GG’s Heart is Sick

Thursday, July 21st, Uncle Lary took my 96-year-old Granny Grace to the ER with chest pains. She was having a heart attack, although her Pacemaker kept the EKG from showing it, so they admitted her into the ICU and later the cardiac unit to diagnose her and then observe her for a few days. She came home a few days later, and while she is no longer in pain, she has been continuously slipping away from us.

My mom has been spending a good bit of time in Jackson with her and helping my aunt and uncle, so on Friday, July 29th, my dad, Helen Grace, and I went down to see GG. On the drive down, Helen Grace kept talking about seeing Spiffer and GG. We had talked about GG being sick and that HG needed to be quiet around GG in case she was sleeping, so she didn’t surprise me when HG said, “GG sick.” But then she added, “Her heart,” and held her hand to her chest. How do little ones pick up on these things?!

I was shocked when I saw GG, and the tears didn’t stop all day. She was very non responsive, and I was immediately hit with regret that I hadn’t gotten there sooner. I was sitting on her bed next to her with my cousin, Suzanne, and in one of GG’s lucid moments, Suzanne told GG I was there. GG turned her face toward my voice and said, “Sha.” The sweetest sound (and the first time she had called one of us by name in a few days). And then she was gone again. Later in the day, I walked past her room when I thought she was napping and saw that her eyes were open- the first time I had seen them open all day. I immediately ran in the room, grabbed her hand, and while trying not to knock her over, I started blurting out, “GG, it’s Sha, I’m here, I love you, GG, I’m here, I love you, I love you,” like a babbling idiot. She made eye contact with me, gave me a half smile, said my name and then, “Well, I love you too.” I immediately burst into tears but was suddenly at peace. That was all I needed- to tell her how much I loved her one more time and to know that she heard me. To hear her reciprocate that emotion back to me was the most precious gift.

On a lighter note, at one point, GG was sitting up on the side of the bed and Helen Grace was standing nearby watching her. Out of nowhere, HG said, “You’re cute,” and GG kind of chuckled. I’m grateful GG was able to see her and hear that.

Before we left, my mom, Helen Grace, and I were standing by GG’s bed. I just couldn’t bring myself to leave. As I watched my mom hold her mama’s hand and as Helen Grace wiped the tears off my cheeks, I realized that this could be the last time that our four generations were together. I had to face the reality that one day, I’ll be caring for my mama like that in her greatest time of need and even more scary, that one day Helen Grace will hopefully be caring for me at the end of my life. Suddenly, Grace Ann (Suzanne’s daughter) ran in the room, just arriving at GG’s house. And there stood four Graces- three of a younger generation(s) all named after the matriarch of our family. What a legacy she has given us. Suzanne and Aunt Gloria joined us, and GG’s daughters and their daughters and their daughters (get all those generations?) stood around GG’s bed for a few moments. Finally, I kissed her forehead one last time and thanked her for giving us this legacy of a name and a family full of loved ones, and I had to turn and walk out of the room.

As my mom has said, GG has certainly earned her crown in heaven, and I pray that she feels God’s divine peace as she waits for Him to call her by name.

HG thought it was hilarious to balance plates and cups on Uncle Lary’s head. Adorable. She stood like this with her hand on Aunt Glory’s back for the longest time. She would run over to Lary to add another cup, and then she’d run right back to put her hand on its spot on Gloria’s back.

Wordless Thursday?

Lunch date with the Owen ladies this past weekend Proof that the OCD gene in our family runs deep She loves these little guys at Casa Mexicana.Oooooh, {LOVE} for Spiffer!!

Spiffer’s Mess

Yesterday afternoon, my parents kept Helen Grace at our house since Grandma had a doctor’s appointment. Later that night, when she and I walked into her room to get ready for bed, I was shocked at the state of her bed.  It was a mess with the covers pulled back and pillows everywhere (and I must have said so out loud) because my Mini Me cocked her hip, put her hand on her hip, and started saying, “It’s a mess! Need to clean up! Goodness!” I busted out laughing and hollered for John. When he came in, he asked her who made the mess in her room, and she said, “Spiffer!” Hahahaha, she threw her right under the bus! In Spiffer’s defense, Helen Grace woke up from her nap, asking for a house to be made in her bed, so Spiffer was just obliging her. John and I tried to get her to put her hand back on her hip in this video but were unsuccessful, although you can hear her fussing and saying, “Goodness!”

