We all knew it was coming

Nanna fell. On her way to turn off her alarm clock on Wednesday morning. Her pelvis broke—which, as far as I can tell from Dr. Google, is much less bad than a hip breaking. She also hurt her hand and banged her head. Marina was still at the apartment, so appropriate forces were deployed. At the hospital she started having palpitations, so she's on a cardiac ward. The pain medication is making her nauseated.

It's the same hospital as thought my mother might have Creutzfeld-Jacob, nearly two years ago. I hope the rest of their doctors are better than their psych ward.

Ricky didn't call me until late Wednesday evening; Marina doesn't have my number on her cellphone, and Ricky doesn't have a cell phone. He is, I have to say, remarkably together. I'd really been expecting him to undergo total meltdown, given how he reacted back when mean Emmy was forcing Nanna to go to the doctor, but he's calm and listening to the doctors and not blaming himself any more than he blames everyone else, including me. The rugs in the apartment, see. Nanna didn't want them taken out, and we didn't force the issue.

I'm flying out to Weatherwood this afternoon, just until Monday this time. Of course with Tabby (how can I type that so casually? Her first plane trip! Will the car rental place really provide a seat? Am I strong enough to go stroller-free? Will she be willing to sleep without her—her!—bassinet? Do I really want her to spend hours and hours at a hospital?) Beaker will be going on a business trip later in the month, and I may try to go then as well.

Of course this will wreak havoc on our careful adjusting-to-day-care process, which was going decently until Tabby got her 4-month shots on Tuesday—now she hates the bottle more than ever. More than ever. But she doesn't hate the teachers or the location any more, and is spending about 3 hours there with no more tears than she'd have at home, if someone were trying to stuff a bottle in her mouth.

I talked with Nanna this morning. She sounded remarkably chipper, given the circumstances and her underlying depression. She asked about Miss T. and Beaker's family. Ricky hasn't passed on much from the doctors, but she's looking at a lot of time in the hospital. A lot. And I know they've brought up the attendant risks. She's 90 and underweight. This isn't the first bone she's broken.

I need to go pack. And eat up the remains of all the rolls of Tums I can find. Work? Whaddaya mean, work?

My God, what it all might have been like if Annajane were still alive.

Comments

[GiBee]

If it were me ... I would take a stroller. I have only had to "car travel" with my son (three months old) at Christmas time, and we went to my mom's house ... she already had a pack and play with a basinet fixture. It worked out great... but ... I have seen people stroll the baby up to the plain and then airline attendants will either tag and check your stroller in for you, or they will fold it up and put it in their storage or a closet (depending on how full the flight is).

I can see you using the stroller a lot especially in a hospital -- you won't want to put the baby down just any where -- and you can lay the seat flat so the baby can nap if you're planning on being in the hospital for a long time.

One more thing -- my son will sleep just fine any where now. I was also worried about the whole bassinet sleeping issue -- I found out that as long as I have his wedge and his blankets, he does just fine. I think he either "smells" or "senses" the familiarity of those items and it comforts him.

Just my thoughts.

[GiBee]

Of course I'm not an absolute idiot ... I know that plane is spelled P-L-A-N-E ... not plain !! Sorry about that!

[nate]

I wouldn't take the stroller, if you have a sling--unless you have a ton of carry-on stuff, in which case put Tabby in the sling & push your bags in the stroller.

But I *would* take your own car seat, and just check it as baggage. I don't trust car seats from rental car companies--they get the cheapest ones they possibly can.

[Mon]

Just found ur blog through academic coach. Glad that your Nanna is doin okay--I can relate. Safe travels.