This Friday, I ask you for prayers

My birthday grandpa is in the ICU and things are looking grim. Please keep my family in your thoughts.

Just another manic Monday

Thank you all for the mountains of prayers and well wishes. Grandpa made it through surgery and is home resting. Unfortunately, the mass was cancerous so there are decisions to be made in the weeks to come concerning radiation ect.

Before I left to come back home he was explaining his morning in the hospital to me.

"A 15 year-old doctor came to see me today - she barely weighed 40 lbs"

[residents...]

later... "and two other young ladies came in and starting messing around 'down there' I tried to tell them I'm 91 years old and nothin' works anymore so they shouldn't even bother..."

They were giving him a sponge bath, I'm sure they didn't care what "worked" and what didn't!

Then he asked the aide for three chocolate puddings, "Some for your family?" she said. "No way!" He replied, "and she better stay away from my pudding" [pointing to me] and he stuck his tongue out at me as he proceeded to eat all three pudding cups.

Sharing was never a strength of his...

Someone will have to come out and feed them tomorrow, okay?

I will feed them... just until he gets back on his feet again.

She will smell it on my breath, I tell you!

Today I made some memories with my birthday grandpa and I thanked my lucky stars a million times over for them. He almost started to cry when I walked in today - beautiful surprise!

He told me how he overdosed on Peeps on Easter and was too sugar-drunk to make it to dinner..."I ate a whole row!"

I brought him a Sonic malt which reminded him -- he wanted Wendy's for lunch.

We ate together at Wendy's and we watched his chicken nugget take a swim in the chili. "Wow, I can't believe I ate all five of them" - he told me.

Then he bribed me to take him to the dollar store so he could get a puzzle. He may or may not have farted in aisle two [damn chili] and then I found him, puzzle in hand, staring at the gum and candy bars. "I need dessert"(apparently, frostys don't count as dessert). Since grandma told me not to let him have any candy he had to inhale the full-sized peppermint patty he bought. Afterwards, he says "I think it was stale" I told him I don't know how he would know because he barely chewed it. Then we decided to join mom and grandma in another store, "She's gonna smell it on my breath.." he said, "I just know it."

We spent the rest of the day snacking, laughing and hanging out with family. At one point he says, "I am the luckiest guy in the whole wide world."

I just has to laugh out loud when after watching Grey's Anatomy he says... "That didn't look a thing like Walker Texas Ranger!"

It's late and I gotta go to bed -- I have a date in the morning at 8:15am sharp to feed the fish and the turtles. I can't wait.

Keep praying for us - tomorrow's the big day.

Love to grandpa!

Prayers and Wishes for Grandpa

My birthday grandpa is having a big surgery on Friday. I am traveling to be with him but I was hoping you all could *think.think.think* happy thoughts for us.

Jennie! got him some lingonberry jam [yay Ikea, yay Sweden!] She is a jam dealer, she deals jam, if you didn't already know.

I am also going to bring him a chocolate malt from Sonic.

My mom told me that lately his diet consists of cashews and left over Easter candy. I decided that seeing as though my pop-pop is 91 and about to go into the hospital for major surgery, if he wants to eat jam-covered-Sonic malt-chocolate bunny heads all day long - WHO CARES! I might even join him.

I think malts, jam and candy should fix my birthday grandpa right up. That and *lots* of hugs from his favorite red-headed granddaughter.

The last time everyone sent good wishes it worked beautifully. Please send more. I beg you.

Read more about my Pop-pop and his *sparkly* blue eyes

Here

and Here and HERE

and that one time when the nurse got him drunk... HERE!

I am a seed, a seed of me. And when I take my April shower - poof! There I am, a little flower*

"Wow, 29? Well, at least you're not 30..." - Meredith, age 17

I've already told you that my birthday is one of my favorite things - so why belabor the point? BECAUSE TODAY IS THAT DAY! My darling husband decorated our house with HAPPY BIRTHDAY banners this morning and bdazzled my car with shiny birthday streamers. I woke up to lots of smooches and sunshine. I am wearing my new crimson wedges and having a lovely hair day. My office is getting Chinese food in my honor and then I'm off to a fancy pants dinner with this gorgeous guy that I married. My lovelies, this is a great day!


