May 2017-In the hospital all month

Lyla Ballet Recital

Hospital Flowers

Bars at Overton Park where I was last with Lyla (April 29)

End of school party

Visit in Hospital

First & last day of school 2016-2017

Hospital-Nasogastric tube out!

"Christmas in June" at Young Life camp

Family visits were the only good thing about the hospital!!! Angela was especially amazing. Looking back I'm not sure how she did it, particularly since Brock was still in school...and Willow was not yet in school! I don't know all the details...I think Nitza came to help some. But I imagine it was very hard for her. The details of my hospital experience don't belong in a book about my time with Lyla & Willow. I'm hopeful I don't have surgery again for a very long time...hopefully never! But it is a reminder of how precious life & health is & how much I want to spend many more years with Lyla & Willow! 

April...the month did not end well for Granny!

Hail on our deck! April 5

April 15-playing board game with Lyla



Spring Festival-Mt. Laurel

Willow with big girls at park



Granny's birthday dinner

1^st-Angela & family came home from Florida trip.I picked them up at the airport in their van (plane was late). Monday April 3-to Angela’s 10:30 am to take care of Willow while Angela worked on income tax. Picked up Lyla at school & took girls to the park until 5:00 pm. Hail Storm & lots of rain April 5. Schools were closed so Brock & Lyla were home. 6^th-early am to Angela’s. Took Willow to hardware store in Chelsea to see baby chicks after taking Lu to school & having breakfast at Jimbo’s. Lyla fell in the mud at the park. I took her home to change & went back! Spent night at Lyla’s and had routine day with Willow on Friday, April 7th. Realized 3 hours at the park on Friday was very tiring! Spent the night. Saturday am Brock went to a race & Angela slept late. It was a beautiful day & I took Willow to the Spring Festival in Mt. Laurel and Angela & Lyla joined us later. Didn’t stay as long as usual because Lyla & Angela went to BellaLea’s birthday party at The Club.I stayed with Willow until Brock came home then I went home. Sunday, April 9^th-After eating at Jim & Nicks after church I came home & was sick; vomited 5 times & went to the emergency room after Wayne got home from work. Waited for about 6 hours before being seen about 4 am. CT scan revealed some bowel herniation but vomiting had stopped. In hindsight this was the beginning of what happened April 29. April 11^th to Angela’s 9:30-took Willow to the park. 14^th-Angela’s early am. Lyla to school-Car #1 in line! Willow to Jimbo’s, Park & Library. Brock got Willow at the park after school & Lyla went home with me. Stopped to buy Pokeman cards & dye for Easter eggs. We didn’t do a good job with the eggs! Saturday,April 15 to Lyla’s 9:00 am to get ready for the Easter Egg drop from a helicopter in Mt. Laurel Park. Brock took the picture of Lyla & me playing a board game on the porch. To Jimbo’s for lunch after egg drop then to park with Lyla and I went home. Monday, April 17-to Angela’s 9 am to 3 pm. Beautiful day; Willow to park & library. Home after Willow & Angela woke up after nap. 20^th-to Angela’s early. A good morning with the girls. Willow fussy. Angela made appointment for her with pediatrician at 2:45. She had an ear infection! I picked up medicine & took her home. Brock picked up Lyla after school. 21^st-Great morning with Willow. Good weather. Lots of kids to play with at the park. We went to story time at the library. Willow really enjoyed it. I let Willow keep napping while I went to pick up Lyla at 3:00 pm after art class. We got Willow & went back to the park with both girls. It was very hot & tiring. Brock picked up Willow. Then Lyla & I stayed at the park. Then to get yogurt and home to my house. Sweet night but Lu woke up coughing at 5:30 am. Rx. with inhalants then back to sleep. Took her to Maddie’s for a play date and I went home and Angela picked her up. Sunday, April 23 to Angela’s 9:00 am while Angela worked & Brock went sailing. Stopped to pick up new asthma drug for Lyla & ate breakfast with girls at Waffle House. They were very sweet. To “Let’s Play” after Willow’s nap. Girls were sweet but I was tired. Home for baths then Brock came home & finished baths & I went home. 24^th-my 65^th birthday! Now on Medicare (since April 1). To Lyla’s school for Music program. Then ate at Pablo’s for my birthday celebration. Back to Lyla’s early am. Had a good morning with Willow…Jimbo’s after Lyla drop off then library then lunch & nap. Pick up Lyla at 3:00 pm & went to park. Willow pooped & I had to take her home but returned to the park. Thursday, 27^th read books with Lyla’s class then to Angela’s & took Willow to library & Jimbo’s. Angela went to Texas with friends. April 28^th-to Angela’s early am. Usual day. Took Lyla to Overton Park after Brock got Willow. Lyla spent the night with me. Saturday, April 29 I took Lyla back to Overton Park. I started feeling sick. I drove her home about noon, then drove myself to Grandview Hospital on Highway 280 where I was admitted & had surgery. Other than visits with Lyla I didn’t have any time with her again until after I came home from the UAB hospital (I was transferred there) on June 3.  

