Correction!

Well, it turns out Ava is NOT having surgery this Friday. She will visit U of M for her preop visit, which is much easier for this grandma to swallow. I can handle not attending the preop visit, although I am sending a list of questions for Laura to ask the surgeon. This surgery is completely freaking me out. And for me, the only way to rid myself of fear is to learn. Somehow, knowing the details demystifies the procedure and makes the fear manageable. Hopefully, this esteemed surgeon/professor/department head will have a personality and be willing to talk to Laura in layman's terms. Sometimes docs with the best credentials are complete duds when it comes to people skills. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Ava loves to play peek-a-boo. She covers your eyes with her hands and you have to ask, "Ava! Where are you??" And I do mean you HAVE to ask. Otherwise the hands don't come down and she shouts "A-Buh!" Well, this weekend we were playing yet another game of peek-a-boo, her hands covering my eyes, when all of a sudden my "Ava!" was followed by the cutest little voice exclaiming, "Wha-ah-you!" I couldn't believe my ears! This is a child who has an extremely limited vocabulary, basically mama and amma, with an occasional A-buh when asked her name. And now she wants to know wha-ah-you?

I'm right here, baby, anytime you need me!

I love you, Ava, more than sunshine or ice cream, gentle rain or love notes.

You're the best thing in my world.

*kisses from Grandma*

Diary of a Mad Grandma

I apologize for staying away so long. I have been so distracted for the last month that blogging just didn't get it's turn at the top of the list. Also, I have been a total grouch.

Here's an update, in a nutshell:

1. Mom had surgery.
2. Mom is fine, but feeling very sorry for herself, which of course DRIVES ME CRAZY.
   
3. The house is falling apart. The water heater croaked, the kitchen plumbing died, the lawnmower is broken, the car is on empty, and Harold has fleas.
4. A tree fell on our house last week after a nasty thunderstorm. Of course there wasn't enough damage to warrant the insurance company buying me a new roof. Just a big mess for me to clean up. Darn.
5. I have plantar fasciitis, which makes me feel, and walk, like a very old woman.

Ava has had quite a month. She had a pH probe a few weeks ago, the results of which were very disappointing. It seems our Ava will be having a Nissen fundoplication on November 2, 2007, at the University of Michigan. I am all for anything that will improve her quality of life, but this particular surgery just scares me, especially the G-tube that comes with it. I am so afraid that all her hard work at feeding therapy will be lost. And I just cannot bear seeing Ava in pain.

To add insult to injury, I can't have time off work for Ava. You see, I will be in an Emergency Preparedness meeting November 2. I won't be available for Ava and her parents, because I must be trained and ready to respond to the needs of the PUBLIC. However, I was told that, "If you truly feel this is an emergency for YOU, then an exception COULD be made. But our HOPE is that you will attend the meeting." Yeah, right.

On a lighter note, our little girl walked! Oh, yes she did--all the way across the room! She toddles side to side, looking ever so much like little Clare. Mind you, she can't do it on her own. You have to stand her up and tell her to walk, but she does it. I am so proud of her!