Earlier this month (September), we took a trip to visit family in the metroplex and celebrate Johanna’s baptism. Johanna is Sarah’s best friend, Christiane’s new addition and one of Hank’s cousins (Christiane married Tyler’s cousin, so now we’re related). The service was lovely and Johanna did beautifully. Hank, however, wasn’t feeling very swell. We actually made a pit stop at the children’s hospital on our way to church that morning to have his breathing checked. As it turned out, Hank fell asleep in the car on the way there so one of the specialists came out to our car to check him out. He was pronounced okay and we were told what to watch for so we went along to church… and Hank ended up going home with GG and Grandad part way through the service. Tyler and I were scheduled to leave for Florida that day, leaving Hank to play at Camp GG (and Grandad, but camp GG is shorter to say). Based on the morning’s events, we weren’t feeling confident about going, but the entire family wouldn’t hear of us skipping our kid-free vacation so, while Hank napped, we spent our time up until we had to leave for the airport filling out new patient information in the event that Hank had to visit Micah’s pediatrician. The we got in the car and headed on our first child-free (since Hank was born) trip that didn’t involve a Celtic festival (we’ve been away from Hank overnight twice before and both times it was because I was working).
Ainsley and Hank share a hug
hanging out in Hogsmeade
Florida was really fun. We hung out at our very lovely hotel, enjoyed some delicious food and spent some time at Universal Orlando Resort there. We had a blast riding the rides. Although, I have to say, some of them were rather lame in our estimation (don’t get us started on Twister). Our favorite by far of the two parks at Universal Studios is the Islands of Adventure. We especially enjoyed the Incredible Hulk roller coaster (you go from 0-40 mph in like 2 seconds and it shoots you out of this tube into what looks like just the air, before flipping you upside down) and we spent a lot of time in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It was really neat to see Hogsmeade and Hogwarts looking like they do in the movies, except for all the park goers wearing shorts and such. The attention to detail in the entire theme park was great, keeping the them of whatever part you were in (Suesseville, Jurassic Park, etc), but it seemed even more detail oriented in the Harry Potter part. For example, they didn’t sell soda there, but they had Butterbeer, various teas, ciders and pumpkin juice you couldn’t get anywhere else in the park. And in the bathrooms (which seemed as though they could have been in a castle), you could hear Moaning Myrtle talking. The other bathrooms were thematic with their area, but none of them had someone talking (they did play music, like theme songs from movies and such). Anyway, since we know many of our friends and family members are big Harry Potter fans and have no idea if they intend to travel to the theme park, we took several photos which you’ll see below. It was nice to be back in Florida. I’d rather forgotten how it rained almost every afternoon during this season. It was so pleasant to sit on our balcony, hearing the rain on the palm fronds and the call of the herons and egrets across the lake below. A wonderful trip and we’re so glad we took it.
Hank has breakfast in the hospital
We’re also very glad we took the time to fill out all that paper work (and to make a notebook of Hank’s info for GG and Grandad before the trip even began) because the day after we left, Hank was still breathing unsually. GG took Hank to visit a new pediatrician and he ended up being sent to the children’s hospital where after two breathing treatments, he was admitted for the night (GG stayed with him). Hank seemed to have a wonderful time at the hospital, it was like an amusement park for him! He got to go for rides in the wagon, watch movies (he’s now seen Cars and Finding Nemo for the very first time), play with toys, play on a computer, play with his bed and make new friends. We were told he was quite the charmer. He went home with two new toys and several stickers, gifts from the nurses (one of the toys was from one of Grandad’s clients who made a special trip to visit Hank and GG while they stayed in the hospital). Of course, in between all the playing, he had several breathing treatments and when the doctors were satisfied with his oxygen level and ease of breathing, he was allowed to go home. It was quite the adventure! He had more breathing treatments with GG and Grandad and when we came home at the end of the week, he was back to his usual demeanor, making us laugh. We think he must have heard the alphabet song quite often during his hospital stay and time at Camp GG’s because he sang the first half of the song to us on the phone one night, we were quite impressed. He’d usually just sort of hum the song and not say any of the letters. We were so proud!
When we returned from our trip, Hank seemed to have had a blast at Camp GG. We went to the zoo with Ainsley and Aunt Traci and then we headed home after a very very full week. Here are photos from our various adventures, enjoy!
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