March 2017-Spring has Come!

This may be February!

Happy Willow!

Beautiful bathtub girls!

Beautiful girl
Beautiful dress



What happened to your sleep sack?



Reading in bed!



2^nd-Angela worked half-day. Good morning with girls. Willow to Jimbo's & library & home for lunch & nap. Angela pick up Lyla & meet us at the park. 3^rd-to Angela’s 10:00 am and play with Willow while Angela packed for their trip to Auburn. Took Annie the dog home with me. Wednesday-8th-to Angela’s while she volunteered to work with HMS book sale. Routine with Willow: Jimbo’s, park & library then lunch & nap then to pick up Lyla & go to the park. Thursday, 9^th-To Angela’s early am before she & Brock went to work. Took Lyla to school & then “routine with Willow” but spent the night. Friday, 10^th-Usual routine but skipped library! Picked up Lyla at 2:00. Brock get Willow at 4:00 then yogurt with Lyla & met Kris, Frank, Maggie Rae, Eli & Wayne at La Paz. Very fun. Lyla spent night but Browns went home. Lyla spent the rainy Saturday at our house before getting home in time for supper & bath. Tuesday, March 14 was a cold day. To Lyla’s early…#3 in carpool line! To Jimbo’s with Willow then play at home, ate lunch & napped then picked up Lyla & went to the park and home by 5:00 pm. I went home.Thursday 16^th-Read with children in Lyla’s class. Sweet hugs from Lyla. It's amazing how well she is learning to read! I took Willow to Publix where she got balloon. Home for nap and I went home. 16^th-early am to Angela’s. Lyla ambivalent re:wearing green dress for St. Patrick’s Day—didn’t wear it! Take Willow to pediatrician-3 shots! Sweet girl. To consignment shop & bought chairs & purple Keane shoes which she ended up wearing for a long time! Willow napped until 2 when we picked up Lyla. To park with girls then home after Brock got there at 4:00 pm. I was very tired. Saturday 18^th-picked up Lyla after a party at Let’s Play. Shopped for birthday gift for Jill Gorris son’s b’day party the next day then met Maddie & her family at Beauty & the Beast. Didn’t expect such a big crowd & only got to see the movie because Maddie’s brother & dad gave up their tickets! Beautiful movie. To Publix to shop & then spend the night at my house. Sunday: watched TV in the morning & then went to birthday party at Chuck E Cheese then took Lyla home. Visited some with Willow (Angela at work). Monday 20^th-woke up surprised my gastric tube had come out! Called MD & made appointment for Wednesday. Up early to Angela’s Tuesday. Typical day but tiring. 22^nd-to Dr. Balentine appointment. All is well (it seems). Wednesday to Angela’s early am-routine day. Stay at park until 5 pm; Brock was getting new tires. Then home. Friday 24^th-to Lyla’s school for Grandparents Day. Walk through almost completed new school building. Take Lyla home & stay with Willow while Angela & Lyla went to get pedicures. Stay while they packed for Florida trip & I took Annie home with me. Saturday-take Rotters to airport in their van. Then to their house to get my car & get their sheets etc. to wash before maids cleaned. To Mobile March 26-30. 31^st-take clean sheets etc to Angela’s & let the maids in then returned to lock up after they left. And another month has ended…Some of the symptoms I had in March may be been signs for what was to come in April…

February 2017-Able to Keep Willow again!

Mardi Gras beads!

Willow cooking

Dinner Mexican Restaurant-Feb 13

Willow happy!

Lyla climbing! (inspiring picture at my bedside after April surgery)

Good oral Hygiene is Important!

