Dear IF readers,

Grandma Ellen here.

Today is February 14, Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day has always been a special day in our home, celebrated with much love and thought. And we have passed on the special Valentine’s Day sentiments to our children and grandchildren. I send each of our three grandchildren a card as well as a gift. This year our granddaughters (ages 11 and 9) received spring handbags, and our grandson got a new Webkinz animal. He spends hours at the computer playing Webkinz games; so I hope he likes the cute black-faced tan bull dog that I sent him.

Madeleine sent me the most touching Valentine I have ever received today. (She is the granddaughter who appears with me at the head of my column). The front and back of the hand-made card are attached with a ribbon decorated with hearts. The front of the card has a lace doily inside of which are three red hearts. The inside of the card has a hand-drawn picture of me on the top and a flower sticker on the bottom. Above the flower Madeleine has written, “Dear Grammy, You are like a flower in my heart. Happy Valentine’s Day. Love, Madeleine”. Never did I dream that grandparenthood would bring such heart-soaring occasions.

Madeleine and I have always had a special connection. It is, I think, because of what happened when I went up to help look after her just after she was born. New-born Madeleine was fine in the hospital – sleeping, nursing and doing all the rest of the appropriate infant activities. But by the time I arrived, when she was three days old and beginning her new life at home with her parents, she cried all the time. It was obvious that she was hungry, and so her mother would try and nurse her. But her milk hadn’t come in yet, and Baby Madeleine clearly was not getting enough nourishment. My inclination was to give her some formula, but my daughter, who consulted the pediatrician, a lactation consultant, a representation from La Leche League, and a nurse from the hospital, to name just a few, was told not to give her anything but water less she then refuse to nurse. So she cried and cried and cried for two days, with time out for brief naps brought on by exhaustion. Finally, I said that I didn’t care what all the experts opined, it was obvious that the poor infant was starving and I gave her some formula. She gulped down three ounces, after which she had that wonderful, sated drunk, look that newborns have, and dropped off to sleep. She was so tired by then, though, that she would not wake up to nurse. And after another worrisome day, I suggested that she ought to be taken to the pediatrician. When he saw her, he said that she had come pretty close to having to return to the hospital to be rehydrated. Needless to say, her mother was angry, indeed, at all the experts, and she says that I saved her daughter’s life.

Well, the above scenario has led to a very special relationship between this granddaughter and me. She is a remarkable human being, to boot – caring, insightful, kind, sweet. I often feel that she is too good for this world, and I worry that she will be hurt as she grows into her teen years.

But, for today, my heart dances with the heart-felt gift she has made me, and I feel blessed to call her granddaughter.

Well wishes and fulfilling lives, and today, a special Happy Valentine’s Day wish to all our IFMag readers.

Grandma Ellen

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