A CPK UPdate

 So, I realized I haven't updated this since, oh, like June. You'd think with all this free time I'd have something to write about. With the way the world is, it was depressing and stressing to think of relevant to write about. 

Then, starting in the early fall, things got rather crazy for my immediate and extended family. I will go more in to it below. 

Preview: Happy tears, sad tears, lots of tears, and a pandemic. 

The summer was rather uneventful. Both Breaky and I continued to work from home successfully. BabyCPK, who we will now have to call ToddlerCPK as she's now 2.5, is going to a small, clean, safe, local daycare. In August as the numbers were deceptively going down, we decided to........

.....attempt to expand our CPK Clan. In September, the same day I got my new lease of my new car, we found out that we are expecting BabyCPK #2! 💗 The due date is May 11th, 2021. We are so excited. We told our family around the 8 week mark and announced it publicly around the 12 week mark.

The new Blueberry! and the positive pregnancy test immediately after driving home. 

Our pregnancy announcement

If you don't know, my family owns a small, hand-built log cabin on a lake in northern Michigan. It was built by my Dad's Dad, so it is a very special place for the family, especially my Dad. We close it up during the winter. My immediate family and a few close friends, who are a part of our bubble, all came up in early October to close up the cabin. As a result of my insistence, we took family pictures, as we had our good friend and professional photographer came up to help with the closing. Turns out, listening to my gut about NEEDING these pictures taken was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my entire life. 

So incredibly grateful we got this picture together

Less than a week later, I get a call from Mom telling us that Dad had fallen and was being taken to the hospital. Now, for some context for those who many not know my family, this is not unusual for my Dad. Over the past 2 or so years, I cannot recall how many times we have had scares related to falls, diabetes-related sugar level issues, blood clots, etc.... My amazing Mom has saved his life more times than any of us can remember. So obviously I was concerned, I always am, but it didn't seem like this was a really huge deal. 

I was wrong. Later that day, Mom called and said Dad never regained consciousness and that there was stroke and a brain bleed. Even if he woke up, his life would never be the same. He would probably never walk again, and a bunch of other debilitating issues he'd have to live with. Now, if you know my Dad, this is something he would have absolutely not wanted. He did have orders, legally, to not be kept on life support. About 3 days before we would have had to make that final call, my Dad had another brain bleed early, early in the morning. My Mom rushed to the hospital and was there, holding his hand. 

My Dad passed away October 15, 2020. 

Miss you so much Dad. There's not a day that goes by I don't think about you

I won't go in to his insane number of accomplishments or how many people's lives he touched. That would be at least 2 blog posts. Let's just say, after 35 years of teaching and in general being an absolutely amazingly charismatic, funny and loving individual, this loss was shared by more than just our family. It sent shockwaves in the community and from former students all around the globe. Because of his wishes along with the pandemic, we did not do a funeral or service. We will do a celebration of life next summer. Due to sheer numbers, this will be astronomically huge, so we really need to make sure everything will be safe as possible. In the meantime, in hopes to continue his legacy, please make any donations to The Keith Spaulding Performing Arts Memorial Scholarship

Now this is the part where I have to make a shout out to my amazing husband. Breaky, ToddlerCPK, DogCPK and I all headed up to see my Mom and my sister right after this happened. We spent time together as a family for the weekend, then Breaky and ToddlerCPK went back home while I stayed for a week to get affairs in order. That means my husband took care of the house and a toddler for an entire week by himself, the week of his birthday. It broke my heart to not celebrate with him, but his Dad came and hung out with him for his birthday, and for that I am very grateful. That, and great friends who delivered a fantastic cake on my behalf. 

That alone has been hard. 

But, exactly 3 weeks later, my Mom's younger brother passed away. He had been hospitalized for quite a while, but we had tried to stay optimistic, telling ourselves he was even getting better. 

So my poor Mom lost both her husband and her brother in the span of a month. That would have been bad enough to both have had happened in one year. But within weeks. 

Two amazing men gone too soon. 

I don't think I've cried so much in my life. 

Remember, I'm still pregnant through all this. 

Then of course, we're living through one of the most bizarre and scary post-election circus any of us will ever see. 

I have been experiencing horrible pregnancy headaches, and a tweaked radius. 

Then about 5 days ago, I started to experience a toothache and jaw swelling that has been unbelievably debilitating. Dentist doesn't know what's wrong. On to an Endodontist. Maybe someone somewhere will have an answer. Hopefully without any root canals. 

OH, and we're still in a pandemic. 

But, in good news, Breaky and his guild took down their first heroic boss in World of Warcraft. So there's that 😝

But in all seriousness, we are very fortunate for very supportive friends and family. Our community has been fantastic and everything just made our family appreciate each other so much more.