and not as homey as one would like a family member in but she seems to be getting very good care and it seems it is the best place for her.

We got home late on Monday as scheduled and then I drove to Nanaimo Tuesday morning to pick Buddy up from his sitters.  It normally is a 1.5 hour drive when there is a little traffic.  It took 4 hours to get there and through some of the very worst driving conditions in wet snow and ice that I have ever driven in.  Hubby stayed home to get some business done so I took my Mom. We had no snow but it was forecast late in the day so we started out early.  Halfway into the drive we encountered 6-8 inches of snow and a highway with two lanes on each side that had not been plowed.  It was very slow going.  Normally the speed limit is 120km on that highway but us and everyone else were doing 50-70km an hour.  Lots of vehicles in the ditch, some even upside down.  We get some very wet snow very fast and it takes the trees down easily and several began to lean over the highway and onto the power lines.  Almost 20 minutes from where I had to pick Buddy up and the traffic came to a complete standstill....for an hour!


I took this picture while we were stopped.  The snow had built up on the highway so there were 2-3 inches of ice and ruts.  The snow was touching the bottom of the car.  Fortunately, I have 20 years of driving experience in winter weather from Alberta but this wet snow makes for some of the worst driving conditions.  We saw 3 snow plows but they all seemed to be on the other side of the highway.  The only thing worse that being stuck on a highway after driving white knuckled for 2.5 hours is being stuck at a standstill for another hour regretting how much tea you drank that morning.  FINALLY traffic started  moving very slowly again.  We could see that many had ended up stuck on a hill and they had to move those vehicles to the right hand lane.  People who do not have proper snow tires in a place that does actually get snow and who take their cars out in it should be fined!  It was ridiculous.  Anyway, we have brand new ice and snow tires and we found out our car is super good in terrible weather.  They key to it all was to go slow and don't break as that would send you immediately into the ditch or the sloppy snow.   We also found out later a semi truck engine had caught fire and they put the fire out and had to move it off the road so that is likely why we were stuck for the hour without movement.  I was not the only one running to the bathroom at the gas station that was just the other side of the stoppage when we got through, there were several stuck on that highway in the same situation.

I finally picked Buddy up and we headed straight back.  I actually thought about getting a hotel there for the night as did not want that horrible drive both ways but as we got into Nanaimo the temperature suddenly was warmer and it was raining instead of snowing.  We also saw the opposite side of the highway looked way better as snow plows had gone done it and it had been salted, so we went for it.  It was like night and day, a completely different highway and the rain took away almost all of the rain and snow.  I got home and the few flakes I saw in the morning were gone and we had gotten no snow accumulation at all!  What a tense day of driving though.  Glad my Mom was with me as she is a talker and it helped to keep me focused on driving and more relaxed.  My hands and elbows just ached that night due to my arthritis and gripping the wheel.  The same drive only took 1.5 hours back so we were much relieved.

Anyway, our house doesn't feel like a home without Buddy so it was important to go get him an I am glad I did.  We have some final business to get done before Saturday then the oldest and youngest boys are flying in for 3 days over Christmas.  I have to do some grocery shopping and wrapping and make a liquor store run but other than that things can slow down for a few days.

Not sure if I will blog until after Christmas so I would like to take the time to say Merry Christmas to you all if you celebrate and enjoy your days off if you don't!  

30 comments:

  1. So happy you got home safely! That looks like a crazy drive. Happy holidays to you & your family!

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    1. Thanks - Happy Holidays to you and your family too!

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  2. So glad your trip went well, (except for that driving in the snow part to get Buddy), and that you're home safe, sound and warm. It was good to hear that your MIL is doing well where she is. My family is trying to decide if my dad might be better off in a nursing home than in his own home with aides. He really doesn't eat well, nor does he have any stimulation or visitors. It's very sad. Hearing that your MIL is doing better gives me some hope that maybe it's a good decision for him as well. We just have to find the right place. Have a wonderful holiday!

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    1. There is no way my MIL could stay with anyone and the best thing that happened to her was when she got into a good senior facility after she sold her home, that is when we realized how serious her condition was. Generally those places are pretty good but do a lot of research

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  3. Thanks for the update.

    Man, I don't miss that kind of winter weather at all. Nice that you'll get to visit Ottawa eventually (our home town). It's a great city... in the summer time...

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    1. Definitely only making a trek to Ottawa in the summer :)

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  4. Sound like a good place your mother in law is in.
    If I have to drive on bad roads and it a blessing to get behind a snow plow.
    Coffee is on

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    1. Seriously we saw 3 plows on the other side and nothing on ours, I felt like I was leading the pack of vehicles with big semi trucks behind me with chains!

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  5. Glad you got home safely in all that snow! What a blessing -- if anything about Alzheimer's can be considered a blessing -- to have found such a great place for your mother-in-law. I used to volunteer for the Alzheimer's Association. Plenty of "homey" places with inferior (dismal) medical care. Give me good clinical care any time.

