Family

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On April 11th 2001 around midnight, I received a call from my Son-In -Law to say my daughter was now 5 centimetres. Like a dope, I said, 'What does that mean?" He replied, 'The baby is about to be born!"
I woke my husband to tell him I was going to the hospital. He could not come with me, as he had an early shift 4am.
I threw on some clothes, got into my old Nissan Bluebird and prayed for her to get me to the hospital, which was about 15 minutes drive. A red light flashed on the dashboard, telling me all was not well!Tough luck! said I, we are going to get there, come hell or high water! We did!
I had access through the Emergency ward, which allowed me into the Maternity ward. I found her room and was promptly told by my daughter to GET OUT! I found a waiting room and filled myself with obnoxious coffee, listening to her wails. I prayed to Christ to help her.I remember feeling lump in my throat,and refused to let the tears come!

No less than 15 minutes passed and I heard the midwife say 'baby's here'. No sound, no nothing. I held my breath and if you can understand me, I must have sent so many prayers in that particular moment, all the Angels must have felt bombarded with my petitions!
Next thing, I heard a baby cry and the midwife saying; 'about time too!'.
My Son-In -Law then appeared with the little miracle. He was grey when he was born, I was told.He came in, in such a hurry, he almost knocked himself out! I asked if I could hold him and I was allowed. This little fellow opened his eyes and looked directly into mine. Then our GP appeared, dressed in a 3 piece suit, fresh white shirt, gorgeous tie, looked at me and said; Congratulations Grandma! We are lucky to have this GP as he is a gynaecologist,and Obstetrician.
He tended my daughter and once he left, I went in to see her and of course, I did not stay long, I wished the three of them every blessing.

Back to the car........The red light was shining and refused to go out. Somehow, I got home around 1.30am.
A mechanic told me later there was no way a car could have made that journey with the engine being in such a bad way.
I looked after the baby from day 5, several times and loved every minute of him!
Around 16 months later, my daughter was expecting her 2nd child. She had the test for Downs Syndrome and the test came back that there was a high suggestion that she was carrying a disabled child, which resulted in having tests carried out. The first one was a disaster, which meant she had to spend the next month,{over Christmas} to wait for the 2nd test.

I don't know where this came from, but I was TOTALLY COVINCED there was nothing wrong with my 2nd Grandchild.
Hence, the 2nd test proved he was healthy! THANK YOU GOD!

Fast forward to last year. My first Grandson is in Day Care, whilst his parents are at work. Day Care building is directly next to Woolworth's where I shop. I drive there one day, get out of my car and I hear a voice calling; NANA, NANA! I look over to a chicken wire fence and there is my eldest Grandson. I promised he could sleep over the next night, and after answering several questions, we kissed lip-to-lip through the chicken-wire-fence. I came home and said to my husband, isn't it sad that we should be separated by a fence? Isn't it sad that through circumstance, his Mother has to work as well as his Father? At least at the beginning of our marriage, we managed somehow on my husband's wage and I stayed home to mind the three children. Yes, sacrifices were made,but we knew this and we accepted this, at the time.
When the children were at school, I took part-time work, to help out. In fact, I am still working even though they have all left home and became married! So there is a definite difference today.
And I have discovered that this difference is not all about greed. It is about necessity! For the last 7 years, I have babysat the Grandsons, as does my sister for her Grandson. It was not known in my time, to do this, or perhaps it was, but maybe I was willing to sacrifice material wealth, rather than work to give our children all the trinkets they thought they needed? At the end of the day it is TIME which is the most valuable commodity.
Unfortunately, it is necessary for today's young to bring home two salaries, with or without children. Is this not sad?

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