I have always liked to be called Nana over Granny and that’s what Nate calls me and Natalie will no doubt follow suit, these are Bill’s Daughters 2 children. When Bill’s Son had his 2 little girls I just assumed it would be the same, but found out that his wife’s Mother had chosen to be called Nana herself which is no big deal so I had to figure something else for them to call me.

I certainly didn’t like the idea of little kids calling me by my name and I wanted something easy so I decided on Juju since my niece had called me Aunt Juju many years ago. I am of course closer to Jodi’s kids than Billy’s anyhow so no big deal. I thought when Eric had Ethan I would get to be Nana to him, but Eric still referred to me as Granny to Ethan because he couldn’t remember what everyone wanted to be called.

Eric had a Granny and a Papaw. Bill gets to be Pappy of course to every one unless Eric forgets and calls him Papaw to Ethan. Chris’s Mother wants to be called Mom Mom, well I know it gets all confused for Eric with everything he is going through so I told him Granny is fine and he really appreciated my change of heart. Even though I feel my age I simply never thought of myself as a Granny, but I’ll live with it.

I really enjoyed being called Mom and Mama, I don’t ever remember my Son calling me Mother. Mother to me is so formal, but we all choose how we want our children and their offspring to address us. Even when Eric referred to me to others he never said my Mother, it was always my Mom and when he was small of course it was my Mama and he called me Mama until he was a teenager then he thought it sounded to babyish.

Eric called this morning to let me know they are doing surgery this afternoon to embed the permanent pain pump which will go directly to his spine and will take a couple hours to do. He has been in the hospital to build up his platelets so they could do the surgery. He said the levels had been around 16,000 and now they have them built up to over 100,000 they feel it’s safe for the surgery.

Just since August he has had 3 consecutive days of Chemo and 3 weeks off each month and since he has maintained keeping weight on even though his gallbladder was bad they decided to add radiation so he has now had 2 doses, but instead of small consecutive doses they have hit him with 3 times the regular amount in 2 treatments if he hadn’t had the extra weight they wouldn’t have done that. No wonder all of his levels are so low.

Last month he told me that the Cancer was already in his bones and we had been under the impression from the other hospital that they hadn’t reached that far yet. That’s when I kind of lost it and got really depressed, but I’m working through all that now and learning to deal better with the situation. I’m sure all of the positive energy sent our way has really helped and I’m really grateful for all the thoughts and prayers.

My son called over the weekend to let me know that Ethan David may be here a month early. He also said they had to give steroid shots to help develop the baby’s lungs or maybe I misunderstood that part. I’m not a very medically inclined person, but Bill’s daughter is a nurse and so is Eric’s wife and Bill thinks because his daughter is in the medical field that the knowledge rubbed off on him, so he tries to explain stuff to me.

I never really thought I would ever be a biological Nana so I’m really thrilled and can’t wait to see what he looks like or who he takes after. I have been gathering baby stuff together for our visit and I told him to call and let us know when she starts labor so we can be ready to jump in the car and go. It’s kind of hard to ask for vacation time when we don’t really know when the baby is going to be born.

I wanted to be there when Ethan is born, but just so long as he’s there and healthy when we get there I’ll be happy. I hate that they live so far away because I wont get to see him very much and watch him grow. I’m very happy that Jodie let me be a Nana to Nate so Nate will always have a special place in my heart. I’m pretty sure Eric will call me Granny to Ethan because that’s what he called his, but I like Nana and I don’t feel like a Granny.

I didn’t get to be Nana to Bill’s two Granddaughters because Chris’s Mom wanted to hold that title. I also didn’t want little people calling me by my first name so I picked my own name that would be easy for them to use, Ju-Ju. Jodie is also going to deliver a little girl August 19th by cesarean so we’ll be here for that. I was concerned that the two births were going to coincide, but it doesn’t look like that will occur, I would hate to miss either birth.

My Son called tonight and it was so unexpected of him that I was afraid to call back because I thought there might have been a miscarriage. If you know my son and his history then you would understand my dread when I get an unexpected phone call. Chris lost their first baby and if anything would happen with this one, I honestly think he would lose it.

Thank God it was happy news and he wanted to let me know that they had done the 3D sonograms or ultrasounds and he just wanted us to know that they saw some really good pictures of the baby and have the CD so I can see it and hopefully make a copy when we go to Kentucky in August. They decided on Ethan David which I like, he decided against Eric David Jr, but the initials are the same.

I want to try and time it so that I will be there when it’s born, but even though they have been told that it will be Aug 6th or the 8th and not my birthday which is the 7th since it’s a first child and at 38 it could be early or late, but I’m hoping it will be born on my birthday, now how great of a present would that be?

Eric said it looks just like him except the jaw line which is his wife’s and he says he has lots of hair which Eric did not. They were able to see that he had all his parts and that takes a worry off new parents especially older ones. Since she’s a nurse she would know any signs to look out for if something wasn’t right and she has had all test done to insure everything is okay.

It wont be long and now that it’s getting nearer I am getting more excited. I could tell by the way he was talking that he hoped when we come down that I will stay a lot longer than was originally planned. Of course Bill can’t, but I could and either take a bus back because I’m frugal or I could fly, but I’ll have to wait and see. I’m going to bed because I need to get up early in the morning.

Both Bill and I had a great Nate day, but we picked up a bug. He has some type of stomach virus and I have it in my head, nose, and throat. However that didn’t stop us from riding the bike Friday and Saturday, but we’re suffering now and I look like a red raccoon from where my glasses were, thank goodness they are small glasses and not goggles.

I was on this computer very little this weekend, but I did answer a few e-mails and comments, but not many. I also apologise for not getting very much dropping done, but I’ll make up for it when I feel better. We did go to my previous place of employment today “Lowe’s” to pick up a power washer and I have so many stories I could tell about that place, which I might do soon.

I have to admit that Lowe’s was not one of my most favorite places to work because I felt like I was in a concentration camp with all of their rules and too many managers that liked to try and run someone else’s section. Remember that old saying about too many Chiefs and not enough Indians? Well, believe me I didn’t find it a nice place to work even though they have plenty of peons to push around they all try to out do each other.

I really feel like crap so I’m going to bed hopefully this icky feeling will be gone tomorrow. Goodnight!