• Heimlich hugs…

    January 22, 2013 / 5 Comments

    Last night, I had a sweet visit with my firstborn via Facetime.  While it is not as good as an in person visit, of course, it is the next best thing.  The grandchildren were already in bed and I didn’t get to see them but that gave my son and me a little extra time to catch up.  He is a physician, board certified in both pediatrics and tropical medicine.  He spent the first few years, after residency, practicing in a pediatric group in an “upscale” setting.  While he enjoyed it, he longed for more challenges and an opportunity to work with those in greater need.  He spent the next almost seven years as a missionary doctor in the Andes Mountains of Peru.  He and his precious family loved the opportunity and the Quechua people.  There, my grandchildren quickly became bilingual.  (My son and his wife had taken about 6 to 7 months of intensive language school in the beginning.)  While in Peru, they also adopted my beautiful “Peruvian Princess” granddaughter.

    When they returned to the states a couple of years ago, my son accepted a position teaching at an outstanding medical school.  He teaches residents and medical students preparing for a future in pediatrics.  (And he has a much better disposition and personality than Dr. House!)  😉  He sees patients in a clinic setting as well.  He still uses his tropical medicine specialty teaching in frequent mission opportunities and at the medical school.

    He told me about an episode this past week which, thankfully, had a happy ending.  A three year old boy presented in acute distress after aspirating a GRAPE!  It was a scary time as he and his team worked to save the young child’s life.  At first, repeated efforts of the Heimlich hug were unsuccessful.  The child became unconscious and the parents were hysterical.  They were just before having to perform CPR, when one last abdominal thrust dislodged the grape!   No doubt the parents as well as my son and the rest of the team breathed a big sigh of relief.

    Over a long nursing career, I participated in more than my share of “codes”.  I’m thankful that I don’t have to do that anymore.  However, I am around four of my precious grandchildren often now and need to review my CPR!  I also need to teach them how to correctly perform the Heimlich maneuver.

    And I don’t think that I will feed them grapes anytime soon…

     Featured photo at top:  my son biking out west during college.

  • A little Déjà vu…

    January 7, 2013 / 4 Comments

    I was thirty-four years old when my youngest child was born.  His older brother and sister were twelve and ten.  Needless to say, he never wanted for entertainment.  It’s a wonder he learned to walk before he was one year old, since someone was always carrying him, but he did.  When he started talking, it was in paragraphs with an extensive vocabulary.  His outgoing and sweet personality was evident early on.  He still has it.

    He grew up, graduated from college and married his beautiful college sweetheart.  Now, they have an amazing baby girl.  She has the sweetest disposition to go along with her beautiful blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair.  Her mom says she’s just like her dad…and she is!

    Above and below:  love their similar expressions!

      

     

    Below:  walking with her Dad, wearing her Urlacher jersey with her tutu and Mary Janes!

  • Willow’s Adventure…

    December 6, 2012 / 10 Comments

    A true children’s story…thankfully with a happy ending! 

    The house was quiet and unusually still.  No music from the grand piano  below.  No sounds of laughter or the happy sound of children’s voices.  No sounds at all from the usually noisy kitchen.   Willow stood up on her back legs and sniffed.  She wondered where everyone had gone.  She glanced over at Midnight who was sound asleep in the corner of the gerbil cage.

    Suddenly, Willow noticed a small beam of light shining on Midnight’s head.  Where could that be coming from?!  She looked up.  The light was coming from the trap door above!  It was not completely closed!

    Curious as ever, she jumped on top of her exercise wheel and stood up…both of her front little paws on the trap door…and pushed!  The trap door sprung open!

    “Midnight!  Look!  A way out…let’s go,”  Willow whispered as loudly as she dared.

    “I’m not leaving Sweet Girl.  She feeds us and takes care of us!  I would miss her.  Besides, I’m too scared,” replied Midnight.  Then she stretched, yawned,  rolled over to the other side and went back to sleep.

    “Oookay then, I’m going by myself!  You should be brave like me, Midnight!  Here I go, I’m pushing the trap door open….and…I’m out!”

