Vacation

We went to visit with my family in Michigan, and we were not able to update the blog while we were there because there is no internet. Not that Michigan doesn't have internet, but my parents don't. They don't even have dial-up. I give them a hard time about that. I mean, Janelle is over in Africa and even she has internet.

Day One - The Long Drive
Friday 12/26
As with any long trip, you set a time to leave, and I was always told when we had kids, I would never get out of the house on time again. Well I guess that was true but I have to admit it wasn't Gabe's fault. Believe me, I tried to put the blame on him.... If he wasn't such a good baby that sleeps through the night, I would have been up earlier with him. But then I thought better of it...I enjoy my sleep on all the nights that I don't want to get up early. The plan was to leave at 5:30 am. My alarm and I had a great plan for the morning to get us on the road on time. The problems started when the alarm didn't go off. I finaly woke up at about 5:45 not 4:30 like I was planning. So needless to say we didn't leave the house till 7:30. Once we finally got on our way, we never expected Gabe to be as good as he was. The first 6 hours of the trip, Gabe didn't make a peep. We had to check his pulse a couple times just to see if he was ok. When it was just Jess and I making the trip it took us 14 to 15 hours. We thought we would have to stop overnight because of all the extra time Gabe would add to the trip. At the end of the trip it really only took us an extra 1.5 hours.

Day Two - Just Lay Low
Saturday 12/27
After the long trip we decided to just hang out and rest. We had a couple of visitors but for the most part Grandma just spoiled Gabe. Gabe and I did go down and visit Grammie (Gabe's Great Grandma) for a couple of hours. Thankfully she only lives next door because I made a deal with Gabe for being so good on the trip he wouldn't have to get into his carseat for a day. So he got to drive for the first time...well not exactly.

Day Three - Church
Sunday 12/28
Every time we go home it is always interesting to see how Pastor Jackson is going to put me on the spot. His message was going a little long so he said because I didn't get to hear him preach much I wanted him to go longer. All the ladies that had the misfortune of watching me grow up were looking forward to seeing Gabe. I think they just wanted to see if I was going to get paid back for all I ever did. After church we had the typical Sunday lunch. It can get crazy at times, but what do you expect with 6 kids and 3 under the age of 3. It is aways a fun family time no matter how crazy.

Day Four - Another Baby Shower
Monday 12/29
I really can't tell you much about that cause I didn't hang around. I went out shopping with my brother and his 2 boys. I know that sounds just as girly as me staying at the baby shower but we went man shopping. We went to all the sporting good stores in town. We looked at guns, bows, hunting and fishing stuff. I know Gabe wanted to go with us so I tried to swing a deal with the women but they were not going to budge on that. Jess said that the ladies had a great time fawning over Gabe and of course spoiled him with all kinds of gifts. They played a couple of games and had a great time together.
Trip to ER
Well in one area for sure Gabe is paying me back for what I did to my parents growing up. I was always at the ER. Gabe is not even 3 months old and we have had 2 trips to the ER. He had a bad cough before we left for vacation, but the doctors said it was a cold. Monday night after his baby shower he was not acting normal so we took his temp (102). After calling the doctor we decided to take him in. After a couple hours and a lot of tests and x-rays we found out he had bronchiolitis.

Day Five - The Flu
Tuesday 12/30
The flu had gone through my family and really every one in that area a couple of weeks before we got there but apparently the germs were still around. I blame it on the ER. I figure that den of sickness gave Jess and I the Flu. Either that or it was the two kids that threw up in the vestibule at church Sunday night. Jess had the flu in all ways possible. I knew she wasn't faking because that day was supposed to be the womens' big shopping day down at the big mall. I just felt a little off. I just figured I would be able to fight it off.

Day Six - The Flu (continued...)
Wednesday 12/31
I lost my fight, and my lunch. I felt even worse on wednesday which really bummed me out. It was New Years Eve. All I could do was lay in bed. I couldn't even watch football. Before church the whole family came over for family pictures. I wanted to have nothing to do with that but I got up and got dressed for them anyways. I have not seen the pictures yet but I am sure I look great in them. I barely made it through 2 pictures and then back to the bathroom I went.

Day Seven - Flu Recovery
Thursday 01/01
Happy New Years!!!! It was a happy day indeed, the flu was gone. We just rested and hung out around the house watching football and spending time with family. It was family Christmas night and we had our annual Yankee Swap that got rather interesting when some people decided to be funny and secretly add something to one of the swap gifts that had everyone in stitches. I can't elaborate much more other than to say that a good time was had by all!

Day Eight - Shopping Day Reschedueled
Friday 01/02
With everyone feeling good again, the girls all decided they needed to get to the mall. They had lots of fun and found a lot of great deals, or so they said. Gabe and I spent the day packing up the truck for the long ride home. We got as much loaded as we could then we went to visit Grammie. Then we went to Bob's house to play the Wii. Gabe didn't do that well on Wii bowling but his score was better than my candlepin scores usually are. When the girls finally got done shopping they all came over and we had pizza and said our goodbyes.

Day Nine - A Long Sad Ride Home
Saturday 01/03
Well I thought I had most of the truck packed the day before but I soon found out I was very wrong. My mom rode back to Maine with us so we had her stuff to pack which wasn't that much but all Gabe's stuff created a very big challenge. Thanks to my skills from UPS I was able to get it all in. I couldn't see anything out the back but who needs to see behind them when they are driving. Unlike the trip to out we managed to get on road right on time. The last thing we do before we leave town is visit with Grammie. Doesn't matter how early we leave she insists we come down and wake her up so she can say goodbye. We learned a lot about traveling with Gabe on the way out and with my mom in the back we were able to make even better time going home.