Moving is such an interesting experience. It's exhausting... Physically and emotionally. But we are here, safe and thankful. God has continued to provide in big and small ways, just as we knew He would.
- We made it in 3 days of driving. Nolan was an absolute, bonafide, precious, handsome little rock star. Of the 25+ hours total driving time, we made only 1 solitary stop specifically for him. Just had to change a poo diaper and get back on the road. No crying. No misery. I'm still impressed.
- We praise God for ZERO complications. No screaming babe. No poopy blow outs. No car sickness. No car or trailer trouble. I mean, not even construction traffic, which for I-35 in the summertime is in itself a miracle on par with the virgin birth.
- Debby, Nolan and I left Rochester Wednesday (6/26). Debby's house in Sayre, OK, is almost exactly half way between Roch and Phoenix. Such a blessing!
We drove 15 hours straight, arriving at her house at 4:30 Thursday morning. Yes, 4:30AM. Me the intermittently sleep deprived nursing mother and Debby the 60-is-the-new-40 cancer checkup patient did it. Because Nolan fell asleep around 9, we opted to press on instead of undertaking the hassle and delay of stopping at a hotel.
I drove the first and last quarters, and by the time we found that Holy of Holies Sayre Exit Sign, I was pretty sure it was a mirage. Let's just say I-40 in rural Oklahoma doesn't offer much in the form of entertainment at that hour. Or any hour, come to think of it. Suffice it to say: we were ready to be there and to fall into our beds.
- Funny side note: On that endless stretch of early morning, rural interstate, while Debby and Nolan were asleep in the backseat, I prayed specifically that God would send some means of keeping me awake and alert. That very minute, I was plagued by one of the worst and longest-lasting cases of the hiccups I've ever had. Careful what you ask for! I was cracking up all by myself. :) Thanks be to God.
We drove 15 hours straight, arriving at her house at 4:30 Thursday morning. Yes, 4:30AM. Me the intermittently sleep deprived nursing mother and Debby the 60-is-the-new-40 cancer checkup patient did it. Because Nolan fell asleep around 9, we opted to press on instead of undertaking the hassle and delay of stopping at a hotel.
I drove the first and last quarters, and by the time we found that Holy of Holies Sayre Exit Sign, I was pretty sure it was a mirage. Let's just say I-40 in rural Oklahoma doesn't offer much in the form of entertainment at that hour. Or any hour, come to think of it. Suffice it to say: we were ready to be there and to fall into our beds.
- Funny side note: On that endless stretch of early morning, rural interstate, while Debby and Nolan were asleep in the backseat, I prayed specifically that God would send some means of keeping me awake and alert. That very minute, I was plagued by one of the worst and longest-lasting cases of the hiccups I've ever had. Careful what you ask for! I was cracking up all by myself. :) Thanks be to God.
- Mikel left Rochester Friday morning 6/28 after making his final appearance at good old St. Mary's Hospital. With the pups and the Audi for company, he also arrived in Sayre in one trip, pulling in around midnight on Saturday. I was worried Khaki (our dog-aggressive beast) would eat Debby's dogs, but after utilizing the techniques our trainer Annalissa taught me for introducing them (read: walking all 4 dogs together on leash down the street at 1 AM), they were actually fast friends and we were all able to live together in peace, love and harmony until our departure Saturday afternoon.
- Debby, Mikel and I caravanned the rest of the way to AZ, arriving at our house Sunday afternoon 6/30.
- Debby, Mikel and I caravanned the rest of the way to AZ, arriving at our house Sunday afternoon 6/30.
I really have to pause and give one of many shout-outs to Debby. This absolutely would not have been possible without her... Certainly we all would have suffered far more! She was the perfect person for the task -- so pleasant and sweet. Patient, hardworking, thoughtful... And she comes with an endless supply of energy, to boot. It was wonderful having her for the trip, and we were extra spoiled because she was able to remain with us for a week after arriving. Not a lot of daughters- and mothers-in-law could spend that kind of quality time together and still come out friends, but I am more in love with her than ever. More details to follow about all the wonders that she worked, but this intro was at least needed. Thank you, Debby!!
Away we go! Goodbye, Rochester...
