Peyton spent Saturday - Sunday with us while her parents visited friends and attending a MSU Bears Basketball Game in Springfield. We were the winners in that deal! She is pure joy and energy and makes us smile! She is sooooo smart and quite the teaser. What a hoot!This past week has been an emotional roller coaster for my family, as my Daddy (age 82) was diagnosed with inoperable, terminal cancer (gall bladder and liver). He and Mom have been married for 60 years, and she is taking it very hard. Daddy is actually taking it the best of all of us, commenting, "I've had 82 years and a great life". How special. He was hospitalized Tuesday - Friday. He now has a hospital bed in the living room and a wheel chair in case we need it, but nothing has really changed at this point. In fact, he is feeling a little better since they boosted him up in the hospital with IV's, etc. Home Health is going to come 3 times a week and a physical therapist to help him regain some strength. We really don't know what he is looking at yet, as the meeting with the oncologist isn't until Wednesday to find out the results of the needle biopsy and if chemo therapy would benefit him, comfort wise - weighing of course the side effects. It is so hard to see your parents in failing health.
Peyton was the best medicine possible for them this weekend - especially Great Grandma. Amanda, Peyton and I started out Saturday morning with a visit to the great grandparents for breakfast. My brother, Mark, came Friday, so he was there too. Peyton actually let him pick her up this time. She has seen him many, many times and had made up with Great Aunt Mary quite some time ago, but Mark is big, and I think she was scared of him. She was quite fond of her second cousin Joe too, who was also in Clinton for the weekend. Peyton is crazy about her great grandma and loves playing dolls, etc. with here.
After her parents left for Springfield, Peyton, Papa and Grammy had a great time just playing. She jumped around in her crib for a while (not sure that is allowed, but oh well) - then she saw a ball, so we played 3-way catch with the ball for what seemed like a long time. She can catch and throw like a pro - I think her Daddy has been working with her. She would giggle and giggle and tease her Papa about not throwing it to him, etc.
The 3 of us went back to Mom and Daddy's so I could fix a fried chicken lunch for everyone - a belated birthday celebration complete with ice cream cake from Dairy Queen for Joe who turned 22 earlier in the week. Then it was back here for a nap - or so Grammy thought! Peyton wasn't so sure, but after having to go potty (she really did) and delaying it as long as she could, she finally went down for a nap. She has gotten quite good at the art of "stretching" things out before naps and bedtime.
Peyton accompanied us to the annual Hawthorn Bank Bowling Party Saturday night and had a great time. She wasn't very happy that she couldn't actually bowl, but she enjoyed watching all the activities. She was really good and visited their bathroom at least 4 times! She had an accident free day on Saturday, so that was great.
Sunday we went to the great grandparents' for a quick visit before church - Peyton was not happy that Joe was still in bed - she wanted to see him! Church was interesting - she was having a great time in the nursery with Papa before church actually started, but when they came to the sanctuary, she had to potty, wanted to walk around, etc., so we finally gave up and just walked around etc. for the rest of the time. She enjoyed coffee and donut time though. Afterward she wanted to go back and play with Granny, so we stopped by over there for an hour or so before coming home.
Peyton loves to help and to cook, so she helped me in the kitchen a little before her parents came to get her. She was happy to see them and was wound for sound, chattering non-stop. What fun. All three of us had a super good time for the weekend.
