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Back on October 29th, 2006, Joseph found himself in the same field on the same day, with the same combine breaking down in the same place. This time he did not offer to clean the windows! His co-workers were glad, and so were we!

We give thanks this season that Joseph has recovered well and is almost “back to normal” (what ever that is), though he is on some mild blood pressure medication which is working well for him.

Harvest finished up the first week in November, and Joseph was glad to be done with the 6:00 pm to 6:00 am shift. After a week of load-out, he found our mid-November trip to Illinois restful and got his days and nights re-set.

As Joseph would say,”Thank you, LORD for another day to live and move and have our being in You!”

On Friday night, the last of the Kraemers came down with the chicken pox. Christopher was in the womb when the others had it, so it’s been 6 years since we’ve had to deal with this. “Mr. Spots and Dots,” as we call him, is handling it pretty well. This is due in part to all the prayers, and to the fact that we are very grateful for the timing (our 25th Anniversary celebration is in 2 weeks) We’re also fussing over him with special oatmeal baths, etc. The only disadvantage has been attending our piano recital and several graduation open houses while leaving someone home with the “unclean” child. It’s enabled us to “slow down” a little, too!

Bless the LORD, O my soul…Who heals all your diseases! Psalm 103:1,3

At the supper table on Friday, March 3rd, Susan was asking which activity the family should do for the evening when she suddenly began experiencing acute chest pains on the left side. As they continued to intensify, Kelvin had her lie down on the floor. Joseph monitored her heart rate and BP, both of which were normal and steady. Kelvin prayed and though the pain decreased, it did not go away. An hour later, to Joseph’s relief, we were on our way to the ER of Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, with hopes of being told “what it isn’t.”

After examining an “alert and oriented” patient, the ER physician ordered an EKG, chest x-ray, blood dimer (sp?)and tordal injection. Each of the tests came back that she was in good shape, including the blood draw which verified that the absence of blood clots in her system. She did respond to the anti-inflammatory injection, and so the doctor concluded that she must have pleurisy. We were surprised, as we had just discussed this condition at horse bowl practice earlier in the week. Susan’s inflammation of the pleura, or lining around the lungs and chest cavity, is deemed “mechanical” in origin, as she is experiencing none of the nasty cold/fever/flu symptoms going around.

Meanwhile she has been sentenced to a week of anti-inflammatories (9 Ibuprofen/day, which is more than she takes in a year!)and no lung expanding activities. There goes all the progress she made exercising to her new aerobic DVD for the last 3 weeks!:roll: Hmmmmmmm…….!!!
The ER nurse also recommended a trip to Hawaii. We asked if Florida was good enough. More on that in a future post, except to say that Kelvin has added to her list of things to do before we make the trip next week: daily naps, reduced commitments, and in bed by 10:00!

Blessed be the LORD, who has not dealt with us according to what we deserve…Psalm 103:10

Another thing that happened during the that busy weekend of January 21st was the passing of Joseph’s golden retriever, Dusty. During his walks on Thursday, it appeared that he was quite “putsy” and had little of the “get up and go” to which we were accustomed . Friday morning he was even slower and we booked him a vet appointment for 3:30. Susan (and house guest Beth Caswell) offered to bring him in so Joseph could keep working on the farm, and then take the rest of the kids and company ice skating. By the time we brought him to the office he was laid out on the floor breathing painfully and with a rapid pulse. Dr. Cook suggested an abdominal x-ray, as well as a blood test. Both were called in negative to Joseph’s cell phone. Dusty was kept at the vet’s overnight, which was a blessing, as Kraemers were hosting 21 people Friday night and all day Saturday.

The next morning we launched the seminar (see previous 2 blog posts) and about lunch time, Susan, overcome by curiosity, asked Joseph if he “had any messages on his cell phone,” to which he truthfully answered, “No.” After the 15 plus families finally departed from the church basement, Joseph informed me that he had spoken with Dr. Cook at 8:30 am, and followed his recommendation to put Dusty, whose condition had worsened through the night, out of his misery. He was 8 years old, and suffered from a type of heart failure. That evening our family began to process the loss with tears, questions, and recognition of the blessings of how God had timed Dusty’s passing. (More on that in the next post).

Meanwhile, Joseph mentioned two weeks later that he had “just buried Dusty.” As the vet had disposed of the dog and his body, I wondered how that could be so. He went on to say that he had just walked to the mail box, this time without his dog, to pay the remaining vet bill. Joseph truly has a lot to process as he moves from one phase of his life to another.

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things….I Cor.13:11

During an extremely busy week in the life of the Kraemer household, Joseph loaded up his belongings amassed over the past 21 years and with the help of his siblings dragged them over by sled to the neighboring trailer home. His first few nights were spent accompanied by his siblings as the “inn” was full at the K. Kraemer household (see previous post).

Moving in, and re-arranging his things continues to be accomplished little by little as the busy farm manager finds time. He visits the family a few times a week, and comes back for an occasional meal, especially when we have company.

We have found his his trailer home to be handy to bake extra bread, store extra frozen food, and sleep extra house guests.

Having the first born “leave the nest” has been, and continues to be a learning experience for all. Communication is a good thing!