He is not far but rather with God and God is very near.

It was a very long, sad and exhausting week.  Bob's wake was Tuesday night from 5-8 and there were so many friends and family in attendance.  It was beautifully set up with all the picture boards and flowers surrounding the urn.  The slideshow was positioned at one end of the room and was played periodically throughout the evening.  Riley joined the family later in the night and he was very shy and timid.  We think he could sense the sadness that was surrounding the family and he kept his head on our shoulders and his arm around us.  My Aunt Sandy and Uncle Greg surprised us by showing up and it was so nice to see them along with my parents, Ben and Katie.  My dear friend Jenni and Paul showed up too since she has followed Bob's progress closely as her step Dad also had a stroke around the same time.  It was very sad and also quite surreal walking around the room talking to people and repeating the same things over and over again.  It left us utterly tired and yet unable to sleep when we finally hit the pillows.  

Wednesday brought us to Epiphany for the service and I hardly made it through my reading and I accidently skipped a few lines as I got choked up but otherwise the service was very nicely delivered and went smoothly.  The luncheon afterwards was greatly appreciated since we were worn out.  We spent a few hours at the bar afterwards with family and friends and then finally crashed at home to the quiet sound of a house that had previously been filled with the sounds of kids running around and Grandma playing with Riley.  

It is still shocking that Bob is gone and the tears are still running easily but the peace that comes from knowing where Bob is residing is calming.  It has been very weird to stop sleeping with our cell phones on the dresser and I am working up the nerve to give the charge nurse Adam one last call to thank him for his patience with my calls and all the love and support he showed to Bob.  

I am so very fortunate to work with such loving and understanding co-workers.  I was given 7 paid days off of work and a very nice card signed by everyone along with some gifts and cash.  It was so nice to know that my work friends were thinking of me, missing me and holding down the fort while I was away.  We have been gearing up for "Go LIVE" which started today (our new computer system SOFT) and I had been putting lots of extra hours to help prepare so when the news hit us I called and was relieved when I knew work could wait.  I am now back to the grind and putting in 10.5 hour days for the next few weeks but so far the system is very easy and we stumbled our way through day one rather gracefully.  The day went by so fast and I really appreciated all the hugs and well wishes upon my return.  

I also want to send out a special THANKS to Shirley, Sandy and Gregg, Ryan and Molly, Judy and Al, Vicki and Steve for the thoughtful and heartfelt sympathy cards.  They were all deeply regarded and a reminder of how truly blessed we are.  I will be working on a special scrapbook for all our memories shared with Bob from Derrick's childhood through the short time Riley got to spend to with him. 

We are appreciating and thanking God for everyday that is granted to us and squeezing Riley a little harder at night just like his Grandpa Bob did.  

Joey, Olivia, Mikenna and (can't hardly sit still for 20 seconds) Riley.

Slideshow tribute to Bob

Make a Smilebox slideshow

How lucky we are to have loved someone it is so hard to say goodbye to...

Thursday night we received the call we had been dreading for 11 months.  Bob left this world quickly after passing out shortly after dinner.  Derrick came home stunned and devastated and we immediately began calling our contacts at the funeral home and church we had previously talked to.  Thank goodness for preparations that were made because we were frantically getting calls from Kathy, the charge nurse and the social worker about what the arrangements were.  The funeral chapel quickly took over for us and made the necessary plans and all the call backs for us so we were able to focus on Kathy (over the phone) and what her next steps were going to be.  I had a feeling in my gut that this was coming soon and Derrick too had felt that every time we left the Care Center it would probably be the last time we saw him.  I am so thankful that the Dr's and nurses recommended Hospice Care for both Bob and Kathy so that someone extra was there those last few weeks to help prepare and counsel her when we couldn't.  We had been praying for peace for the last few months after seeing Bob suffer through every breath he took during our visits and the loneliness in his eyes was a sign of a worn down and tired spirit.  It is bittersweet (as Derrick has put it) because he is certainly in a better place able to walk, talk and most importantly dance and laugh again but remembering Bob before the stroke has been especially painful considering it was just 11 months ago that he walked out of Fairview hospital holding our Riley, after his initial stroke, in his arms and looking forward to going home to therapy sessions and a new lease on life.  I have found a deep respect for my Mother in law throughout this whole process.  She has shown to me what true strength and love is in her dedication to her husband by sitting by his side tirelessly for days on end.  She is stronger than I think she even realized and we will do whatever we can to make sure she knows how loved she is and how dearly missed Bob will be.  I was apart of this family from day one in Bob's book and he showed me love like I was his own.  I have many great memories of our days up north bar hopping with Bob and Kathy, singing bad karaoke (on my part) and making last minute and late night trips to the casino for giant ice cream cones and turkey shoot slots.  You always woke up to his snoring or his early morning potatoes browning and bacon crackling.  He was always on the go and there is a deafening quiet in the trailer since he went into the hospital.  Reason #193 why I love my husband and the man who taught him everything he knows:  He drove up north this morning to spend the day with his Mother so she didn't have to spend her first Valentine's day alone.  This is a direct reflection on Bob and a glimpse into the Man my Son will grow to be.  My sister in law and I tirelessly worked on a video slideshow/tribute to Bob well after midnight last night and after a whole bottle of wine was done.  We couldn't quite work out a few kinks and I awoke at 3 a.m. feeling an urge to finish it.  I did finally work out the kinks close to 6 a.m. and I cried and cried until Riley finally woke up to help mend my broken heart.  Seeing the finished product has been painful to watch and I knew after watching it with Derrick that he belonged up north with his Mother and family to help him put some pieces of his heart back together.  So it was a Mother/Son Valentine's day today for both of us in two different cities and I wouldn't have had it any other way.  We love you dearly Kathy and Bob we thank you for all the wonderful memories we have to pass on to our Son.  You will be missed and loved until we meet again.  Thank you also to Kevin and Sheri for driving back down to the cities to help us put back together the slideshow!  I couldn't have done it without the Davanni's, the wine and the company of you Sheri!  You can visit startribune.com/obituaries for information about his wake and service or go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/bobtheisen.  
We look forward to honoring Bob's memory with family and friends in the next couple of days.  

7lbs of cute to hold

We made it over to see the brand new Mommy and Daddy Wednesday night and I fell in love with little Leah.  Mommy is doing great and the new Daddy can't stop gushing over his new little lady.  Riley of course was more interested in playing with Bailey who didn't mind at all a 19 month old crawling all over her!  I had fun taking some pics of the sleeping beauty and can't wait to see here again!  

She looks just like her Daddy with her Mommy's exact nose!