HAPPY 4th of JULY
to all of our
family & friends
We did it! We went on our first overnight trip away from home since Gary's transplant. It was exhausting, stressful, but fun, and I'm so glad we did it!
Monday and Tuesday was "Passport" -- Calvin's orientation for incoming freshman and parents. There had been a choice of several times, and we had signed up for this one. At the time of signing up, we weren't sure who would be able to come, but we figured better to sign up Gary, Peter, and myself as the parents coming a long since with 2 in-coming freshman, we were able to do that and then figure out closer to the time who would actually be able to go with Andrew and Stephanie. We took advantage of being able to come up on Sunday night and stay in the dorms since we figured that way, if Gary needed to sleep or rest he would be able to do that and join us when he was up to it. It also gave me a place to rest when I needed it. Not knowing how things would be, especially in regards to how Gary would be doing, we did not make any plans to see my family that lives in the area. Somehow, I have a feeling that with two kids going to college there next year, we'll also be making more trips out there and then we can hopefully spend time with family. We did get a chance to see one of my brothers. He called me while we were at PASSPORT to see if there was any chance we would be free to see him on Monday night. Was so good to see him again and have a visit with him in our dorm room.
As time got closer, and Gary felt he wanted to try it, we decided that all of us would go. I thought I had requested being on the first floor of the dorm, but, either I thought I had and actually didn't or something got messed up at Calvin, but we ended up on the 3rd floor at the top of the stairs. Since there were no elevators, Gary and I did the stairs as little as possible and Peter did a lot of trips going up and down bringing all of our things as well as if Gary needed to go up and I was not going to stay up at that particular time, he would take Gary up and get him settled in and make sure he had everything he needed. Have I mentioned it before in our blog? I am so thankful for our children!!!
We left early Sunday afternoon so that we could be there when the dorms would open so that Andrew and Stephanie could participate in the activities that were planned for the students but also so we could hopefully get a restful night. The twins had found out about a week or two ago who their roommates would be for the coming school year and each had made some contact with them. We had found out that Stephanie's roommate would be at the same Passport but not Andrew's so at least one would more then likely meet their roommate.
Monday and Tuesday were full of activities for both students and parents -- some together, some separate, but lots to do. Also, students had various appts such as placement tests and academic advising where they would be setting up their schedules, and some had several other appointments. I had gone through all of our schedules on Sunday night so that I could at least have an idea of what were the things we each needed to be at knowing that I would try to make it to as much as possible but also wanting to see if there were any more important then others for Gary to try to go to. He went to a couple of the main programs, but did spend a large part of the time in the room sleeping or just relaxing. I think it was nice for him to just have a new environment to be in. We had taken along fans to help keep the rooms cool enough, and the weather cooperated -- not too hot and not too cold -- and with the help of the fans, we could keep the rooms at least somewhat comfortable. The first day the sun was shining and a very beautiful day outside. Tuesday we woke up to rain and it was a rainy dreary looking day.
There are a lot of trees on campus, especially between the dorms and the dining halls or on the way to the FAC (Fine Arts Center where the bigger group meetings were held), and for the most part they kept him shaded enough as we walked from building to building for meetings, meals, and sleeping, so we did not push the sunscreen too much although he did wear his hat and at times wore his face-mask. He is supposed to wear sunscreen because one of his medications can cause sun burn when his skin is exposed to the sun, but he says that he gets irritated by the sunscreen. We kept his pill schedule the same, but because we were in the EST instead of CST, we moved the times from 9am , 12 noon, 5 pm, and 9pm to 10am, 1pm, 6pm, and 10pm. We figured that would be better for his body since it would only be for 2 days and that way his body would still fill like it was getting the pills at the same time. I hadn't thought about it, Peter thought about it as we were driving to Michigan and I was glad he did.
Stephanie and Andrew both had several individual things they each had to go to as well as a lot of things that were just for the students themselves. There was usually a parent meeting or activity during all of the student meetings and activities so always something going on. I made it to most things but bowed out of a couple things myself to rest so I would be ready for other things. I remember being busy and tired but still being able to do all the meetings and activities when I went to Passport with Peter and Bradley, but then, that was all before the accident in Nov 2007 that has really curtailed me. This time I was even more tired and by the time I would lay down at night, my body would let me know that I had overdone it, but, I'm so thankful that I could still come along. I did tell Peter at one point that I was so thankful that he could take off from work to spend the time with us. I would not have been able to be there by myself with Gary and the twins (they stayed in another part of the dorms with just students) and I'm not sure how I would have done on my own with the twins if I had left Gary and Peter at home -- we would have for sure had to spend Tuesday night in Michigan then too, since I was way, way too tired to drive home and I'm not sure how awake either Andrew or Stephanie would have been to drive home (maybe they would have been fine). Also, we wouldn't have been able to leave Gary at home a lone for that long either. I'm so thankful that Peter doesn't mind using vacation time to help out and do these things with us and for us.
All in all, I'm glad it worked for the five of us to go, that the weather wasn't too hot as long as we had fans in our room, and although Gary couldn't participate in everything, he still got to be a part of it all, and by being in the dorms, he was able to be in our room resting between activities he went to when he was up to doing things. I was also happy we were able to keep him hydrated well enough. We brought lots of individual crystal light packets for water bottles and the dining hall also served crystal light. I know he was amazed at how tired he would get so quickly, but when you think of how little he has been able to do, these were "big steps" for him and even a change in environment can tire you out as well as the car ride. I was also thankful that Stephanie (and the rest of us) got to meet her room mate for the school year and some of her family and even ate some or our meals together. From what we can tell now, they appear to be a good match.
Yesterday I was very exhausted. I had 2 doctor appointments for myself (I'm trying to catch up on my on doctoring issues right now) and was so tired from not having slept well mostly because of pain while we were at Calvin that I had a lot of trouble staying awake. I decided it was time to go to bed early (for me) by 9PM but of course, once I laid down, I had trouble sleeping again but did eventually get to sleep. I'm still tired today and have found myself dozing off, so haven't accomplished all I had hoped to today while the kids are gone. They went to Great America for the afternoon and evening. The Villa Park 4th of July parade was at noon today. The parade route goes right by our house. It's rather nice to be able to walk out our door and just sit by the street especially since we have a beautiful tree that gives wonderful shade in our parkway. The thing is to remember to set out enough chairs before others start putting out their chairs and blankets to claim seats for the parade. They changed the route I think in 2011. I really like it that it goes by our house now, since I enjoy parades, and this way I don't have to walk far to watch and those that don't want to go can do what they want. It was beautiful weather for the parade. Gary wasn't up to sitting out front for it but he and the kids don't have as much interest in it as I do, so I went and watched it by myself. When our kids were on the park district swim team, they would walk in the parade each year.
I'm sorry if I've repeated myself at all through here. I'm still very, very tired and keep dozing off -- might need to try to go to bed early again tonight. This posting has gotten long enough again but then I guess I have a tendency towards that. My 2nd oldest son reminded me of that Tuesday when he and his wife received the anniversary card I had mailed them for their 2nd Wedding Anniversary. He told me that they had received a card that was said to be sent by me but was only one page long so it couldn't possibly be from me. I told him, I had been trying to make sure it got to him on time for once, so, I had had to hurriedly write it so we could mail it on our way out of town to PASSPORT.
I Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July today. I decided to add a couple of pictures I took today of Gary and I with our 4th of July shirts on. Thank you, everyone, for continuing to walk with us on this journey. We appreciate so much your thoughts and your prayers.
Love,
Nelly and family
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.
~ ~ Psalm 33:12 NIV
HAPPY 4th of JULY everyone!
