BATH TIME

MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS PRESENT

I received my favorite Christmas present a day late. But that was fine with me and you will understand and agree with me that it was indeed worth the wait.

This morning, the day after Christmas, my bedroom door opened at 6:30 A.M. and there stood Jennifer smiling with baby Sam in her arms. "Darn! Sorry! You were still asleep!" she whispered but before they could disappear, I was quick to reply that I had been waiting impatiently for them and our morning ritual together.

After climbing into bed with me we recounted memories of the day before and we both agreed that Christmas this year had to be one of our best. Not only was the entire family together, but Graham's two day long feast was so delicious and to finally celebrate Christmas once again through the eyes of a child - well frankly, that was a big deal for us all.

Back to the gift....

I am not able to quote her exactly as I didn't want to leap out of bed (as if I could!) to grab a pen and paper...so I am trying my best to recall her words to me. Jennifer told me that she thought she was put on this earth to be Sam's mother. He is her reason for being. To always be there for him, to care for him, to love him. Jennifer believes that Sam has come into her life to teach her life lessons and that he has already taught her about what is most important and what should take priority when living a good life.

Well done, Samuel. This story only proves that big things do come in small packages.

CHRISTMAS DAY

MERRY CHRISTMAS MORNING!

SO TIRED FROM ALL THAT LAST MINUTE SHOPPING WITH GRANDPA AND MOMMIE ON CHRISTMAS EVE!

NURSES ARE SIMPLY ANGELS ON EARTH

The Wikipedia Encyclopedia definition of a guardian angel is "a spirit who protects and guides a particular person."

It's the right time of year to be talking about angels considering the Christmas season is upon us. Over the past two weeks I have intimately experienced their glorious presence, not in the heavenly celestial visitations we read about in the Bible but in the warm and caring fashion of the human touch of a nurse.

My first angel was Elfie. The friend who is a nurse who just happened to be working on the day of my surgery. Later I find out that this was a carefully orchestrated plan of changed shifts and rearranged time off. Her voice was like a lifeline of security to me before and immediately after my time in the operating room. I felt so calm and peaceful knowing that she was watching over my surgery and would be there to receive me afterwards with her capable strong hands.

Angel #2 is Janice. She came every day and attended to my dressing and offered support to my dear mom. Janice, always the quiet one, has never let me down when I have needed her, physically or emotionally. She is a big reason why I am able to get through some troublesome issues that pop up in my life as she once taught me about the false illusion of control and to simply accept the lessons that come to us as all having good purpose and reason.

I think the saying goes "Three Times Lucky" so this would indeed be the case of my final angel, Carol. Nurse #3. I like to fondly refer to her as Nurse Ratchet. Do you remember her from the movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest" or perhaps more recently, Annie Wilkes in "Misery?" Carol left her family for six days to wash me, feed me, change me and in her spare time she bought and wrapped my Christmas presents. She made me laugh and cry. All for good reason.

Thank you Elfie, Janice and Carol. You do your profession proud.

WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG

Just imagine learning that something was not quite right with your new baby. I think all new parents must worry about this possibility at some point. I did and I know my daughter does. And I know for certain that my parents experienced these fears which unfortunately became a reality in the fall of 1955, just days before our first Christmas together as a family.

I was only four months old when an astute doctor who was working a shift at the "Well Baby" Clinic thought he detected something amiss with my hips. He strongly suggested that I have a thorough examination by our family doctor. Our GP could not determine anything was wrong so to be safe he ordered xrays which clearly showed that both my hips were dislocated. Hospital visits and immediate surgery to release tendons by an orthopaedic specialist, * Dr. Frank Paterson were scheduled. Just imagine the concern my parents would have at that early point of their marriage. They were both so young! My mom was only 20, my daddy 25! (Let's stop just for a minute and try to imagine our own children who may be the same ages right now being able to cope with this as a young parent!) The entire family jumped in to help my mom and dad lending a hand with my care as well as offering emotional support they must have desperately needed. I love hearing the story about the special wooden chair that my dad built for me so that I could sit upright and be as comfortable as possible. There was not orthopaedic equipment in the fifties that we have available today. He designed and constructed it keeping in mind my bulky cast and braces that didn't allow me to sit in a regular baby chair. Thank you, Dad for showing your love for me by doing what you do best. Quietly and diligently working hard for your family. My cousin Alan who is exactly the same vintage as myself was like a brother in my early years. We often spent our days together because our moms are sisters and we lived close to each other. An old story goes that Alan would race across the floor but suddenly stop crawling, turn around and sit and wait patiently for me to drag myself (with cast on) to where he was. Thanks Alan for being my very first friend. My mom tells me I developed incredible upper body strength from having no choice but to use my arms to propell myself around. Because of this, after some time I was able to lift a kitchen chrome chair completely off the ground! Several months of surgery, then traction, the cast, various braces and physio therapy everyone breathed a sigh of relief as I caught up to my peers. Mom remembers that I began walking less than two weeks after the final braces were removed...from her loving arms towards "daddy" who was holding my favorite toy, a small pink rubber cat he used encourage and entice me across the floor.