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    1. As this facility is so specialized they seem to have twice the workers so she definitely gets a lot of personalized care. Next time we see her I am going to put some laminated pictures up as they won't let you punch holes in any of the walls. She seems much cleaner and definitely put on a couple of pounds but they are really all about nutrition there which is why I think it had been a while since my MIL had seen cake...she was pretty happy to have it

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  6. I was so worried about the Island weather and how you were being affected, including your air travel time. So glad you finally posted. Other than that horrific drive to get Buddy I am glad that it worked out.

    Good to hear about your mom in law.

    Enjoy your Christmas.

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    1. Thanks Contessa - we were determined no matter what happened with our flights just to try and be calm about it and it turns out we had nothing to worry about. The drive to Nanaimo was a surprise as they weren't predicting quite the storm we got at that time, but at least I feel confident about driving in our car in bad conditions which is something hubby may have to do when we have business in Victoria in the winter. Merry Christmas to you two!

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  7. Glad you're all home and safe and pleased to hear that your mother in law is being loved and cared for. My Dad never recognised me but knew Jon & my brother - very strange.
    Have a wonderful Xmas. xxx

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  8. The memory is a very strange thing, I truly hope hubby never develops this terrible deasease, something he is terrified of. Thanks - Merry Christmas to you and Jon too!

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  9. Technology has made it easier to stay in tough with family and friends by phone and Internet. Our pets are a huge part of our lives. Glad Buddy is back to make your home feel complete. - Margy

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    1. He's like the fifth child, I wanted him home no matter the weather :)

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  10. We were so lucky with our move here to the island. The cubeit container arrived on Friday and was unloaded completely on Saturday, no rain. They picked it up Monday. Then the snow came! What a shock. So we now have a white Christmas. Glad you arrived home safely.

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    1. You certainly timed that well! Here in Comox we are so fortunate, didn't get nearly the snow the rest of the island did. Even our 3 inches has melted although it is snowing right now, I highly doubt it will be here by tomorrow as pretty warm - and we don't have to drive in it so even better!

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  11. Warmest wishes to you and yours. Well done toughing out the trip, winter driving is not for sissies.

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    1. Yes, and I am definitely not a driving sissy but my elbows hurt that night from several hours of gripping the bloody steering wheel :) Happy New Year!

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  12. Merry Christmas to you too. Hopefully, you will ad some pictures of Buddy enjoying Christmas in your future post.

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    1. Hopefully a lot more healthy pictures of Buddy to come in 2018! Happy New Year

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  13. Wow, that was quite the drive - glad you made it there and back safely. I had to laugh at your bathroom comment...I've had moments like that here in Saskatchewan as well.

    The facility your MIL is in is sounds good. Although Dad had no issues, my godfather had dementia and it was sad to watch him deteriorate.

    Have a wonderful Christmas and all the best in 2018!

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    1. I think no matter what happens in the aging process it is not easy to watch, hubby and I both don't wish to live that long as things don't get better, only worse. Happy new year to you!

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  14. Your post reminds me of two former neighbors,two kind women - mother and daughter (RIP) - both got Alzheimer. I've learnt something important from their case.
    Even if one cannot escape genetics, the surrounding conditions, especially stress, can make a great difference.

    The mother was a widow, lived on a pension, had a quiet life. She was in her early seventies when diagnosed with Alzheimer. When it got worse she was put in a facility and her daughter was full of praise for the care she got at that place. She lived past the age of 90.

    Sometime after the mother's death, the daughter was diagnosed with Alzheimer; she was younger, about 65, got a caregiver at home, and her husband helped. Her husband (RIP) was key figure in her life; very tough man. Unlike her mother she had a very stressful life, especially because of him. Even the two daughters couldn't influence him to change his attitude,and there was even talk of divorce. She was under 70 when she died. (the husband died a few months ago, at the age of 90+). Stress is definitely a great killer.

    Sorry for the lenghty comment.

    Merry Christmas to you and family!

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    1. Stress is a killer, you are right. My Mother-in-law had a tough childhood but a much better adulthood and they say everyone gets dimentia at somepoint and I think those who don't are so lucky. No one wants their body to outlive their brain. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Duta!

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  15. Happy Holidays to you and your family (including Buddy). I am glad you made it through those harsh winter conditions.

    Stay safe and warm

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    1. Our harsh winter conditions are nothing like yours! Stay warm and cozy and Happy New Year!

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  16. Beeeerk to driving on snow. I hate it but so far have been pretty lucky. And isn't Alzheimers dreadful? My dad had it and became really aggressive (which wasn't him at all). It must be so stressful for those suffering from it. I just read "The Notebook" which in part deals with this. Very beautiful. Anyway, I wish you all the best for 2018 - health, wealth and happiness. Anna

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    1. Happy New Year to you too! Alzheimers is dreadful, hopefully they find a cure soon. We donated some cash to the cause this year...hopefully by the time our kids are seniors they won't have to think about this terrible disease

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