Some time last year Ky called me to tell me that she thought she really injured her knee. As she was describing what happened and how things had been going since, I couldn't help but feel worried that she had torn her ACL. Eventually she had an MRI and discovered that she had done just that--at about the same age I tore mine. I immediately had feelings of panicked PTSD set in thinking about surgery and recovery, and promised her that I would come out when she had surgery to help. She rescheduled the surgery several time, but finally landed on January 28th as the day. Unfortunately, that was a Tuesday and right smack in the middle of the week which can be a crazy time for me to sneak away, but Babi and Papoo volunteered to come watch the kids for me while I watched Ky. Ky looked gorgeous in her hospital gown morning of. She asked for an adult coloring book to color while she waited, but I'm not sure the hospital volunteer understood and instead gave her a kid one. Ky colored it nonetheless.
We actually had a great time together. I made her all my best vegetarian meals, we watched a bunch of Ann with and E on netflics, we cleaned out her kitchen cabinets, and Nay, Benz and Manas came to visit not once, but twice!
Ky did amazing. I was worried to leave her, but she had lots of friends come check on her and help and she honestly rocked ACL repair surgery. She managed way better than I did.
Back at the home front it was quite crazy. Both boys ended up getting sick right before Mom and George got there and rather than going to school every day were home sick almost all of the days. And unfortunately, they ended up passing on their sickness to George and he was quite sick for a few weeks after that. So, I feel bad about that. Here are Mom's notes from her time with the kids:
Watching the Grandkids (sort of – Derek is here with us)
Monday, January 27, 2020
We headed north and when almost in Beaver, we realized we did not pack the car charger for Chelsea’s house. We texted Derek and sure enough, he had a friend with a Tesla that was able to loan us a charger. Yeah…didn’t have to return home and start again.
As soon as we arrived, Chelsea left with Derek for the airport (Chelsea was heading to Vegas to help Kylie with her ACL surgery tomorrow.) George walked Camden to Ukelele (and London), I made a Valentines Card with Carter who wasn’t feeling so well. Liv was at COPA.
Amazinging, dinner was pretty good. I googled a recipe for an alfredo sauce to go over the ravioli Chelsea left for us. I brought salad stuff. There were also sausages. At least the adults were happy. I think Camden filled up later on popcorn while we watched a movie.
Carter fell asleep in his bed through dinner (running a low grade fever). He woke up an hour or so later and we got him to drink. He came downstairs and watched Malificent (Part 2) – the kids and me. When that ended I asked Carter if he was hungry so that’s when I made him Lipton’s Soup. But then all the kids wanted soup (so Liv and Camden had Ramen Beef Soup). I did a rush job with the soup and Carter thought the noodles weren’t done. He didn’t eat much but Derek gave him some medicine and he went to sleep for the night.
It was fun to see Liv’s new big bed (and Camden slept with her since Carter was sick). I love the Octopus theme. And I still love, love, love those Octopus drawings in the bathroom. I was able to do a couple loads of wash and get them folded…some put away.
The boys (as in men) and I reviewed the list for tomorrow and made our divide and conquer plan. Derek and George watched some tennis and now we have London by our bedside and we are giving the new mattress a try. Good night.
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Crazy day. Made lunches for the two going to school. Took Liv to violin then school. Scheduled a 90 minute massage…yea!!!...at the house, and while I was getting the massage, George got a call to bring Camden home from school as now he had a fever so we had both boys home and under the weather.
I washed ALL the bedding throughout the house, folded a ton of laundry. George was Mr. Fixit today. He also went grocery shopping. We ended up having Papa Murphy’s for dinner with salad.
Read with the boys…flash back to Dr. Seuss books.
Got Liv after choir and raced her to her piano lesson. Talked to Kylie and Chelsea after Ky’s surgery today. She survived but sounds like she is in pain. Ugh.
Ate dinner. Boys did not like the cheese pizza! Camden ate his leftover P & J sandwich from lunch. Carter had Liptons Chicken Noodle Soup.
Took Liv to her voice lesson. Another flashback of when I used to take Chelsea to her voice lessons…looking at some of the same songs she used to sing. Liv has an incredible range and sings pitch perfect. So impressive.
Got home and played Apples to Apples with Derek and kids. George was running to Lowe’s.
The two boys seem to have low grade fevers and my guess is Liv is starting to feel run down. We’ll see how she does.
I’m taking Airbourne! (And Camden just asked for a bowl. “In case I throw up”, he said.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
I guess Camden had a rough night…threw up, was awake at 4 a.m., and crawled into bed with his Dad twice. I slept through it. Liv skipped the early morning dancing at school since she was saying last night that she was maybe not feeling good. But then she got up for regular school and seemed fine so she went to school. Camden and Carter both stayed home.
