(((February 7, 2016)))
Nicole's POV
It is now Sunday morning, and we are all ready to get on a plane to go see Grandma and Grandpa in California. Payson is planning on driving there from Vegas tonight. Parker, Hannah, and I are getting on a plane at 1:00.
It is chaotic this morning. We all put off packing until the last minute. Hannah is packing, while she has her phone to her ear talking to Payson. Parker and I can't get much of anything done because we get distracted with playing with each other. The dogs bark and run around the house, playing. I'm almost positive that we're going to forget something.
"You can't take me down, Schnabel." I said as I looked up at Parker. Somehow we had gotten into a conversation of who would win in a fight.
"Yes, I can, Nicole Elizabeth." He smiled down. He's about a foot taller than me; I'm 5'3", he's 6'2". I was standing on my tiptoes trying to make myself taller.
"No, you can't. You can't hit a girl." I said seriously. I was going to win this conversation.
"No....but I can tickle one!" He said as he threw me on the bed and started tickling me.
"Ah! No! Parker! Stop!" I yelled through the laughs.
"Say I win!" He chuckled as he got on top of me and tickled me.
"No!" I laughed. "Hannah! Help!"
Hannah came running into the room, but stopped and laughed at the doorway. "You nuts." She laughed. "I thought something was wrong. Payson, they are laying on the bed and Parker is tickling the life outta her." She said into the phone.
"Hannah! Put the phone down and help me!" I laughed.
"You better not, Hannah. I'll tickle both of you." Parker said.
Hannah snapped a picture of us playing on the bed together with my Polaroid. Then she set the phone down and jumped on Parker's back. He threw her off his back onto the bed, and started tickling us each with one hand. But, he couldn't keep us both down with one hand. I grabbed his arm, and Hannah grabbed his other arm. We threw him off the bed and ran into the living room, laughing. Parker wasn't far behind though. He started tickling me again until I finally gave in and said that he won.
"You did get away, though. You did good, babe." He said, out of breath, as he gave me a hug.
"That wasn't fair. You know where I'm ticklish." I smiled, equally out of breath.
"You weirdos need to finish packing. It's almost time to go." Hannah said as she walked down the hall.
"She's right. We still have to drop the dogs off."
***
We were in sunny California by 4:00, after three and half hours or so of plane riding. Luckily, I seriously doubt that we forgot anything, because Hannah and I checked everything at least ten times before we left. We landed, got all our luggage, and walked out to the rental car that Parker had arranged.
"Okay, so where's the car or truck or whatever?" I asked as we were standing in the parking lot.
"Right here." Parker said as he walked up to a Chevrolet Tahoe.
We drove to the hospital right the start with, after we stopped by a fast food restaurant and got something to eat. We were at the hospital around 5:00.
We all three walked into the San Leandro Hospital, Parker holding my hand as we walked. Parker and I walked up to the desk, while Hannah waited for us.
"John Schnabel's room number, please." Parker said to the desk lady.
"I have to see if he's accepting visitors." She said as she picked up the phone. "Name?"
"Parker Schnabel, his grandson."
The woman talked into the phone for a minute. Then she hung up the phone and said, "Room 54. I'll show you to it."
"Thank you, ma'am." Parker said as we turned and walked away.
"Come on, Hannah." I said as we walked by. Hannah walked behind us while sipping on her drink.
We started walking down the hallway, passing doctors, nurses, and patients. We finally found the room and walked in to see Grandpa laying in the hospital bed with Grandma sitting beside him. They both looked up at us and smiled.
"Parker!" Grandpa smiled as Parker walked over with a big smile on his face to hug him.
"Hey, Grandpa." He smiled as he hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.
"Nicole!" He smiled again as he saw me.
I smiled and leaned over to give him a hug. "Hey, Grandpa." I kissed him on the cheek. "How you feeling?"
Grandpa talked as Parker and I hugged Grandma. Grandma was doing a lot better, and now she just stays with Grandpa in his room. "Well, the doctor said that I was going into surgery tomorrow morning. I can't move my leg, however."
"Now or when you get the surgery?" Parker asked as he pulled up a chair for us to sit in.
"Now. It feels numb. And they said that I might not be able to move it for a few days after the surgery." Grandpa explained.
"Well, hopefully you'll be able to walk again soon, huh, Grandpa?" Parker smiled.
"I certainly hope so."
The doctor then came in the room.
"Well, I see you have some visitors, Mr. Schnabel." The doctor said.
"Yes, I certainly do. My grandchildren." Grandpa smiled.
"Doctor, could you tell us what's going on with Grandpa's leg?" I asked.
"Well, there is a series of hardened arteries that are blocking the blood from adequately getting into his foot. The blood can't circulate, therefore it feels numb. Fortunately, the problem can be fixed with surgery in his leg, and we don't have to amputate his foot." The doctor explained.
"Is it a long surgery or...?" I asked.
"Well, we have to cut basically from his thigh down to his foot." The doctor said.
"That much?" Parker asked.
"I'm afraid so." The doctor said. "However, he should be able to move the leg within a few days of the surgery."
"How long until he can walk again?" Parker asked.
"Well, he will probably need some physical therapy for his leg. He'll have to stay somewhere where he can recover."
Parker looked at me. "Thanks for the information, Doctor." Parker said.
The doctor then talked to Grandpa and Grandma for a little while.
***
Payson was at the hospital by 9:00 that night, and he walked in the room while we were all talking. Mom had went back home to Haines by that time; she had to go back to work and would be back for Grandpa's birthday. She trusted the four of us to look after our grandparents.
Payson greeted everyone, he was especially happy to see Grandma and Grandpa. We told him about the surgery, and we talked about Grandpa's birthday. Grandpa told us stories, and we all sat around and listened to every word. We loved hearing his stories and his words of wisdom. Grandma got tired around 9:30, and we all said good night to her as she headed down the hall to her room. Grandpa kissed her good night before she left.
Around 10:30, the nurse came in while Parker was telling Grandpa something about the new mining season.
"Mr. Schnabel, the doctor said that you need some rest before your surgery tomorrow morning."
"Yes, yes. Just let my grandson tell me this before he leaves." Grandpa said.
I smiled as Parker continued talking.
"We're leaving in about five minutes." I said to the nurse.
"That's fine." She smiled as she made sure Grandpa was doing fine.
About ten minutes later, we finally started saying our goodbyes to Grandpa, with hugs, kisses, and "I love you"s.
"Bye bye." Grandpa smiled as we all walked out.