Brandon's Puppy

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.

This morning we went by Viv and Martin's house and visited with the new baby for a while. Not yet a week old (he will be in a few hours), he's already drinking 4 ounces and pays attention when he's talked to (well, he opens his eyes...I consider that paying attention!). I helped Viv change him, and we dressed him in a little sleeper outfit Matthew wore the day he came home from the hospital. It was very surreal dressing this tiny little guy in something my own baby wore, and looking over a few feet and seeing that baby of mine running around their room. After we left, I told Eric, "I really miss that baby phase", and I know why, it goes by way too fast.

So later on in the day we went to visit my paternal grandmother, who is not doing very well. There's nothing specifically wrong with her except old age (she's 95). She can't walk more than a few feet before she has trouble breathing, and most of the time she's sitting in her recliner, hooked up to her oxygen machine. Up until just a few weeks ago, she was very independent. She would put up a fight if anyone offered her any help, and she could be home by herself for extended periods of time. These days, she doesn't fuss when my aunt helps her bathe or go to the bathroom, and someone is with her all day. We were there for a couple of hours, and by the time we left, the house was full of people, coming by the check up on her and spend some time with her.

I looked at her aged arms and hands today, and I remembered visiting Brian earlier, and it was all too clear how short life is. One minute we're brand new getting used to the world around us, the next we're just waiting for our time to go. The cars we drive, the homes we live in, the clothes we wear, the jobs we have, the bills we pay...they don't matter. What does: the unconditional love and support of family and friends, through good times and bad, in the beginning, the middle and the end. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go wake my kids up and give them both hugs, breathe them in and hold on to them for just a moment, before the moment is gone.