Also, a big 'ol shout out to my BIRTHDAY TWIN GRANDPA! 91 years and counting *gush*

Me: Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Gpa: Happy Birthday Sweetie.

Me: Are you having a good day so far?

Gpa: I'm feeding the fish, but the turtles keep eating the food.

Me: Sounds like an adventure. How does it feel to be 91?

Gpa: I've been praying every day that I make it to 91...

Me: Well it worked! You're 91 today!

Gpa: Yeah?

Me: Yeah! You're 91 and I'm 29. Do you want to trade?

Gpa: How can we trade?

Me: I'll be 91 and you can be 29.

Gpa: I think I'd like to be 40, 40 was a good one.

Me: 40 it is then! What are you going to do today?

Gpa: Well your mom made me a cake, strawberry cake [our favorite!]

Me: She made me that same cake last weekend. You're a lucky guy to have my mom there.

Gpa: Yeah, but she didn't finish it yet.

Me: Why not?

Gpa: She won't put those 91 candles on it. I want the candles.

Me: Well you just keep reminding her, sometimes she forgets things.

Gpa: Oh I will.

Me:I love you so much grandpa.

Gpa: I love you too dear.

[hands the phone to my mom]

Mom: He is feeding those fish rock hard oatmeal cookies and the turtles are pushing their way in. They climb right out of the water as soon as he walks out. I guess they like cookies.

Me: Well you better get those 91 candles on that cake or you'll never hear the end of it.

Mom: I know he's been asking since I made the cake last night. I don't even know if I can fit that many on there... he seriously wants all 91....

My mom went to Florida to take care of my grandparents for awhile and when she arrived my grandpa had placed a daisy and a piece of chocolate on the bed for her. My mom said that wilted daisy was the most precious thing she's ever seen. Love to grandpa.

*Poem credits. Me (circa 1985)

Pop-Pop says a nurse got him drunk and I believe him

My birthday grandpa was able to come home from the hospital last night. I guess he’s a little cranky and has acquired a walker but for 90+ years old we're gonna give him some slack on irritability and a little assisted walking. I was able to talk to him this morning and this is how it went:

Me: Hi grandpa, you gave us quite a scare.

Gpa: You’re not kiddin’!

Me: I’m happy you are home now; we said lots of prayers for you. Are you glad to be home?

Gpa: You betcha, hospitals are boring. I have a walker, – can you believe it? I'm not gonna use it after tomorrow [so he thinks]. But I did have my very own room. Big huge one with a TV and my own bathroom and everything. Except for one night the nurse left the curtains open and the light shined in my eye. [Damn nurse!]

Me: Sounds like the Ritz Carlton! I bet they gave you all of that special treatment because you’re 90.

Gpa: I don’t know but they sure were nice. There were people way younger, worse off than me.

Me: Are you in any pain?

Gpa: No, no pain. Just feeling a little drunk.

Me: Well you're always drunk that shouldn't feel any different! [joking]

Gpa: [chuckling loudly] HA! I haven't had a drink in ages, but I did have a glass of wine last night you know.

Me: Well that sounds okay to me. Making it to 90 without a single hospital stay is a pretty big deal grandpa. Did you know our birthday is in about 80 days? So you need to get stronger so we can celebrate okay?

Gpa: 80 days! Wow, I’ve been trying to count on my fingers… February…March… and a few days in April. 80 days. I hope I make it to 91.

Me: Oh I think you’ll make it – just so long as you behave yourself and don’t go giving people any hassle when they’re trying to help you.

Gpa: Well I decided I need to live until the end of July… I’ll tell you a secret… there’s a party for my brother. He’s turning 80 and the party is a surprise so you can’t tell anyone.

Me: Okay I won’t. I love you very much grandpa and I can’t wait for our birthday. You need to stay around so we can keep celebrating together.

Gpa: Okay. I love you too, dear.

[hands the phone to my grandma]

Me: Well he said he’s going to live at least until July.

