Trip Out West - Part 5

Monday morning - we had to start saying goodbyes. 

But first, Erik snapped this of me and Michael, and it's a favorite. :) 

Amy was leaving up to Edmonton to see some friends - so that was a sad loss - she was amazing tho!

Having her to help watch Michael enabled us to be able to do more than we would have been able to do without her. 

Emmy with her trophy. 

Charissa and her special man Titus. 

Sisters saying goodbye. 

This was James encouraging Jason to say goodbye to the Boss... but he didn't - which was kinda strange.

But here's why: he was planning on going with them.

He said "bye dad"

But when they drove away - he like full out ran after them.

It was a movie moment - and so sweet. And heartbreaking too - Jason has never done that kind of thing before. He loved Gary. 

Gary graciously stopped, and gave him a hug and said he'd visit him soon. That was precious. 

And then goodbye again. 

Saying more goodbyes to the girls.

Getting more cuddles with Michael. 

Got to see cousin Jon and Sharla

Baking with Auntie Annie. 

Having a bath in the tub we used when we moved to the farm

Getting some gopher hunting in with Gramps.

And we eventually said goodbye to these cousins... 

....and Grandpa and Grandma and Auntie Annie.. 

Which was so hard.

So after many tears - and a whole day of packing... we finally pulled away...

only to find out 25 min down the road, that our flight was cancelled... 

We turned around and went back to the farm. I rebooked half of the flights right away - but I didn't get an email with my reservation/and two kids on it... I tried to contact them in a few different ways... but no help. I figured they'd let us on anyways... 

So for the next couple days, we got to spend a bit more time with the family. 

Which included a lot of md

artwork

and fun outside

And another quick shoot with Anne-Marie. 

A beautiful evening to bike with momma and Anne-Marie.

Then it was finally time to say goodbye for real... 

Then drove 15 hours back to Winnipeg. we left super early in the morning and got there around 3p.m

We stopped for ice-cream in MB. 

We rested up for a couple hours and had dinner with M&M's parents  - then Ivan took us to the airport.

But when we got to the airport - they wouldn't let me on the flight as it was too full. They didn't ask anyone to get off, even with Michael's condition. It was their mistake, and tho the staff I worked with was kind, head office wouldn't do anything for me. So James left with the 5, and Amy, Leanne, Michael and I stayed behind til the next day. 

James and co. had to leave as there was an important family event the next day, so at least they could be there. 

It was pretty stressful, as I had to wait for help late into the night - but they ended up doing nothing. So I had to book my own hotel and flight, at my cost, but thankful we got a hotel right beside the airport.

We walked with our crazy amount of stuff to the hotel, had a good slept - praise the Lord - and Michael didn't have any issues, despite being on his travel equipment for 30 hours..... 

He slept so well that night - such a gift. First time sharing a bed with him for a night.

Breakfast date with my two girls.

I was running out of baby food tho - but some friends of the Manitoba family, picked some up, and then picked us up from the hotel and dropped us off at a splash pad for a few hours. 

Looks like they weren't having any fun during this travelling delay. 

Then they picked us up and dropped us at the airport... where I charged everything - and then we flew home.

During security and all - it was such a busy time - but we managed, and a few people helped us out with all our stuff. I felt we were quite the entertainment, and I was sweating... but I heard a mom say to another child, that's a super mom... which blessed me. (all mom's are super mom's... but I felt like I had some empathy.. :) When all eyes are on as you get into a plane with medical equipment, two girls and a son who doesn't look typical.. well, you feel rather warm... 

I was so grateful to get home. No issues with Michael or his O2 on the plane which was a gift. 

It took 2 flight attendants to try to lift my medical bag up to the carry one... in the end, it was a male passenger that had to lift it as I was holding Michael. :) I felt rather validated at my strength as I'd been carting it around for 2 weeks. :) 

And even with the extra crazy of coming home, it was so worth it.

Such great memories.