All these years later interestingly enough, * Dr. Frank Paterson and my current Orthopod, Dr. Clive Duncan, crossed over as colleagues at VGH for a period of time. Obviously gratitude must be extended to them.

My mom must have spent almost every waking moment taking care of me, worrying about me and then losing sleep over me. Still today after all these years she sometimes lets herself feels guilty and sad because she wishes things had been different for me as a baby and then now as a grown woman. I like to tell her that this experience is what has made me evolve into the incredible "hip" person I am today. Seriously, thank you Mom for all your tender loving care from the beginning through present day. Today here she is once again taking care of me, worrying about me and losing sleep over me.

Lucky, lucky me.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM "SAMTA"!

AND THE WINNER IS.........

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

AT LONG LAST...GREAT GRANDMA THOMAS MEETS HER GREAT GRANDSON SAM!!!

I am having a great time at the sleepover at Grandma's but..............

I really miss you Daddy!

I love you!

Say hi to Harry and Stella and the cats for me.

GREAT GRANDMA LOIS GETS A SURPRISE VISIT FROM SAM!

Wow! Great Grandma Lois got the best surprise last night when she walked into her hotel room and found Jen, Mike and Sam waiting for her!!! She had not seen Sam since he was only two weeks old. I wish I had been there to see my mom's face when she realized who was in her room. Thank you to Mike for driving in the rush hour trafffic to get his family there in time for this wonderful surprise!!!

WARNING! - FUNNY LOOKING MOM AND BABY BELOW

NOBODY LIKES TO BE WITH THE BABY........

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE TODAY...

NOVEMBER 22, 2007

Dear Sam,

Happy Thanksgiving!
I know that you are going to your Great Grandparent's home to celebrate Thanksgiving today. Your Daddy's family is so excited and looking forward to seeing you again. I know you will get lots of great cuddles from Grandma Julie. Don't eat too much turkey and pumpkin pie!

Love Grandma in Canada.

Countdown to The New Hip

Author disclaimer: Once again, this post is all about me. If you object, please note the main blog title implies the same. The "Grandma" would be yours truly, so if you come here only to learn news of Sam, you best stop reading now.


Today marks the two week prior to surgery date and I shall admit that my level of fear and concern is rising daily. For a variety of reasons. Some warranted, some perhaps not. The lesser of the group would include my worry about Bob. (I bring him up first so I may post this delicious picture of him. For those of you who can appreciate a fine looking canine speciman, you may use him as your desktop background with a mere right click of your mouse!) My present fear comes from the good, but ill-advised intentions of my dear friend Dorothy. She has plans for Bob during my recuperative period and this is not sitting well with me. Dorothy claims she is going to make a "man" out of Bob because she feels that he is far too clean and cerebral. What she doesn't understand is that Bob is not a dog who likes to tear up and down the side of a North Shore mountain, nor does he care to have his underbelly dirtied with clinging fall foliage and other assorted nasty debris. I've had to hire a security company to stand guard during my convalescence as the thought of Bob leaving the warmth of the end of my bed causes me huge anxiety. Bob is a New York kind of dog, Dorothy. He goes outside for two reasons: to model his latest fashions and to obviously, do his personal business. He is, after all, just a dog.

This brings me to my next concern. I was in New York City recently and I purchased a terrific pair of shoes for the upcoming festive season. On reflection, they were perhaps not the safest choice but my vanity will most likely prevail and if you see me on Christmas morning I will have them on.

My girlfriend from the island is an R.N. She has offered to come to my home under the promised premise of nursing me back to health. Her arrival in Vancouver will coincide with my beloved mother's departure after a blissful week of her tender loving care. What's my concern? Well...have you heard recently in the news about the apparent treatment of the "elderly and infirmed" by mean spirited nursing staff? I am so afraid that she may push me roughly, pull me abruptly off the toilet and leave me in a cold tub for five hours. She also keeps asking me where I keep my jewelry........

