FAMILY FUN...

This is the fish & turtle pond in the courtyard of the hospital.. we visited there.. nice place.. calm, quiet, serene and the fish were very active. They liked Joyce and followed her around the pond wherever she went.

We had such a fun day today. I laughed most of it I think..I really get to enjoying the grandchildren and this week we have been together more than in the past year I think..
Last night we had decided to just get up today and get ourselves ready for a trip to see Amy and the baby. I turned the shower on and told the boys to each get in and get washed good.. to use soap and then get dressed.. So far so good.. then David.. he has allergies so no soap for him. I used a wash cloth with warm tap water and got him cleaned up and presentable for his mom. While we got him dressed, he started to cry and ask for Mama.. that was the only time he cried the whole time he was here. Anticipation can drive ya nuts!
So.. pack the kids in the car with their sleeping bags and bags of clothes.. clean mostly.. and off we went...
We were driving past Cranberry when Joyce noted that the UPMC building had a helicopter in front.. and it was on the launch pad.. Say what?? a launch pad? That must be some helicopter.. and I imagined a little eggbeater being thrust into the air with a powerful burst of throttle.... And not the clopping sound of the whirlygig, but the roar of a 747 about to take off.. Whew.. wonder what the landing would be like?
Well.. I explained to Joyce that helicopters use heliports and rockets use launch pads.. just a minor difference.
She giggled.. she must have been thinking what I was thinking..
Soon we were in Pittsburgh and looking at tall buildings.. big tractor trailers passed us..and David would oooo and ahhhh over the sheer size and the fact that they sprayed quite a bit of water all over our van. "I see bus!" he'd say.. and we'd all look the direction he was looking.. and then he'd giggle too.
As we got closer to the hospital, David was about ready to drop off for a nap..eyes were heavy and his head was bobbing. Joyce and I struggled to tickle, call his name, tease and whatever else it took to keep him awake for a few more minutes.. our eyes searched frantically for a bus..
He made it! He walked into the hospital without being carried. On to Mama.. and a baby sister. But wait.. Mama was busy and we had to find something to do for the next 15 minutes.. so we walked to the nursery to see if we could see any new babies.. yes.. a couple.. but they were all bundled up so you couldn't see them very well.
Back the hall we walked toward Mama's room.. and we waited outside the door. A nurse came out and stopped to chat to the children.. "Have you seen the robots?" she said. "The robots are all over the hospital and do all kinds of work.. delivering trays, picking up trays, taking blood to the lab, bringing forms to other departments.. why, it even rides the elevator by itself". NO.. we didnt' see any , but then the children put on an all out search.. David included.. "Gamma..wan see BOBOT!".. as he dragged me down the hall hanging onto my finger tightly. "you want to see what??" I said.. "BOBOT !" he repeated clearly. So we looked for a bobot..
I never did see any.. though Paul 2 said there was at least one in the kitchen.
Finally the children were able to see Amy and were excited to give her hugs and kisses.. and then they stood silently for a moment in awe of what she held in her arms.. the prize of course..
"Can we see her?" "ohh..can we hold her?!"..
While Daddy picked his newest little girl up, David crawled up on the bed to see his Mom.. precious reunion.
It was a few minutes before David got to hold his new sister.. he looked at her suspiciously for a few moments,and then reached out to her and touched her head. He touched her toes and feet and gave her a general once over.. "baby".. "baby dry?" he commented looking and pointing at her diaper.
Each child was given ample opportunity to hold baby Annabelle. They couldn't help but smile at her.. she's tiny and dainty.. Wendell says she has big feet, but I think they are just perfect for her.
She was very quiet during our visit..and it wasn't a particularly long one. We decided that we'd go to lunch while the pediatrician gave Annabelle her exam.. and then return later to say good bye for today.
We ate in the hospital cafeteria. The food was surprisingly good.. and on the way out, Wendell went to the main entrance to wait for us while we went to the courtyard and looked at the fish. Those fish were so funny.. they really did follow Joyce everywhere she walked, and they would stop when she did. We looked for the turtles, but I suppose it was hibernation time for them.. though who could hibernate at 60 degrees?
Time was getting late, so we decided to go on back to see Amy and say our good byes for the day..I opted to go to sit with Wendell while they did so.. it gave them a little family private time together.
We left shortly thereafter and as we drove down the street, several big buses passed us.. David, who was long overdue for a nap began to cry.. "I ride bus!" "I ride bus!" I don't have a clue why, but he seems fascinated with buses. I told the kids about how their dad used to ride the school bus when he was just a little older than David.. and he did it often- Wendell's dad was a school bus driver as well as farmer.
They seemed duly impressed.. I guess.
Each day at lunch I held a little simple Spanish lesson for the children. They were very interested in how to say their names in Spanish..and a few short sentences.. Today we'd missed it because we ate in the cafeteria.. but I took the chance and decided to tell the children a few words.. I pointed to big Paul and said "Papa", and to Wendell and said "granpapa".. David was adamant.. "NO ! Daddy!" he said pointing to P2. and then he repeated his statement and pointed again and again at his daddy.. I guess P2 is 'Daddy" and Grandpa is "Papa".. it is kind of confusing..He was correcting me obviously.
Driving down the road, David was so sleepy and tired.. I mentioned there was a big McDonalds over on the right.. and it was the wrong thing to say...."Bubba...ohhh Gamma, Bubba.. want Bubba".. that's McDonald's to David.. something about a commercial jingle played in our area at least. It wouldn't have been particularly funny if it hadn't been a quiet sobbing and a tiny lip stuck out toward me as he cried.. "oh.. Bubba.. Oh.. Gamma"
And within a few moments, one little guy was sound asleep the rest of the way home.
Daniel had already conked out in the back seat..his reminder to me today was that he still had one can of Dr Thunder for the day.. he's only permitted one as it makes him hyper if he has more..plus the fact that concentrated sugar isn't particularly good for a little guy.
It's so quiet here now.. all their sleeping bags are gone.. sigh....... quiet pervades the entire house.. you can hear a pin drop... or just the quiet sound of the PC in operating mode.
Well.... one more piece of news for the day.. Wendell did see the orthopedic surgeon today and is now scheduled for an arthroscopy on Jan 18. It's an outpatient procedure.. the doctor feels he may be able to give Wendell pain relief and mobility in that knee without a replacement..BUT.. the other knee will definitely need replaced. He's retired now.. so he's going to take his time..and when we return from meeting #9 grandchild, he'll be scheduled for his replacement then. Sounds like a plan, eh?
I'm heading for bed.. gainful employment awaits me tomorrow..