Well, I told you the grandson may break in on our Hawaiian Tour.  And, he is.  Bless his sweet little heart…and lungs…he is in the hospital with the RSV virus.  On Monday night, Adam noticed the baby was becoming quite grey in color.  But, he perked up, and they all went to bed.  In a couple of hours, they both got up to change him and give him another bottle (he’s still not able to take but an ounce or 2 at a time).  They noticed his coloring and this time Adam had to work at getting him to breathe again.  They called the Dr. and were told to go right to the ER.  They admitted him, and we found out that he has the RSV Virus.  He stopped breathing another 2 times before they got his meds and oxygen going.

Now, I was not really aware of what the RSV virus is, but most younger mothers know about it.  So, Let me educate you, a little.  Especially since many of you have grandchildren or children or children to come!  Following is some info from the CDC Atlanta, GA.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Overview

Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, is a respiratory virus that infects the lungs and breathing passages. Most otherwise healthy people recover from RSV infection in 1 to 2 weeks. However, infection can be severe in some people, such as certain infants, young children, and older adults. In fact, RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in children under 1 year of age in the United States. In addition, RSV is more often being recognized as an important cause of respiratory illness in older adults.

Symptoms and Care

Illness usually begins 4 to 6 days after exposure (range: 2 to 8 days) with a runny nose and decrease in appetite. Coughing, sneezing, and fever typically develop 1 to 3 days later. Wheezing may also occur. In very young infants, irritability, decreased activity, and breathing difficulties may be the only symptoms of infection. Most otherwise healthy infants infected with RSV do not require hospitalization. In most cases, including among those who need to be hospitalized, full recovery from illness occurs in about 1 to 2 weeks.

The doctor told Suzanne that they were so fortunate that they saw him when this happened, or the outcome could have been, sadly, very different.  He told her…”It was a God thing.”  And, we so agree.  They re usually not even up at that time,and for some reason, they both got up.  God wanted them to find Little Levi, and get him help…or they would have slept right through. 

I wonder just how many times God does that for us?  Probably many times during a week.  Oh how good He is to us! How could anyone not trust Him with their heart and souls?  When we belong to Him, He is watching and caring for us ALL the time.  Don’t know about you, but that makes me feel so safe.  Thank you, God.

THURSDAY

Well, this did not get posted yesterday, as I planned.  Little Levi is continuing to do well.  The doctor is surprised that he is doing so well taking his bottle.  Many times when an infant gets this virus, they lose their appetite.  Which is not good since they are usually small anyway.  Well, this has not been a problem for our bpy.  He is eating well! 

I’ll update when we know more.  But, for now, he’s hanging in and doing what he is supposed to!

WELL.  What with all the exciting’ baby coming early’ news and all…which I am not complaining about, you understand……. my posts about our trip got put aside.  And, rightly so.  I mean A NEW GRANDSON certainly trumps a TRIP TO HAWAII !  There are still some things about the trip to talk about, so I’ll pick it back up.  HOWEVER, Sweet Levi may break in at any time! 

Let’s go to Honolulu!  Honolulu and Waikiki are on the island of Oahu.  This is the most populated and most commercial of the islands. 

We went there mainly to see how it had changed since Joy and I were there in the early 70’s.  We also wanted to go back to the Polynesian Cultural Center.  We remembered it being so good back then.  And, Patty really wanted to go to Pearl Harbor.  We knew we had an ocean front room in Maui, so we took a city view room in Honolulu.  The hotel was right on Waikiki.  It is the oldest hotel on the beach, built in 1901.    Much renovation, though.  However they are now deemed a historic site and can make no more changes.  It is a beautiful place, for sure.

Someone has to have the yucky view rooms in hotels in Paradise…and we knew ours was going to be poor.  So, it was OK…we didn’t spend much time there anyway.  But, just a peak at how faaaaaaaar away from the beach it was…here are Joy and I practicing our synchronized waving on our balcony…

…then we made this photo of Patty…..way down there…

And, when we got a chance, this is the site we saw….Waikiki Beach.

Joy and Patty planned their next day to be a trip to Pearl Harbor.   To make it a real adventure, they took off early, caught the city bus, and found the Harbor.  They were able to spend as much time as they wanted there, and then they made there way home, again on the bus.  Here are some of their pictures from the day:

The Arizona Memorial…

This is the top of something that is on the Arizona.  I don’t mean to sound flip, but I really have no idea what it is.  I do know, however, that oil is still leaking out of it, even today.  You can see the oil on top of the water.

This is a plaque on the Memorial…sorry it is hard to read…

I love the composition of this picture.  Through the top of the Memorial, which floats on top of the Arizona, Old Glory still waves against the Creator’s blue sky. 

And, back in the park, a picture of Joy and Patty, with the Arizona in the background.

