Thanksgiving in a nutshell

Before I start, let me first say that I am extremely grateful for all the Lord has given me, my precious family and friends, my needs are always met, and that He promises to never give me more than I can handle. I recount my Thanksgiving week with this in mind, knowing it could always be worse and that you have to laugh or else you'd make yourself crazy...

I left Tuesday after Elle's school program heading 411 miles to Savannah, Georgia.

I was by myself with both kids.

Not sure what I was thinking.

It took me 8 1/2 hours to get there.

We stopped three times.

Once, just to hold Grady so that he would stop screaming.

They slept a total of a hour. Combined.

We stayed at mom's house that night.

Wednesday, we pack up to head here where the 17 other family members were joining us.

Steven got in around midnight with my uncle and cousin.

It was a great house, built in the 1790's, split in to three units (we rented the whole thing), and right across the street from the river.

Thanksgiving morning, I make this delicious praline french toast courtesy of Super Suppers for the family.

Grady would not let another soul touch him besides me. The entire trip.

And if someone even got near, he screamed.

If I left the room, he screamed.

We go out for a walk and my brother gets a call that my grandmother has been put in the hospital.

She is on a ventilator.

My dad's family is in the ER instead of eating Thanksgiving lunch at grandma's.

That afternoon, Grady breaks out in a rash all over his entire body.

He had gotten the MMR shot 10 days ago. He basically had the measles.

We gather together to eat a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. And it was wonderful.

My mom took Grady to another place in the house so Steven and I could actually eat.

Steven did not feel good most of the day.

We retired for the night.

The four of us were in one room together. Elle in the king size bed with us and Grady in the pack-n-play.

Plenty of room for us.

But not if one family member won't sleep.

Grady cried about every 15 minutes.

At one point, it's really bad but instead of getting up to console him, I run to the bathroom and have Thanksgiving dinner backwards. (I puked).

Finally, at 3 AM, I sit up in bed and put Grady on my chest. Felt really good to my worn out tummy.

My poor brother had been upstairs on the couch all night. Without sleeping.

He even knew how many times I threw up.

I get up with the kids and Steven stays in bed until lunch when we take family pictures (Notice the beautiful one of my immediate family at the top!).

Elle starts running a fever.

Steven leaves with my cousin to come home.

He had to work Saturday.

Friday night is a replay of Thursday night, minus the puking.

Saturday everyone heads home before lunch.

Elle is still feverish but the ibuprofen is managing it.

Steven, back home, spends most of his work day in the bathroom.

The kids and I head back to mom's for one more night.

I slept downstairs in mom's bed and she slept upstairs with the kids so that I could actually sleep some.

I hadn't slept in 4 days.

We leave Sunday morning around 9 AM.

I am thrilled about doing the drive again.

I go a different way because I will not drive through Atlanta ever again.

My step-mom calls on my way home and my dad is in the ER with chest pain.

He and my grandma are in the same hospital.

We make it home in 7 hours and 15 minutes.

Elle slept 20 minutes.

Grady took two 30 minute naps.

My dad gets out of the hospital Monday. His heart is in great shape. No heart attack and everything looks good.

My grandmother gets out Monday. She apparently had a grand mal seizure reaction to an anti-nausea medication (Zofran--which I am currently taking).

We think she had a mini stroke (TIA).

She is still very confused and is unable to be by herself as of now.

Monday, I can't find my credit card.

I call the restaurant in Savannah where I last used it on Friday.

They have it.

They tell me to bring my ID when I come get it.

Did I mention we are having another baby?

Hence, the throwing up and the Zofran.








Can't wait to see what Christmas has in store for us! We are heading to Dothan to celebrate Christmas with my dad's family this weekend. Hopefully, that will end our traveling for awhile. Mommy needs a break!