Grandma Henriksen

JUNE 2014

This picture has nothing to do with anything, other than I found it in the cache of phone photos.  I am actually posting about my grandma Henriksen.  

She has been living with us for the last three years, in a little room in our house.  Some days were easy, and I loved having her with us.  Some days were hard and I found myself yelling into my pillow in the bedroom.  But in all... I am so grateful that she came to stay with us.  

A couple weeks ago, Grandma fell and we had to move her to a nursing home, and she passed away on June 14, 2014.  

Our house is a little less busy now, and a little less cluttered.  But I miss her.

I am glad that my kids got a chance to know her in a very real setting.  Tyler was always on the look out for her.  He ran her errands around the house and was constantly relaying messages back and forth from her and I.  When she fell in May, Ty was actually the one who found her.  He was always making sure that she was comfortable.

Ryan's most favorite job in the world was taking grandma dinner.  In the beginning of her stay with us, she joined us at the table for dinner, but as her health declined, she took more and more of her meals in her bedroom.  And finally, meals in bed.  Ryan thrived on taking her dinner to her and making sure she had her Ensure.  And he always went back for her dirty dishes.  I never had to ask.  Grandma was always on the periphery of Ryan's thoughts.

And Kate.  Oh sweet Kate.  She LOVED my grandma.  And my grandma begrudgingly loved her back.  Before you judge my comment... let me set the scene.  Grandma loved watching the news and The Price is Right every morning.  Never failed.  Never deviated.  Until Kate figured out that grandma COULD change the channel and find her Sesame Street.  Grandma never changed the channel for any other person... but for Kate... she would do anything.  Kate would sneak downstairs after breakfast and snuggle into grandma's bed and they would watch Elmo together.  I would hear them giggling and talking... I could never bring myself to get after Kate.

It's strange now having the house to ourselves.  I'm sure we'll get used to it.  But for now... there is a definite void.  Miss you grandma, but I hope you are finally at peace.