Grandma

Easter 2011.  She was so proud of this fruit arrangement she brought.  Isn't she pretty?
 My Grandma had a stroke a couple of days ago.  I got to spend the last two days with her at the hospital.  At first I thought we were going to loose her.  Her stroke was described as "massive" and she was asleep.  Then she opened her eyes and has been asking (with slurred speech) about things like my cousin's pretty new kitchen cupboards, and if the Cyclones are playing next weekend.  She's been tickling Holland's legs with her good hand and commenting on her pretty dress and shoes.  She's been taking jokes and even trying to smile.  My Grandma is still here and she's still herself and I am so thankful that the last of my time with her has not come yet.  But still there is so much sadness for what has been lost.  A stroke that came in the night changed my Grandma forever.  She's lost her mobility and her independence.  Just a few days ago she was driving around town, walking every day and baking bread and cookies.  When at I look at pictures taken only months ago, I can see her beautiful made-up face and know that she's not going to look just like that again.  I didn't think that this was where she was going but I guess that is part of this life on Earth.  We don't know what the next minute of our life or our loved ones life holds.  So much of me is saddened by what has happened to my Grandma.  I feel like we've all been robbed of something; but today in the hospital room, I squeezed her hand, and she squeezed back.  When I told her I love her, she told me she loved me back.  That is what I still have; and I know that it's a lot.
Fisher is her first great-grandchild.  Look at the way she is looking at him- can you tell how enamored she is with her grandchildren?

Grandma and Claire.  Claire is wearing the sundress Grandma brought back with her from Hawaii.

The summer she helped to take care of my kids while Lance and I were on vacation.

Grandma's 80th birthday party- all of her grandkids together.

Grandma, my Dad and Holland this Easter

At Holland's Dedication on Mother's Day, 2011

Grandma, my sister and my cousin.  I love this picture.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ice Capades

Image
 Sunday, after preparing Super-bowl snacks containing way too much Velveeta, cream cheese and mayo, while the littlest was sleeping and before we headed over to Grandma's to watch the game, I took the Bigs on a new adventure- ice skating!  There are several rinks in our town that rent skates for super cheap.  It has been on my "must do" list this winter. When I walked out the door, keys in hand, ready to drive the 8 blocks to the rink, the kids said "NO! We want to walk!"  "It's too far," I said.  You'll decide you don't want to walk home."  "NOOOO!  We want to walk!" said the Bigs.  Then I thought to myself:  " What's the MATTER with you?  Isn't this EXACTLY the kind of afternoon you were hoping for?? A winter's walk in the sunshine followed by bonding on the ice??"   "Ok!" I said.  "Let's go!  What a good idea!" And we were off.  The walk went great.  No complaints, but
Read more

On Purpose

Image
I remember looking at Claire as a newborn- only a few days old.  I remember thinking, "who are you?"  She was my little baby- so intimately knitted in me and now known in my arms.  But, I had a feeling that, unlike her brother, getting to know her would be like getting to know a stranger.  I would have to be purposeful in developing our relationship.  She has never been an open book, and her ways are not my ways.  Little by little, over the last 6 years, that is what I've done- gotten to know my daughter on purpose. She is sensitive, she is stubborn.  She hates loud noises and loves quiet, grown-up moments with me alone- folding laundry and drinking "coffee."  She has rhythm, she is strong.  She loves to teach, not to be taught.  I have seen her put aside her strong will to make her baby sister happy and tell her big brother that he's her "best buddy."  She loves nothing more to go... anywhere... with her Daddy.  She is sassy to me and
Read more

In My Kitchen... Yeast Bread With Liquid Whey

Image
I have been making  homemade yogurt  for awhile now.  I have hated pouring the whey down the drain, feeling as though I was wasting something of value, but didn't want to save it with no plan of how to use it.  I did a little research and found out that liquid whey is great to use in baking bread.  You just substitute it for the water!  I did just that in my most recent batch of bread.  I used my  Basic White Bread  recipe, but I tweaked it by using half whole wheat and half white flour.  The recipe makes two loaves, and I always make cinnamon swirl bread with one of the loaves. Cinnamon Swirl Bread right out of the oven My niece and 2 of my children eating the cinnamon swirl bread.  I think my dog scored some crusts once they left the table. The Cinnamon Swirl Bread 10 minutes after coming out of the oven.  When my husband stopped by the house a few minutes later, he grabbed this chunk of it and that was that.
Read more