Category: Uncategorized

Not all who wander are lost….

~ msgracefulnot ~ 36 Comments

Hello everybody!  Well it certainly has been a minute or so hasn’t it?!?!?

How have you all been?  I know, I know….you’re probably thinking, “if you really wanted to know, you would have written, called, or stopped by”…. PLEASE DON’T THINK THAT!!!!

The truth of the matter is I have missed you all!  I’ve just been busy busy busy

I can honestly say that in the last few months I have experienced some of the best, scariest, AND most satisfying moments of my life, by simply BEING Present.

I have so many stories to share, but I didn’t know where to start and that kept me away a bit longer.  Coming back and finding a new editor has slowed me down a bit too.

Something that might help me catch up on your blogs and also start writing again is some input from you.  I would ask you to drop links to some of your recentposts in my message area, but after the 370k spam comments in one day fiasco, and my unsuccessful attempt at going self hosted, I do think I have my comments sections locked up pretty tightly including having to be approved and blocking any comments with links in them.  If you wouldn’t mind though, if you leave the title to a couple posts, I promise to get over there promptly.

As far as my stories, maybe let me know what you would like to hear about:

  1.  Becoming a grandma
  2.   2 months in the NICU
  3.  The building collapse
  4. What thing 1 and 2 have been up to (big events in both their lives)
  5.  Whether or not I quit smoking (complete with excuses reasons triumphs and failures)
  6. The story about, “Grace I need you to call me ASAP.”
  7. 24 flights
  8. Why Snuff has to wear a cone?
  9. Whether or not I punched the nurse at one of the boys doctor visits
  10. Why I am shrugging so much lately
  11. My foot…. yes it’s still there
  12. How much urine I can hold
  13. Some other random topic that I am sure I can summon an opinion on

If none of these topics sound appealing, please still leave a comment about what’s been happening in your life.

I look forward to catching up!

 

30 Ambulances and over 100 patients

~ msgracefulnot ~ 18 Comments

You might be thinking OMG what happened…..

I have the answer…

and surprisingly…… it’s not a bad one…..

Over a  year ago, plans were set in motion for Rockford Memorial Hospital’s Women’s and Children’s Unit, including their NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), to be moved to a new “prime real estate” location on the other side of the city.

shrug/ ok?

It didn’t concern me in the least, That is until my two grandson’s became patients of the NICU, included in the move.

Ok time for me to pay attention!!!!!

I don’t know if you have ever bought a brand new computer, car etc… I have, and I swore never to do it again.  (let someone else deal with the bugs, kinks, problems)

I feel the same about a new hospital.

Nope not for me…

Get yourself all moved and set up.  Let 100 other people go first…..

Do you get my point?

Unfortunately, this time, I didn’t have a choice.

I have been listening to “the buzz” about MOVING DAY every day for the last month while visiting my grandson’s in the NICU.  I have heard stories about how they will be renting 30 ambulances.  There will be 140 nurses on staff.  One baby with it’s team of nurses will be leaving the old hospital via ambulance every 15 mins beginning at 5 am.  100 + patients will be settled in the new hospital by 3 pm.

Are you doubtful?

So was I.

I was doubtful enough that I parked my ass between my grandsons early Saturday morning to “keep an eye” on things.  Almost 30 babies would be moved before them, but I was going to be there watching and waiting….just in case.

After watching what appeared to be a “fine oiled machine” for several hours, I finally felt comfortable that the hospital just might be able to pull their plan off, so I left…..

They did it.  All babies had been relocated to their new “homes” by the time we got to the new hospital at 2.  I won’t claim that this is a “state of the art” facility,  but who am I to judge?  I do however like that now the boys have their own room, and it’s even got a view.

If you would like to read the full story from the paper, it’s here.

I am going to try to share what I have learned about NICU’s and preemies later this week, but for now, let me give you the update that both boys are over 6 lbs, and begun taking a portion of their feedings from a bottle 🙂

When One Door Closes…

~ msgracefulnot ~ 19 Comments

I should probably call this Happy New Year, or Best wishes in 2019 or something creative like that, but instead I am going to go with…When One Door Closes, another one opens. I am closing the door on 2018, and looking forward to a NEW YEAR!

I’m not real big on new year’s resolutions, but I am looking forward to some changes that will be happening in 2019.

I will be watching my grandson’s when my daughter goes back to work in March. While I know that twin infants will be a lot of work, I am happy that not only do I feel strong enough to do it, I know that they will be safe with me. (A future post about the most horrific daycare experience ever will be coming)

The next new change is that Thing 2 and her boyfriend will be moving out in the next few months (the plan is for them to purchase their first house) While I love both my kids tremendously I don’t want to live with either of them, and the fact that Thing 2 and I are so much alike makes some of our “battles” pretty brutal. Purchasing a house at 21 years old is pretty damn impressive, so I am very proud. When they move out, I will be living alone for the first time in my life, and while it is a bit intimidating to me, I believe the pros will outweigh the cons, and I don’t want to move back in with Einstein.

Speaking of Einstein, things have been much better on that front.  I think I wrote about that last month, and I don’t need to rock the boat, so I will leave it there.

