Christmas Eve: Grand Forks Wennerstens

Because we are crazy, we decided to go with the rest of my family to North Dakota as planned for Christmas. However, because of the unplanned accident and following surgery, we couldn't leave the day we planned. This forced everyone in my immediate family to leave on 12/24 and make the return trip on 12/25. that would add up to about 13+ hours in the car in roughly a 24 hour period. Not ideal for anyone, especially people who are nice enough to transport the crabby pregnant chick (that would be me) and the unpredictable toddler (that would be our kid).

Traditionally, we celebrate Christmas Eve with my mom's family by going out to lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant. This year, we didn't make it in time, so we had to start with yet another tradition: Christmas dinner. Christmas dinner for 15 is a pretty big deal though no matter how you look at it.

Grandpa Budd lighting the centerpiece candles before dinner. One looooooooooooong table. Another favorite tradition: no kid's table. Everyone HAS to eat at the same table because that is why we are there: to be together!
Aunt Megan entertaining William before dinner. Here they are "booming" down the steps. Don't know how to play? Sit your backside on the step and slide it down to the step below you. When your behind hits the step, say "BOOM!" Very, very fun!
Grandpa's turn for entertaining. Here they are talking on the phone using Great Grandpa's Yatzee game.
Grandma and Aunt Megan doing dishes
Mama trying to set up the tripod for some family pictures in front of the tree. Yet another great tradition is taking a family picture of each family group in front of the Christmas tree. I used to HATE and I mean hate this tradition. However, now I really appreciate being able to look back and remember each Christmas and see how our family has changed.
But, then everyone decided they would rather sit on the couch. Argh! Oh well! Here are all my cousins on my mom's side of the family and my grandparents (mom's parents).
My immediate family
The McGarry's (and Heidt's)
The Heidt's (and mama is rocking the "Very, very tired" look here). I think this look is going to be very in in 2009...especially at our house
More Heidt's
My grandpa wears this same bow tie and pop up Santa pin every year. I remember playing with the Santa when I was really little. It is pretty special to see William playing with it this year (and he was FASCINATED).
William didn't really understand the whole present thing at first. He was more interested in picking up all the wrapping paper and putting it into Great Grandpa's garbage bag.
Helping Mama open up his presents: Mr Potato Head
He LOVED it! We spent a LONG time playing with Mr Potato Head before we could move on to the next present. This face he is working on is a little bit Picasso-esque, don't you think?
Grandpa trying out Scott's new binoculars...can you see Santa?

Things I have Cried About this week

The week after the accident was an emotional rollercoaster for me. I cried almost every day about something, at least once. Here is a run down, more for my own remembrance than yours:

-Not knowing if there were any diapers in the diaper bag at the hospital
-There were diapers in the diaper bag at the hospital
-There weren't any wipes in the diaper bag
-William didn't have his shoes on
-I didn't feed William his lunch, someone else did
-A nurse told me that John was losing part of a finger.
-The nurse told me I would need a minimum of 4 hours of monitoring in labor & delivery before I could leave.
-The nurse told me John wasn't going to lose part of his finger.
-My parents were coming to get us
-My parents were delayed by very bad weather.
-John was discharged and brought up to labor & delivery
-John is in pretty rough shape on the outside
-Overall, John is going to be okay.
-My parents came to get us at the hospital. I was so relieved.
-Having to get back in the car and drive anywhere. I was ready to make a permanent move to Iowa City.
-I didn't really want to move to Iowa City
-Going through our belongings that were rescued from the car was HUGE. It was a HUGE reminder that we were incredibly lucky we weren't in pieces as well.
-Puzzle pieces were missing from a new puzzle we were giving William for Christmas
-Puzzle pieces weren't missing from another new puzzle we were giving William for Christmas
-I wasn't sure where any of our stuff was - I didn't know what was missing, broken or just misplaced.
-We had SO MUCH STUFF in the car! How were we going to get it all home?
-One of the Christmas presents we made was lost
-That Christmas present was found
-That Christmas present didn't fit IN my parents' car
-We don't have my car anymore
-John needs a lot of help to do everyday kinds of things (deodorant anyone?)
-Anytime we found glass anywhere (there was a LOT of broken glass)
-Trying to decide whether or not to make the trip to Grand Forks
-Deciding it was too risky to make the trip to Grand Forks
-Deciding it was too precious a time to miss the trip to Grand Forks\
-Repeat times about 75 the last two
-Thinking about getting back in the car again
-After spending close to 2 hours on the phone with the insurance company trying to find a provider in Rochester that would be covered the day before a holiday (answer: there wasn't one).
-Staying home with William while my mom took John to the doctor
-My dad came home from work to stay with William so I could be with John
-Leaving William at home with my dad
-Seeing John in the emergency room
- When the doctor told us John would need to have surgery...today
-When John was wheeled into surgery
-When we decided it was best for me to go home and spend some time with William and have my mom stay at the hospital
-When the nurse called to tell me John was out of surgery
-When the nurse told me John would have to stay overnight in the hospital (I will admit I did not take this news well at all)
-Seeing John being wheeled into a hospital room
-Being told I wouldn't be allowed to stay the night at the hospital with John
-Sleeping at night without John there
-Seeing John in the morning at the hospital
- When we got to walk out of the hospital that night. Together.
-When William saw his daddy for the first time after he came back from the hospital
- Opening presents at my parent's house with William, he was so delighted by everything.