In carrier behind Brock's bike



Lyla & Granny shoes



Busy Willow

2^nd-Wayne 77^th birthday! 3^rd-Met Angela at Wendy’s & she went to GI Medicine appointment with me at TKC. Plan to have Gastric tube removed in April followed by overnight observation admission. Sunday 5^th-took Lyla to Abigail Lanford’s birthday party at wall climbing place. Lyla bravely climbed walls! 6^th-9^th-to Mobile to visit Mother. 10^th-picked up Lyla at school; to Sweet Frog for yogurt then to my house before dark. Lyla no longer wants to be out in the car with me after dark! 11^th-took Lyla to Lyza’s birthday party at her house. Stayed & visited with adults during party. I took Lyla home then took Brock to pick up new Honda Fit at Centerpoint. Monday 13^th-to Angela’s while she did errands. Took Willow to park & to pick up Lyla in stroller. Ate outside at Mexican restaurant. Spent the night…helped Lyla write Valentines. 14^th-stay with Willow while Angela went to Lyla’s class Valentines Day party & did errands. Home after Brock home. 16^th-Lunch to Angela’s; finish MSN application. Pick up Lyla at school. To park & yogurt & home to my house before dark & Lyla spent the night. 17^th-To Lyla’s about noon & picked up Georgia; to Chic Fil A & then to Let’s Play. Lyla home by 5 then helped Brock bathe Lyla & Willow & go home. Tuesday 21^st-to Angela’s 8:30 to keep Willow while Angela to MD. Willow sweet & playful. 22^nd-to Angela’s by noon (she was working part of a shift). Park after picking up Lyla at school. Then helped Brock with baths & he took Lyla to dancing. I spent the night. 23^rd-Lyla to school (2^nd in carpool line) Willow to Jimbo’s, park & Library then nap after lunch. Pick up Lyla at school then to park-great weather. Met Brock at Area 41 Pizza place then home until Saturday,the 25^th-took Lyla to meet Maddie at Let’s Play then to Summit to buy 2 Barbie Dolls then spend night at my house. Lyla very sweet. Sunday, 26^th-take Lyla home & Angela took her to a birthday party. Then Angela to Yoga with friend. Outside with Lyla & Willow & neighbors until Brock came home from camping & I went home. 28^th-Angela’s early am. Lyla to school & Willow to Jimbo’s. Pick up Lyla at school & take girls to park until Brock home then I went home. And another month was over... 

January 2017-Happy New Year!

Not feeling well!

Wagon Ride



Madi's party



Madi's party





Warm January day outside with neighbors



1^st-Angela, Brock & Lyla visited & I walked outside with Wayne. 2^nd-Wayne’s car had dead battery (are “woes” of December 2016 continuing?) 4^th-Angela & Willow visited me 6^th-Nitza returned to Florida. 7^th-icy roads; 9^th-Clemson defeated U of A for national championship. 10^th-Obama’s farewell speech in Chicago. 15^th-visit to Angela’s. Beautiful day. Outside with neighbors. Ice cream truck stopped by.20^th-Trump inaugurated; recorded, couldn’t bear to watch it. To park with Lyla until dark. She spent the night with me & 21^st-took Lyla to Madi’s 6^th birthday party. Very sweet. 25^th-picked up Lyla at school. To park & then to dancing. Sat with Madi’s mother Sarah & heard details of story of Madi’s birth & Illness (Odin’s curse) & early years. Very interesting and inspiring! I'm so glad Lyla has had the opportunity to have her as a friend. It think it's great to have a friend with a tracheostomy & you just think it's something normal...or at least not something to set her apart. Friday, 27^th-picked up Lyla at school, to Sweet Frog for yogurt then spend the night at our house. Sweet all day Saturday. To classmates’ party at Let’s Play then took Lyla home. 29^th-Angela to our house to work on Nurse Practioner application.Tues 31^st-to Lyla’s school to read with children then visited with Willow at Angela’s house with Jen. Ended the month by signing up for Medicare. Inability to lift Willow led to month of recuperating at home and little time with girls.

