today my grandson turns 1. birthday party later tonight! and this morning at 2 am i became a great aunt. to a little 9 lb 2 oz boy and my mom didn't say his name.

The grandkids do keep us going. We just had our "lucky 13", and 14 is on the way! I guess that's the name of the game--to keep looking ahead!

I love this thread as it lets me know each of you better. Steph, after all this time I had no idea you had a grandson, I love the picture.
Sheila - great pic of your family and it's the first time I noticed the saying...very powerful.
Believe....I have trouble seeing you as a grandmother but I bet you're a great one! I can feel the love and warmth.
On my side, Jennifer is 16 and Zach is 13. I'm going to start negative but get to the positive....They go through the normal stuff with the added burden of watching a mother that they absolutely idolize struggle and suffer. With all this negativity...their strength amazes me. They're both doing great in school, Jenn made varsity Cheer (which she's been working SO hard for) and Zach plays tournament baseball and basketball. When we had to break the awful news of their mother they consoled each other and expressed extraordinary concern for the other. It was one of the most touching and proudest moments of my life as a father.
Eric

Children and Grandchildren
 

I have the youngest of my 16 grandchildren visiting for the weekend. His name is Sean and is 16 months old. This morning he came into bed with me and laid his little head on my pillow and smiled at me. what a blessing they all are. Jeanette

We raise our children with love and guidance, we teach them everything we know, the best way we know how. We protect them, we love them unconditionally, we hope for the best. Of course we want them to flourish into the best human beings that they are capable of becoming. Those lessons we teach them and we hope they we listening to, we watch if they actually were.

But some lessons we can not teach, they must learn other things life gives us sometimes in a terrble way. The beautiful part of your story, Eric is that these wonderful children of yours have learned so much from Caryn and you. They have also learned so unfairly of the other side of life. One you cannot shield them from as much as I know we all want to.

As Tia gets older and watches her Grandpa Ed lose his hair, be too tired or sick for company, have an appointment that interferes with her bonding time, she never complains. In her own little 5 year old mind (ok, maybe 9 yr old mind~smiling) she understands what is happening. She is starting to ask questions and give back compassion and support, she knows Grandpa is sick. Like we do with our children, I supply her only with what I think a 5 year old mind can handle and try to protect her from the details until she is ready. She has started to really support me through my husbands illness, a 5 year old, it is fascinating to me and has allowed us to bond more than I ever thought possible.

These children you have raised have taken all of your lessons and those handed to them in life and made the best of them. It is sad but it is more special and beautiful that they have, in a sense, found their way through together. You both are very spectacular parents and I am so proud of your two amazing children. They are always included in the prayers I say for Caryn and you. You must be floating on a cloud to see these once helpless creatures turn into these unique individuals. Looks to me like they were listening all the way though. (and that was a giant wink!)

Now, I managed to conquer the avatar, let me see if I can master the 'picture in the post' so I can have proof I am Grandma Marie. Obviously you cannot see they white hair in my picture..hahaha. Thanks for this post, it made me smile hard to see the side of the 'silent sufferers', our sweet children and grandchildren who too endure their own strengths. May God bless them continually as the walk the walk with us. Love.>>Believe51

if i could have i'd have had my grandchildren first!

children and grandchildren
 

My sentiments exactly Juanita. Lol , Jeanette

changed my avatar to a pix of my little man. he got his first haircut today and he looks a lot more like his daddy. grandkids are so great!

Tia came over for the day yesterday with her usual arsenal of activities and crafts pack neatly in her travel bag. She made me laugh because when I opened the door she stood there with this oversized bag around her petite shoulders. We are all sitting in the same room and Ed and I share eye contact and smiles as she shares her own smiles and therapeutic qualities.

An hour into our visit she tells me she has 'DIAREAHA' and wants me to see it. I wondered why my Daughter-in-Law would send her having a possibility of being sick, after all, Tia has not been to school since a close case of Swine Flu in their school district. She has not left the house for her safety. Her mom assured me she was as clean as she could be for a 5 year old and would never compromise Ed.

Then it hit me and I tried so hard not to laugh......She had a DIARY but when saying it she was using the wrong accent and pronounciation. I could not stop laughing every time she mentioned it. Did I mention that I know why I think we have children when we are younger? Lol. Grandma Marie loves you Tia, you are one of the greatest joys I know.>>Believe51

Just one of my "lil angels"...Eden on her 1st Communion Day

Juanita, Sheila and Marie, you all have lovely grandchildren. I have my daughter Logan who just turned 17 today and I am proud to say passed her driving test and got her license!

What a great thread! It helps to know more about each other besides the stupid disease!!

Besides, I love pictures. Believe, you are so beautiful! You look much too young in your pic to be a gram.

I have 3 children. Maria, 26, who gave me my first grandchild last december, Jimmy, 20, who just got married this last weekend and is shipping off to basic training next Tuesday (sniff, sniff there goes my baby boy) and Alex who is 14 and still in middle school. I am soooo proud of the LOT OF THEM!

Here's Damon (my grandson)

Well, I just said good-bye to my son. I know he will be fine, but dang, my heart has just been ripped out of my chest. Only here can I say that. In front of my family, I am the fearless one!

Jimmy, 20, will be in basic training in San Antonio for 8 1/2 weeks. Then straight to tech school for I don't know how long. Then he might get to come home for a little while before he ships off to his base where he will be stationed.

I will miss him. :'(