My Trip (Grandma Z)

Grandma always writes a letter after visiting us, and it never fails to make us smile 😊

Dear Sibs & Kids,

I returned home from Meg’s last evening.  What a busy and blessed week!!  I arrived the day before Owen’s birth.  I was SO thankful that Meg’s little twins needed no time to “warm up” to me; they really know and remember me.  They even know my car!!  We gave it to Meg and Stephen when they last visited NH.  When Stephen came home from work on the first day or so, the twins saw it and exclaimed, “Grandma’s home!!” 

Unfortunately, as the twins remember more, Grandma remembers less☹  On my first day there I totally forgot to change their diapers until we were getting into the car to visit Mama and meet Owen in the mid-afternoon.   And it didn’t once occur to me to bathe them during the whole 3 days that Meg was in the hospital.  Oh well, at least I didn’t forget to love them, swing them, play monster trucks, go for walks, read to them, and snuggle a lot.

Reading to them was a very unique experience.  I really didn’t have to do anything; they are very active “listeners”.  Each page prompts a barrage of questions before I read a word.  “Pooh is stuck in a hole?  Because he ate too much honey?  What’s that?”  (I answer: "a ground hog, I think", but am corrected)  “No, it’s a gopher.  Is Christopher Robin wearing shoes?..........”

They asked to sleep with me in the basement.  I thought that would be so sweet and began to tell them that they could if Mama said it was OK.  Siobhan looked up with panic in her eyes, “No Grandma.  You don’t want to do that!!!”  It turns out that the twins’ expression of comfort is to pinch the arms of anyone they sleep with.  Siobhan and Shaila wake up covered with scratches and bruises. 

The first morning, I came upstairs as I heard everyone stirring in the kitchen.  One of the twins came into my lap, but didn’t say a word.  That seemed strange after so much chatter the previous day.  One of the kids assured me that the twins don’t talk for the first hour or so in the day.  No one knows why, but they both remain dead silent until they mutually decide the silent period is over.  That evening I also learned that the prayer before dinner has to be kept short because both twins hold their breath during the entire prayer.

The twins’ questions overflow into every area of life.  Concerning Owen’s birth, they explained to me, “The doctor is going to cut mama’s stomach so baby Owen can come out, and he won’t have any teeth.”  Their response to meeting Owen for the first time was to ask Daddy, “Where’s the other one?”  Naturally, they thought that babies all come in pairs – like they did.

It was a blessing to have time with each of the kids.  Siobhan and Ethan are the busiest with college and work, but they manage to meet a lot of needs at home too.  Ethan drives siblings to sports practice, and (as usual) often has someone on his hip.  Siobhan whizzes around the kitchen and laundry room like a productive cyclone.  It was almost impossible to help a bit in those areas.  Aidan introduced me to a “Farm version of Monopoly”.  Very fun.  He also let me listen to his memory work which included an entire chapter of Hebrews.  I think he is memorizing the whole book.  Connor and I also practiced memory work for competitions he participates in.  I’m looking forward to seeing one of his basketball games in the spring.  Shaila and I made beautiful vanilla “bath bombs” – a birthday gift she got and made for her mom.  I also watched one of her soccer games; she is a dynamite goalie!  Brandan and I played dozens of Mancala games.  We are very evenly matched! 

Last, but not least is little Owen – sweet as can be and loved by all.  He is so patient as he is passed from one sibling to the other until he finally just must return to “home base” which is (of course) Megan.  It was hard to see how uncomfortable she was with incision pain and those awful headaches.   But after about 2 days at home, she was feeling well enough to take a (slow) walk with all of us.  Her organizational skills were stretched to the max to keep all of us on track and assure that we were all at the right place at the right time.  She’s amazing (as we all know).

Much love to each of you

Mom