The young and the older

Well, I went to the hospital for the birth of my niece. The day didn't go as planned, though. I was supposed to meet Mike's sister at the interstate at 11:00. Mike called me at 9:00 am and told me he would wake me up again to get ready at 10. He forgot and didn't call until 10:45. So, he called his sister and explained and said I would meet them at 11:30 instead. I got up and rushed to get ready, but I was still running late. Ten minutes before I was supposed to meet them, I got outside and my car door was frozen shut. I got some water boiling in a tea pot and rushed outside to try to get it to thaw. I called Mike and he tried to help me on the phone get my car door to open. After pounding on the door jam and more water it still wouldn't open. Finally, I tried the passenger door and it opened, so I opened my door from the inside. Turns out, in my attempt to get in I think I pulled the handle too hard and completely broke it. It still doesn't work and I have to open my door from the inside- which is extremely embarrassing in public. When I can get away with it I have kept my window half down so I can reach inside, but I can't keep doing that.

Anyway, I took so long that his sister finally went on without me. Mike told me to just stay home, but I thought it was really important to go. So I drove myself, scared out of my mind that the roads were going to be bad, but they weren't.

I usually have a lot of anxiety about going somewhere I am not familiar with, but I made a promise with myself to try to find everything on my own without calling anyone for help. I found Baptist hospital with no problems because I knew the general direction, but I wasn't exactly sure where to enter or where to park. I drove around for awhile and found a parking garage. Luckily, the entrance it led me to was the right spot for me to be in. I entered on the 2nd floor and immediately found a map. It said the maternity ward was on the 7th floor. A short elevator ride took me right where I need to be. I went to the front desk and asked where Lisa was going to be and they told me she was being brought up to her room and gave me the room number to meet them up there.

As soon as I got to the room, Lisa was being wheeled in and Timmy (Mike's brother) was pushing Molly in a little cart. She is ADORABLE. She is really tiny and absolutely beautiful. Within seconds the rest of Mike's family came to join us. We visited for about 15 minutes and the nurse kicked us out.

I didn't get to stay for very long, but I am still glad I came- and I didn't want to be in the way, so I didn't mind leaving.

It was just really weird seeing a baby and thinking how brand new she was- how just moments ago she was in her mother's belly.

I took pictures, but I haven't had a chance to put them on my computer, yet.

Well, I have all of my Christmas shopping done for my family- but we haven't gotten Mike's family, yet. Hopefully I will finish up on Monday. This year is going by too fast. How is Christmas a week away?

Nik called me up on Wednesday. Her mother is in the hospital. I'm worried. Her mother has cancer and is in the hospital with pneumonia. Then, today she had a mild heart attack. They moved her to the cardiac ICU and she is barely breathing on her own. I told Nik to keep my updated with everything. I don't know the right thing to say to her. I can't say everything is going to be ok, because I don't know. I can't tell her not to worry, because she is going to anyway. If things get really bad though, I'm going to drive the three hours up there. I hope I don't have to.