Two words that come to mind when I attempt to describe this past weekend are roller coaster. Emotionally - and mentally and physically - it's been up and down and not at all what we planned. In my innocence I thought that the most stressful part of the weekend was going to be getting one hundred and twenty individual chocolate peppermint tarts to the venue where Son#3's and his fiance's engagement party was to be held.
Little did I know that was going to be the least of my concerns!
Friday afternoon as I was getting ready to pack, Son#2 rang and asked me to babysit The Most Adorable Granddaughter in the World#4. It was my joy to do so. Within a very short time we realised it was going to be more than an hour or two of babysitting. DIL#2 was admitted to hospital and we changed our plans so that we could care for The Most Adorable Granddaughter#4 overnight.
The next morning Son#2 picked his daughter up and we left town believing that DIL#2 would be released from hospital some time over the weekend. On arriving at our destination some five hours later we had a phone call to say that DIL#2 was to be induced on Monday morning. Complications with the pregnancy had caused the doctors and midwives to reach the conclusion that it would be safer for all if DIL#2 didn't carry to term.
We were expecting an October baby. My calendar says it's still only August. August!
We made the decision to stay on for Son#3's engagement party but to leave first thing the next morning.
However, Sunday morning we learnt that we were back playing the waiting game and that induction may or may not occur. We decided then to visit with Son#3's fiance and her family and were able to share in the excitement of watching them open some of their engagement presents.
Naturally, they had lots of little helpers. I just hope Son#3's fiance realises that she's not just marrying Son#3 but ALL The Most Adorable Granddaughters as well.
We had a fun time with Son#3 and his fiance and appreciated that we got to spend this time with them on what is a special and momentous occasion for them. By this time we had learnt that The Most Adorable Granddaughter in the World#4 had also been up to the hospital where she had been diagnosed with a viral rash and inflamed throat and ear. It certainly explained why we'd had such a rough night with her on the Friday (not that we minded since it meant we got more cuddles).
Son#3 also informed me that he should also have been up at the hospital since an injury he incurred while playing soccer two weeks ago had flared up and left him in excruciating pain at times (hence the reason he's sitting in a lot of the photos). They had rung the hospital and discovered it was going to be a l-o-n-g wait so decided not to go in but leave it until later. Whether that was wise or not only time will tell.
We said goodbye to Son#3 around midday and began the journey home. The news that greeted us when we arrived home was that DIL#2 would most likely be induced Monday morning. To know that we would be grandparents again so soon took a little bit of mental rearranging and obviously our concern is for the health and safety of both mother and baby.
Now as I write this, Son#3 is at the hospital in his fiance's hometown enduring a long wait to be seen; Son#2 and DIL#2 are up at our local hospital waiting for the specialist and a decision as to whether DIL#2 will be induced today or not; DIL#2's mother (as far as I know) has begun the long journey to be here at her daughter's side; and The Most Adorable Granddaughter#4 is in bed and quiet and - presumably - asleep.
And now I'm going to unpack from the weekend and see if I can find some mental and emotional equilibrium.
Little did I know that was going to be the least of my concerns!
Friday afternoon as I was getting ready to pack, Son#2 rang and asked me to babysit The Most Adorable Granddaughter in the World#4. It was my joy to do so. Within a very short time we realised it was going to be more than an hour or two of babysitting. DIL#2 was admitted to hospital and we changed our plans so that we could care for The Most Adorable Granddaughter#4 overnight.
The next morning Son#2 picked his daughter up and we left town believing that DIL#2 would be released from hospital some time over the weekend. On arriving at our destination some five hours later we had a phone call to say that DIL#2 was to be induced on Monday morning. Complications with the pregnancy had caused the doctors and midwives to reach the conclusion that it would be safer for all if DIL#2 didn't carry to term.
We were expecting an October baby. My calendar says it's still only August. August!
We made the decision to stay on for Son#3's engagement party but to leave first thing the next morning.
[Cakes made by DIL#1 and iced in a motel room. Didn't she do a fantastic job!]
However, Sunday morning we learnt that we were back playing the waiting game and that induction may or may not occur. We decided then to visit with Son#3's fiance and her family and were able to share in the excitement of watching them open some of their engagement presents.
Naturally, they had lots of little helpers. I just hope Son#3's fiance realises that she's not just marrying Son#3 but ALL The Most Adorable Granddaughters as well.
[Modelling some of their presents - just in case anyone thought they'd just gotten out of bed!]
[Younger sister discovered a great way to display all the cards. It was also DIL#3-to-be's twenty-first birthday celebration so there were a lot of cards.]
We had a fun time with Son#3 and his fiance and appreciated that we got to spend this time with them on what is a special and momentous occasion for them. By this time we had learnt that The Most Adorable Granddaughter in the World#4 had also been up to the hospital where she had been diagnosed with a viral rash and inflamed throat and ear. It certainly explained why we'd had such a rough night with her on the Friday (not that we minded since it meant we got more cuddles).
Son#3 also informed me that he should also have been up at the hospital since an injury he incurred while playing soccer two weeks ago had flared up and left him in excruciating pain at times (hence the reason he's sitting in a lot of the photos). They had rung the hospital and discovered it was going to be a l-o-n-g wait so decided not to go in but leave it until later. Whether that was wise or not only time will tell.
We said goodbye to Son#3 around midday and began the journey home. The news that greeted us when we arrived home was that DIL#2 would most likely be induced Monday morning. To know that we would be grandparents again so soon took a little bit of mental rearranging and obviously our concern is for the health and safety of both mother and baby.
Now as I write this, Son#3 is at the hospital in his fiance's hometown enduring a long wait to be seen; Son#2 and DIL#2 are up at our local hospital waiting for the specialist and a decision as to whether DIL#2 will be induced today or not; DIL#2's mother (as far as I know) has begun the long journey to be here at her daughter's side; and The Most Adorable Granddaughter#4 is in bed and quiet and - presumably - asleep.
And now I'm going to unpack from the weekend and see if I can find some mental and emotional equilibrium.
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