A different Christmas this year

Gransnetters - how wonderful are you all!

I have been so touched by the fact that so many peeps ( over 30) have taken the trouble to reply with lovely thoughts and ideas for our different Christmas this year!

It's really helped me and know I am going to enjoy creating our special scrapbook with photos and reminders of the Christmas that his new baby brother arrived! As well as the comforting thoughts about C sections and safe arrivals whether it's Christmas or not!

Thank you all so much!

Last year DD was admitted to hospital on 21st December to be induced with her 3rd child as she was overdue and baby's movements were decreasing. DH & I moved into her house to look after the 5 and 3 year old. We had a lovely few days preparing for Christmas, baking and doing crafty things.
Baby really didn't want to shift and only when a C section was looming did labour move up a gear. She was born on Christmas Eve and DD was desperate to be home in time to put the older children to bed which she did.
Christmas Day was lovely and included a visit from the midwife.

I'm sure your little grandson will have a super time with you, I'd just keep it very low key.

Cherryblossom how sad for you, so lovely that your family are coming to you though. Brain haemorrhage is so awful! Takes the person away in many ways.

Blue treat him to a couple of pressies but have Christmas when everyone home hope all goes well
Cherry I'm glad you are not alone this Christmas hope you make some lovely memories with your son and family which you can tell dh about when you visit ?

Oh cherry that is sad for you. Lovely that the family are coming though. Save up the lovely moments you will have and look back on them in the New Year.

My DH had major brain bleed in May and is now in a nursing home. Unable to move or communicate it will be our first time apart in 44 years, I am heartbroken. BUT my DS, DDIL and two beautiful GC coming to UK from overseas to stay with me I cannot wait, bring on the 22nd. To any other gransnetter in similar position I send love and a big hug and hope that you do not have a sad and lonely Christmas xx

Who's to tell you when you do your Christmas? There are no hard and fast rules, just do it when you can. If I end up in hospital over Christmas then so be it, we will have our Christmas when I come home or before I go in. The main thing is that I will be getting the treatment I need and the same for you. You will be getting a safe delivery of your second grandchild. Your grandson will be getting a sibling, for life. It's only for a couple of days.

Maybe don't even celebrate on the day itself but leave it until you can all be together. Get him to make a "Welcome at Christmas" card for his sibling. Or a Christmas stocking with little teddies or whatever in it. And a present for mummy too. All the best, X

C sections are not stay in for five days anymore as they were when I had mine. Both my daughters were home next day with theirs (inherited physical problem).

Hi Blue. How wonderful. Great your grandson knows you well. Could you take him to see Father Christmas. Christmas lights. Soft play.

What a wonderful Christmas present for you all, a new baby! I had a 22 month gap between #1 daughter and #2 and made sure there was a nice present from the baby for the toddler. I had the baby at home but grandma came and took big sister away for the day after she'd seen the baby, a treat visit for a big girl.

Is grandson used to staying with you? Maybe do a practise run or two before then? Make it a treat? And what others have said about opening presents with you if you can't be back home for that.

If your daughter is quite well after 24 hours and baby is fine tbh it wouldn't surprise me if she was discharged before Christmas day as they prefer to have the least staff as possible. It might be an idea to bear this in mind. You could have extra people around your table.

I'd have Christmas on 22 nd this year! Child won't know difference, and his parents could come too.

Definitely take him to hospital let him open some presents sitting on bed with his mummy and maybe pack up some nibbly bits to so you can share them whilst there and a flask of tea/ coffee. No reason it still can't be special.

It will be lovely, the scrapbook/ record of events will please your daughter and be a lovely reminder of the Christmas when she had her second baby. Enjoy, and hope you get some sleep...!!!!

Make him feel extra special, visit his litle Brother or Sister and let him kow how lucky the new baby is to have such a lovely big Brother. He will love Christmas with his Grandparents and maybe Daddy will be able to be with you all for a while. Lets hope Mummy comes home soon, and you wll have a wonderful second Christmas together, Congratulations on your new Grandchild when it arrives. Happy Christmas.

Meant Santa!,

Hopefully if all goes well your DD will be home for Christmas day. Both of my daughters in law have had emergency c sections and have been home extraordinarily quickly.
Congratulations on the new baby and I'm sure your DGS will have a wonderful time with you.

If all goes well, big bro will be able to visit mum and baby bro, which will be the perfect Xams for all - just spoil big bro just a little - maybe a special stocking filler from new baby bro looking forward to lots of special games together when I can learn from you!

Is it possible to stay at your daughter's house? I think that would be easiest for the 2 year old so that he's at least in his own bed. I think I would do that if I was in your position and it was possible.

I had DD on the Wednesday and on Friday morning was taken home by ambulance absolutely desperate to see my DS who was 23 months old. Well was I disappointed! He ignored me and made a bee-line for the ambulance.

All he wanted to do was sit in the front seat of the ambulance (which the driver kindly let him do) Baby and I didn't get a look in until I told him that his new litle sister had brought him a present of a fire engine. Then he was very interested!

I think it's easy to forget that little children just do not see the world as adults do.

We had our daughter and 2 grandchildren one year after son-in-law left the marital home. Our grand-daughter was 3 and after she had gone to bed I sprinkled very fine glitter dust on the duvet and at the side of her bed. We told her that it was the Christmas fairy who was checking that she was asleep! She still remembers this and she's now 15.
Well worth doing despite the fact that I was vacuuming glitter dust up for days!!

I would just carry on as normal, he is used to you and let him be in charge of showing you the new baby so he feels he has some control and is still number one boy at gran's.

I would consider hving Christmas a week late he won't know.

I'm sure DGS will be fine!
I looked after my DGS for 5 days whilst DDIL was having DGS2, again by CS are a failed induction. He was 21/2 and we did lots of lovely things like trips to the park, feeding ducks, babycinos galore and fun cooking and painting.
Admittedly it wasn't Christmas and I was at their house with DS staying all day at the hospital and coming home after DGS's bedtime because things were somewhat scary.

He did go to the hospital to meet his baby brother and all went really well.

A very exciting time for you!

Just stick to his routines so things feel more familiar and give him lots of cuddles. How very exiting to have a Christmas baby - and 2 Christmases!

love the scrapbook idea