As for me, I did a little exploring of my own.  There were so many little, and BIG, shops around and in the hotel.  I did a little shopping, then went back to the room and rested, and read some, and watched a movie.  I needed an easy, restful day after the long trip the day before!  Then we ate at The Cheesecake Factory, of all places!  Joy and Patty were so tired, and it was in walking distance.  But, a strange thing happened there, that has never happened to us before.  We ate our meal…and NOBODY WANTED CHEESECAKE !!!!  I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true.  We didn’t even take any with us.  I don’t know…maybe it was the sun…or something.  I’m hoping it doesn’t carry over to the next time I visit one of their Factories.

STAY TUNED….MORE EXCITING ADVENTURES  OF *THE THREE WAHINES * TO COME…

SUNDAY…..4/3/11

Adam and Suzanne took Levi  home on Friday.  All was well, and their first night went smoothly.  On Saturday, Ian came home from Birmingham and went straight to Levi’s house to play!    But, Levi was just too sleepy and didn’t do much playing.  He looks so tiny in Ian’s big hands!

 Adam had a wedding to shoot on Saturday, but they all visited again when he got home.   So Ian got another chance to visit with Butterbean.  He’s just about the size of one, don’t ya think?

 And, the second night was going as smoothly as the first.  Until Suzanne began feeding him in the middle of the night.  He began to have much trouble breathing and seemed to be choking and causing his parents much distress.  They called the doctor and the nurse told them to take him to the nearest ER.  They did, and we got a call.  We went, and he seemed to have gotten better by the time we got there.  Blood work came back fine.  The ER doctor said it was probably just because he is still 4 weeks early and his lungs aren’t completely ready for our world just yet.  But, they will be.  So, back home and into bed around 4:00.  So, so thankful.  God is good!

THURSDAY…4/7/11

No, I haven’t skipped the country with my new grandson.  And, no, I haven’t flown back to Maui and bought a little cottage on the beach.  Would I like to do both?   Well, what do you think?  Anyway, this has been a very hard couple of weeks.  First, I have been in lots of pain this week.  I am having to rest and stay off my feet quite a bit.  I really haven’t even felt like reading or writing.  So, that’s the reason I haven’t been commenting…I haven’t been reading.  But, I’m not gone…just   trying to keep it between the lines!

Don is in Birmingham to be with Ian who had his tonsils out yesterday.  He did well until last night.  Started bleeding, but was able to get it stopped!  Thank you, God!  Don will stay with him a few days before heading home.  Things are a little different inside his mouth due to his early difficulties…so we are praying he will heal quickly and without incidence.

Levi went in for his one week check up this week.  Adam and Suze decided to use the pediatrician that Adam had used and the one who had found his cancer 32 years ago.  He said that Levi was a healthy strong little boy…great news for us all.  And, the doctors was so glad to see Adam again…one of his early success stories!

I am working with a friend to plan and decorate for a very special wedding coming up this month…with another friend coming to help out also.   It will be an honor to decorate and so sweet to be in attendance.  More about this in a few weeks. 

Wanted to share this pic with you.  I didn’t have it when I did the post on the tsunami.  We bought these shirts later in the day that it actually hit!  Someone got busy, didn’t they?    (Patty has one too)  And, by the time we left there, we saw 6 or 7 different styles!

I still have several posts to do on our trip to Maui….I’ll try to get them posted before Thanksgiving!  🙂

And, please forgive me for not keeping up with you, my friends who blog.  I will get around to it!  Promise!

 “Yes! the Lord has done amazing things for us!  What joy!”   Psalm 126:3  NLT

It’s wonderful…this being a new Grandmother!  Especially when the baby is as sweet as Levi!  And the mother and father are as great as Adam and Suze!  The doctor told her he would still be a little sleepy for a week or so, since he was a month early.  But, sleepy or not…he’s the best!   Just look at this little smile!

I went to the hospital and stayed for a little while yesterday.  Of course, he was so happy to see me!  Can’t you tell? 🙂  I stayed for a while and enjoyed her visitors, Tara, John Thomas, Pop, Joy, and the rest of the 3rd grade teachers at her school.   Adam was off getting the car seat squared away, and I went to find some other necessities that Suze needed for Levi.  I dropped my purchases back by the hospital.  Tina was there visiting and enjoying holding that sweet boy.  Then Mary and Terry came.  I headed home to put my feet up ! 

He went to his Mommy’s arms for a while, and just snuggled in so happily.  He was home!

After all their visitors left, and they had more than I listed, Adam finally had his Sweet wife and New Son all to himself.  Out came the camera, and when I looked at FB first thing this morning, this is what I saw.  I couldn’t help but post it here as well.

Today is March 29,2011….it is a cool, sort of cloudy day.  As I left my house this morning, I saw people all around me going about their daily routines.  McD’s drive thru was backed up.  The parking lot at the doctor’s center was already full.  The radio dj announced songs, and told the weather, and the news on the hour and half hour.  Children went to school, and the little ones to preschool.  Businessmen opened their offices, teachers began their classes, and Alex let Finn out to visit the backyard once again.  And, I left home with a very special mission in mind.

