Back from vacation....

Bubs and I did fine. Aside from some swelling in my ankles (more than I
have ever had but in the grand scheme of things it wasn't
*that* bad-at worst about +1) It wasn't as bad on the way back-it was
worst at altitude and being a born and bred lowlander I really did feel
anything over a few thousand feet and was actually light headed at the
highest elevations we experienced (6,000ft or so)

We had a wonderful time on the way out stopping in the Badlands and at
Devil's Tower (I don't know
who loved the prairie dog town more, me or the children-I had to laugh
at myself knowing that prairie dogs are to
Westerners what grey squirrels are to us out East). The children did
quite well and dh and I
reveled in the time to talk, talk, talk. We really ended up being
spoiled having so much time together. It's going to take a bit of
getting
used to now that we are home and he is back at work 12 hours + /day. We
stopped at Mt Rushmore and Steamtown on the way home and
saw lots of neat places and beautiful landscapes in between.

We had a nice time visiting with dh's family in the Spokane area but
what vacation is without it's mishaps?

My 4 year old broke her leg (proximal tibia-thank goodness she missed
her growth plate) less than 24 hours after
we arrived on a !@#$ trampoline (long story as to how it happened, no
she wasn't bounced off). She'll be casted tomorrow (currently splinted)
She'll be in a full leg
cast the rest of the summer and it will hopefully come off before bubs
arrives (we'll see what the pede orthopedist has to say so far she has
only been seen
by ER docs).
Two days before we left two of the children and I came down with an evil
stomach bug (no more worries about gaining too much weight on vacation)
The morning we left another one of the kids came down with it. We were
almost home before everyone was back to normal.

My midwife won't be thrilled with me lugging a 40lb 4 year old the rest
of the summer but I have no real choice.
She is too little and uncoordinated for crutches (she can barely balance
on one leg while holding onto me or something else) and a wheelchair is
useless in my house (lots and lots of stairs). I do plan on lobbying the
orthopedist for a temp handicapped tag though, I think he'll give me the
necessary waivers. I'm hoping
as she heals she can do some scooting around on her bum and possibly use
a walker (which seems like it would be easier for her than crutches).
Our stroller works ok for going out but I may end up with a rented
wheelchair for that.

I do have some help until the end of August. We brought our 18 year old
neice back with us. She'll be a great help with the other children and
the house (she's the oldest of 10) but she is a tiny little thing and
can't carry Grace around.

Karen