Grandmothers

This post will give a glimpse into why I haven't had a chance to write much, although I'll post more about that another time as well!

A week ago yesterday was third grade grandparents day at Thomas's school.  My mother was bringing down both of my grandmothers, and because of my mother's lack of mobility and my grandmother's health issues, I made sure they arrived plenty early because parking was a HUGE issue earlier in the week with other grades.  The school secretary made the comment about what a blessing it was that I still had both of my grandmothers at my age.  I completely agree!  I was in Thomas's room visiting a bit, and it was VERY crowded.  I gave my maternal grandmother a chair, and another parent gave a chair to my mother.  My paternal grandmother insisted that she was fine to stand, and I whispered to her, "You are the able bodied one.  I'm counting on you," and we both laughed about that.  Honestly though, she is absolutely amazing.  She is 81 years old and is literally one of the healthiest people I know.

The next morning I was heading to the grocery.  I had just headed out of town when my mother called to tell me that my grandmother was being taken to the e/r in an ambulance.  She said they would call when they knew more.  I called my husband and let him know that instead of the grocery, I was going to be making a turn onto the interstate and heading north.  I pretty much cried the entire way to the hospital.  While I have some serious issues about the behavior of my maternal grandmother, I absolutely adore my paternal grandmother.  I kept thinking that if something happened to her, the world just wasn't going to be as bright.  I arrived at the hospital at the same time as my sister and my mother.  Mom had talked Dad into staying home until we had a better idea what was happening, and that way he could conserve his strength until it was really necessary.  My grandmother NEVER complains, and even on that day she was pleasant and chipper, in spite of her severe pain.  They ran a very complete battery of tests, and decided that at worst it might be the beginning of shingles, but appeared to be nothing more than a virus.  She was sent home with pain meds and anti-nausea meds, and I was astonished to learn that at 81 she takes no other prescriptions!  In spite of her protests, I decided that I would stay with her over night.  I just felt that it was important that someone be with her, especially since she's had some strange reactions to pain meds before.  While she kept saying it wasn't necessary, I think she was also relieved to know that if she did awake during the night or the next morning with similar symptoms that she wouldn't be alone.

Fortunately, it seems as though it was just a virus.  Of course there were about 1001 things I needed/wanted to be getting done at home, but as I went to sleep in her spare bedroom that evening, I kept telling myself that I was very grateful to be spending the night at her house keeping an eye on h er, rather than spending the night at home and planning her funeral.  I also have to admit, getting to spend several uninterrupted hours with her was a very rare treat. I used to spend the night with her and Grandpa almost monthly as a child, and it was so nice to be able to spend a few hours visiting with her before I left for home.  So while it messed up lots of plans for the weekend and I didn't get nearly as much done as I wanted, it was truly a blessing!