Finally it always comes back to Sam. I am obsessing (yes, I said obsessing!!!) about how I will cope when I see Sam's parents doing things completely backwards, inappropriate and utterly unacceptable. I will need to step in immediately to rectify the situation. How will I accomplish this when they have me *hogtied to a chair?

*Hogtie: The hogtie is a method of tying the limbs together, rendering the subject immobile and helpless. Originally, it was applied to pigs (hence the name) and other young four-legged animals. In more recent years, it has been applied to ways of restraining humans as well. Such restraints are employed in sexual bondage and by police forces.

Sam is sending happy thoughts to Great Grandma to give her a smile today!

STATS: Jordan - 76" Sam - 24"

Playing with Mommie and Daddy

Hey, Look at Me! I'm 13 weeks old today!

A Grandparent's Advice to a New Parent

* Today I came across this article on the internet and after reading it I thought it was worthy of sharing.


"Everyone should be a grandparent before they're a parent." I don't know who first penned this genetically impossible advice, but they're right. We grandparents have much better hindsight than foresight, and, if we could do it over again, most of us would make some adjustments. So just in case there are young parents reading this, who are wiser and more teachable than I was at their age, here is one grandparents' advice to parents:

Find a way every day to show your children that you love and believe in them. Do a lot of hugging and don't stop when they become teenagers.

Take time to know each of your children as individuals. What are their dreams and fears? What are they good at? What can you do to help them develop their own unique interests and abilities?

Set and enforce boundaries. Be willing to be the bad guy. Don't let your own guilt keep you from being tough when you must be.

Be candid about your own mistakes. Be willing to change your mind, admit wrong, and openly apologize.

Be patient. Remember that the path to success is paved with failures, and don't forget that one of the reasons kids have trouble being perfect is that they have imperfect parents.

Be accepting. Remind your children often that home is a place they can find forgiveness and new beginnings.

Remember that some opportunities come only once. Few of us grandparents feel regret because we once missed an important business meeting to spend time with a child.

Don't judge other parents or children. It will come back on you. Never say "never" (as in "My child would never do that").

Don't over-program. Leave your child room to be creative.

Begin at an early age to give children responsibility and don't be afraid to let them fail. Also don't cover for them when they do. Part of growing up is learning how to mend one's own mistakes.

Laugh a lot.
Be silly together.
Sing a lot.

Let your children know they live in a harsh world. Talk candidly of accidents and crime. Maybe let them role play how they would respond to each. Also things such as camping in the wilderness can help children develop resourcefulness and toughness.

Be concerned about the hearts and minds of children. Work on their "want-tos." If they develop a love for things that are good for them, you won't worry as much when they leave your home.

Help your children find mentors such as scout or school leaders, coaches, youth directors, summer camp counselors, and family friends (remember the times; you must do some investigating and screening on your own). Also develop your own mentors (can be your parents and grandparents) to help advise you about parenting.

Do things to keep yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy. If you allow your children to keep you from daily exercise, alone time, or regular times away from the children with a spouse and/or friends; you will find it hard to be a good parent.

Finally, give yourself permission to really enjoy your kids. What could you do right now that would give pleasure to both you and your child? Some day you will long for such an opportunity.

By Mike Bellah.

SLEEPING IN SEATTLE

So what does it matter that it is 4:35 A.M?

Hello there...I haven't written you lately....

Have you ever pressed your nose into the silky softness of a baby's neck, then inhaled that unforgettable aroma of warm brand-newness that is so delicious the memory of it can stay with you until the next time?

I haven't written lately because I thought perhaps I was beginning to repeat the same sentiments, maybe tell similar stories, or heaven forbid, go on a little too strong about the virtues and rewards of being a grandmother. Today I'll throw all caution to the wind and write you again.

For someone so small, Sam has become so large in my day to day living. I love my early morning phone calls that give me a general report card on the previous night's escapades and the plans for the coming day. Sadly, I don't recall being so intrigued with my own children. Was it simply because there wasn't the time to reflect on how amazingly spectacular they were? They were and continue to be, absolutely fabulous. I didn't understand how important it was to take time to just sit and watch them grow before my eyes. I was too busy cleaning my house. I didn't appreciate how powerful their presence was in a room because I was constantly picking up toys and wiping off the counter.

Maybe this will be something my children can do differently. I hope so.

I wonder if they would let me press my nose into their little necks one more time.

Yes, I still wipe down the countertop seventeen times a day.

Old habits die hard.