I arrived home on March 11 after being in Alaska for almost a month, awaiting and participating in the birth of our grandson, Liam Russell. Some of you have already heard about Liam, but others haven't.
Liam and Catherine came home with me because of some problems with Liam's father. Catherine was a bit fearful of the situation and we made a decision to bring her and the baby back home to Michigan. The father was not happy about this even though he was never involved during Catherine's pregnancy and in fact, had been abusive during the pregnancy which forced Catherine to leave and spend time in a women's
We spent the last two days frantically packing up her apartment. I felt like Dorothy in the witch's chamber, watching the hour glass run out as I raced up to the post office, carrying in 16 large boxes, one at a time (had to make two trips), praying all the way. I made it there with the last box in the door at 5:26 pm. The postmaster said, "talk about cutting it close." Sweaty, sore and breathless, I nodded in agreement.
By that time, I had already dropped Catherine and Liam off at the airport as we couldn't fly together because of the last minute arrangements. We were worried about Liam, being only a week old and a fussy little guy at that, and so I prayed aloud on the way to the airport as Catherine sat beside Liam in his carseat in the back. As I drove and prayed aloud, I began to weep, out of gratitude that we had "made it" out of there and that we got everything done we needed to. and also for the anxiety I felt at seeing my daughter and grandson go it alone on a long trip, without my help.
I prayed that Liam and Catherine would be fine on the trip, that she would have no trouble breastfeeding, that the stewardesses would be helpful and that Liam would be content. Catherine had to change planes in Las Vegas and the final tally of hours traveled for her and Liam would be 12. God delivered, and Catherine said that she couldn't believe that Liam slept the entire trip - even through changing planes. He woke up and ate a couple of times quietly, went back to sleep and all was well. Amazing.
After dropping Catherine off at the airport at 4:15 pm, I returned to the apartment and that is when I took the remaining boxes to the post office. Thanks to two wonderful women who Catherine met at church, Chris and her daughter, Kirsten, who arrived at 3:45 pm, I was able to get the remaining boxes to the post office on time, finish organizing and getting my own bags loaded and ready for the airport. Chris and Kirsten were phenomenol in getting things finished and getting me out the door on time. We had several bags and boxes of things to give to good will as well as baby furniture, etc., that we just couldn't ship due to the huge expense. Chris, Kirsten and Chris's husband, Joe, are going to come back next week to take those items to the needy for us. Without their help, it would have been an even more stressful situation for me. Again, God is good.
I arrived at the airport on time, dropped off my rental car, checked my bags and was able to have dinner before boarding my first plane. Despite exhaustion, I couldn't sleep (I never can on planes anyway) and so arrived this morning at 9:25 am, bleary eyed and confused. Catherine and I have laughed on more than one occasion at our exhaustion. After my first trip to the post office, I drove back to take her and Liam to the airport and said, "OK, come on - we have to get to the hospital!" She said, "No, mom, not the hospital." I said, "I mean, I mean..." She said, "I KNOW what you mean." One time I heard her say to Liam, "Do you need to suck on your diaper, baby?" She caught herself and said, "I mean your pacifier..." Another time I asked Catherine if she wanted me to get her a glass of cereal. She asked me if I had seen her underwear when she meant her hair brush. Zoinks. We were tired. :0)
For a couple of days after that, we had trouble adjusting to the time. We got home exhausted, took care of things and slept for 3 hours. We are back in the groove, though.
As Catherine and Liam sleep upstairs and the quiet of night surrounds us, I am glad for the calm that finally fills me in the darkness and for the light of the Lord, as my heart is filled with peace and contentment in knowing that, once again, everything worked out just fine.
Copyright 2008 liamsgrandma