Gma: Why July?

Me: Apparently, he has a party to go to. So if we just keep having parties, he’ll stick around.

I think it's working

Thank you a billion tons for the prayers, I think they're working. My birthday grandpa made it through surgery on Friday and is in the ICU.

I am sorry I don't have much more to report on this Monday afternoon. I didn't see any movies this weekend, I didn't have any funny conversations with my husband (sad face, he was studying) and I went shopping and didn't buy anything (gasp!)

HOWEVER, I did try on this jacket at Ann Taylor LOFT and I looked so sunny and cute in it. I swear it was made for a red-head and have no idea why a drabby blond is modeling it. Wouldn't it be perfect for a spring brunch with the girls or Easter Sunday? Yes. The answer is: yes it would. Now please, Mr. cute sunny jacket, be marked down to $35 so I can justify buying you. I'm incredibly cheap and poor, but mostly cheap. AND I'm not even Christian so if I do wear you on Easter it will be to the Hustler store.

I also bowled a 139 this weekend. All time high for me! Every time I bowl I think to myself, "This really is fun, why don't we do it more?" but then I realized I have the same conversation with myself every time I ice skate, hike, play Catch Phrase, eat cupcakes and have sex.

Time. The answer is time. I might ask for that for my birthday, the time to do all of the above. Oh, and the yellow jacket :)

My favorite things right now are prayers.

Heidi lost her grandpa yesterday. Please keep her family in your prayers.

My grandpa is having surgery this morning at 10am. Please pray for him as well.

I'm at a work meeting. I'm meeting about work. I'm actually working and had to write this blog last night and had it post this morning. Can you believe that?

See, miracles happen.

Happy Weekend, lots of prayers.

I'm BZZURK. Busy at Wurk.

My annual meeting for work is tomorrow so I am super busy today (Whoah? huh? what? job?). My dear birthday grandpa is still in the hospital so I have no news to report. I do report that I am PMSing *hard* today and almost told my coworker to shove a projector up his hee-haw, "No, sir, I don't know how to work your technologies, but I might just kill you with a blunt mitten if you don't exit my cubical."


I LOL'ed yesterday when my Ms. Magazine arrived in the mail. The cover is priceless and he stole my T-shirt!!

If you're bored and since I have no ideas how to use google reader or twitty... check these:

Obama!... the musical?

“Thank God. Has Cheney’s wheelchair left the building, too?”

Oscars were announced! (vote for Slumdog!)

My crazy friend A had her baby and named him Soren. (I see weggies and social isolation in his future.)

You can still register to WIN!

Oh, and join me in one of my New Year's Resolutions by doing THIS!

Also, the Jonas Brothers surprised the Obama girls by jumping out of a closet...IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME!

BAD.LUCK.FOR.GRANDPAS month

I hate this month right now. Heidi's grandpa got pneumonia and bad news about his cancer, husband's grandpa fell walking the dog and turned his face into hamburger, and yesterday my beloved *birthday* grandpa lost consciousness and is in the hospital (in Florida) with a blocked carotid artery. My grandpa's birthday is in 86 days (sound familiar?) and he will be 91, although for some reason he is lying and telling people he's 92!?

Apparently the hospital had to call my aunt to double check if he was really 90, since he's otherwise in really good shape and looks much younger. Did I mention on his 90th birthday he splashed around in the pool drinking tequila shots, ate pizza and then went bowling? Right. All 90 year-old men do that.

Husband and I have five VERY old grandparents (three over 90!) and it's so hard to see them get older. Husband's dad says we should be thankful for all the time we've had with them and be lucky we are not watching our grandparents lay lifeless in a bed drooling on themselves... thanks for that.

Please pray for my birthday grandpa. Pray even if you aren't the praying type. You can just say to yourself, "I hope Tam's grandpa makes it through." And if there really is a G-d he will hear you and think that although you didn't use all of the official prayer words, he'll try his best.

He is my most favorite grandpa and I am just not ready to let him go quite yet. Okay?

(My grandparents wedding picture. Circa: long long ago.)