There are many more things, many of them contradictory to each other. The pregnancy hormones (still going strong) don't help either.

Rochester Christmas

We celebrated Christmas a day late with my family on December 23rd. John had just been discharged from the hospital and my parents made homemade calzones. We ate and opened presents before William had to go to bed. It was a nice way to end a terrible few days.

The McGarry's/Heidts

The theme for this year's Christmas? Transportation! Checking out a new dumptruck from Grandpa and Grandma.

Helping Mama open presents. After every gift, he wanted to stop and play - it was hard to get him to focus on the other presents when he just wanted to go back to his first gift.

Helping Grandma open a present. This is also a great picture of Uncle Mike!

Ooooohhh....a little Christmas wonder goes a long way to heal. William was so impressed by everything: the tree, the lights, the paper, the toys, the food, the COOKIES!

William posing on his new chair from Aunt Megan

Home

Happy New Year!

For New Year's Eve, we got together with some of our favorite people: Jessica, Chris and their brand new baby Cana. They came over to my parent's house and we rang in the new year together. We played a little Wii and had a wonderful visit catching up with everything. It couldn't have been more perfect.

William meets Cana for the first time

William offers to share a truck with Cana. He is shocked when she really isn't interested.

Party animals William and Cana

William tried to get Cana interested in his favorite truck book.
Jessica, Chris and Cana brought a present! A train set!

Helping Mama open the train set while leaning on her belly isn't helpful as much as painful. Especially with his poky little elbow.

We bought special party hats for our family - however we weren't all wearing them at the same time ever!

Updates

1. John had his follow up appointment yesterday with the surgeon. Everything is looking good (I thought everything was looking gross myself) and sent us on our way with instructions to get a splint and complete our physical therapy as directed. His cast was removed, staples in his head were taken out, x rays taken, physical therapy exercises were learned and a splint was tailor made to fit him. John has permission to return to St Louis for the rest of his care. However, John does not have permission to drive himself to St Louis or anywhere else for the next several weeks.

2. The car situation has been resolved (we think). We have spent the majority of our time the last three days trying to shop for a new vehicle and arrange for payment of said vehicle. Things are complicated by many things including the fact that our checkbook is at home along with the title from our now totaled Expedition. Also, we are not from Minnesota and have to pay St Louis sales taxes and our banking institutions are in Seattle, Washington. Nothing has been easy this last week. However, we are now the owners of a 2009 Toyota Sienna. I'd like to tell you I'm happy about this, but to be honest I'm not. I'm ready to be done with the complications and red tape and paperwork and overeager sales people who assure you things will work and in the end they do not. I think happiness will find me later, hopefully soon.

3. Our current plan is to drive home tomorrow depending on the weather and how everyone is feeling. It will be good to be home again where there is a possiblity things won't be so difficult and we can start working on our next long list of tasks to complete from medical forms, insurance paperwork, and followup appointments to schedule.

Happy...

Anniversary to us today. It was low key and relaxed. Just what we needed today.


PS One of the losses from the accident is my cell phone. If you're trying to get ahold of us, you'll need to use John's phone number (or e mail me for the number). I spent a chunk of time calling my doctor offices to update their records.

PPS After all my calling around, I am pleased to report that all the cookies I have eaten over the holiday are not contributing to gestational diabetes. Blood work was all clear - bring on the pie.