Quick Update

School has been...going. It's a lot of studying and quite overwhelming. My first exam didn't go as well as I would have liked. I'm chalking it up to poor test-taking skills (multiple choice--yuck) and second-guessing myself. I'm moving on and will do better on the test I'm taking tomorrow (and another on Friday). I did not fail, and I will not fail, and that is what matters! On the upside, I've connected with several of the gals in my class and it's great to have people to study with, ask questions, and do "group" things with.

In another facet of my life, my paternal grandfather had a major prolonged heart attack 2 Fridays ago. There was extensive heart damage (now operating at 20% capacity) and complications due to diabetes. He's also in renal and liver failure. However, he's fairly lucid and not in pain (nor on any pain medications). He's currently in hospice care where they're doing their best to make him comfortable without trying to treat and necessarily prolong life (ie, no monitors, no dialysis, a DNR has been signed). The long and short of it is that he doesn't have much time left on earth. He'll be my first grandparent to pass, and while I'm not having a terrible time coming to terms with it (we are not as close as we could be), it does put the age and health condition of my maternal grandparents in the forefront of my mind. Both of whom have had a bigger role in my life since my parents divorce and their passing will affect me much much more deeply.

Sam and I did get the chance to go visit him (in Cincinnati) last week, and I am very glad we did. He was happy to have visitors and that means a lot. We were also able to connect a bit with my uncle who lives out in Wyoming, so that was really great.

So, prayers, well-wishes, happy thoughts, whatever are greatly appreciated in the direction of my grandfather and my family, especially my cousins who have a much closer bond with him. I wish them the strength they need to get through this time and to cope with our eventual loss.