*-- *-- *
Johnny knew the news would hit all of them especially hard.-His Dad’s family had loved his mother, Janet, ever since she had come to Ireland as Bruce’s wife and they had all just fallen in love with Grandmother Lydia when they came in from Ireland for his and Chrissy’s wedding.-There had been twenty-two of them who came all the way from County Galway to wish them happiness and Grandmother had welcomed all of them into her home.-Considering that Lydia had been estranged from her own daughter for more than twenty-three years and had become cold and bitter toward everybody; that was a miracle in itself.-When Chrissy and her mother, Penny, befriended her, Lydia had thawed out completely and had even made a trip to Ireland to visit with her daughter, Johnny’s mother, and her family.-When one realized that before that Lydia hadn’t even been to the local grocery store for almost ten years; that was miracle number two.-It seemed such a shame that it would be this point in time that she would become ill and not be able to do the things that she now wanted to do.-
Neither Chrissy nor Johnny had slept very well that night and the first thing when they awoke, they called the hospital.
“Mrs. Thorne experienced some chest pain during the night but nothing severe.-She is being fed through her veins.-The doctor felt she would get more nourishment that way and she didn’t have any appetite.”
“If we came to the hospital, would we be able to visit with her?-Is she conscious and everything?” Johnny wanted to know.
“Yes, she’s awake.-She’s on some pain medication that keeps her a little groggy but we could let you visit with her for about ten minutes at a time once an hour and one at a time.-I would warn you, though, that she has a lot of wires and monitors, I.V.s, etc. attached.”
“Okay, then. We’ll see you before too long.”-Then Johnny turned to Chrissy.-“Honey, I’ve got to go up and do the feeding and milking.-As soon as I get back, we’ll get things ready and go.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door.-Chrissy's dad was on the front doorstep. “Well, hello, Ed.-You’re up and out early.”-Ed came up the steps and stepped inside.-It was too cool to stand with the door open.-When he took off his cap, Chrissy could see his receding hair line.-She could remember a few years earlier when his dark brown hair had been full and wavy.-He had refused to change the way he combed it to hide some of the balding spots, though.-Ed had declared that he was an old man and he might as well look as old as he was.-He was only forty, but Chrissy didn’t feel that either of her parents was “old.”-Ed was still athletically built and there wasn’t an ounce of fat on his nearly six foot frame.-His one hundred sixty pounds was all lean muscle.
“I just finished feeding and milking up at Lydia’s.-I knew you would want to go see her and I thought I’d get that out of the way for you.-Have you heard from her this morning?”
“That was so nice of you, Pop, and we are anxious to get over there to the hospital.-The nurse said she did have some pain during the night.-She’s in the Coronary Care Unit and we can only visit once an hour, one at a time and only for ten minutes at a time.”
“Is Mama feeling okay this morning, Dad?-She had been feeling nauseous for several days, she said.-I hope she’s not getting sick.”
“She is still running to the bathroom every so often being sick at her stomach.-I told her if I didn’t know better, I’d think she was pregnant.”-They all chuckled.-“But she insists she’s just fine.-When you get back from the hospital, please let us hear from your Grandmother, Johnny, or sooner if there’s any change.-We’ll take care of the milk this morning, too.-If you need any of it, we’ll get it to you later”
“Thanks a lot, Dad.-We love you and give Mama our love, too.”
When they got to the hospital a little while later, they had to wait before they could see Lydia.-They had taken her to get more tests, a CT scan and an x-ray.-By the time they had finished all that and got her back to her room, she was extremely tired; but she was awake enough to know who they were and to seem genuinely glad to see them.
“I’m doing fine, Kids,” she told them.-“I told you not to worry.”-They must have thought she was a little better; they told them both they could go back and see her instead of making them go one at a time.-“I’ll be out of here in no time and ready to do my work again.”-Her smile was a little tentative but it was there.
“You have to feel better Grandmother.”-Chrissy looked at Johnny and he nodded and smiled.- “In seven or eight months we may need a baby sitter and we knew we could depend on you, Great-Grandma.”-They hadn’t decided exactly when they would tell her but they wanted to do it together and since they were both there, they thought that particular time was as good as any.-They didn’t think it would over-excite her but it might give her something positive to focus on rather than just being concerned about her own health.-Chrissy was beaming and Johnny looked as proud as if he were the only expectant father in the country.
“Oh, you’re kidding,” Lydia exclaimed and her face had more vivacity than they would have believed possible.-“That’s wonderful.-You said seven or eight months?”
“I haven’t been to the doctor yet but I’ve missed two periods and the home pregnancy test was positive.-I’ll be seeing the obstetrician a little later; then we’ll have a better idea.”