December 2016-wreck & surgery; Birthdays & Nashville Nutcracker

Nashville Nutcracker

Nashville Nutcracker

Family at Hotel in Nashville with Grinch

Myles with Great Grandmother

Hospital after Christmas Eve surgery

Beautiful Lyla



Beautiful Willow

1^st-To Angela’s. “Typical day”..Lyla to school, Jimbo’s & park with Willow; Pick up Lyla with Willow & go to the park Beautiful weather. 2^nd-pick up Lyla & go to park & take Lu to eat at Taziki’s then to her house to stay with both girls while Ang & Brock went out to celebrate their birthdays. Angela’s 39^th on 4^th & Brock’s 42^nd on 2^nd. Lyla was sweet & slept in “my room” & watched Netflix on my phone. Saturday we had breakfast at Jimbo’s then enjoyed the “festival” in Mt. Laurel & trip to dog park with girls. Brock got Willow then Lyla & I had lunch at Chic Fil A & shopped for birthday gift at Walmart before going to birthday party for Christian at Let’s Play. Monday 5^th-To Angela’s. Talked about route to get MSN & determined UAB was the best & least expensive way to do it. To Jimbo’s with Willow. Picked up Lyla at school & went to Chick Fil A with girls. Had a great time. Santa Claus was there. It was raining & dark early & I had a wreck at intersection of “back route” & Highway 119. No one was hurt but was very unsettling & ended up very expensive. 6^th-Lyla had several “fits” while trying to decide what to wear to school. Willow had a great time with Oliver at Jimbo’s. Home after “after school ice cream trip to Jimbo’s”. 7^th-picked up Lyla at school; to park then stayed at her house until she finished her book reports with her Dad. Friday-got Lyla at school after art class. No one at park so we went to my house to spend the night. Lyla coughed a lot during the night. Saturday Lyla played at my house (read books well!) then we met Willow & Angela at Let’s Play. Tuesday 13^th-to Angela’s about 7:30 & stayed with Willow while she did errands etc. Picked up Lyla at school & took both girls to Chic Fil A where they played well with other kids. Thursday to Angela’s after Lyla went to school. Kept Willow while Angela to MD & did errands. Returned the 15^th early am & kept Willow & stayed until Brock returned from Lyla’s allergy MD visit & had the girls ready for bed. Friday the 16^th we went to Calera & met Angela et al & Kristina et al for Christmas train trip. Fun but sort of a “rip off”. Lyla & Browns spent the night at our house. Saturday we opened holiday gifts & had take-out lunch from La Paz & I kept Maggie Rae, Eli & Lyla while the adults went out. (Assume someone was keeping Willow at her house!). The kids were a little wild! Sunday the 18^th Browns left & I took Lyla to meet her parents at Whole Foods and they left to visit Saba Rafi in Jasper. 20^th-Angela & girls came over while their house was cleaned. Lyla copied & wrote down all of the animals on the See & Say! Kristina turned 37. 21^st –picked up the repaired Honda & turned in the rental car. 22^nd-rode to Nashville with Roseanne & Vincent. Ate at Frothy Monkey & went to see Abigail as a mouse in the Nutcracker with the Nashville Ballet (this would be her last performance with them). To Opryland Hotel & had a wonderful dinner in a private dining room hosted by Eric & Shari. 22^nd-At Breakfast with the Grinch I started feeling sick. After tour of ICE at the hotel we stopped at Shari & Eric’s house where I felt worse. In a lot of pain all the way home & went to UED at UAB after we got to our house. I had a stomach volvulus & surgery after midnight on Christmas Eve. To SICU then to 7SE later in the morning, Christmas Day. Angela decorated my room! Additionally, we found our water had been turned off Christmas Eve due to massive expensive leak in pipes leading to the house. And our toilet & washer overflowed (Angela’s plumber friend Jake came to fix it on the 31st & we had the septic tank cleaned out.) I was in the hospital until December 29. I had an external “peg” tube as well as internal gastropexy to hold my stomach in place. The peg stayed for several months. And for several weeks I couldn’t pick up Willow. Angela hired Georgia’s mother Jen to help with Willow. 30th-Shari & Green kids came to visit & go to cousin Stu's basketball game. They undecorated the tree which was a wonderful help!! I slept 12 hours that night. 31st- Angela visited & Shari & kids went home. As New Year’s Eve came I was optimistic the events of the “terrible, no good, very bad” days of December 2016 were coming to an end!

