30 years with Grandpa

Four Generation photo. December 27th, 2011.

Yesterday was my birthday. I turned 30. I said goodbye to my grandpa.

 I met my mom and sisters for lunch. I had plans to shop, go to dinner and see a movie with Tanner later on. At lunch my mom told us that grandpa wasn't doing well. In fact "he is dying".  I didn't even know he was sick.  I mean ya he's 95 years old and my dad and siblings all take shifts taking care of him. But last I knew he was his normal happy, talkative self. I had been meaning to take Hadley over so I could get a picture of her with him. But every Tuesday ( my dad's night with grandpa) I thought  "I'll take her next week". I really thought I had time.  Well when I heard this news I made plans to go see him.  Some people didn't want me to.  "Grandpa doesn't look like himself. This isn't how you want to remember him."  I didn't care I needed to say goodbye. We didn't know how long he really had. Hospice had sent him home because he didn't want to die in a hospital.  He could still live a while but I wasn't taking any chances. I'd wasted enough time. So at 7:00 Tanner, Hadley and I met my dad at my uncle's house.

As we entered his room the light was off and I could barely make out his figure curled up in bed. For a brief moment I worried. I thought "how is he going to look.  This might be harder than I thought"  We turned on the light and there he was. My sweet grandpa. Always so full of life. Always so happy. Curled up in a ball.  I don't know if he even knew I was there. But I knew he was there. That is what mattered. Yes he looked different. But I knew it was grandpa, I think I saw him with my heart more than my eyes.  I layed my cheek on his head. He always had so much hair. Even at 95 years old. Now his head was shaved. I talked to him. Told him I loved him. Told him to give grandma a hug and kiss for me. I had to wipe my tears off his face. I took some pictures of grandpa's hands with Hadley's. And some with mine and my dad's. We left around 7:45. I wasn't sad. He lived such a great life and he missed my grandma so much. I was happy for him. We left thinking there was still a chance that he would bounce back. Slim chance but it could happen. I thought "maybe I'll come see him again".  We ate some food with Tanner's family then headed home.   At 9:30 the news came. Grandpa has passed. I was kind of in shock. We had just seen him. He was just there, I was just listening to him breath. I yelled upstairs to Tanner. He came down and just hugged me. I told him I was ok. Grandpa was ok. I don't think I can explain how thankful I am that I was able to see him.  It would have been so easy to put it off for a few days. Or go over after our movie or dinner..... I would have been too late and that would have been devastating.

Grandpa, Mine and Hadley's

Hadley with Great Grandpa Stradling.


Grandpa I love you. I love how much you love grandma. I know how much you've missed her. I know you were there when all of your children gathered around you tonight. You have 14 amazing children. You are so lucky. They are so lucky. WE are so lucky. I'm so glad I was able to take Hadley over to see you. Talk about cutting it close. It means the world to me that we got there in time. Everyone felt bad that you passed away on my birthday. I feel special. It's a date that only I get to share with you. My birthday is the day you got to see Grandma. Tell her, uncle Carl and Aunt Virginia we miss them.  Rest in peace. You are so loved.

Month Number 5.

Five months has come and gone and today Hadley is more like 5 1/5 months but since I'm behind in my blogging as usual we are just now posting. We are really seeing her personality. She smiles and laughs so much. All the time. An old lady at Walmart stopped me and and said she's the sweetest thing, and that just seeing her cute face really turned her day around. Hadley then right on cue gave her her biggest smile. The lady about died. Hadley is a sweetheart for sure.
It's funny how you think you love her more than you can... then you just love her more. So here goes month #5. Love, love, love you.

In the Jump House at the Fall Festival.

Happy Halloween!! Hadley was a Poodle.

We went to Uncle Ty and Aunt Heather's Trunk or Treat.
Here we are with Grandma.

With Aunt Heather and Snow White (Megan)

Trick or Treat :)

After the Trunk or Treat with went over to Uncle BJ's and Aunt Candi's.
With Uncle BJ and Mario and Luigi (Major and Dallas)

Putting away Halloween Decorations

Cleaning mom's car.

Swinging

Savanna turned 16 and got her new Truck :) Happy B-day Sis!

Jenna got baptized

We headed to the golf course for "Glow Ball"

Eating after driving around in the golf cart.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Five months old.

Four Months

I know, I know. I just posted Hadley's three month pics but they were a month late. So to stay on top of things here is our fourth month with Miss Missy.

Getting out all the Halloween decorations!

Hanging out with Grandma on her lunch break.... they planned their outfits. :)

Helping mom make dinner.

Trying on her new hat for the back east trip.

Her first trip to Firehouse Subs.

Wishing Daddy would hurry and put the grass in.

Cousin Savannah.

Cousin Broc.

All of us.

We spent half the month touring the east coast and I took over 700 pics. Yes you read that right. So I'm going to post a pic or two from each day and give a more detailed account of our trip later.

5th- Maine!

6th- Boston. Wearing Halloween pajamas

Bundling up!

7th- Boston. Supporting the first African American to fight in the Revolutionary War :)

With cousin Megan.

8th- New York City. Central Park.

With the FAO Schwartz soldier.

Enjoying the biggest toy store in the world.

On top of the Empire State Building. Hadley laughed for the first time. Neither of her parents were there to witness is but luckily Kylee my quick thinking sister got it on video. :)

9th- New York City. Waiting for the subway.

Waiting to go to the Statue of Liberty

On the ferry heading to Liberty Island.

10th- Philadelphia. With Grandpa waiting to see the Liberty Bell.

Exhausted.

11th- Pennsylvania. Grandma, Mom, Kylee, Savanna and Molly in Gettysburg.

12th- Virginia. Eating breakfast with Grandma.

Enjoying the rain at Monticello.

13th- decided to spend the day at the hotel.

14th- DC. Arlington National Cemetery.

JFK Memorial.

15th- DC. WWII Memorial.

Flying Home!!

Finally Home with Daddy.

LOVE this picture.

Playing with Dad.

Back to work.

Finding herself hilarious in the mirror.

Just looking sweet.

So one morning I totally left all my diapers at home so I had to shove a blanket into her pajamas in place of a diaper until I could run to the store. I know, mother of the year award.

Hanging with Daddy.

Finally a picture with all of her Wootan cousins.

Four Months! And she's discovered her toes.