“Oh, I’m so happy for the two of you.-There’s no greater joy than to bring a new life into the world.-Of course, it’s a big responsibility and you’ll make mistakes; but I know you’ll do a great job as parents.”
The nurses came in then and told them their patient needed to rest a while and they told Lydia they would see her again later.-Then they went to find Dr. Foster.
“We’re hoping you can give us a prognosis on Grandmother Lydia Thorne, Dr. Foster.-We need to call her daughter, my mother, in Ireland and let her know what’s going on.”
“Well, she did have a moderately severe heart attack, Johnny.-I think she’s going to be alright this time.-But she’s going to need some pretty intensive care for a while.-I could recommend a good nursing home or convalescent home or we could keep her here in the hospital in the extended care wing.-Or if there’s a family member who could stay with her, she would probably be better satisfied at home.-Of course, her state of mind is a definite factor in this kind of situation so this is something you’ll have to decide.-She’ll be here in the hospital for at least another four or five days depending on how fast she recuperates; so you have some time before you have to make a decision.”
“Okay, thank you, Dr. Foster.-We’ll get back to you.-The one who needs to make the final decision on this would be my mother; so we’ll talk with her and let you know in a few days.”
When he called his mother, Janet told Johnny that she and Bruce had already decided to come back to be with her mother at least until she was out of danger.
“Bruce has already taken a leave of absence from his job and we’re scheduled to leave here day after tomorrow and be there on Saturday.-We’ve arranged for a rental car so you won’t need to meet us at the airport or anything.-We’ll come straight to the hospital and then on to the house when we’ve seen Mom.-So we’ll see you this weekend.-You don’t think she’s in any imminent danger do you?-We might be able to get a little earlier flight if you think it’s advisable.”
“Dr. Foster assured us he thought she would get over this attack alright.-I got the feeling that she was going to need supervision as much to keep her from overdoing as anything else.”
“Okay, then.-You all be careful and we’ll see you Saturday.”
The next day when they went to see Lydia, she had been moved into a regular room but near the nurses’ station so they could keep a close eye on her for a while longer.
“I’ve got a question for you two.- I realize it was probably a dream; but did you all tell me that you were expecting a baby?-I feel sure it was a dream but it seemed so real.-Oh-oh, that embarrassed look on your face, Johnny; and yours, Chrissy, you’re positively radiant!-You are pregnant!-I didn’t dream it.-Oh, my; oh, m
y.-I’m going to get to be a great-grandmother.-Oh, my.-Let’s see, do we want a boy or a girl?-Do you have names picked out?-Well, don’t just stand there.-Say something!”
“I think we sort of want a girl and we’ve pretty well settled on Lydia Lea Marie if it is a girl.-But if it’s a boy we’ll love it just as much and we’re thinking maybe Thomas Allen.-Would you like those, Grandmother?”
“Oh, that’s so sweet.-Of course, those names would be special.-I’m not sure how each of the names is connected to the family, though.”
“Well, ’Lydia’ is, of course, after you. ‘Lea’ is for Johnny’s mom and ‘Marie’ is mine and my mom’s middle name.”-Chrissy explained.-Then Johnny continued.
“’Thomas’ would be after Grandaddy Thorne and ‘A-l-a-n’ or ‘A-l-l-e-n’ is mine, Dad’s and Pop’s middle name.-We haven’t decided yet which way to spell it but it would still be after all three of us.”
“Oh, that’s just too lovely,” Lydia insisted.-
“It’s time for you to go down for physical therapy, Mrs. Thorne.”-A nurse was signaling the end of their current visit.
“We’ll see you again later in the day, then, Grandmother.”
“We love you.”
“I love you, too.-Hurry back.”
Chrissy checked her watch.-“It’s almost time for the doctor’s appointment, anyway, Honey.-His office is just down the street.”-Dr. Jennings was the obstetrician they had decided to see.-Chrissy was a little nervous but she did want the doctor’s opinion on how far along she was.
After Dr. Jennings finished his examination, he confirmed the home pregnancy test diagnosis.-“Yes, I’d say you’re definitely pregnant and I’m thinking you might be a little farther along than you thought.-I’m of the opinion that you’re closer to three months rather than only two.-I’m setting your due date as about August twelfth.-I want to see you again in a month and we should be more certain by that time.”
After they were outside, Chrissy whispered to Johnny, “Wouldn’t that be one special birthday present if the baby was born on August twelfth on my birthday?”
“Oh, I knew that date sounded familiar, but I hadn’t figured out why.-That is your birthday, isn’t it?-That sure would be extraordinary.”