Monday, October 22, 2007

family times

We returned home last night from an amazing trip to Dubuque, Iowa. My younger brother is attending seminary there currently. Eight hours in a car with my three kids, my sister and her baby, and my mother. Could have been a disaster, but it was purely delightful. The kids sang songs and played games to entertain the baby and I am pretty sure the DVD player and wireless headsets saved our sanity. It is a rare thing for my brother and sister and I to be in the same place at the same time. We are very close, but the stars have to align just right for us all to be in the same spot. The hiking, and shopping (Kerry and I found some sweet shops with antiques and a rockin quilt shop) and laughing made all of that driving worth while. There are scads more pics on flickr (click the icon on left).

This is the last post about my mouth as well (I promise). After my last post I developed a pretty massive infection. The entire right side of my face was swollen. My eye was swollen shut and I had swelling in my temple area that got pretty scary and very painful. After a massive dose of antibiotics (4000 mg a day) and a week of being completely out of service I am on the upswing. This was really very scary. Thanks for all of your kind words. I really have appreciated them. And thanks to my family for all of the help on the trip. I literally could not have made it without you!

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh no. I'm glad you're feeling better. Mouth infections are so spooky aren't they? Too close (to the brain) for comfort. You know?

Stacy said...

aye-aye-aye. Glad you're on the mend and managed to have a great time with the family...

Jenn Maruska said...

Oh dear! I hope you continue to feel better! Sending good thoughts your way : )

Anonymous said...

sounds like a great trip! it's always nice to get away. hope you are feeling better now.

Amanda said...

I love Dubuque! I grew up not too terribly far from there. The Mississippi River museum is awesome. Glad it was a nice trip for you guys.

Unknown said...

Oh my! I'm glad you're feeling a little better.

The trip sounds like it was fun! We have to get one of those DVD players for the car...

Erin said...

I'm so glad you are feeling better. I can't imagine how scary and painful that must have been.

I must say you are ambitious for such a long car ride with so many people. I think all we can manage is 2 hours with two kids. I'm impressed.

BTW...I love the baby quilts they are beautiful. I have the same Dick and Jane fabric that i have been hoarding for months, perhaps a quilt is in order.

Alice said...

Wow, your mouth problem sounds absolutely awful. I can't even imagine how much that must have hurt. So glad the tide turned and you got to spend time with your family.

Anonymous said...

WOW! Great pics sis. It was great to have you all up, I can't wait to see you all again soon. Love Ya.

jessica said...

It sounds like you could use a few days of relaxation!

randi said...

I am glad you are feeling better! Infection can be scary when it doesn;t go away quickly!

Heidi said...

Oh no! A mouth infection can be dangerous. Glad it's take care of. My oral surgeon made me gargle with this nasty stuff, but I'm doing it in the hopes I avoid infection.

Amanda Jean said...

wow...that tooth saga sounds scary. glad to hear that you are ok. and also glad to hear that your road trip and time with your family went well.

Mrs.Kwitty said...

Wow!! that was scary huh? Glad you got that infection licked...they can be such stinkers sometimes. Happy your trip was so wonderful too, it's so nice to be with family :-)
Smiles!

mushroommeadows said...

Yikes. I can't believe your swelling got that bad! :( I'm so sorry! :(

Anyway, those are cute pictures. I'm happy to hear you had a wonderful trip. The kids are adorable! :)

Anonymous said...

oooh! Glad that megadose of antibiotic did it's job. How scary! But it sounds like you all had a wonderful little trip. Those times are special, eh?
laeroport

Chara Michele said...

Oh no, I hope you get completely better!

Sounds like a lovely trip:)

Anonymous said...

glad that the infection is gone and glad that the trip was an enjoyable one!

i remembered the pain from a root canal treatment was so intense that i literally wanted to knock my head against the wall. no joke.

lera said...

So happy that your mouth is on the mend.

It sounds like you had a great time with your family. Good for you.

AM~Erica said...

Oh, baby...I'm so glad everything is OK. I figured that something must have happened since you hadn't posted for a while, or commented me, either.

I hope you are better, and I miss seeing everyone. I love the pics & can't believe where everyone has ended up...are we really that old?? I still can't get past the fact that Kerry as an itty-bitty!

Sounds like an ab~fab trip, and I have been praying for you & your poor mouth!

Take care & get crafting, 'cause it makes you happy!

Oh! LOVE the pics! you needed someone to get a pic w/ you & mama in the shot with bro & sis! DUH!

Love & hugs to you & everyone!

Jane said...

Yikes! So glad the mouth is on the mend. Anything with the face is so upsetting. RE: The CA Fires, we are fine. LA is at this point spared. Dry as a bone, hotter than ever and windy, but so far spared. We can smell the fires and our sky is a funny ashy color, but we are oh so fortunate.

Great photos from your trip!

mommy to six J's said...

Glad you are feeling better. My hubby also had an eye infection due to shingles.. Char

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a wonderful trip! I'm sorry to hear about your mouth woes. That's awful! feel better soon, sweetie!