FAMILY TRIP

So just a quick exerpt on our little trip out to Utah/Nevada.

The first day Shade & I made it out there, we got to see my grandparents (my dad's parents) up from St. George. That was a real treat. It was my grandpa's birthday, so we had a little party for him.


Davis Grandparents

Then I got to see my dad. He was pretty out of it. But then they came in to do physical therapy. He woke up enough (mentally) that when they asked him who I was he looked straight at me and said "Kathy." Then he zoned out again so I sat down in a chair by the window. A minute later he turned his head and looked at me again and said "Hi, Kathy." Then he zoned out again. He didn't say my name again the rest of the time I was out there (3 weeks).


Grandpa Roundy

Later that day, I got enough courage to take Shade into the room. Shade was a bit weirded out, sure, but he really wanted to see grandpa and give him kisses better. At one point I was holding Shade in front of him and said "this is Shade." He looked at him and said "Hi, Shade" twice. He didn't say Shade's name again the rest of the time we were out there either. He really only said automated responses and Tao (his first grandson's name) during those 3 weeks.

We spent about a week harassing my sister Teresa and her family, then I went out to Ely, Nevada with my stepmom where my 3 brothers live. The oldest (18) is involved in a lot of after school stuff and has a vehicle. The middle one (16) also often stays after and hangs out with his friends to play guitar/etc. The youngest one (14 - in middle school) usually rides the bus home himself and sees the other two whenever they get home. So we decided to take the youngest one back with us to Salt Lake (Kyle) and miss one day of school (they have Fridays off in Ely).


Cousin Lily, Aunt Teresa


Dog Fun - Kennel, Blanket

Kellen flew out Friday morning to visit. He hadn't seen most of his family in 2 years. We spent that weekend with Kellen's dad, 3 brothers, 2 sisters, and 3 cousins. We even got to see his mom (she gets free flights and flew up from St. George). He flew back home Tuesday morning.


Wilson Kids


Wilsons, Afa Cousins


Paper Hats, Cupcakes


Nikolaus Grandparents


Our Family

After the weekend, my stepmom decided my brother Kyle needed to be around family more, so she excused him from a week of school, and he came with me and drove out to Reno, Nevada. I could not have done that drive with Shade myself (8 hours).


Salt Flats



We then spent a week in Carson City (30 minutes away from Reno). We borrowed cousin Aidyn (from my sister Pam) and stayed at my sister Cristi's house (she has 3 boys). We got to also see my sister Jenny (due to be married in July), and my brother Doug and family (2 girls). Cristi also had to move that week - her landlord was foreclosing or something - so we tried to help with that as much as we could. Then we had to drive back to Ely (about 5.5 hours away) so Kyle could go back to school on Monday.


Jackson Cousins, First Sleepover


Sisters (Cristi, Jenny, Pam), New Babies (AJ, Ava)


Brother Doug & wife Kayla w/Daughter Ava


Doug's Daughter Sam


Cota Family, Cota Boys (Marcos, Tao, Caydent)


Cota Cousins, Chuck E. Cheese (CEC) B-Day Party


Shade's favorite "game" at CEC was the roller coaster ride - he did it several times.


Cousins


Bathtime, Cousins


Redheads (Marcos, AJ)


Family Picture, Shade LOVES his family!


Mountains, Giant Sandune

I was planning on driving back to Salt Lake the next day, but then decided to just hang out in Ely and help out with my brothers for a bit. Shade was having a hard time taking naps and using the potty when there were lots of little kids around anyway, so it was a good excuse to just relax for awhile. Then that next weekend we all drove back out to Salt Lake.


Uncle Phillip, Uncle Kyle


Uncle Shawn


Crazy Oreo Dance


Oreos, How Fast Ketchup Disappears in Ely


What a cute little Girl!!


Snow Storm


Listening to Music, Goof


Mountains

I spent one more weekend in Salt Lake. I was really hoping my dad would "wake up" more before we flew back. I had buddy passes so Sunday looked like it was going to be the best flight back home. Until the last minute - the night before. So we stayed one more day. And it was good. We got to see my dad one more time. He was much more aware. And even though he was not really talking, he was able to actually understand a question and reply with yes/no. The doctors explained it like this. In a head injury of that sort, it can interrupt the brain's connections. It can take awhile to build those connections back (if ever), so the body will initially respond with delayed/automatic responses until the connections are remaid. Last time it took several months before my dad was remembering things. We are very hopefull that this time will be a lot faster.


Walking w/Grandpa & Teresa, Brothers (with Shawn) & Dad


Kyle & Grandma Roundy


Home at Last