My heartfelt condolences - having lost our own son to a miscarriage over 18 years ago and still feeling the pain, all my prayers are with you, your daughter and son-in-law and extended family, you'll never forget but I do know personally that it does get easier. Funnily enough, my wife coped better than I did, even know I struggle to talk about it with our 3 children. I wish there was more we could do to help.

My deepest sympathies, Cliff. 

Stay strong!

We had a couple phone calls last night. Because of (either) hospital or Orange County rules, and the seriousness of H1N1 and other recent contagious diseases, none of the girls can see their mommy in the hospital. She is being kept overnight -- perhaps longer -- for observation. Both me and my daughter's mother (we've been divorced since 1982) offered to help in any way needed. So my daughter calls back with that her husband was asking if I meant that. Of course I did, but some help is easier than others. I called my mother, who is in Arizona, and who suffered through three or four miscarriages attempting to give me a younger sibling. Unfortunately, she is in prep for major back surgery, and could neither drive to SoCal, nor would she be able to lift the youngest to change a diaper.

We knew my son-in-law had never had to cope with full-time no help parenthood... was this a call for baby-sitting because he could not handle it? Was this that my daughter would be unable to be mommy for weeks or months? I spent some time discussing the possibilities with my wife. We concuded that, if asked, we could drive there Sunday, picking up any or all of the girls, and even my daughter. Letting son-in-law continue working without the distraction of an ailing wife and three kids for, what... a week, more?

We called daughter back. She did not know. We offered to call her husband; she thought that would be good. If she had a job, the hospital would request that she take a couple weeks off, but that she (with some little help) ought to be able to be a full-time mommy during that time. We called him. There was the Simpsons Movie on TV to keep the girls entertained. He has Friday (now today) off, works Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and has Tuesday and Wednesday off. He can, if he wants, trade Wednesday for Monday off. He'll let the weekend determine if that would be best. No... he does not need us to be there. He never asked for that. He felt it would be hard, but that he was up to the task of being a full-time parent to all three girls, and working. That Mommy would cope well while he was doing his Disney Travel job, and that he would relieve her for the 12 hours each day that he's off.

Thanks for the virtual hugs. It helps.

She's on her way home from the hospital (Yay!)

She's been to three different pharmacies, none of which have her anti-bleeding prescription in stock (can it wait until after Monday, the holiday? Nay!)

Life continues to have both good and bad.

So it goes.