Grandpa Nord and Grandma Colleen

Where do I begin? At the beginning I suppose.

Grandpa Nord and Grandma Colleen were both born and raised in Scipio, UT. They married when Grandma was 16 (barely!) and Grandpa 21. Their livelihood was farming, although Grandpa did various construction-type jobs to supplement the farm. They raised 4 sons and 1 grand-daughter.

As a child, I spent a lot of time on the farm - both working hard and playing hard. There was a freedom available to us in Scipio that was not available anywhere else. Looking back, I'm amazed we were never seriously injured as our favorite things to do were play on the various farming equipment and in the haystacks.

I spent a lot of weekends and entire summers in Scipio. Most of them were spent weeding, moving sprinklers, and feeding cows. I also learned to sew, garden, and embroider at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Once I got married, I took every opportunity I could to come to the farm and visit. It was a "working vacation" but a rewarding one. For about 5 years I came every 6 months or so, and I'm so glad I did.

This past March, Dave got a new job in Montana and had to attend initial training in Georgia for 10 weeks. Rather than moving to MT alone, Jack and I had the opportunity to to move into Grandma Colleen's house. Our original plan was to move in so that Grandma could come home from the hospital. As it turns out, there were complications that delayed her return home. And the closer it got to our arrival date (March 23rd - Easter), the more it looked like Grandma would never make it home.

Just a week before leaving Texas and arriving in Utah, Grandma took a turn for the worst. At one point, she was taken by ambulance to another hospital to see if there was blockage in her heart. The only reason she agreed to the procedure is if the doctor could prolong her life until "Baby Jack" could make it. She wanted to see him one more time - and hopefully he would be happier this time and not cry.

A little bit of history: Dave and I brought Jack to Utah last June when he was 6 weeks old. We flew from Texas and between flying and then adjusting to a much higher altitude (sea level vs 5000') he was a little fussy. Grandma is sure he just had a tummy ache and an ear ache. Anyway, Dad was having a dinner at his house and Grandma volunteered to sit with Jack at her house so Dave and I could go. He was asleep peacefully in a swing when we left. I don't think we had been gone very long and Dad got a call from Grandma saying Jack was crying and that we should come home quickly (we were literally a block away from the house). We left immediatly and in the meantime, she called again - she was afraid he would hold his breath and stop breathing. When we got to her house he was screaming. She felt so bad that he cried and cried for her - and there was nothing she could do for him. She even promised to not pick him up (she used a walker and was worried that she'd trip and he'd "go splat"), but when we got there, she was holding him because he scared her. Later that night when everyone settled down, she and I were sitting together in a room and she was holding Jack. He was sleeping peacefully on her lap and gave the sweetest smile. While we sat there talking, I was secretly videotaping it. I'm so glad I did because it will be a moment I treasure as it was the last video I took of her healthy and at home.

Back to March:

We were anxious to start the trip to Utah, but a bit nervous too since we knew that Grandma was waiting for us. We planned on staying in Utah for a few days and then go to Montana for 10 days to look for a house. I was so worried that Grandma wouldn't be with us when we returned. Boy was I wrong! I remember walking into Nephi hospital and down to her room. She wasn't there, but was in therapy telling stories to everyone. She told me she was going to give it one last shot at coming home - oh I wish she would have been able to!

For the next 4 weeks, Jack and I made the trip to Nephi almost daily to visit Grandma in both the hospital and care center. Jack was a trooper since there was so much stuff there to get into - and was prevented from doing any of it. I think Grandma enjoyed watching him crawl around and just be a boy.

One day at the care center Jack was getting restless so Grandma suggested that we open up the cupboard and let him crawl in and out of it and climb on the package of Depends. Sure enough, Jack was thoroughly entertained - and actually went straight to the cupboard every visit.

Grandma got furious at me when I called Jack a turd one day - so I quickly changed it to turkey, which was then shortened to turk. Not sure what was worse - turd or turk, but it seemed to make her happy.

Grandma also thought Jack needed a haircut, though I told her I had to wait until Dave got home - I think I was stalling because I'm secretly hoping that the rest of his hair will curl once it comes in more - how could I cut off his cute little duck curl at the back. Though I do admit that the top comb-over is a bit unruly, so maybe I'll take care of that.

Grandma was concerned that Jack was still breastfeeding because she remembered what a hard time she had when she weened one of her boys at 9 months (Jack was almost 1 year). She thought he needed to learn how to use a sippy cup and was thrilled when he brought one in one day and demonstrated his newly learned skill. But I think the real reason that Grandma wanted him to ween was because she mentioned in passing that there was no way I could take care of her and nurse Jack at the same time. She worried that it would be too much work. Little did she know I was more that willing and able to do both - I just wish I would have been given the opportunity.

After some extreme setbacks, Grandma was transferred back to the hospital in early May - which was such a blessing! The care she received there was amazing, but it was obvious that she was getting tired and just wanted to be reunited with Grandpa again - we couldn't blame her for that. She had been so lonely without him the past 4 years and was a trooper making the best of it.

The reunion occurred in the early morning hours on May 8th. When I received the call I was so relieved and happy for her. Sad for me, but it was overshadowed by the joy I knew she was experiencing.

I know Grandma enjoyed that relationship that she and Jack built while we were here and although he won't remember it, I'll never forget it. The way that he would giggle and laugh when he bent to give her a kiss each day (although I had to brace his head since he popped her on the nose one day). And the constant waving with the cutest smile when we were getting ready to leave. I'll forever remember when we stopped at the hospital for a quick visit on his 1st birthday. She wouldn't really talk to anyone and wasn't very lucid. But when I came in with Jack she suddenly got real talkative. And two days later when we stopped, she again hadn't said much. I bent down to say hello and give her a kiss and she opened her eyes and asked where Baby Jack was. I told her he was in the stroller and she seemed okay with it. And then when it was time to go, I leaned Jack down to give her a kiss and he started giggling - so I pulled him away and made a game of it. Suddenly Grandma opened her eyes and said "Boo" - he thought it was sooo funny! She did it about 3 times with him.

She loved him so much! We're going to miss her, but are so grateful for the time we spent with her.

"In the middle of every difficultly lies opportunity" -albert einstein

Think about it.

I'll start.

A few months ago Dave started a new job that would take him away for 10 weeks of training. As difficult as it was going to be for our family to be separated, it opened an opportunity for Jack and I to be in Utah during a very important time. We moved into Grandma Colleen's house at the end of March. Our original plan was to move in so that Grandma could come home from the hospital. As it turns out, there were complications that delayed her return home. While we waited, we visited frequently which allowed Grandma and Jack to build a relationship - although Jack will never remember the time, I will never forget it.