Carter seemed OK today. He never seemed to be running a fever so I think he’s good to go to school tomorrow. Camden needs to stay home. This afternoon his temp was 103.3! I gave him Tylenol and put a cool wash cloth on his forehead and neck. The combo seemed to bring his fever down.
The boys practiced piano today, Camden played the ukulele. Both boys did their reading. Camden did his sight words. Olivia wrote her book report (letter to a friend).
To break up the boys’ day, I drove them through McDonald’s and got them happy meals. Camden ate ¾ of a cheese burger and promptly threw up. Luckily he had a bag to barf in. Carter had a chicken nugget happy meal. We dropped the bowls at Lily’s house…did not go in.
All the kids made Valentine’s Cards: For Grandma and Grandpa; Poppi and Nana; Kylie; Nathan, Benz and Manas; Mom and Dad; and we’ll also make one for Uncle Mitch.
The pot pie was a hit with Liv, Carter and George. Derek ate it but couldn’t tell if he liked it or not. Carter actually had seconds. Camden had beef ramen noodles and a freeze pop.
All three kids wanted to make Valentine’s Cards after dinner so we did. Liv really went to town and did stuff even I hadn’t thought to do. She did some really cool stuff. I addressed the ones to the Out-of-Towners and left them for you, Chelsea, to mail. You don’t get one from me this year…it was enough to help the kids all make cards for you two. J
Hoping to get two kids to school tomorrow. And I hope Camden feels better tomorrow than he did today.
And George and I continue to fight about who London loves the most. She’s asleep by my bedside right now while he is still watching tennis with Derek upstairs. But, she does follow him around all day, I think hoping for yet another walk around the neighborhood.
Good night.
Thursday, January 30, 2020
We sleep downstairs but I could hear the morning debate going on upstairs with the kids and Dad. Camden was definitely staying home from school since he ran a fever all day yesterday. But Carter was great…seemed like he could have gone to school yesterday. But boy did he want to stay home with his brother and hang with Babi and Papou. Then Liv piped in with crocodile tears. She too wanted to stay home. Dad told Papou (who now was witnessing the unrest), “Don’t let her theatrics fool you. She’s going to school.” So Liv went. But Carter was told there would be no TV watching if he stayed home. Still, he chose to stay home.
Then Mom called. She talked to Carter and told him all about the fun things his teacher had planned for 100 years old day. Carter got talked into going to school, late. He stayed about 2 hours and then we got a call that he had a stomach ache and needed to come home. So, we’re back with the two twins at home. Actually, I don’t know about a stomach ache but Carter definitely is getting more of a runny nose.
Anyways, it was a day of games, snacks, piano practice, reading, and monitoring what they were watching on TV. (I got the OK from Dad to let Carter watch TV after he made an attempt at going to school.)
Now Liv is off to COPA. I made her a hot grilled cheese and a medley of fruit to eat on the way. She’s there from 5-7.
Tonight will be leftovers plus mac and cheese from Costco. I attempted to make some peanut butter cookies but I forgot the altitude difference and they are as flat as pancakes. They taste ok but sure don’t look like peanut butter cookies. I think Derek will be glad when Chelsea returns and takes over the cooking again.
We forgot to check the eggs yesterday. We found a few today.
It seems I am picking up clutter all day long, loading the dishwasher, cooking food, doing laundry, but the house still seems a mess. I’ll leave that to Chelsea. I’m just glad she can have a change of pace, helping her sister after surgery. I checked with Ky to see when I can help her but it seems she has all her friends and current “boyfriend” lined up for the next week. Nice she has a good network.
And I still make my daily call to brother Richard, who will have an upcoming surgery to remove one toe where his infection has spread to the bone. He complains about the food at the nursing home. He says there is not enough protein. But, they are giving him his fresh mushrooms and kiwi. And brother Ronnie has a new Rx plan that doesn’t cover one of his diabetes drugs. It ran him $821.23 for a 30 day supply of Toujeo. I guess they will change to something else on the formulary. What a bummer! Diabetics get hit hard!
Chelsea arrives home tonight, late, and we leave early as I have to get my stitches out on my right knee. Friday night we have dinner plans and a Bohemian Symphony with a neighbor couple. I like life in both places…here with the grandkids and home with the old farts.
Derek got home and we all played Left Right Center a few times. Camden won the first game and wanted to take the money and run but we said we weren’t done playing. Then Derek won and said he was going to take all the money and Camden nearly went mad! But we managed to keep playing and having fun.
Chelsea is waiting for her plane to depart and Liv is trying to bargain to go along with Dad to get her at 11 p.m…way too late for a school night. I hear her sniffling as she returns to her bed.
Well, I guess we made it through our duties for the week. We leave tomorrow early in the morning. It’s been fun…but I just hope we don’t end up getting really sick! Oh well. We treasure these times with the grandkids.
