Meeting More Family

Last night we had a family dinner at your Great Grandpa Guy and Great Grandma Debbie Cox’s house. It was the first time for most of the Cox family to meet you.

Great-Grandma Deb is very ill. Nobody knows exactly what is going on with her. She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (a form of bone cancer) over 15 years ago. She had to go thru really intense treatments, including a stem cell transplant. She really hasn’t ever been very healthy since then. But she was still traveling and things until about 2 years ago. Recently she has been really struggling with her memory. She also has other dementia symptoms where she will get very agitated and angry or feel very paranoid. It has changed her personality.

She was such a wonderful grandma when your mom was little. Oh, she adored her first granddaughter so much! After having all boys herself, she was so excited not only to be having a grandchild but especially a girl! She planned all kinds of girly things to do with your mom and then with Addie when she came along. One of her favorite things was to plan a big Easter tea. And she loved to buy Grace and Addie matching outfits. For the Easter Tea and for holidays or just for any reason she would buy matching dresses, shoes, socks, etc. She would often ask if she could come take the girls for what we called a, “special day”. They would get so excited. She always took them shopping and to get lunch. And then sometimes just playing at her house or something while I was able to clean the house or whatever. She was a very loving and very caring grandma. When we lived in Texas, she came down to visit several times. She came a few times just to watch the kids so grandpa and I could go some place. She would also always arrange, “special days” for all the kids while she was there.

i just found these photos from one of the Easter Teas at her house. The first one is me with your Mom and Aunt Addie and the second one of Grandma Debbie with her first granddaughters.

Anyway, I’m glad that she got the chance to meet you yesterday. She was not feeling well. She has been having really bad tremors. She shakes pretty much all day long. The doctors can’t figure out why. It might be Parkinson’s. But medication for that does help. She didn’t want to get out of bed at all yesterday. But your mom and Grandpa took you back to see her. You were not super happy most of the time that we were there, but you were very sweet while lying on her bed.

You also met Great Grandpa Guy. He was very excited to meet you!

You don’t seem to love to be around big groups of people. It will be interesting to see if that is just because you are so new to this world and aren’t used to it or if it is your personality. I’m not a shy person, but I do get anxiety when I have to be around large groups for very long. Maybe you will be more introverted like me. Or maybe not!

Because you weren’t in the happiest mood, not everybody got to hold you, but Aunt Naomi was actually the first one to hold you. She was so excited! She is very sweet and loves babies. She is actually your mom’s aunt, so even though she is very young, she is actually your great-aunt.

And of course, your grandpa J and I were happy to spend time with you. We always are. We wish we could see you every day! 😊 Here you are, looking like you’re ready to get into a boxing match with Grandpa.

You are so loved, that’s for sure!