    The trap door closed behind Willow as she looked back into the cage to see Midnight sound asleep once again.

    What Willow hadn’t counted on was the distance from where the cage sat on Sweet Girl’s desk to the floor below!  She knew!  She would jump to the desk chair first and then to the floor!

    “GERONIMO!” she eeeked as loudly as she could as she practically flew to the seat of the chair and then to the floor below.

    Willow looked up – way up – to the cage above.  She could no longer see Midnight.  She could barely see part of the cage.  The trap door had closed.  It was now or never.

    Willow took a deep breath and stood up on her back legs to get a good look at everything.  Sweet Girl’s room was pretty.  It was filled with books and pillows and stuffed animals.

    “Okay, no time for a tour right now.  I must be on my way!  I’m FREEEEEE,”   Willow yelled as she skipped the other two bedrooms upstairs and jumped from the top step to the step below.

    “I’m FREEEEEE,”  she sang from step to step all the way down to the platform.  What she didn’t realize was that she was leaving a trail of poopy evidence of her escape!

    JUST as she made her way to the platform below, she came face to face with a very large animal!  The family’s Hungarian Vizla – who was very excited to see her!

    Willow’s heart was pounding in her tiny chest!  She scooted between the dog’s legs and ran for her life!

    It would be three days of her life she would never forget…three whole days of FREEDOM!  She scooted into the closest covered spot she could find – under the soft leather cushion of the club chair and she prayed no one would sit there!  At least, there was no way the dog could reach her here!

    Willow was just about asleep under a soft cushion on the chair, when she heard the sound of the back door and the family coming home.  The big dog ran to the family and tried to tell them about Willow.  They thought she was just excited to see them.

    Sweet Girl went upstairs to change her clothes.  She had competed in a swim meet that day and had done really well, but now she wanted dry clothes.  As usual, she walked over to say hello to Willow and Midnight in their cage on her desk.  At first, she thought Willow had  burrowed into the clean bedding in the cage and then she realized…Willow was gone!

    Sweet Girl was calm as she told her Mom that there was a problem but then the tears began.  She couldn’t help it.  The tears kept coming.  Willow was gone.  The whole family began searching.  They searched everywhere.  For hours and hours.  Then, they searched again.  Willow was gone.

    The poopy trail led to the landing and no further.  Everyone looked at the big dog with suspicion.  Hmmm…could she really have done that?!  Big dog did not look guilty.

    For three whole days, Willow wandered.  She saw the entire house from top to bottom.  She rested beneath soft pillows or in the dark beneath the sofa.  She found a few crumbs here and there to eat – but she was hungry.  Her heart always beat much too fast when she saw big dog.  She knew that she was in danger.

    For three whole days, the whole family searched and Sweet Girl softly cried.  Sweet Girl’s grandmother came over to help look for Willow.  She got down on her hands and knees to look under the big club chair and the sofa.  It made her sad that she couldn’t find Willow.  It made her heart hurt to see Sweet Girl so sad.

    For three whole days, the family eyed big dog with questions.  Sweet Girl’s Mom called the Vet and talked to him about the situation.  There was nothing they could do.

    Sweet Girl’s dad had the idea of setting live mouse traps and they did.  Sweet Girl placed some of Willow’s food in it…and then she prayed.  The whole family prayed for a little missing gerbil.  They prayed Willow was still alive.

    On the third day, they set the live mouse trap in the lower level den.  Grandmom was visiting.  She had been playing with Sweet Girl’s younger sister and brother.

    “Grandmom!  Look!  The sunflower seeds have been cracked open and eaten!  It has to mean Willow is alive.  And, look, the trap door is closed!”  Little sister was very excited.

    They were hopeful but the little cage was quiet.  No Willow.

    About that time, Sweet Girl and her Mom returned home and joined in the search.  They searched big brother’s room on the lower level carefully then closed the door.  They searched the other rooms and closed all the doors.  They put towels beneath the doors so Willow couldn’t scoot under.  Grandmom and Mom looked under the sofa and chair in the kid’s den.  They removed pillows from everything.  They searched and searched!

