Amarillo Trip

Last weekend we went on an emergency trip to Amarillo, Texas due to my grandpa being in critical care at the hospital.  My heart absolutely sank when we got the call and we made it to Amarillo as soon as we could get there.  He ended up having to have a stint put in his heart and his kidney's failed causing him to have to start dialysis.  However, through the intense amount of blood loss and all the other trauma in his body- he made it through it all and woke from his surgery just as feisty as ever.  I talk to my grandpa quite a bit and we continue to get closer and closer as the years go by.  I feel so fortunate for the relationship I have with him and truly don't know what I'll do when the time comes to have to say goodbye.  Thankfully, this was not his time and I thank God for letting us keep him here with us all.  

Only four visitors were aloud in his room at a time, so we were all trying to keep our visits short to allow everyone an opportunity to sit and talk with him.  As a couple of us were leaving, I was the last to hug him before the next set of family came to visit and he said, "Come back here little girl. You're staying with me for a little while longer."  Makes me teary even writing this.  I walked back in and hugged and kissed him again and I could feel him straining to lift his body up to hug and kiss me back.  He just kept squezzing and rubbing my hand and we sat and talked for quite a while, just my grandpa and me.  I showed him a million new pictures of Lucy and told  him how ornery she's becoming and he just smiled and I could see the joy in his face.  She's all he wants to hear about and unfortunately, children weren't aloud on the CCU floor so I brought little stinker with me and had to wrangle her all weekend in the hospital and I couldn't even let him see Lucy.  However, I completely understand the reasoning and thankfully everyone helped me out with watching her so I could visit with my grandpa.  

Cris, Jack and Kaylee ended up riding in the same car with me and Lucy and I'm so grateful for how close those three are, makes my heart so happy.  In light of the scary of circumstances, it was so nice to get to see all my cousins, aunt and uncles.  Everyone flew and drove in and we had a mini reunion in one of the far hospital lobbies.  Always stinks that this is the time extended families tend to get together, but so glad we got to see everyone and we all were able to celebrate my grandpa's life and 82nd birthday in that hospital lobby.

Unfortunately, I wasn't in the right state of mind to think about my camera when I was scrambling to leave for Amarillo.  So, these aren't the best pictures taken from my phone- but I'm grateful I at least got a few.

Here's a picture of my grandpa with Lucy last year.

 Sweet girl finally snoozing in the car.  It took us about 5 1/2 hours to get to Amarillo (due to food stops with three kiddos) and Lucy did not sleep the entire way there until we were 15 minutes outside Amarillo...figures.

Coloring in the hospital lobby 

 Lucy absolutely loved my Great Aunt Joye

 Stopping at the Donut Shop one morning before heading to the hospital.  The BEST donuts ever.  Thank goodness we don't have one by us or I would be in serious trouble.

Little mess, loved the wishing fountain and the stairs at the hospital.  I think I'm still exhausted from chasing her around that place!  She really was as good as an almost two year old could be spending all day in a hospital.

 Lucy loved my Uncle Shane as well and kept giving him kisses.  Might have been because he shared all his food and drink with her.  Food is definitely the way to Lucy's heart...sadly, just like her Momma.

 My cousin Jennifer with Lucy and her GORGEOUS daughter, Hailey, being so sweet with Lucy.  Lucy learned all kinds of new cell phone games!

 All my cousins (minus Ashley who couldn't make it). Cris, me, Connie, Jennifer, Lynde and Lance.

 Crazy girl getting so excited to play with all the big kids!

Lucy's cousins/second cousins: Jack, Zach, Kaylee, Cameron, Hailey, Lucy and Ethan

 Getting kisses from my Aunt Debbie.  I didn't get a picture of dad, but you can see him talking to my cousin Lance in the background.

My Great Aunt Joye and Uncle Al on the left and then Lucy giving my Aunt Marsha some lovin'.

Aunt Marsha, Lucy and Mom

 Lynde with Lucy.  Everyone was fighting over Lucy and loving on her the entire time.  She was one lucky girl.

Time to head back home

 Jack and Kaylee were dying to stop at The Big Texan (home of the free 72 oz steak if eaten in xxx amount of time- can't remember, but Man vs. Food shot an episode here).  If you drive through Amarillo, this is a MUST.

Back home, can you tell this Daddy missed his baby girl?