Other exciting news is that I have finally been released from Physical Therapy and can walk for a bit of a distance without any pain, as long as I am wearing very hard soled shoes…. ( I also have a shoe story for another time)  I will have to dust off that step counter I bought this summer and work back up to a mile at a time, but I’m optimistic so there is that.

As far as blog writing, I am kind of on the fence about that.  While I always have 100’s of stories, and I love interacting with everyone,  I still have no “one subject ” focus.  Ok that’s not true, I do have a new focus on becoming healthier, but I am by no means an expert on that subject. In fact, I feel like a complete idiot when it comes to healthy eating. Do I want to blog about that?  ( I have several stories about smoke alarms etc also)

I think the real reason, I started writing tonight, is not only because I have been drinking, but because holidays make me nostalgic and I am missing my blogging friends.  While 2018 brought a lot of loss and pain to me, it also brought my two grandson’s into the world. I’m gonna close here, and wish you all a Happy New Year.  I will be back soon, in some capacity.  For now, may I introduce you to my grandchildren….49052667_271236043510333_7619168873824124928_n

Danny (on the left) and Joey (on the right)

The boys were born at 31 weeks, and will still be in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) for a bit.  They are now one month old (or 35 weeks which I can explain more later) and they continue to get stronger every day.

Happy New Year to Everyone!  Good luck with your resolutions (if you make them), and I will see you next year!

My apologies

~ msgracefulnot ~ 12 Comments

I have been more than absent as of late, and I apologize for not having said anything to those of you that follow my thoughts.    Now that things have slowed down a little bit, and I feel like I am on more steady ground, I would like to first apologize for “disappearing”, and secondly, Thank those of you that reached out to me in my absence.

Before I continue, let me start by saying that EVERYONE is OK, or at least will be….

insert my usual SMH here 😛

While I am used to spending my time at doctor’s appointments, thankfully the days I normally spend in the hospital are much fewer.  However, this month I feel like I have been living in hospitals.(on the visiting side).  In no particular order…. my dog had to have surgery.  My brother was in the ICU for internal bleeding.  My best friend decided he was jealous of my new hardware, so he had a pacemaker put in, and finally, Thing One had an emergency c section and my new grandchildren arrived 8 weeks early.

For MY medical news, my foot still hurts like hell and I have been doing lots of pt (pain and torture, physical therapy…whatever you choose to call it), but I am finally out of the boot (as of 8:00 am this morning).  Either botox or PTNS isn’t working, and I’ve been to busy to follow up with the doctor on the next step.  So let’s just call that part of life very pissy. 

Then of course you have the Holidays…probably enough said on that note.  Although, on unlike Thanksgiving Day last year, this year everyone was healthy and together.  So that’s a definite bonus !!!  The “featured picture is my Dad and my kiddos “other halves” playing life size jenga.

Whatever  you are doing for the holidays, I hope that they find you and your loved ones safe and together!!!  I have missed you all and will be back soon, but for now my plate is overfull.

Happy Holidays Everyone!


Everything is ok, …..but

~ msgracefulnot ~ 20 Comments

Have you ever gotten THAT call?

“Everything is ok…… but”

Even though, I don’t like receiving THAT call, it think it works much better for me than, “Ive got some bad news, or “Do you want the good news or the bad news first?”  Before the person delivering the question has a chance to finish their words, my brain has already begun to imagine the worst….. PLEASE just get to the point.  NOW!!!!!

Today I am going to start with the good news….Thing One and the babies are ok, everyone is ok.  In fact there really isn’t any BAD news, scary news when I received it, but all is well.

So the story,

I’m at a friends house trying to help her deal with some bad news that she has recently received, when my phone rings.  Caller id reveals that it is Thing One’s husband Z.  Since she is pregnant and way to early to go into labor, my first thought was oh fuck, and before I even answered the phone, I grabbed my purse and started making my way towards my car.

Z “Have you talked to thing one yet?”

Grace: “No what’s going on?”

Z: “No one is bleeding or dying or anything, but the doctor has sent her to the hospital and I’m on my way now”

Grace:  “This hospital?”

Z:  “Yes, I will call you when I find her”

I think I said goodbye to my friend.  I tried to obey most of the traffic laws, and headed to the hospital.  While speeding, driving there, I realized I had better call Einstein.  But what do I say?  Should I call now or after I have seen THING ONE?  I know that because he is at work, he won’t actually answer his phone unless I call multiple times, and even then maybe not…. so maybe I should wait?!?!?  But what if what I find there is really bad, he should be there, maybe I NEED him to be there?!?!?

I called 3x, and then left a message, repeating my phone call with Z and telling Einstein that I would call or text as soon as I had seen Thing One.

Let me say again that everything is and was okay.  Without going into too much detail, the doctor has now placed Thing One on Bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy, but both her and both babies are doing fine.

Now that all the panic has passed, I wonder if I handled it the best way.  I am grateful that Z knows me enough that the way he told me was the best.  He knew I would assume the worst, but would also want to be there immediately.  But that’s me.

How about you?  Have you ever had to be the bearer of bad news?  I know no one likes to receive bad news, but do you ask for the good or bad first?  Does it depend on the circumstance?  What are your thoughts?