Part 2

On Saturday we pretty much just visited with Grandma. We convinced after about 40 min to get in her wheelchair and we would take her for a cruise around Michelson. We sat outside for a few minutes and watched Benjamin run around. We had a pizza delivered for dinner and I don't know if I remember Grandma eating so much. She must have enjoyed the change.
Sunday we were able to get her to church with plenty of time to spare. I went super early and she was ready but then she ended up not being quite ready. But we still had plenty of time. She is like royalty at church. Lots of people came by to say hi and good to see you. She really enjoyed all of the attention she got. So we went back to Michelson and visited some more with Grandma. We were able to convince her to go outside and sit in the courtyard while Benjamin kicked a ball he found around. She just loved watching Ben run and laugh. I tried to take pictures of her with the kids but by the time I got Ben to sit still and then got Grandma to look at me Benjamin was off running. Oh well, I did get some good shots of them. I really enjoyed being able to visit with Grandma. I hadn't seen her in about 2 years but when I was there she was having a few good days and seemed to remember a lot. She doesn't always remember that she is in a wheelchair. Because when we get up to go she almost tries to get up and then says something like "Oh yeah I am in a wheelchair, I don't have to get up".
Mom had warned me that Grandma had been mean to Laura the last time they were up but I think it was more because she was being moved to somewhere she didn't and still doesn't thinks she needs to be because she didn't say anything mean to us.
Where Grandma lives is really nice. There is carpeting on the floors and it doesn't smell like a nursing home. There are pretty pictures on the walls and the nurses seem to be very nice and helpful. Grandma did say to me that she thought was living in a prison and I said laughing that this is a very nice prison then. She laughed with me at that too.
Our adventures in downtown Chicago to come........

To Chicago we go! Part one

We left on Friday the 6th to go and visit Grandma Jeanne in Batavia (near Chicago for those who don't know). We almost were not able to go because Benjamin, Kaleb, and I were all sick pretty much up until we were supposed to leave. We also noticed some car issues Wednesday night and took it into be checked out Thursday. Turned out we needed 3 new motor supports (apparently if the supports were to fail we would have dropped the motor and done some serious damage to probably everything) and a water pump. But it couldn't be fixed in time for us to drive to Calgary. Mom to the rescue. She drove from Drumheller Thursday night and took us to the airport Friday morning and then drove home to Drumheller after that. Thanks Mom for taking us.


Getting through the airport wasn't to bad security was packed and customs was super easy to get through. We arrived at the terminal and Joe goes off to find us food to eat for lunch. Pretty much as soon as Joe got back it was time to board. Now imagine 1 stroller, 1 carseat, 1 baby to hold once we get on the plane, 1 Benjamin running around like a maniac, 3 backpacks, 1 tray of 3 pops, and 1 bag of food to carry onto the plane. Hmmmm we don't have quite enough hands. Especially since Kaleb needed to be taken out of the stroller right before we board the plane and the stroller needed to be collasped as well. That was fun figuring all of that out. We got through it though and LEARNED our lesson: If you need to eat at the airport either give yourself lots of extra time or buy stuff that can be easily thrown into a backpack. Life lessons are great aren't they.


Plane time. Benjamin was pretty good on the plane. Kaleb wasn't. He cried and cried and then puked all over me, his shirt, his blanket yuck. After that though he was better. Were finally landed and Benjamin looked out the window and saw another plane and said to me that he wanted to ride that plane too. Kids are silly.



After some scary driving in Chicago in the dark and not knowing if we were going in the right direction we arrived at our first destination: Sonic. Mmmmmm Cherry Limeades I sure did miss them. Finally we arrived at the hotel and we all eventually fell asleep.



The next morning we got up and surprised Grandma. We walked into her room and she was napping in her chair but when I turned back she was awake and had the most shocked smiling face ever. It felt really good to be able to go and visit. She was so happy to have us there.



More to come......