Wednesday's Visits!

Summer bundled up in her pretty red cloak and drove from Rowlett to Irving to pick me up right at 10:00 this morning. I was ready! She brought with her a Spiced Pumpkin Latte from Starbucks and a McMuffin from McDonald's. A perfect start to a really good day!

Isn't she the cutest thing??

All pert and sassy and - what is best of all - she felt as good as she looked!!

We love our time together!

So many times Summer smiles through her pain but here lately she has managed it well and has had several good days. Not necessarily pain free but certainly greatly reduced pain.

We visited Mother. Always before, as soon as Summer would walk in Mother would smile big in recognition and say something. This morning there was a slight pause before Mother knew who we were. But she did know. Mother didn't eat the lunch they served and she is literally skin and bones.

She threw away her dentures a few weeks ago but today she had teeth! Makes a big difference in the way she looks so I hope she keeps these! She also had new glasses on.

It was a happy visit for the most part. It hurt Summer to see her Granny but even so, she was glad she did. Mother has been a good grandmother to her grandchildren. While we were on our trip to Arizona last month, Trish was saying that Granny had been there for all the older grands over the years. We have always told our children that their relationship with their Granny is their relationship and it has been a special one.

I had prayer with Mother before we left and read the 23rd Psalm to her.

Other than the pain of seeing her so frail, it was as good a visit as it was possible to have.

I had brought shrimp cocktail and crackers in for Lillian and took a plate down to Roberta to eat with her lunch. Lillian's sodium level is a bit low so last week I brought her a shaker of salt - with her doctor's permission. This is Dr. Bui and everyone loves him! I had baked lemon poppyseed muffins and gave him the last two.

Dr. Bui is also Roberta's doctor.

We wish he was Mother's and when Summer told him so, he said he wished he was too.

It was nearly 1:30 when we left the nursing home and we still had places to go and things to do.

First stop was a thrift store and then a Half Price Book Store.

I have just about finished my Christmas shopping for the younger grands.

Summer dropped me off in Quadville this afternoon so Amber and Mike could go to the teacher conference. What with the four kids being in two different classes, both parents need to be there.

I did the homework and reading routine while they went to the meeting.

Afterwards the kids and I played Bingo and it was a lot of fun.

It's been a long busy day and Summer had one more stop on her way back to Rowlett.

Amber told us about a store she's discovered that's not far called Dirt Cheap.

She had been there this afternoon and found some amazing deals. The store is kind of like an unclaimed freight and has merchandise from Target, Home Depot and other stores.

So that's where Summer went. She called me later and said she found a fireplace heater like the one I have been wanting for the camper and the gazebo. Looks like a gas fireplace but actually puts out some good heat. They had two left so while Amber was cooking dinner, I borrowed their truck and met Summer at the Dirt Cheap Store and bough that heater. Bev and Brian has one in the guest room when we stayed with them up in British Columbia and we loved it and have been wanting one ever since. Now we have it! Can't wait to get the gazebo cleaned up and dressed in Christmas finery!

By day's end, Summer was pretty tired and moving slow but she had put in a good day!

It's been fun to be here with Amber and Mike and the kids.

All four are doing so well in school and Amber said she is profoundly grateful for that.

10 days after birth, Harrison was fighting for his life and suffered some brain bleeds. Kaily has had some significant problems to overcome - hearing loss in one ear and that huge hole in her heart.

The NICU journey can stretch far beyond infancy and it is by the grace of God that all the issues these four have gone through have been successfully resolved. All are at grade level or beyond with no learning disabilities. 

 I witnessed the nightly routine - homework, play, dinner, showers, reading, play and bed for the kids.

Preparing and serving dinner, checking off the homework and getting the folders and backpacks ready for tomorrow, preparing lunches, setting out outfits, finding warm pajamas, giving out medicine, doing laundry, starting the dishwasher, making tea, folding laundry, carrying it upstairs, picking up and even setting out a few Christmas decorations and then, finally, taking her own hot shower and falling into bed for Amber. Mike did his fair share of things, as well, but I didn't pay attention to all he did. Feeding the dogs, helping in the kitchen, taking out the trash and many other chores were all his doing.

The children are sound asleep in their beds and Amber and Mike are upstairs watching a bit of TV before calling it a day.

I am all alone downstairs and about to take my iPad and book, get under those cozy flannel sheets in the guest room and go to sleep early.

It's been a day to pay attention to the young and to the elderly.

Both are fragile and vulnerable and both need to be treated with much love and patience.