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Granny

We didn't pass out any Christmas gifts to friends, neighbors, or teachers this year.  Great intentions were taken over by time with Granny during her final weeks and the family who came to say goodbye.  Our wonderful Granny passed away on December 14 a couple of weeks after being hospitalized for a urinary infection, high blood pressure, minor pneumonia from fluid in her lungs, and later what they thought was a small stroke that took away her ability to eat and speak for the most part.  She was taken home from the hospital on hospice care.  We were grateful to be able to visit her in the hospital and hold her hand, as well as visit every couple of days at her home for the coming weeks.  We were on our way to her house when she passed away and were told that we got there 7 minutes after she died.  I know she was ready to go and it was what she wanted, but I will miss her greatly.  Whenever anyone asked who I wanted to be like when I grew up I always said my Grandma.  She was overly generous, honest and sincere, witty, fun-loving, hard working, and made everyone feel special and loved.  I still remember how much she knew about my roommates in college and what Kyle's favorite food and hobbies were only months after us getting married, what my kids were up to, etc.  She was very caring and easy to get along with.  And I never doubted how much she loved and missed Grandpa.


As of now in early February, Alexa still cries at least twice a week about how much she misses Granny, including a breakdown this morning.  When I asked the kids this afternoon (February 7) what they miss about Granny, Tyler said he misses playing Skip-Bo and UNO with her and Alexa said she misses sitting on her lap and having Granny read her books, especially This Old Man and The Muffin Man.  Alexa also misses painting their toes together, which we did a lot when we went to visit.  I'm glad the kids got to spend so much time with her and I worry that because they're so young they won't remember her at all as they grow older.  They had such a good relationship with her and loved to go to her house to hug and play with her, even at 99.  We saw her often, usually at least once a month if not more.  She would still have both of them climb right up on her lap and she would run cars over Tyler's belly and legs, sing songs, read books, and entertain the kids from her recliner.

Here are some videos of our Granny Gran:
Granny picture slideshow
Granny reading to Alexa
Granny reading to Alexa and Tyler
Alexa and Tyler singing to Granny in the hospital

Anne, Brendan, and Jonny and Michelle's family flew out for the funeral and Adam and Karen's family drove out from Indiana.  We went up to Bancroft, Idaho for her burial.



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