On being a Nana!!

I guess being a Nana for the first time is a lot like being a mother for the first time, but at the same time, it is different. I haven't had much time with Lj but I am getting ready for when he comes home from Georgia. I have been crocheting and baking. Isn't that what Nana's do??? I have several projects that I am working on, nothing earth shattering or anything like that. Just little projects. I like doing little projects...it makes you feel like you have accomplished something and it relaxes me. And I have baking!! Cookies, cakes, brownies...getting ready for when he can eat these things. Right now they are just making me fatter. But then, Nana's are supposed to be chunky. I hope he gets home soon. I want to color, and paint and play with finger paints. I want to make pudding and bread and go to the park. I want to read stories and more stories and all that good stuff that you never had time to do with your own children because you were too busy with laundry and cleaning. That's why God gives you a second chance...you've slowed down and now you have time to play. I am just so happy to be a Nana. There is nothing better in the whole wide world. Nothing!

Joseph Michael Lecza

February 1, 2011 at 9:42PM weighing in at 6lbs, 7.5oz, my grandson was born and I was there , and I mean there, to welcome him into our world and family. It was an honor I never expected but was thrilled beyond belief when they asked me to be a labor coach.

I didn't watch my own children being born so to see LJ take his first breath and to see the look of awe on the faces of his parents was priceless.

There is so much to write, I don't know where to start.

I will start with the call I got from Christina saying she was in the ER because she had broken her fibula in a fall going to her car. She told me she was possibly going to need surgery so they would have to induce her. I showered and got dressed. Joey was on a flight to Connecticut and amazingly, he was the last flight to land. Someone was watching from above, probably many.

I arrived in the labor and birthing room about 10:30AM. They had just started giving her the pitocin to start her labor. She was 80% effaced and 5-6 cm dilated. So good for a 1st baby. We were looking at at 9 PM birth or there abouts. Okay, Joey arrives in Connecticut and Bob Imperato went to pick him up. This is Joey's second family and he is their 5th son. He was in the hospital at 11:30 AM. Kisses all around. Nurses in to check and they were happy Daddy had arrived because they knew it would make Mommy calmer. So true. Now comes the boring part. The wait was on. Everyone but me was sleeping because no one but me had slept the night before. I sat in a rocking chair rocking to develop my rocking muscles because I knew I was going to need them. Labor started getting stronger after about 2 hours. Christina was a trooper. She was breathing through them but they were getting closer and stronger. About 3PM they gave her the epidural and she was comfortable for a while and she slept. Again I was left watching the monitor and she was sleeping though some strong contractions. She changed position at some point and the contractions got much worse. I would say she probably disturb the comfortable world that LJ was in and now he wanted out. WE still had a few hours to go. The doc delivered a few by c-section and another one down the hall but he kept checking in on Christina. About 9:15PM, Christina got an incredible urge to push and the pain medication was no longer working. The nurses were great. They told her what to do, they got the doc, he checked her and told her to push when she wanted to push. This kid had 3 contractions, pushed 9 times and LJ was born and on her belly. I was amazed, AMAZED!!! I got to hold her broken leg during the whole birth so I saw his head bulge and then crown and then saw his beautiful little face. He has beautiful dark hair. Mom and Dad were in awe and in love. Christina said it this morning to me...."It was like falling in love all over again.". Yes it is. Joe held his son and just stared at him, then Christina's Mom, Karen, got to hold him and then Me!!!! Oh my God, this is the greatest feeling in the whole universe. I talked to him and he listened and stopped crying and then he smiled! I know it was probably gas but I have my beliefs....leave me alone in my world...it was an I love Nana smile!!!!!! That's my story and I am sticking to it. Then Christina breastfed him and he took to it like a pro. Christina was shocked. AT this point Christina moved to her room on the 11th floor. LJ and Joey went to the nursery to be checked out and all the important stuff done. Christina was exhausted but beautiful!!!!! A very proud Mommy! Joey is hopelessly in love with his son. When he cries he picks him and walks with him and tells him stories and LJ quiets right down. I can't wait to hold him again.

