Family

Home time

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We’ve just spent our first weekend at home together as a family in months. As I wrote last week, my husband Roger has been a patient at our local hospice and we had wondered whether he would be well enough to come home at all. But as his condition improved a little, we were given the chance to spend some quality time together,  to try to recreate a little holiday at home for a few precious days.

When you don’t know how long you have left, it’s important to make every minute count, and for us to be able to relax together at home was so special. Before he came back, we worried how he’d cope doing normal has like walking around the house, going upstairs to bed, even sitting in the car on the journey home seemed a challenge.   So to see him here, managing to do these things relatively easily and with a big smile on his face, was like a dream come true. 

The anticipation of three days at home was like preparing a military operation. The idea of us all being together was blissful, but at the same time I knew if we weren’t able to go out the risk of both children and adults becoming fractious was high! 

I’d stocked the fridge with all our favourite foods, bought a few new toys and books for the kids, and made sure I had friends on standby in case emergency childcare was needed. Luckily it wasn’t, and Rog seemed to be doing so well I even braved two small trips out with the kids to the park, the beach and the ice cream van. After all, what situation isn’t made better with ice cream? 

Sam and Florence were so excited to see their dad, it was so comforting to see them eager to hug him and make him feel special. Until that is, perhaps the third day when cabin fever was setting in for them, and a bit of the usual “well if you take Netflix off your iPad then I’ll hate you” came back into play! As we said, we did want a normal bank holiday and not many normal bank holidays come without a little bit of grumpiness, do they?

It’s amazing how much better I feel though just to have been all together in our own environment. This life may not be turning out how we planned, but we’re trying to appreciate what we have before it’s too late. I’m trying to focus on the elation that we’ve managed to make this slice of normality happen, rather than the deep sadness that it will soon be gone. 

My hope now is for many more weekends like this one, maybe even a weekend away, or a night (or even day) in our pet project that was, our wreck of a caravan! More on how that’s coming along very soon…

X Julia 

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19 Comments

  • Reply
    mummyofboygirltwins
    May 6, 2015 at 12:24 pm

    Oh yay, so glad you got him home!!!!!! The children must have just loved it. I really hope you get so many more weekends and times like this ahead. Lovely post and photographs xx
    mummyofboygirltwins recently posted…House huntingMy Profile

  • Reply
    Mini Travellers
    May 6, 2015 at 1:08 pm

    Through tears again, you write so wonderfully Julia. So very precious to have that time. xxx
    Mini Travellers recently posted…Splashworld, SouthportMy Profile

  • Reply
    katy (what katy said)
    May 6, 2015 at 1:08 pm

    I am so glad you had such a lovely time together, I so hope you can have many more chances the same xxxx
    katy (what katy said) recently posted…Real Mums – Lil’s MirrorMy Profile

  • Reply
    Hayley Smith @hayleyfromhome
    May 6, 2015 at 1:17 pm

    I am so thrilled that you’ve had that time together, it must have made such a difference to have Rog home with the children. I hope you get to do so many more, beautiful photos! Xxxx
    Hayley Smith @hayleyfromhome recently posted…Three Day Weekends – I Love YouMy Profile

  • Reply
    Vickie
    May 6, 2015 at 1:52 pm

    I am so pleased that Roger was able to come home! I hope that your pet project plans come to fruition too. Vx

  • Reply
    Beth Twinderelmo
    May 6, 2015 at 2:14 pm

    Ah so so glad you had such a lovely weekend. Let’s hope it is the first of many!!! xxx

  • Reply
    Lisa@intotheglade
    May 6, 2015 at 3:12 pm

    I’m glad the weekend was great and even a little bit ‘normal’. It must have been great for the children too. I loved the picture of Rog and Sam doing crystals stuff, Sam with his safety goggles on, he must have been delighted having his dad there. Here’s to many many more lovely xxx
    Lisa@intotheglade recently posted…Why I chose a 17 mile school run!My Profile

  • Reply
    Lisa (mummascribbles)
    May 6, 2015 at 4:52 pm

    So glad you had a lovely weekend at home together. I hope you have many more 🙂 xxx
    Lisa (mummascribbles) recently posted…The chatter of a toddlerMy Profile

  • Reply
    Sarah Doyle - let them be small
    May 6, 2015 at 7:14 pm

    so glad you were able to have the weekend together xxx
    Sarah Doyle – let them be small recently posted…Handed down booksMy Profile

  • Reply
    Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely
    May 6, 2015 at 8:45 pm

    I’m so, so pleased it all went well. Look at those smiles 🙂 Here’s to many more weekends spent at home as a family xx
    Rachel @ The Ordinary Lovely recently posted…What to expect at ski school #markwarnermumMy Profile

  • Reply
    sarah christie
    May 6, 2015 at 9:10 pm

    Stunning post Julia, I am so glad you got your beautiful family time, and a little normality, and hope you get to have many more of these moments together x
    sarah christie recently posted…Politics, Kids and The Monster Raving Loony PartyMy Profile

  • Reply
    Mackenzie Glanville
    May 7, 2015 at 7:32 am

    So happy that it turned out a success, may you make many more wonderful memories beautiful family xx
    Mackenzie Glanville recently posted…Ever felt frumpy? Well screw that!My Profile

  • Reply
    Sandy Macrae
    May 7, 2015 at 1:44 pm

    Julia and Roger,I hope for you both to have lots more quality time together I read your blog with sheer amazement and admiration Love Sandy

    • Reply
      Rainbeaubelle
      May 7, 2015 at 2:04 pm

      Ah thank you, I hope so too, thanks so much for commenting Sandy xxx

  • Reply
    Sandy Macrae
    May 7, 2015 at 1:44 pm

    Julia and Roger,I hope for you both to have lots more quality time together I read your blog with sheer amazement and admiration Love Sandy

  • Reply
    Maria Noell
    May 8, 2015 at 9:12 am

    So happy that you got him home and I’m wishing many more weekends like it for you all 🙂 xxx
    Maria Noell recently posted…SHE HAS A MINNIE-MOO, DON’T YOU MUMMY?My Profile

  • Reply
    Katie
    May 8, 2015 at 8:39 pm

    I’m so glad you got him home and managed the whole weekend relatively well, your right what would the bank holiday be without at least a bit of bickering!?! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for many more occasions like this for you all to enjoy xxx
    Katie recently posted…Taking a holiday, the Snaptrip wayMy Profile

  • Reply
    Something for the weekend: Tales of two dads | Slouching towards Thatcham
    May 9, 2015 at 6:01 am

    […] Home Time, she describes how, after several weeks in a local hospice, Roger was recently allowed home for a […]

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    Tired, stressed and planting seeds - Rainbeaubelle
    May 11, 2015 at 3:52 pm

    […] last weekend I was elated at having Roger at home for some quality family time, this weekend I am tired, teary […]

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