The Blur of our Holidays

The last 10 days have been a blur. Our plan for Christmas was small, local celebrations with the Des Moines Beattie/Stowes. We had seen our out of town Beatties in Chicago for Thanksgiving, so we didn't plan to see anyone for Christmas. However, Christmas Eve turned from combat wrapping of presents that had been hidden at Grandpa's to keep little, searching eyes from discovering Christmas surprises, to wondering if 2010 would find us planning a funeral for Grandpa Bob instead of celebrating the birth of the Baby Jesus. Scott, Amy and Marilyn rushed to the ER at 11:30pm.

Earlier in the afternoon, we met at the Science Center to go to the Da Vinci exhibit, which was fascinating. Then we all gathered at our house for Christmas Eve dinner and gift giving with Grandpa Bob and Amy and Liam. Everyone had a wonderful time and enjoyed an Italian inspired pasta dinner. There wasn't a hint of discomfort by Grandpa. As he was getting ready for bed he had excruciating pain in his chest and he thought he was having a heart attack. Thankfully, he called 911, lives 500 feet from the fire station and he was able to be transported to the ER to be treated.

There was little to no sleep that night by any except the children in the family. Christmas morning found us expecting that Bob was going to surgery to repair an Aortic Dissection. Three boys awoke before the sun to see what magic had transpired while they slept. They were told that dad was at the hospital, and that Grandpa was very sick. Not exactly news one wants to hear while exploring stockings and the gifts beneath the tree. Sam ran back upstairs to bed crying. Nick and Jake decided to start dividing the gifts into piles by recipient. I was tired, had slept a few hours on the couch with the telephone in my hand. My children (or mostly Sam) have expectations of what Christmas morning was supposed to look like. None of the above details were included in said expectations.

Presents were opened with just mom. Sam decided midway into the little boys' treasure hunt, to try to enjoy the gifts as well. I think each were pleased with what they received, but all the magic was completed by 6am. In the future, I may declare that no one can wake anyone else up before the sun rises. We baked cinnamon rolls for a healthy Christmas breakfast and then the playing with new games, building new legos and logging onto a new computer ensued. I spent most of the rest of the morning in ER with Scott. Not the way I wanted to spend Christmas morning either.

Bob didn't end up going to surgery. Medicine was started to decrease his blood pressure in hopes that he could avoid going to the OR because the surgeon was not hopeful that he would survive. He was finally moved to the ICU about 10am. Phone calls to family were made around 5am to alert everyone to the situation and it turned out that all of Scott's sisters were able to make it to Des Moines on Christmas. I was not convinced that Bob was going to live to see December 26.

The Beatties have a way of having life threatening or life ending situations happen around Christmas. Thirteen years ago Scott's Grandma Edna (Ellen's mother) died after a ruptured Aortic Aneurism on December 23. Ten years ago Grandma Ellen (Scott's mom) died very suddenly from a "cardiac event" on December 23 and now Grandpa Bob enters the ER on December 24. Scott's pretty sure he knows what DAY he will die, just not what YEAR. He may have a point.

Last week we saw all the grandchildren and families able to make it to Des Moines to, at the very least, pay tribute to Grandpa Bob in the event that this turns into a life-ending process. I am so glad that everyone was able to see him. Everyone felt robbed of the chance to say good-bye to Grandma Ellen because of the way she was ushered into Heaven. It was hard for those of us left behind, but for her, she probably felt no pain and was instantly in the presence of Jesus.

Bob was able to slowly wean from the IV medication to oral medication to maintain a low blood pressure and the CAT scans show that the hemorrhage in his aorta is resolving. He is struggling with bleeding probably in his GI tract, but may be able to go home as early as tomorrow. He needs to start to eat more, and I am hoping that he will be open to our assistance and checking in on him more often than we used to.

This was not the post I was anticipating, but I am glad to say that we can celebrate Grandpa Bob's surviving a near death experience in the truest sense. I didn't even get photos of any of the gift opening or even Christmas Eve. Maybe it is better that way.

I thank God for sweet Marilyn who has been so caring and willing to stay with him as needed. I am also thankful that Ann, Sara and Karen were able to change plans to quickly travel here and stay for their Holiday Week. I pray for continued healing and that Bob will feel stronger very soon. We are blessed to have him as the Patriarch of the Beattie Clan.