Armed with enough toys to entertain an army.
Don't worry. The fake cough came too.
Thank goodness for Lizzie, who deserves her own shout out! Nolan woke up bright and early, just a couple of hours after I had collapsed into bed, and Lizzie scooped him up to play with him so I could sleep a while longer. I was so delirious, I couldn't even give her any instructions or thank her or anything. She saved the day.
Armed with enough toys to entertain an army.
Don't worry. The fake cough came too.
Thank goodness for Lizzie, who deserves her own shout out! Nolan woke up bright and early, just a couple of hours after I had collapsed into bed, and Lizzie scooped him up to play with him so I could sleep a while longer. I was so delirious, I couldn't even give her any instructions or thank her or anything. She saved the day.
After we recovered a bit, we were able to really enjoy our time in Oklahoma.
Fun with Grammers
Swimming and a big nap with the ceiling fan humming...
There's no place like Grandma's house in the summertime. :)
Debby is no slouch cook, and she outdid herself on this little visit. Look at that fried chicken! Yum!
Her next-door neighbors have this 11 week old doxie puppy named Sissy.
You know I was IN LOVE.
Sissy and Spike
On Friday, we walked down to pay a visit to the very sweet and spry Lola Mae who lives on Debby's street. I only hope I am like her if I live to 93! Nolan took to her instantly.
Manners:
No manners:
Khaki and Paisley (Debby's deaf dog) are now BFF's. Pretty amazing.
Paisley
Munching on peas
A spectator's sport.
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The first week in Arizona was eventful.
Grammers introduced Nolan to skinny dipping!
(Little did I know this number would climb to 117 before the day was done.)
(They say these things can live through a nuclear war, yet appears they're no match for the desert heat. Yikes.)
What a pool party without a little ice cream??
We have Blue Bell!!!
Mikel and I even got to go on a little date for some pizza pie. (Thank you, Grandma, for babysitting!)
And we headed to Mikel's office where he tee'd up the last of the paperwork and picked up his badge. It was exciting to walk up to the clinic and see his name on the window!
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Just a few days after being here, Nolan started to seem not quite himself -- feeling warm to the touch, sleeping poorly and making this face way more often than usual....
He cut 3 teeth in the last week, so we assumed that was the culprit. Boy were we wrong. Friday night brought a 104.5 temp and a midnight trip to the Children's Hospital ER where we found out the poor thing had big-time ear infections.
(Bill, where were you when we needed you?????)
Just thankful this didn't show up on the trip, though it was certainly brewing... That would've been a disaster.
Amazing what a few days of good, old-fashioned antibiotics will do for a boy.
So happy to have this smile back! And the nanny dogs did their job expertly.
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While I hated for Nolan to be sick during Debby's visit, talk about an outstanding time to have an extra pair of hands on deck --- for bouncing the baby or unpacking or letting the dogs in or out... You name it, she helped with it. And we are grateful!
Anyone who spends 2 weeks of her summer vacation packing an apartment - driving across the country at all hours - letting her adorable house be turned into a veritable dog park - then babysitting, rocking and playing with a sick baby so Mom could sleep - unpacking and putting away - cooking - cleaning - doing load after load of laundry - and on and on and on...... That person AT LEAST deserves to be treated to a pedicure, for crying out loud.
And so, we did. :) I didn't learn until after we were seated that this was Debby's first one ever! What a bonus! It was great to sit down together (not in a moving vehicle with kids' music CD's blaring) and enjoy ourselves and each other.
Getting the massage chair figured out.
It was a sad day when we put Debby on that plane back to Oklahoma, but we look forward to many more visits... hopefully in cooler weather!
And so, we're settling in. It will take some time to feel at "home", but we are where we belong for now - and for that, we can only give thanks and wait expectantly to see how the Lord will move in our move.
I love you, Becca! What a sweet, sweet post. and Debbie is SUCH a rockstar!! I am crossing my fingers that we'll make it out to visit once before we leave.
ReplyDeleteoh loved reading this! i can just hear you saying it to me - just what i needed. so glad debby was there and was a trooper. praying for you - praying for a dear friend like me or nicole or beth or i could go on and on.
ReplyDeletelov eyou!