Back in the summer, Dan asked if I'd be interested in taking Julian with him to Seattle for his conference. I may have hesitated a bit, but said, "sure!" with enthusiasm. You can tell I'm a first time mother who never considered the 3 hour time change, the flights, and my child being 8.5 months old.
Friday night I was getting Julian's bath water ready. I was sitting on the lid of the toilet bent over feeling the water while J was on my lap. He launched himself off my lap head first into the bathtub. An angel was there because I grabbed his legs and he should have smashed his face on the side of the tub, but didn't. I cried and my heart never pounded so fast and so hard. I praised God for looking out for us.
Thursday morning we woke up earlier than planned, thank you Julian and set out to catch our early flight in Indianapolis. The drive was smooth and Julian slept all the way up to the airport (and hour drive). As our flight time approached, we realized that it was delayed and that we only had a half hour layover in Chicago and knew we'd miss that flight, so the airline lady rerouted us to Dallas and then on to Seattle after a 3 hour layover. Stink!
Julian was awesome on the first flight! There were ladies all around who loved him and he was a big flirt. I nursed him on take off and landing and it was easy peasy! Thank God! The 3 hour layover was too long, but Julian made it through. His daddy did a great job at getting him to take a nap despite J not wanting to sleep at all. He loves to watch what is going on instead of sleeping...can't miss a thing!
The second flight was LONG and he was great! One small melt down before a nap, but take off and landing were smooth like the first flight since he nursed well. We arrived in Seattle at 9pm instead of 2pm. The train ride was 40 or so minutes and J was done by that point. Poor guy.
We arrived at our friend's condo and Julian thought it was so cool. He kept saying, "Oh, oh, ooooo..." and made the cutest faces. It was 1am Eastern time and I was about to start our bedtime routine. I used a blanket to pick him up and...wait for it...worst mothering experience in the whole world...I'm expecting the award for worst mother in the world 2013....yup...I dropped him. I picked him up and he jumped out of my arms and landed on his face and right arm. You think I would have learned from the bathtub experience. I was bawling and Dan was comforting both of us.
I debated taking him to the doctor after doing a thorough assessment. I couldn't find anything that was broken, nothing hurt with pressure, collar bone intact, perfect range of motion, he just couldn't put pressure on that right arm. He was crawling on December 31st and cried when he would try after this fall. That first night he woke up screaming inconsolably. I told Dan that we had to take him in to the doctor. Dan convinced me that he was out of sorts with the surroundings and I looked and J was just really upset that we were in a new place. The next day he was great, but whined a bit when he put pressure on that arm. He favored it and it broke my heart every time I saw him not using it.
He did great all day until 5pm Seattle time. He was inconsolable again and I was convinced that I broke his arm and had waited too long to take him to the doctor. He then started looking around at things that he was oooing and ahhhing just hours before and started to yell at them. I realized he was upset with his surroundings. He was down right mad. I then felt guilty for pulling him out of his natural surroundings...home...putting him in a 3 hour difference time zone, hurting him, etc. I debated if this was the biggest mistake I've done with him. He calmed down after an HOUR! It was horrible.
If you can believe it, the rest of the trip was a breeze! He loved all the new places he visited and all the people from our past who we introduced him to. I love Seattle! Honestly, I don't know if I'm good luck or what, but this was my 3rd trip out there and it barely rains when I'm there! We even saw the sun a few times.
Well, on our way back home, Julian did ok on the flights, but I think he was done with all the new experiences. He had massive diarrhea for the past two days and had a huge blow out on the plane. (My friend Mary says that when it rains on me, it pours. I agree. We can't just have one thing happen at a time!) Thank you Dan for changing him!! The last flight he was a wild man and I was tired. I got off the plan in Indy and felt so sick to my stomach. I realized that we hadn't eaten all day and I felt as if I was going to vomit. On our drive home, Dan stopped to get food and I puked out the side of the car. At home I was so miserable while trying to sip water. I couldn't keep the water down and went to bed so sick. Dan emailed his students to tell them class was canceled. Thankfully he took care of J while I was on the mend. Thankfully I was able to recuperate quickly.
Dan took J to the nurse practitioner and she said everything looks great, but we'll continue to watch him. He has been using his arm a lot more and crawls, but still favors it by not really using it to crawl. He does get up on all four and will help pull himself up with it, but uses the left arm much more. Uggh...this is a horrible feeling. Now I bear hug him every time I pick him up or hold him because he wants to be held, but pushes to get out of my arms...well, more launches himself. It's terrifying.
The best part about being home is that Julian is so excited to be in his home! He is just so happy to see all his books (I didn't take any on the trip) and his other toys. I do not regret bringing him on that trip. We're moving soon and he'll have to get used to traveling for the rest of his life, but I have to say it wasn't the easiest thing that I've ever done. I love being home and I hope I muster the strength to get out in the cold and take him to explore new areas of Bloomington since we won't be here for much longer.
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
- He saved Julian from a major fall in the tub and from my arms
- we had a great trip and good flights
- i didn't get sick on the plane!
- I was able to puke outside of the car.
- I healed quickly
- Julian is happy
- Dan is not sick!
- We are home
- Dan has a new job!!!!!
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