I was going to meet my new grandson…Levi.  Didn’t know the time,yet, or didn’t know know any of the ‘specifics’…but what I DID know was that I was not coming home till he and I met face to face!

Adam called us this morning about 4:30 to tell us that things were starting to happen and they were headed to the hospital.   This was a little surprising, because today is exactly 1 month BEFORE the due date.  They called a little later, and told us it was going to be a while.  So, I took care of a few chores and then headed to the hospital.  I was ready to see this little guy!

Unforeseen by us….this little fellow was not doing his part to enter our world.  So, the docs tried this, and then that, and then the other…nope…that boy was in a happy place and saw no good reason to leave.  Finally the doc gave the little guy an ultimatum.  “Show us you mean business by 5…or we’re coming in to get ‘ya!”  When the time came and passed with no sign of cooperation…doc said, “Come on, we’re moving this party on down the hall.”  They took Sweet Suzanne and got her all ready…with a party hat and all…and then gave Adam his party clothes.  The fun began right away.  I wasn’t there for the games, but they must have been really fun…’cause Adam and Suzanne won the GRAND PRIZE !  Suzanne worked so hard for their team, that she had to lay down right there in that very room and take a nap!   Adam decided to let her rest.  But he quietly slipped out and came to show us what they won!  He said it was the BEST PRIZE EVER!!!

Well, were we ever pleased!  What a prize!  Adam didn’t even wait to take off his party hat and mask!  I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile that big!

There was lots of family waiting on this sweet boy.  First, John Thomas.  He has been learning to say,”LEVI”, but I’m sure he has wondered “WHAT EXACTLY IS A LEVI?”  Now he knows.  And, after all that work to learn his name, what did he call him?  BABY!  Here he his with his ‘GiGi’, Joy.

Tara and John Thomas, Lori, Joy, Pop, Mary and Terry.  And, me, of course!  Now, Pop had been waiting with us for over an hour…after working all day.  He was quite tired.  But, that all faded away when he saw his new GREAT GRANDSON!  Oh, how excited he was.  Excited and Proud.  Pop’s first grandchild, now with a child of his own.  How blessed!

Since Mary, Suzanne’s mom, and I missed all the party games…we decided to have our own.  WHICH ONE IS THE HAPPIEST?  What do you think?  We never could pick a winner!

Of course, they had all the clean up work and weighting and measuring before they could hand him off to his parents.  So, we waited again.   We were thankful to find out that the nurse caring for him was a long time friend at church, Beverly.  She had such caring hands as she did all the necessary checks and tests.  The others had to leave…just Mary and Terry and I were left.  But, we were gonna see that sweet thing one more time!  And, after they got Suzanne and Levi settled and comfortable, they let us into the room.  Oh, to see that teeny miracle!  Thank-you,  Lord!  Mary held him first and then Terry (grandfather).  And then it was my turn.  Oh.My.Goodness! ” Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!”  He looked perfect…just perfect!

And, then, FINALLY, Don came in.  He was in a very impo business meeting, and came as soon as he could.  Adam had been so worried that he wouldn’t get there.  But, he made it, and they shared a special moment together.

One more picture, of the new grandparents…well one set.  I made pics of Mary and Terry, but I made them with HER camera.

It was a magical day…even if it was a long one.  What fun it is to sit and wait in anticipation of a GRANDSON!  Just knowing that this new life was on the way was the best feeling ever.  So many of you were waiting with us in spirit.  I had 53 notes on FB!  And texts and e-mails, as well!  Thank you, dear friends for following us on this journey.  Your prayers have made such a difference.   Your kind and supporting words have lifted our spirits.  And, knowing you  were sharing in our happiness last night made it even more special.

There was only one sadness, and that was the fact that my Mom wasn’t there.  She will never know Levi until we are all in Heaven.  But the Lord gave me such a sweet gift.  As I closed my eyes, I was thinking how I wished she could see him and just KNOW he was in our lives.   As I was waiting for the sleep to take over…I saw  the most beautiful image of Mom in my mind.  She was standing behind me looking over my shoulder as I held Levi.  I could see her face so clearly, it was glowing.  I only saw it for the moment, and that was enough.  I do not think she ‘visited’ me…the Bible tells us that will not happen.  But, I think it is a reminder that love doesn’t die when the person you love dies.  The love you felt will be with you always.  And, at special times or hard times or uncertain times , it will envelope you once again.    No, it wasn’t a dream…and it wasn’t a ‘visit’…..it was a memory.  A memory filled with love.  Thanks, Mom, for giving me beautiful memories to keep with me always.

Happy Birthday, Levi!    6 pounds 13 ounces…..19 1/2 inches long…..lots of black hair!