So please bear with me if my blogs are suddenly updates on LJ. I can't help it...I am in love with my grandson. I will protect him to the ends of this earth and universe.

Thanks for listening. I leave you with this thought....If your children ask you to be a labor coach, don't turn them down, even if you are squeamish. It is an honor worth your weight in gold. And I know it will never get old even if I have 10 or more grandchildren.

I love the song by Dolly Parton: I Hope You Dance. On February 1, 2011, I DANCED, like I never danced before. Thank you again Christina and Joey. And thank you LJ, for coming into my life. I love you. XOXOXOXO

My JellyBean, aka LJ

We are in some serious countdown now. 2 days until JB's due date. I hope for Christina sake JB comes on time. There is nothing worse than going past the day that you have been waiting for for 9 months and no end in sight. I know, I have been there 3 times!!!!!

He will come when he is good and ready. I can't wait. I don't think I have ever been this excited. Ican't wait to see what he looks like, smells like, feels like. I am so in love with him already, I can't stand myself. I know this is how I will feel with all my grandchildren. This is a feeling that just doesn't get old. It's like puppy breath!

And so we wait......and wait.....and wait. If we think it is hard on us, it is awful for Christina. She has so much on her mind....the baby, labor, Joey making it home for the birth and all this snow that keeps coming and coming and coming. I know Joe will make it home. Christina will kill him if he doesn't. I think we should get a police escort from the airport!!! Anyone....can you arrange this!

Well, that is all for now. Will keep you posted.

Success!!!!!

As a lot of you know, on January 5th, I had my right hip replaced. It needed to be done. It no longer wished to be a part of my body. I can understand why...I have abused it over the years. As a young girl, I climb trees and fell out of them; I ice skated and did unintended splits, oh how they hurt; I was a gymnast and a cheerleader; I played field hockey, basketball, softball, baseball, rode my many bikes and fell off them. Yes, I can see why it no longer wish to be abused. It had had enough!

So now, I have a brand new hip and 50 staples, I think they made a mistake and put in a zipper. LOL I am up and walking around with the aid of a walker or a cane, depends on how I feel. My biggest challenge is getting in and out of bed but I am doing it.

I had the surgery at Hospital of St. Raphael's and got great care. My surgeon preferred that hospital to Yale because of the risk of infection. I had wonderful nurses everywhere I went and doctors. All in good spirits and not a bad attitude in them. I saw many nurses that I worked with when I did my clinical, they are still there, many years later. I have never had my name band checked so often. Not one pill goes down your throat that they aren't checking it. They were right on top of my pain. I have no complaints. Sheryl stayed after the holiday to be with me and of course, Sue is always with me because I just wouldn't feel safe without her there. Joey is home so he and Christina came up and Melissa from work. I kept falling asleep on them.
Sheryl went home on Saturday to avoid the snow. I will miss her.


PT came in the day after surgery and got me up and moving. Excellent. At first I thought she was out of her mind but I did it with her help. I was told I could go home Saturday morning but with a big storm coming my surgeon said if PT cleared me to go, I could go. I went! I was home just as the flakes started falling on Friday. Now I have PT and nursing through the VNA coming twice a week. Mostly to do my INR's and answer questions, take out the staples next week. I should be walking without any devices by the end of next week. There are so many precautions with hip surgery. And as I nurse I know them BUT when they pertain to you it is not easy. Each day I am getting stronger. Walking is my best exercise but I do some leg lifts and toe touches with my toe to the floor. I still can't sleep on my side well and I can't wait to do that. I think once the staples are out I will be able to do it. I am NOT a back sleeper!

Oh, the surgeon did tell me I have small bones....who knew! I knew there had to be some part of me that was small.

Well, I must go walk and take care of business. I will keep you posted.