    Then Sweet Girl’s Mom began searching the play room with the large Barbie houses, the play kitchen set and the life size playhouse in the corner of the room.

    “She’s HERE!  I see her!  Oh my goodness, she’s still alive!”  cried Sweet Girl’s Mom.  Willow was on the other side of the large playhouse!

    Sweet Girl and Little Sister waited on one side and Mom and Grandmom on the other.  Willow was cornered!

    Mom and Grandmom were holding up a blanket to block Willow’s way.  They had their knees holding down the blanket on the bottom.  Just about that time, Willow scooted somewhere under the blanket and took off!

    “She’s under your feet!”  yelled Little Brother!

    Willow felt cornered and scared…but she was also tired and hungry.  She made her way under a big square cabinet and trembled.  She had spent the past three days exploring and seeing the great big house.  She missed Midnight.  She missed Sweet Girl.  Maybe it was time to go home…but she was still very scared.

    Sweet Girl, Little Sister, Little Brother, Mom and Grandmom waited…and waited.  Minutes turned into an hour.  They had scrunched blankets under all sides but one.  There was just one way out for Willow.  Sweet Girl put sunflower seeds just outside the edge of the chest and Willow would poke her head out just far enough to get them…and then back into the darkness.

    Mom called Dad at work.  He had the idea of placing Willow’s cage just outside the chest where Willow was hiding.  Midnight was placed inside their clear exercise ball and away from the scene.

    The minutes ticked by.  Sweet Girl and Grandmom were holding the blankets up on either side of the open door to the cage.  There was only one way in for Willow.  Sweet Girl made a trail of food leading up to the door.  Finally, Willow came out.  She crawled over by Grandmom and then over by Sweet Girl.  They held their breath.  Finally, it happened.  Willow walked up the ramp and into her cage!  Sweet Girl and Grandmom closed the door quickly!

    Everyone was so happy!  Willow was happy to be home!  She explored her cage and jumped on the exercise wheel.  She drank water to her heart’s content.  She went up to the second story and back down again!  Midnight was happy to have her friend back.  She had been lonely.

    Sweet Girl smiled and gave them both fresh food.  Sweet Girl was happy.  Then, she taped the trap door on the top securely closed!

    by Dianne McGregor Campbell.  Copyright 2012.

     The featured photo at top is of Midnight, missing her little cagemate Willow.

     

  • All that I need…

    December 2, 2012 / 2 Comments

    I spent this afternoon and evening at my daughter’s home playing with the grandchildren, preparing to cut out a dress to sew for my thirteen year old granddaughter, and enjoying my delicious birthday dinner.  Yesterday was my birthday and a full day of swim competition for the grandchildren, so we celebrated tonight.  My daughter prepared a tender, scrumptious roast with carrots and potatoes…and an amazing homemade chocolate cake with buttercream frosting.  On top of the cake was a generous scoop of the best homemade vanilla ice cream!

    I loved the gift they gave me – the “Blessed Holidays” angel from Jim Shore.  The colors and carved design on the angel are vibrant and exquisite…and I love that she has dimples!

     

    Three of my grandchildren had created cards for me.  (My oldest almost 15 year old grandson bestowed a 6’+ hug on me!)  I treasure everything that each of my eight children give to me.

    My daughter was watching closely and smiling as I carefully read the card that my eight year old granddaughter had personally drawn for me.  She was waiting for me to turn it over.  When I did, this was the powerful message that I found…to me, this precious child’s “grandmommer” (she calls me Grandmom or Grandmommy).

     

  • Over the river and through the woods…

    November 26, 2012 / 6 Comments

    Over the river and through the woods, to Aunt Penny’s house we go…

    Actually, it was eleven hours by interstate and the prairie farm backroads of Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas…but the end result was definitely worth it!  It had been two long years since we’d all been together in one place…my children, my grandchildren and myself. Not since the summer of 2010 when we all met in Chicago.  At that time, my oldest and his family were returning home from almost 7 years on the medical mission field in Peru.

