Grandparents often become involved in parenting roles with their grandchildren. These take many forms, and there are rewards and challenges to each of them.  However, in my case (living in a multigenerational home), I’ve discovered the rewards far outnumber any inconveniences.
Grandparenting/parenting situations:

Grandchildren living with grandparents and parents in a multigenerational household, as has been the case in our home, for 13 years.
Grandparents caring for grandchildren temporarily when there has been a parent illness or parent(s) away on military or job assignment
Grandparents babysitting while parents work.
Grandparents having adopted or acquired guardianship of grandchildren because the parents have died or cannot …read more

Quilts reminding us of spring, on this first day of Spring 2009,  may have bright and cheery designs, springtime images, or names that reminds us of flowers and the newness of this season.
In addition to being the first day of Spring, today is my granddaughter’s 18th birthday, a time for her to spring into adulthood.   She’s looking forward to graduation from high school and entering college, venturing into that world away from home.
She also is a quilter and creates unique quilt hangings and bed quilts, often for high school projects.
Flower named quilts are numerous.  You may want to look into …read more

Pompe disease is a rare neuromuscular genetic disorder that affects approximately 5,000 to 10,000 people world wide. It occurs in babies, children, and adults who inherit a defective gene from each parent. The disease manifestations can vary greatly from one person to the next.
I have to admit, until I was contacted to write about Pompe disease, I had only heard it mentioned once or twice in nursing school. It is one of those diseases that you will come across once through out your entire clinical career. This disease has devastating ramifications on both the patient, and the family …read more