So, Friday I decided to go to work, cause
it was my dept Christmas party, so I was running around like crazy, trying to
get everything taken care of. I called to check on my mom, and she was still at
the hospital, and gpa was still hanging on. His numbers were looking really
good, and he was actually awake and talking a little. During the party, I got a
phone call from Briana, telling me that she went to doctor, and he was taking
the baby at 3:30 cause her amniotic fluid got too low. Of course I am jumping up
and down, and super excited..
So, I finished up with the party, and my
boss let me go home early. I rounded up all my kids and 2 nephews and one niece,
and off to the hospital we went to meet the new family
member.
Gabriel Cruz arrived at 3:30pm weighing a
whole 6pds, he is the most precious little boy ever!
I was told, that my gma showed my gpa a
picture on her phone of the baby. That she told him how Jessie and Briana had
the baby, and he looked at the picture, and smiled really big, let out a big
breath, and had tears running down his face. And he went to sleep. He than
waited for my gma to fall into a deep sleep that night, and he passed away at
1am Saturday morning. I put on my FB, that my gpa was just waiting till baby Gabriel got here, to make sure we had something to bring us joy. Taking care of us like always! My older brother Joe called me a little after 1am to let
me know. When my phone rang, and I saw who it was, I already knew. All I could
hear in the back ground was my gma, crying.. She just lost the love of her life,
it hit me than, that we had been praying for God to take him, and he answered
our prayers, but what about my grandma now?! Right before
Christmas!
Saturday was a blur, I felt numb, and
like we were just going thru the motions. I met my family at the funeral home,
and we planned the funeral. My mom and uncle looked horrible. It was so
heartbreaking to see them so sad and lost. But my gma, was still smiling. Not
one tear did she shed.
This entire experience has made me see my
grandma thru a new pair of eyes. This woman took her vows seriously. She stood
by her husband for 52 years, in sickness and in health. She never left his side.
Even on his bad days. She stayed at that
hospital for almost 3 wks, she held his hand and loved him till the very end. I
admire her for that...
So Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday my mom
and dad, and brothers and sister in laws, including Briana, the one that is 9
months pg!! And uncles and aunts and cousins stood around his bed, we were told
it would happen that night, than we were told it could be in the next 12 hours,
but my gpa kept hanging in there, his numbers would drop, and than they would
come back up. If you know my gpa, than you would know, that he would of been so
pissed to have us all standing around his bed crying for him. I was just waiting
for him to sit up and yell at us to go home and get some sleep and go eat.
One of the nights, I think we were all
just tired, so my cousins and my sis in law Briana started acting goofy. We had
everyone laughing, I am sure the nurses thought we had lost it, us all standing
around the bed crying one minute, than to hear and see us laughing the next. It
felt good to laugh. We all needed it badly. Briana, was laughing so hard, and
than would wince in pain, cause the baby would start moving, which would send
her into having contractions. She was being such a trooper, and my nephew was
kicking her butt!
On Thursday, Trav took off work so he
could go up to the hospital with me, I decided it was time to take my boys to
see my gpa and tell him good bye. I was supposed to take them up there a couple
of Sundays ago, but I wanted to wait till my gpa looked better, cause I did not
want to the boys to get scared. Yes, I know, I am overbearing on some things. I
had decided that Jasmine was too young to see him like this, but she begged and
cried to let her go too. Travis said that I needed to let her see him too. So I
did it. My boys walked in, and they were just quiet. They both sat down, and one
got teary eyed, and just shook his head, but the other was being a tough guy,
and was just quiet. A few minutes later they both said they needed to go to the
bathroom. Later I found out, that the one who was being a tough guy, saw my dad
in the hall way, and when my dad hugged him, he lost it. And my dad comforted
him. Have I mentioned how much I love my daddy?!
Now my Jazzy girl was being brave, and
walked up to his bed, and just as she did, my gpa started coughing and gagging,
which freaked Jasmine out, and she lost it. Which I turned and gave my lovely
husband a dirty look, and he had to get her and comfort her, and explain what
all was happening, and how my gpa was not really hurting. I got to stand by his
bed, and hold his hand, and every time he would start gagging, and coughing, I
rubbed his head and talked with him to calm down, that he was ok. That I was
right there. And he would look at me, and calm down, and go back to sleep. I
just prayed over him, over and over.. What an honor and privilege it was for me
to hold this mans hand, and be the one to comfort him for once. Like he had done
for me and our family many times..
That night, I went home with my family. I
had my phone by me all night, and kept checking it. Cause I knew that my mom
would call me at any moment with the news. And I also was waiting, cause Briana
had been texting me about how her contractions were getting stronger, and I just
knew it would be any day now, that she had my sweet nephew. I put on FB the next
morning, how life can be so bitter sweet. Anxious and excited for one thing, but
yet sad and dreading another..
Friday morning, Grandpa was still with
us.. And Briana was still very pregnant!