    Thanksgiving 2012…and all my precious grandchildren

    We all drove from three different directions to meet in Memphis…where I had grown up…where my children were born and, sadly, where their father is buried.  My children’s paternal Aunt Penny and Uncle Mike graciously hosted our family in Memphis…along with their three sons, wives and four grandchildren.  Thank you, Aunt Penny and Uncle Mike!  We love you!  My oldest and his wife are host parents to a fourteen year old South Korean foreign exchange student this school year so this was her first Thanksgiving. Altogether, there were 27 of us there for the Thanksgiving feast!  It was a wonderful Thanksgiving and I found myself wishing more than once that their Dad could have been their with us…no doubt he was in spirit.

    On Friday night, my niece Sharon and her husband joined us for a fun Corky’s Barbecue dinner.  Delicious food and fun fellowship!  Sharon and Tommy’s son and his wife and their two children stopped by to see us.  They were headed to the Christmas tree lighting at their church so they couldn’t stay for Corky’s.  It was so good to see them!

    I loved watching all my grandchildren playing together and sometimes pairing off by age and interests.  It thrilled me to see the love (and talent for) art in all my grandchildren as well as the love of music.  Four grandchildren are superb on the piano and one plays the violin beautifully.  (I know I sound just like a grandmother – what can I say?!  It’s true all the same.)  The love of books and reading was evident as well.

    I was in grandmother heaven until it came time to say goodbye to each one…then I was a crybaby.  Now, it will mean flights to see my sons and their families…and waiting until we are all together again.  Thankfully, for my daughter and four of my grandchildren, I can just get in the car and drive 14 minutes.  😉

    To see more of the Thanksgiving crazy fun, enjoy the slideshow below!  Just click the arrows to forward or reverse pics.

     

     

    P.S. For those of you who asked for them, the cookie recipes are now at the bottom of the previous post! 😉

    Note:  The Thanksgiving song above is here.

  • One week from today…

    November 14, 2012 / 5 Comments

    One week from today, I will be in a mini-van with my daughter and her family (seven of us) traveling (11 hours!) home to Memphis for Thanksgiving.  Memphis is where I grew up, fell in love and got married (39 years) and had three wonderful children.  My three sisters (two now in Heaven) and I spent so much time together in Memphis and Mississippi.  My nieces and nephews are so much a part of my life there.  The closer I get to Memphis, the more the memories come flooding in…whether I’m flying into the airport there or on a rare drive.

    The last time all of my children and grandchildren were in ONE location (always my dream), was in June 2010 in Chicago.  What a wonderful time we had!  My precious little Peruvian granddaughter – never shy – walked in first to the hotel room where we all were and proceeded to introduce her big sisters and then herself.  A perfect introduction.  Of course, she didn’t realize that she was the one everyone  was meeting for the first time!  (Except for me of course – I had been to Peru in 2008 where my son was a missionary doctor.)  Special memories.

    I’m looking forward to making more special memories as we are all together in Memphis with my late husband’s sister Penny and her family.  This time, my younger son’s fourteen month old  baby girl will be there too!  I can’t wait to hold her!  Although now she is so “busy” I probably won’t be able to hold her for long, but we can definitely play.  She will be so excited to be with all of her cousins!  My precious niece Sharon and her husband will come over for a fun barbecue dinner.  I can’t wait to see them!  I miss everyone and wish that we ALL lived closer to one another!  My youngest says “but, Mom, you gave us roots and wings”!  Let that be a lesson to me – about the “wings” that is!  😉

    Chicago 2010

     

    Featured photo at top:  Sweet baby girl!  She will have so much fun with her cousins in Memphis!

    I would be tempted to stay in Memphis and visit a while longer then fly back home to Iowa; however, I do not want to miss the first birthday that my baby girl and I have been able to spend together in a very long time.  My birthday (and her late Dad’s birthday also) is December 1.  Her birthday is December 4th!  She was almost born on OUR birthday.  She took the photo below at arm’s length under flourescent lights the night of the Great Pumpkin Party at our church!  Please remember:  flourescent lights are not kind to anyone!  😉