November 2016-Election & Thanksgiving & School

Sisters Swinging

Sisters in Pumpkin Patch

Willow Lunch




Lyla's beautiful eyes




Kindergarten Homework




Election Day crowd-AL & US went for Trump. Sad.



Willow at MD




Beautiful Willow

Stylish at the Park



Touchdown!



Thanksgiving at The Club



Thanksgiving at Roseanne's




Jacob (15), Jackson (9), Lyla (5), Abigail (12)

Greens & Lyla on Papa Wayne's Sofa






Hug from Jacob

 

November 2 Kristina was in town and at Angela's. I took them coffee then took Lyla to school & Willow to the park. It was a beautiful day. I picked up Lyla at school then headed home to return Thursday morning for a day with the "default schedule"...take Lyla to school, Willow to Jimbo's, nap after playtime, lunch then pick up Lyla & go to the park with Lyla. On Friday I picked up Lyla at school & went to the park until dark & then to Chipotle to eat & to Granny's to spend the night and spend the whole next day playing before going to eat at Taziki's & back home. On Monday Angela & Brock worked & I had a "usual" day with Willow other than she had 2 episodes of "spitting up". Brock got Lyla from school then I returned to the park with Lyla. Tuesday, November 8, Election Day, was a "default" day other than Brock coming to the park in time for me to vote on my way home. There was a big line at the polling place & I had to park far away & walk. I was excited & optimistic to vote for what I hoped would be the first female president. Unfortunately it was not to be. I felt sad as I went to sleep Tuesday night after it was clear that Donald Trump would be our next President. It was stunning and scary and depressing to think about what was ahead. Wednesday night I went to Book Club at B'ham Holocaust Education Center to discuss Ellie Wiesel's book "Night". It was good to be with a group of people who seemed to be experiencing similar feelings re: the Election result. Thursday I went to Lyla's class to read books with her class. She is really beginning to read well. Saturday evening I met the Rotter family at Let's Play then went to their house to spend the night while Angela & Brock went out. Lyla slept with me. Maybe she'll be back to independence in her own bed eventually? But she's sweet to sleep with! November 15 was an exceptionally large moon; I took some pictures of it! Wednesday the 16th I went to Angela's. She took Lyla to school then slept all day & Brock came home early because he wasn't feeling well either (he had mycoplasmosis pneumonia). I returned Thursday am to take Lu to school & Willow to Jimbo's while Brock was recuperating at home. I took Willow & Lyla to the park after school where Lyla scared me by going to the bathroom at the library down the street without telling me! We looked everywhere for her & Brock came to the park about the time Lyla reappeared. Hopefully she'll never leave again without telling me. But at least she was with another mother & child. It was scary! Friday Brock was still not feeling well & Willow had diaper rash, but it was getting better. Willow napped after Jimbo's outing & stroller time. After school I stayed at the park with Lyla until dark then we ate at Chipotle before spending the night at Granny's. Lyla watched a lot of Barbie episodes on Netflix but slept well. She "helped" me clean up the basement some on Saturday before going home by 4:00 because friends were coming to their house for dinner & visit. Monday November 21 Angela & Willow came to our house while their house was being clean. Tuesday I took Starbucks coffee to Angela's & stayed with Willow while she went to the "Thanksgiving Feast" at Lyla's school. After school I went to park with Lyla until dark (about 5:00 pm these days) & then went home to clean house. Wednesday evening Wayne came home from his Nashville Grandparent's Day visit and the Green family arrived after I went to bed. Kristina & family were in NYC with the Browns for the Thanksgiving parade. We didn't see them in the crowd but they had a great time! Thursday was a beautiful day & we enjoyed lunch at The Club with the "Stuedeman Clan" & visit to Roseanne's afterwards. Jackson, Lyla & Abigail went home with me while the rest of the group went to a movie. As always Abigail & Jacob were so sweet to Lyla! Lyla slept well & had a great day on Friday playing & eating poptarts with Abigail, Jacob & Jackson until they headed home & I took Lyla home at 5:00 pm. Nitza & Koplan were there. Monday, November 28, I met Angela & Willow at Toys R Us & bought all of their holiday gifts.That evening there was a terrible rain storm & a tree went through our roof into the attic but not through to the bedroom closet. As November ended, it was the beginning of several unfortunate things to happen... 



Job with John at School-HMS




Cousins