This morning at breakfast, Helen Grace dropped her cup of cheese. (I know, it’s not normal to eat spaghetti for breakfast, but hey, she’s eating.) She hopped out of her seat, and I was able to catch the hand on the hip- so funny!!

Helen Grace’s new trick is puffing out her cheeks and asking you to pop them. She could do this for hours. And yes, at the end, she get’s a phone call from Callum. ;)

Say What?!

You wouldn’t believe the crazy stuff coming out of Helen Grace’s mouth lately.

At Grandma’s this week, she picked up a white paper box that used to hold the favor, a deck of cards, from CB’s wedding, and she told Grandma and Peggy, “From China.” Where did she get that?? Later, when I asked her about the box at Grandma’s, she said, “Cards. From China. It’s a game.” My dad brought her a fortune cookie this afternoon, and she learned that it was ‘from China’ as well. We are constantly shaking our heads at what she picks up and understands.

“Go away” and “I’m fine” are very common responses these days. Makes Mama take lots of deep breaths. And when you ask her where something is, she often responds, “Waaaay over there.” (Why is everything so far away?)

When you ask her what her name is, she will say Grace or Gracie half the time. We are still working on Toohig.

Singing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”…or really just getting stuck like a broken record on the last line of the song

We love how she says, “Sweet Dreams,” so I got this before bedtime the other day. I’ll be sad when she can enunciate things like a big girl. It’s so cute!

Introduction to Lip Gloss

On a recent shopping trip, Spiffer found a cute little blinged out purse-shaped plastic toy that she brought to Helen Grace. What she didn’t realize at the time was that it contained lip gloss. It took Helen Grace quite a while to realize that it opened, but sure enough, she made the discovery this week. This happened to coincide with the end of a visit by Granddaddy and Spiffer, and as Helen Grace gasped and squealed with delight as she opened it to find ten different shades of lip gloss, I heard Spiffer cackle as she closed the door behind her- and left me with the aftermath! How is that fair?! Did you know that lip gloss is very hard to wash off your hands, or clothes for that matter? Oh well, she had a blast, and I couldn’t help but laugh!

She’s really on a “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” kick lately. This curtain rod started as an oar for a boat and evolved into a fishing pole, among many other things. Little Miss Priss Cuddling with GranddaddyShe is my sunshine

Playing Catch Up

How have I fallen so behind in my blogging? Here is a quick recap of last weekend in pictures.

Nothing’s cuter than little kids running…Helen Grace and Lilly chasing Camille down the hall after Kindermusik A playdate with our friends Amy and Mary Claire Helping Mommy fix her ‘sketti’ like a little lady Celebrating Doty’s 30th birthday with a cookout and bubbles

Mississippi Roots

Saturday morning, we celebrated the 2nd birthday of our friends, Abigail and Connor, at the sprinkler park. Helen Grace wore her swimsuit for the first few minutes, but after she played a little in the water with Callum and Mr. Brett (he taught her how to fill up her cup with water and douse Callum with it), she wanted her suit off and preferred to prance around in her swim diaper. What can I say? She showed her Mississippi roots. ;)

Proof that she did wear it for a little while Still wanting to get Callum wet Why is playing in an ice bucket so much fun? Hugs for Callum

Shake Your Groove Thang

Lately

Here is what we are hearing a lot of these days…

“Watch me”

“I show you”

“Thanks, mom” (Mama and Mommy are still used, especially in times of need, but Mom is popping up more and more. Sniff.)

“Myself” (as in “I do it myself” which I was famous for as a child)

“Shoo, fly!”

“Cheese!” as she pretends to take a pic of you

Imaginary friends:  Just in the last few days, she has started finding imaginary friends. It started with a ghost, which she saw on ‘Olivia.’ At least it is a friendly ghost, but it now follows us all over the house. Also, she has become very scared of flies (I think she was buzzed by one recently), and she will wake up screaming in the middle of the night, claiming a fly is in her room (which can never be found).

Lunching with Lawson and Melissa Lunch date with Emily and Hope and Mrs. Kay Watching tv with Bubba This is an old one that I just came across- HG lounging on a sleeping Granddaddy.An after dinner backyard play date with my girl

Daddy Meets the Sprinkler Park

Last weekend, Helen Grace and I had the pleasure of DADDY joining us at the sprinkler park!! We were so excited for him to experience the fun, but when we got there, HG was NOT going near that water. She put up quite the protest, but ultimately, two parents outweighed one toddler. We got her into her swimsuit and headed for the water, and soon she was giggling and squealing! I love this little one!