NATURE'S SOOTHING WAYS

We went to the coast this week and we were able to enjoy nature.  A beautiful dolphin flirted with us, as we crossed the bridge over to the bay.  (No, it wasn't this one, but it looked pretty much like this.)  Then we went to the beach and chilled in the shade, while three brave souls went into the water.  I couldn't believe they would, when Soul Surfer was still so fresh in their minds.  No drama though, just a nice time and we enjoyed entertaining our little Grandlove in the shade by the picnic table.  A fresh, constant breeze cooled us, the noisy sea gulls begged from us and laughter bubbled to the surface.  


Wonderful day, simple pleasures, which we all needed, since this week will be tiring and terrifying.  So, when we sit listening to the doctor discussing the necessary, scary operation, we can bring forth the soothing beach memories of this week.

A BUSY WEEK: SNUGGLES, SNACKS AND SNIFFLES

This week has been packed full of changes, medical procedures and care-taking. Before I left for the Kids', I prepared the week's menu, shopped for the ingredients, and precooked meat for the later in the week meals. Chicken spaghetti and baked potato soup were simmering as we packed the car. A portion was divided out to be left home for hubby's meals. Coolers kept the evening's meal ready for the tired girl when she would get home from work.

When I arrived at my daughter's, all the "goodies" were unloaded and appreciated by the kids. Chicken spaghetti was served and we enjoyed an yummy "Last Meal" before surgery the next morning.

Snuggling with my grandlove and hugs from my daughter compensated me for the effort of providing the care, food and baby care. Since the surgery was scheduled for early Monday morning, kisses and hugs were received before sunshine brightened my room. By the time my grandlove and I were well into our morning routine, the Kids returned. Amazingly, only three hours after the surgery, everyone was home, a bit groggy, and hurting, but home nevertheless.

The pain pump delivered enough Novocain to keep the surgery site numb and gentle moving helped to minimize the amount of pain. Oral medication was needed on top of the pain pump by the second day, but that was to be expected, from the research we had done.

Wednesday, the nonproductive cough my daughter had been experiencing took a change for the worse. A trip to the doctor, lung x-rays, breathing treatments, and medication were used to fight the bronchitis that had developed. By the afternoon, we were exhausted, but at least we felt that the complete mending process would continue.

Nuzzling with my little grandlove is what I miss the most, when I leave. His sweetness and soft, inquiring touches are so beautiful. When he looks at me (nose to nose) I see the whole world in his eyes. He is beautiful and such a tender little guy. What was sad, is when my daughter couldn't hold him (because of the recent surgery) so we made sure that we cuddled her neck. Not picking up her baby, is the most difficult post surgery order to follow.

When I returned home, my sinus infection traveled to my lungs and by today I made it into the doctor's office. My own version of brochitis will be treated with prescriptions, rest and fluids.

Now that I am home, I will be able to have more time to blog and spend time on the computer. In fact, I didn't even take the computer with me to the Grandlove's, because finger foods, juice cups and banging on pans is more fun than typing. There are some things that are not as much fun as typing, but those dirty diapers just won't change themselves.

Thank you for all the positive energy, prayers and good wishes sent our way. We appreciate it and know that it all makes a difference.

MOTHERS' DAYS:PAST AND PRESENT

With this weekend's holiday comes the reminder of my first Mothers' Day. Although it was many years ago, I do remember that weekend as one spent with a sick infant who puzzled the doctors with her symptoms. Our pediatrician was out of town and the doctor who treated her couldn't determine what was causing her to be so sick. Finally on Sunday night, after returning to the hospital, we were given a diagnosis that required surgery as a solution.

Our little girl would undergo major surgery, time in the ICU and extra days to heal at the hospital. Prayers occupied the sleepless night before surgery as we comforted our little bitty baby. She couldn't be laid flat, so we kept her in our arms, which comforted us with her presence.

In the early hours of the morning we walked down the long, sterile hallway to hand over our baby to the waiting nurse. She promised me that she would take good care of her in the operating room and we would see her soon. Hand wringing, praying, coffee sipping, conversing in hushed tones, and surveying the swooshing of the restricted operating doors were punctuated by the ticking of the waiting room clock.

After an eternity, the doctor emerged, removed his face shield and let us know the extent of the the surgery and the expected recovery time. His matter of fact way of dealing with us was off-putting, as he was talking about a case and we were scared for our baby. Surgeons sometimes forget that there are people involved and not just cutting, repairing and healing.

In a short while I was allowed to see our baby in ICU, which was filled with many adults who were recovering from their own serious surgeries. Not having any other babies there made me even more anxious, but the nurses assured me that all would be fine. Every chance I got I was in there to rock and soothe our sweet little girl.

Her daddy was able to see her, once I had the blanket to cover as much of the life-sustaining apparatus as possible. He loved our little girl so very much and yet he had to fight the feeling of helplessness in order to go in. No one wants to see their child in such a condition and I think that mothers are somehow better equipped to overlook the beeps, wires, tubes, bags of fluids, ports, needles and other life-sustaining equipment and see the sweetness of their baby who needs the strength from their mother's eyes and touch.

Our little girl fooled everyone and her recovery was completed in record time. She was home in the time frame predicted for her release from ICU. Instead of approximately a week in the hospital, she was home in four days. Crawling around, pulling herself up and trying to walk kept her busy and brought back normalcy to our home.

Fast forward twenty-eight years and once again my little girl is getting ready to have surgery. This time, I am the Nana, the keeper of the Granlove and the cook of the "comfort food" for the recovery process. She will have her surgery (if all goes as planned) Monday and be home that evening. It's amazing how surgery is done now as compared to the one so many years ago. In preparation, menus have been planned, schedules have been coordinated and research has been done. We are all anxious for it to be Tuesday, for the beginning of healing, but unfortunately we do know that first is the surgery and all that it entails.

My first Mother's Day revolved around my little baby's surgery. Our daughter's first Mother's Day is revolving around her upcoming surgery, once again. Seems like this holiday needs a different way of being celebrated, doesn't it?

So my blog, readers, if you have extra good thoughts, positive energy, prayers for flawless surgery and speedy recovery, we sure would appreciate them.

No matter how much I will prepare for this, she is still my sweet, little girl who must have surgery and I must trust that she will come through this in good order.