New Year's Resolutions

I usually don't make resolutions at the beginning of the year, because like most people I don't keep them. This year I feel I want to try and succeed with at least one. I have made a few and if I can make it to the middle of February, then I am on a roll.

I don't need to quit smoking. I did that 2 years ago after my MI. And just a note....I will NEVER do that again. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID.

Resolutions 2011:

1. more postings in my blog;

2. more crocheting and knitting;

3. more projects completed;

4. learn and master some different crafts;

5. stay in touch with those I love...through letters, fb, emails, full page ads in all the major newspapers in the country....LOL

6. getting healthier and staying healthier.

I am sure I could come up with at least 3000 more but this is a start. I have to stay off this computer and get off my butt. I am going to have a grandchild soon and I want to be around to see him graduate from college.

I want to travel, and I want to move somewhere warmer with new things to do. I know I could just stay in New Haven and there are millions of places I have never been and should see. I am making a bucket list but I don't want to call it that. I have not been anywhere much in the USA and we have a beautiful country and I want to see it before I die.

Let's lighten this up. I want to do things again. The winter is a good time to sit and crochet, knit or whatever but the spring and summer I want to walk the beaches looking for sea glass. I love the stuff and it is exercise too.

The girls are doing wonderful and Joey will soon be a father and a husband. I have done my job with them but I want to be a fun and active Grammy or whatever LJ wants to call me.

So by writing this I am fulfilling one of my resolutions and it feels so good.

Life is good and I like it.

Saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new

Here we are on the last day of 2010. Where has this year gone? Last January 1st, I thought the year would never pass. I didn't wish the year gone but I wanted to do that. You see, Joey had just left for Iraq. I don't think I have ever been so scared in my life. Scared for him...what do I know of war. I just know what the movies and the documentaries show us. He was not here for Christmas, not here for his birthday, the entire family was lost. The only way I got through it was thinking he was still safe down in Georgia at Ft. Stewart. I watched for his posts on fb because then I knew, for the moment, he was safe.

In March, Sue and I went south to North Carolina for Sheryl gastric bypass surgery. I had mixed feelings about this surgery but she assured me this is what she wanted and needed and I supported her. It is always scary watching someone you love undergo surgery for the first time...so much could go wrong. I don't often pray, but my prayers were answered and she came through the surgery fine. I am so proud of her. This surgery was a big life change, a positive one. i thought this surgery meant that she would only be able to drink liquids for the rest of her life. Nope, she eats everything, some things don't agree with here but they may one of these days. To date, she has lost a person. It is amazing. If I wasn't such a chicken I might consider doing it too, but there are side effects I don't like to do....like vomit!

Sue and I got a chance to drive around Raleigh. The weather was actually very warm for end of March, beginning of April. We turned on the AC. We had rented a mini van for the trip because we had to take Dani, Tank and Shania. The trip went better than anticipated. I wasn't worried about the dogs but Shi with the dogs....all the dogs. Dani, Tank, Romeo and Tyson. All went well. Just one altercation with Tank and Romeo over a puppy at the dog park. Romeo and Tank went to the vet's for treatment and are still the best of friends. Even though Romeo is little, he is still a bully breed.

Moving on. Sue and I enjoyed the trip but it is always nice to be home. I like having a mini van and the dogs love it. They have more space, we can fit their beds and they just settle and sleep. April brought Sue's birthday and we celebrated quietly. Sue shares her birthday with her stepdad so we went there for cake. All in all, April was quiet and so was May. Many, many family birthdays in May. Happy birthdays went around but phone and facebook. We should all meet at a park on a given day and have one big party. It would be nice to have all the families together in one place.

