And now for my next trick....

So our world has been upside down the month of September. First Marc...one of our very best friends....loses him Grandpa. Then our other staff member is put in the hospital first for a surgery that was planned and then again a week later for a surgery that wasn't planned. Now I have been told by her daughter that she is now on life support and a feeding tube. So needless to say I have already been a bit stressed what with working, figuring out what do to with Griffin and Meg back and forth to cheer and dance. Then Sunday came....

I was in my usual good spirits cleaning the house...or as Chris would call me the "clean nazi"....getting ready for Griffin's big 2nd birthday party. We had invited about 40 people which is a bunch for our little house. Everything was going smooth and on schedule. Chris BBQing what seemed like a thousand little hamburgers and hot dogs, me trying to speak to everyone which is an impossible task, then my mom comes over to me and says "Grandpa doesn't look well" Grandpa is Chris' grandfather who will be 94 in November. Chris idolizes this man and Griffin is named Griffin Kenneth after him. So I get Pat and tell her to come and look at him. After she says "He's fine he is just tired from the walk" (that is a whole nother issue!) I decide to look for myself. Jeri and Kim watched the expression in my face go to fear and Jeri went and got her hubby to check on him. He checks for a pulse and says that we need to call 911 immediately. This decision happens while I am driving Grandma & Grandpa's car up to my front door....and anyone who has been to my house knows that means on the front lawn. Amy & Mari quickly usher the 10 to 12 kids outside so they don't see what is going on. Kim's hubby checks him some more and Grandpa is looking progressively worse. The EMS seems like they take forever but finally arrive. They lift him up and put him on the stretcher and that is where I lost it. Here is a man that is so strong and full of life being lifted lifeless on a stretcher. Chris decides he is going to the hospital and everyone tells me I should go too. I said I would stay and finish out the party. I knew I would not be well or help anyone being upset at the hospital. So I get everyone in the house to eat and the party went on--mind you with me drinking vodka and lemonade!

We went to check on him at the hospital after everyone left. He didn't look great but cracked a couple jokes. He looked and me and Chris and said "Boy she must feed you good." Which is pretty freakin funny at the time. So we came on home and thought maybe things will be okay. The ER doc said no sign of a stroke, just blood pressure. Boy how one night changes everything. This morning (Monday) we woke up being told that he did have a stroke and has now lost the ability to swallow. I go to the hospital and see him in the morning and he is talking too his mother...who mind you has been dead for probably 70 years. This evening I go and he doesn't know who Chris & I are and is telling us that he thinks its good that Pat and Floyd are dating and that Floyd is coming and working at Oklahoma Optical....that was in 1957. It just isn't looking good. They are talking about a feeding tube and stuff and he is trying to get up and out of there so they had to restrain him. I just don't know how to feel right now. On the one hand he is almost 95 years old, been married for over 71 years, has visited 26 countries in his life, grew up so poor and overcame that, his father died before he was born...he has done way more than he ever imagined he would do. I know he has had a good life but....

So if that wasn't enough, Marc calls today and asks how Grandpa was doing....I explained and he says "Well while you are praying for Grandpa say a prayer for Mari's mother" and immediately starts to cry. I say why and he tells me that she is having an emergency biopsy because they think she has cancer!! I guess she has had a lump somewhere in her abdomen for only like 3 to 4 years and has never mentioned anything to anyone. She told Mari at lunch that she went to the doctor today and he is doing a biopsy since she may have cancer and that she will call Mari when she needs a ride home from the hospital!! I immediately went to their house to try and talk to Mari and calm her down. Mari idolizes her mother. She was a single parent and worked several jobs to put Mari through school and give her all she ever wanted. How do you deal with that? As pissed off as I get at my mom, cancer is something I don't ever want to go through with any family member.

And if that isn't enough...while talking with Fionnuala tonight and explaining about Grandpa...because they didn't know...I ask her about her mother. Her mom just found out a couple months ago that her renal cancer has come out of remission and is back. But she had been doing great....I guess until now. Here this woman lives in Belfast, Ireland and Fio can't get to her. She is very pregnant and was planning on going out there in a week or two (her absolute last time to travel) and was told that her folks had planned a trip to France or something. So there will be no opportunity for her to see her. Her sister's are mad that she isn't there, but she can't leave right now with her fellowship. Can you imagine having your mother that far away suffering and you not being able to comfort her or your dad. Fionnuala is very close with her family and it kills me to think that something may happen to her mother and she won't be able to make the journey.

On that note....I will close and go to bed now. I am so glad that it is September 12th....the month is almost over!! I can imagine now that a hurricaine will hit Orlando while we are there...that is just our luck. Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers. We do have the greatest friends and family!