Grandmothering and being marginally ill for the long term can be but must not be mutually exclusive events.  I have seven little peole born to our family since my Acute Mylosetic Leukemia diagnosis and while I have photos of me with hair and without, on oxygen and off, in hospital beds or wheelchairs or not, I always have one or another of these newborns in my arms!  Now I am up, dressed, slowly recovering and yet my Grandmothering has moved right along!  They are in our home, overnight if their ages permit, at the children's museum, at the petting zoo, at the live stage plays and in the yard on an endless aray of climbing and riding toys and always with me.  They give me joy and I give them love and lots of it.  They eat at the breadboard on special plates and glassware and they graduate with anticipation from high chairs to toddler chairs to stools and all their photos adorn the refrigerator door.  The back room is stocked with a cribs, diapers, changes of clothes and the kitchen has a Grandma drawer that is constantly changing and filled with things that delight and amuse.  They run for the drawer at soon as they hit the kitchen.  

Yes, I've been dreadfully ill and it's been seven long years but they have been a part of me throughout this entire trying journey.  And, how do I keep myself involved in the larger world?  Why, e-bay of course!  I am constantly on line checking for possible birthday ideas or selecting something special for one or another of their parents.  I love e-bay and it has been my endless source of amusement and delight.  It is my Grandma's drawer!