Joey came home in May for a month. It certainly was mixed feelings for me. We had to send him back to the war. Luckily, he was not in Afghanistan. Still, everytime I heard of something happening in Baghdad, I sent a message and he would tell me not to watch the news. Being superstitious, I had to watch the news. It was good seeing him, he looked healthy and happy. We didn't see enough of him but he had a lot of people to see. He went back in the middle of June, but before he left, he proposed to Christina. I was very happy and beside myself. Christina is wonderful and keeps Joe in line. A good thing so I knew this would be good thing. Christina takes over where the Army leaves off. And in May, I went to the 11-7 shift at work. I was having trouble keeping up the pace on days and my hip was killing me so I knew it was time to switch. It has made a big difference. I don't know why I ever went to days...I am a night person.

On June 25th, I got a call from Joey. He apologized for not calling sooner but sometimes it is hard to get the phone. He assured me all was well over there and with him. Then, he asked me if I was sitting down. I could not imagine what was coming next. I was shocked but so happy. I was going to be a Grandmother!!!! I have been waiting for those words for so long. I was so happy, I couldn't believe it and I couldn't wait to tell everyone who would listen. What a birthday present. Earlier in June, we celebrated father's day with a big picnic at our house. We had everyone, all the fathers and the mothers, sisters and brothers and kids. It was great. I think it should be a tradition. Maybe we wouldn't have steak every year but a cookout with all the fixings. And strawberry shortcake for dessert!

In August, Sue decided to venture out on her own and take on some dog walking. She is doing great and growing. So this has been good. She has been doing some overnight sitting as well but I don't like it. I know she will be a success. You go girl!!!!!

Stephanie decided she wanted to have the bypass surgery because she had had knee surgery for something that was not weight related. And in September I flew down to NC for her surgery which was also a success. And while I was worried about the surgery, Steph had had surgery before and done fine. I stayed with Sheryl while I was there and it gave us some time to have some quiet time which I have been missing. Sheryl, when she was in school, would be taking to her friends after school but would get off the phone when I came in because she wanted to talk with me. I always felt so honored. I guess I did something right. Steph came through the surgery just fine and came home with no problems and today, 3 months later, has lost 60 pounds. I am so proud of her...I know it wasn't easy. They both look fantastic.

I believe it was October when we found out for sure that we were having a boy and he was going to be named Joseph Michael. He would be called LJ for short but he would always be my little Jelly Bean (that's how big he was in his first ultrasound).

We haven't seen much of Christopher but he has busy in his own right with a very important job. We are very proud of him because his undertaking has taken a lot will power. We miss though at the family functions, but understand. We will be getting him more involved this year.

Well, it has happened. The hip needs to be replaced and that will be done very shortly. While I was all wrapped up with the hip, I realized that it was just a very short time until Joe was home. He was again on American soil on Dec. 5th. He was in Ft. Stewart and safe. He came home for the holidays on Dec. 23. He will be here for a month. The bad thing about him going back is he will be taking my grandchild with them. I think they should leave him here and they could come visit. It will only be a few months and they all will be home in August!!!! I new milestone to wait for.

This has been my year but I am looking forward to the new year and all it will bring. I am always excited at this time. Spring is around the corner, yes, it is. It is like getting ready for the new school year. I have learned to knit and crochet and I love it. I will be making lots of things. I want to learn how to quilt. I love beading and looking forward to doing more of that.

Life is good, and I am enjoying it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!!!

Lots of adventures

I am so sorry that it has been so long. I guess I have been busy and I have been. I changed shifts at work. I now work 11pm to 7am. Much better for me with everything and my health. I thought I was going to hate it but realized how much I missed it. I never should have changed to the day shift. So much harder!!!!

That in itself was one adverture. I was very nervous about doing it because it changes the whole household. But it all seems to be working well even though we are still working out the bugs in the system. Now I have also cut my hours from 40 to 32. Much, much better. More time at home to do things and be with Sue and the animals. You know the drill.

