Asking for help (or Ode to Grandma)

Well, we have had an awful lot of help and well wishers since Henry arrived. From friends who helped care for Wavy on the day Henry was born, to neighbors who have brought over food. And we have more family help coming on the way. But at this point, we need to take a moment to mention a couple of people who really saved the day for us this week when we were down and out.

We got back from the hospital last Friday with Henry, and over the weekend, all of us managed to get pretty darn sick. We somehow got through Saturday, but on Sunday the wheels that are the Griffin family started to gum up a bit. By Monday morning I was lying on the living room floor with a fever of 102 degrees, Maryellen was still recovering from the birth and her sickness, and we finally said to each other, "Ok, we really need help."

So we made two calls. Our first call was to our friend Deirdre, who must have heard the desperation in Maryellen's voice, because she gathered her son Elliot, plus our other friend Pheobe and her daughter Emmeline, and they all came over to our house for a visit. They occupied Waverly for a few precious hours, which gave me a chance to lie down for a bit. And they cheered Maryellen up with their very presence and companionship.

But our second call Monday morning was to Grandma, Maryellen's Mom. I was out of the room when Maryellen made that call, but whatever she said worked. Grandma dropped everything, rescheduled her week, and drove up from Boston on Monday afternoon. She has since spent the week feeding us, shopping for us, doing dishes, moving furniture, getting the house ready for a baby again, doing laundry, playing with Waverly, holding Henry, driving Wavy around town, and keeping me and Maryellen entertained. She even got so carried away today that she was out helping Kat put the hipboards on the new greenhouse!!!

Next she will be leaping tall buildings in a single bound, and stopping speeding trains, and all that stuff! There does not seem to be anyway to stop her!

But seriously, thank you everyone for all your help and kindness since Henry was born. And thanks in advance to my folks who are coming up next week, and to my Grandma who I plan on asking for help next week as well.