Last week all four of us got on an airplane and flew out to Phoenix to see my grandma & grandpa, and the rest of my family. The kids were great on the airplane, watched movies the whole time on the way there and back. We got in late Thursday night, so we pretty much just went to bed. Friday we went to go visit with my grandpa at the house for a few hours. Katherine was so excited to see him and they had fun playing with all the "stuff" (how much breakable/collectible stuff can two people have)? Luckily no one broke anything. 
Friday afternoon we took the kids up to the hospital to see my grandma. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the end of June. Since then she has been in and out of the hospital. She has now been in since the beginning of October. It was very hard to see her this way. She has always been a strong (mentally and physically), active, energized person. Right now she is pretty much confined to the bed and a wheelchair. At first Katherine was not sure how to act around her, I think she was scared because "Granny" doesn't look the same. But she warmed up to her quickly and was dancing and signing for her. 
Saturday Matt, my aunt, and my cousin took the kids to the Phoenix Children's museum for the day while I got to spend some quality time with my grandma, the kids had a lot of fun and I am very glad for the opportunity to hang out with my grandma one-on-one. Saturday night we had a "campfire" in my aunts backyard and roasted marshmallows. 
Sunday, we went back to visit my grandpa and back to the hospital. After a few hours, Matt took the kids back to play at my aunts while I got to spend some more time with my grandma and tell her good-bye. It was very hard to leave the hospital not knowing how long of time she has left, but I felt I left nothing unsaid and I got the best gift of time with her. My grandma is a very special person to me as a kid and even more as an adult. She has been there for every big event in my life, high school graduation, college graduation, wedding, birth of Katherine, was a rock for me during Colin's surgeries. I am grateful to have such a wonderful, kind, loving, strong, beautiful woman in my life to set such a great example of what a person should be like. She is truly one of a kind and is very loved by us all. 
Monday came way too soon and it was time to come back home. The kids were great at the airport and on the flight. We had an hour delay waiting on a new plane because ours broke, but luckily it was just an hour. My mom was nice and had dinner ready for us when we got home, she was dog/cat/fish sitting for us while we were gone. It was a nice trip and I think I found the peace I was looking for. Of course I wish it was under better circumstances, but I am very fortunate to have such a wonderful and supportive family. Matt was great with the kids so I could have some time with grandma, he will never know how much I really appreciate that. My aunts, uncles, and cousins were also great to also come up with activities for the kids so they wouldn't be bored on our non-vacation vacation. Both kids even got to go "rock climbing".
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