Now, last March, my Sheryl had gastric bypass surgery done. Today she has lost 108 pounds. I was worried about her and this surgery and even though I am a nurse I didn't understand it. I though she would be eating liquids for the rest of her life and that just didn't sit well with me. However, I have since learned that she can eat almost anything. Some things make her sick and she has to wait and try them at a later time. She has to chew her food well, which I know I don't do, and I am sure most of the human race doesn't do, either. I am so proud of her. I saw her in May and could see a difference in her, clothes were looser, jaw line more pronounced and she looked healthier. Did I say how proud I was of her for doing this? She is a very strong woman. But then, I didn't raise wusses!

Now, September 28, 2010, I flew to Raleigh, because my other beautiful, strong daughter, Stephanie, decided she was going to have the surgery and decided to use Sheryl's surgeon for many reasons. And I am very glad she did.

Now, I hate to fly. I don't know why, I guess because I am older, who knows, because I certainly don't know. The closer the date came to leave the nastier I became and I can only say it was because my comfortable world was being violated. Poor Sue, she took the brunt of it but was very patient with me and I do so appreciate it. Thank goodness we have been together 10 years because she knows just how to handle me. Steph arranged the entire trip and thank goodness she order wheelchair transportation in the airports because I really needed it. So the first bad thing for me was these were not direct flights. OHHHHH God!! I thought for sure I would end up in Southeast bumf**k with no cell phone service or something. I didn't. Only because the wheelchair people got me to the right gate at the right time. Thank you w/c people!!!! Okay, now, I left from Bradley, flew into Charlotte, NC but couldn't get off the plane and ride with Steph from Charlotte to Raleigh. Nope, not allowed. So went on to Raleigh, where the girls picked me up about 9pm. We had to be up at 3am to get Steph to the hospital by 5am. Done!

While Steph was in the hospital, Sher and I had some quality time. I have missed this since everyone has moved away. No longer can I call them and say want to do this or that. I didn't do it a lot but it was nice to know they were there. Anyway, Sheryl took me out to dinner at Los Tres. I haven't been to a Mexican restaurant since I got food poisoning at one here about 12 years ago. I have been dying to try again because I miss real Mexican food. I had the enchilada plate and it was sooooo goood! I ate every morsel on my plate. It was just nice to sit and talk to Sheryl and not have the dogs bothering us for something. Then we went back to her apartment and watched TV. I really enjoyed the rest while I was visiting. No pressure.

Too soon it was time to leave. Now this is really where the adventure started. The girls dropped me at the airport. I got to my gate only to find that the flight was delayed which meant I would miss my connecting fight. I was hoping the hour and a half layover would allow me to catch the flight. Well, come to find out, the flight was cancelled. Now I am really worried but I had to pull up my big girl pants and deal with it. I wanted to cry. I met a lot of nice women in the same predicament as me so we kind of hung together and helped each other. Needless to say, I made it to DC but missed my connecting flight. Changed my flight, got a new one, had some time to kill so I was watching the football game and reading. I was also people watching. I love that. I get a call from Sue that my flight is delayed. It hasn't even come up on the screens at the airport yet but it was true. Suddenly, someone must have hung an information sign on me somewhere because everyone was coming up to ask me if this was true. I guess I do talk louder than I thought. Wee, to make a long story shorter, I ended up with a 6 hour layover, and got home about midnight. Sue picked me up and I was never so happy to see her. I almost cried. Next time...I am renting a car and driving!!!!!

I didn't tell you how proud I am of Steph for doing this surgery but I am. I have seen a big change in her esteem and attitude with life. I know as the weight comes off, she is going to be a force to behold. Watch out world.

Just before I left to go down south, I found a wonderful blog called Me verses Lupus. I love, love, love the woman who writes it. She is so down to earth and honest. I try to read her everyday and have even written comments, which is totally not me. So I must really be comfortable with her. She just deals with life and lupus and some days that is not an easy thing to do. Trust me I know and unless you have it you will not know.

This has gotten longer than I thought but it feels good to write. I will try and do it more ofter, I promise because it helps relax me.

Thanks for listening and remember....Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.