The best gift EVER!

Okay, let me first say how much I hate BLOGGER...this loading pictures and all is just such a pain, and because it is mid-February and I am still posting Christmas...bah on that.

So, here are the pics and the story is way below. SO I may be headed for Blogger jail....whatever.

Barbara Streisand sang a song called "The Best Gift". I heard it way before I got mine one Christmas (1986). It goes a bit like this....the best gift I ever got, didn't really weight a lot. It was sometimes green and sometimes red as it lay so sweetly in it's bed. The best gift of the year for me

wasn't under the Christmas tree...this gift nearly drove me wild,

it was a tiny newborn child.

Alicia's baby wasn't due until AFTER Christmas, but I just had this feeling she would not go that long. I really had my shopping pretty much done and the baking underway...then that call came. She and Brian were headed for the hospital. Then began the long night - I slept on the couch and watched the clock...and waited for Brian's texts. I began to REALLY worry by morning when baby hadn't come yet and she hadn't progessed beyond 3 cm. I cried when I heard my baby was going to have to have a c-section. DARNIT. DARNIT. So then began the hand twisting...and praying and pleading ...and then we got the call! She was here! We all danced around and waited for the picture to come...and it did. WE WERE THIRLLED. Then came her name...Claire Elizabeth Mathias. WOW. I laughed , I cried, and I got busy packing....

One of the great blessings of Don travlelling so much is frequent fliers miles that we can use for such a trip as this. I was on my way to the airport within a couple of hours....and once on the ground there, I rented a car and found my way through the dark Kansas night to the hospital. I was late beyond visiting hours but a kindly guard decided that i needed to see my new grandbaby....

And there she was! Alicia my new little mommy...looking like h- e- double toothpicks... I wanted to sob when I saw how rough she looked...but then I spied the bitty baby there in the blankets.

There really is nothing that prepares you for the instant love and depth of feeling for these grandbabies. She was so beautiful...and seeing her here safe and sound, just made me feel so very grateful.

I noticed the hydraulic pumps on Alicia's ankles and whispered a thankful prayer that the swelling was being tended to.

Now some might wonder what I came so soon for with her being in the hospital for 2 days more, but who was gunna hold that baby? Me, me oh pick me...

I was so impressed what hands on Brian was and not afraid to hold her and attend to her every need. We all rejoiced when Alicia was able to have her first real sandwich....wahoo!!

But soon it was time for me to go home and help save the "sinking ship". And yes there were lots of tears when I left. Claire was napping...

But at the Airport was my little sweet grand daughter to jump into my arms and Emma to hug me tight and yes, my handsome spouse glad to see me...and in the truck? My dog, Belle. What a greeting!

And we hit the ground running. It was Christmas eve and there was much to be done before we could sleep. Cookies to be made and frosted and presents to be wrapped and oh...so much to do.

We had a great time with Steven, Meredith and Ella. Ella really warmed up to "bad guy"- the calico cat. We found a ribbon she could pull along and she giggled and played for hours with that cat. But before we knew it...it was time for them to leave. Where did Christmas go??

Thank heavens I will get another crack at it next year....