We spent December and a week of January in the US. We did an amazing amount of travel and spent more time in our CRV than I can remember. We made it to Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Illinois and encountered a lot of cold weather and snow. We also didn't seem to spend more than 4 nights in a single location and lived out of our suitcases. Will was quite the trooper again, he has been a good little traveler.
We had a nice time and were able to visit lots of friends and family. We tried to pack in a lot while we were back and it seemed like every hour was accounted for during our trip. Chad was busy with work and a training in Chicago as well. The time goes quickly and it seems like we packed in a lot. I realized that life goes on without you and we are really establishing Germany as home.
Arriving in the US
When my sister picked us up in Chicago we were met with a wind chill below zero. It was so nice to read the signs on the sides of the road. It was also weird seeing all the large mini vans and SUVs. We also went shopping at a Meyer when we arrived to pick up a few things and I forgot how large stores can be with so many options. It also felt funny to use plastic bags at the check out again.
Welcoming Babies!
We were also able to meet Dylan Frankovis who was born on December 5th and will be Will's soccer buddy (Dylan will be taller than Will based on his length already) and the beautiful McKenzie Dunn who was born December 10th. She was absolutely precious and has the cutest little legs and arms. We found it hard to believe Will was once so small. We are excited to have them all grow up together.
Will's first trip to the ER!
We all spent about a week after Christmas sick. It was rather unfortunate because Will was a bit out of sorts after that. He was still pretty happy, but a bit more sleepy and didn't eat as well. Will hadn't even had a runny nose up to this point so when he wasn't eating more than a few ounces and spit up a lot in the middle of the night we decided to take a trip to Children's Hospital in Milwaukee. I knew he was probably fine, but something about seeing a doctor who could reassure me and speak English would make me sleep better. We took him in around 6am to the ER and they only had one other family. The doctor saw him on the table and said based on just looking at how happy he was (for that time of day) and what I described, he was fine and just getting over a stomach bug.
The care was great and they even followed up with a phone call the next day to make sure he was still OK. He's doing well now, but we're just waiting for these darn teeth to come in.
We Heart O'Hare
We've realized when flying there are two major challenges for us traveling with a baby.
1. Getting through security with all of our laptops, baby stuff, pusher, and carry ons. Once we get through that it is pretty relaxing.
2. Boarding the plane and getting the pusher and car seat on board and getting settled into our seats.
We always breath a bit easer after we accomplish these two things. Now, this time there was a snow storm hitting Chicago (the roads were perfect in Milwaukee when we left) and we arrived at the airport at 1:00pm for our 4:30pm flight. Needless to say, based on the weather our flight was delayed. We didn't take off until midnight. Of course they didn't tell us it was midnight but rather just kept delaying it in either a 30 or 60 minute interval. Yes, it was a long day in the airport. I must say that Will was quite the good little baby through it all. He didn't cry a bit in the airport and was good little guy on the plane as well.
We made some friends with some people on our flight. A couple from Belgium who sat next to us who had 5 month old Elliot and a German college student. It was so nice to finally take off and then also arrive back in Germany.
Back home in Deutchland
It was nice to arrive back to our flat and get settled. We put Will in his bed while we unloaded some suitcases and he just giggled for about 30 minutes.
We also arrived to about 3 inches of snow on the ground. According to some of the people here, the 3 weeks prior to our arrival was unseasonably cold and snowy. Apparently it was a few degrees below zero Celsius. Chad shoveled a bit and it was gone in a few days. It was also interesting going for our walks as people don't shovel the sidewalks. Good thing we have a heavy duty pusher.
I'll write more later but it is nice to be back and we feel more comfortable here as well.
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