A Little Catching Up to Do...

It's been a great while between posts, but not without good cause. We decided to make a quick post-Thanksgiving getaway to The Magic Kingdom. The entire park was frosted white for Christmas and we'd heard a "must see" for the kids this time of year. Couple that endorsement with the fact that McKay's favorite mouse makes his home at sea level--a fact that gives our heavy breather a fighting chance at a week without the tubes--and we packed up the family car for a good old-fashioned road trip.

After a good day-and-a-half in the car, with one overnight stop in Vegas (which Preston liked just a bit too much) we finally hit the coast and checked Mac's sats. We were ecstatic to see an easy 10-point bump simply from the change in scenery. He stayed at 82-85 for the entire week. It was an easy decision to drop the cords and hit the rides.

The trip started with a much begged-for stop at Legoland. This place is truly heaven on earth for 4-9 year old boys. The place was positively desolate and we walked onto nearly every ride in the park. The boys enjoyed running, pointing and yelling, "Mom, Dad, look! That's TOTALLY made out of Legos!" They must have said it 50 times that day.

McKay was not as into the rides as he was into playing with Grandma and Grandpa who tagged along for the fun and devouring the amazing apple fries the park has to offer.

Did you know shoulder rides are hysterically funny?

Mac has also mastered the art of peek-a-boo. It's absurdly cute.

We stayed until they turned the lights out in the park and then headed to find a fish dinner near the ocean. McKay was tired and cranky and not about to sit through dinner--that is until I walked my cherub about 25 yards to the boardwalk. We sat on the bench and listened to the waves roll in. He calmed instantly. It was a perfect end to the day.

Then it was on to Disney for three days of fun. Disney is always magical, but there is something about taking each of my boys for their first visits. I was glad the getting was good enough to take McKay this year. By 15 months old, both of my other boys had been to Disney twice, Hawaii and many other locations. (Ty redeemed his first frequent flyer ticket at just two years old.) To say McKay has put the breaks on a what was a frequently mobile lifestyle is an understatement. It's true we've found many adventures closer to home, but I felt a sort of strange sense of accomplishment at us finding a way to bring Mac and Mickey together.

And in return? McKay slept through meeting the big man! Oh well, his brothers smiled big enough and bright enough for all of us.

He did, however, get to meet Winnie the Pooh. It was a joyful event to behold.

Preston left every character encounter with his finger guns a blazin'. That little munchkin is personality plus.


All the pent up excitement that so often leads little boys straight into trouble, all the negotiations to try this ride or that, all the packing, unpacking and repacking everyday--it all adds up to one great trip, but not much of a vacation. And there is a difference. But this trip was an important one.

Matt and I shared pressure-free cuddle time with each of our little men. There were moments of just being together. No begging them to get dressed or undressed. No coaxing them into or out of the shower. No eat this now, pick that up, finish that homework. There were moments of pure together time. And that felt good.

As I watched McKay perfect some of his first shaky four, then five, and now six steps in a row in front of Cinderella's castle with Dad's steady hands and watchful eyes always upon him, I realized how big he is already becoming.

He was big enough to sit next to Grandma on the rides instead of on her lap. He was big enough to play, wrestle and otherwise enjoy his older brothers. He was opinionated, fascinated, and all around ran the show.

It was slightly more than depressing to drive nearer to home and watch the sat monitor tell us McKay, once again, needed some help. We'll check in with his cardiologist on Thursday for a more intense evaluation of how he's really doing and what's next. I'm close to nauseous for this appointment for some reason. We'll continue to pray and trust and hope for good news. And once again remind ourselves to take it one day at a time. Because the last few days have been pretty great.