We returned from a week long trip to Chicago on Monday to visit family and to celebrate the girls' great-grandma's (Sean's grandma) 88th birthday. There were a lot of celebrations - an event scheduled every day. Many memories were made and the time with Nan and Pops (as the girls call them) was priceless.

The trip did not go without any hitches or without any great stories to tell. Our first was during the plane ride heading into the Chicago airport. Approximately 45 minutes prior to landing, Sean and Roxy started playing a game of "catch me I'm being eaten by crocodiles." Roxy would pretend she couldn't get up off the floor in front of her seat and Sean would pull her up. I'm not sure how many times this happened since I was sitting in back of them with Dillen but it was, unfortunately, one too many. Roxy started screaming in pain and holding her left arm. We did the kid-switch pretty quickly and I realized that, while they were playing, her left elbow became dislocated - not the first time. This happened for sure when she was 3 months old and probably again about 6 months ago (but we thought it was her funny bone being bumped). Anyway, there I was holding her while she was wailing in pain and saying, "It hurts!" Not many around us knew what had happened. I think they thought what most think when a child starts crying on a plane: "Shut that kid up!" I wasn't sure how much time we had left before landing and was starting to wonder if we should land the plane early in some other state. Within about 10-15 minutes of Roxy crying off and on (she would stop each time she found relief in not moving) an announcement was made saying that we would be landing in 30 minutes. I decided we could hang in there and held Roxy close. Again, it wasn't constant crying but every time she would slightly move she'd start screaming again (and this girl has some lungs!). I was trying to come up with the best scenario for how to get Roxy to the ER upon landing when another announcement was made: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I apologize but there is going to be a delay. There are several airplanes that need to land before us so we will need to circle for a while." At this point, I decided enough was enough and told the stewardess that I needed to have our plane land ASAP so we could get Roxy to the ER. She was surprised that Roxy had been hurt (she also thought there was just a crying child on the plane) and said that if they make an emergency landing due to an injury, paramedics will be waiting at the plane door. PERFECT!! So, she went to tell the pilot and within 2 minutes another announcement was made: "Ladies and Gentlemen, we will be landing immediately due to an injured passenger. Upon landing, if you are in First Class or in any seats in rows 1-10 please remain seated while the family with the injured child has had a chance to depart the plane. Thank you for your cooperation." HAH! I bet anyone who had wanted to strangle my child because of her crying felt pretty bad now. Or not. But at least it gave us a little validation. The plane was silent and still when we landed except for a perfect comic-timing moment when Dillen yelled out, "Plane rides are FUN!" This gave everyone in ear shot a good chuckle before we got up to walk the aisle. Sure enough, when we got to the door of the plane there were 2 paramedics and about 5 police officers waiting. (No, the officers were not there to take Sean away in hand-cuffs. Heh. I guess it's protocol to have security accompany paramedics.) We were immediately rushed outside and onto the runway where an ambulance was waiting. I really have never heard Roxy cry so loudly. I think she even surprised the paramedics. She was both scared and in a lot of pain since we were now moving around so much. I crawled in and they had me lay on the gurney (tied my legs down and all) so I could hold Roxy while Sean and Dillen could sit on the bench next to me. Grandma Barbara stayed behind to get the luggage and meet Uncle Jim who was to pick us up at the airport. They both would soon meet us at the hospital. Sirens were going, sidewalks were ridden on and a big hoopla was made over our dear little Roxy who couldn't seem to be consoled. Even the little teddy bear the paramedic gave her was no consolation. About half way to the hospital, I noticed Dillen started welling up. She was so stoic throughout the ordeal but was on the verge of losing it. I asked if she was ok and she said, "I'm scared for Roxy. Is she going to be ok?" I assured her she would be fine but Dillen remained sad. Roxy turned her body to see Dillen and at that moment must have popped her elbow back into place because she perked up and said, "Dillen! I ok!! Don't cry Dillen. I Fine!" And with that, Roxy started waving her injured arm at Dillen. "See?!? I ok!" I looked at Sean and we both gave a deep sigh of relief but not without a bit of an added eye-roll. Our little Drama Princess was on a ride of her lifetime and all smiles. I told the paramedic she must have popped it back in herself and he agreed as she was now trying to make a friend of him. She even wanted to hold her little teddy bear now. We still were given top treatment the remainder of the ride with continuing sirens and random side of the road and wrong-way turns. And when we arrived, we were seen by an ER doctor and found ourselves heading out to Uncle Jim's car within an hour.

Fortunately, we were staying with Sean's cousins who have a 4 year old girl and a 1 year old boy and live in the suburbs... the home could not have been more comfortable and more of a child's paradise - including a basement that was filled with nothing but toys and art project possibilities. Dillen and her little cousin became fast friends and even enjoyed a slumber party together by sharing the same bed almost every night. It was a VERY welcome place to stay, especially after such a dramatic arrival.

On Friday, we had made plans (with about 10 other family members) to head into the City to go to American Girl. Rather then driving, we decided to take the train, then a water taxi and then walk about 3 blocks to our destination. This was a big treat since neither of our girls have ever ridden on a train or remembered a boat ride. It took about an hour to get there. If you (or your daughter/s) don't know about American Girl, I highly recommend you do not click on this link. Truly, the marketing is ingenious. Dillen and Roxy are sucked in - completely. And, to be honest, I am too. :) The building in Chicago is three floors including a theatre, cafe, photo studio, hair salon (for the dolls!) and loads of dolls, dolls and more dolls... and all of the doll accessories and clothes you could ever imagine. Indoor window displays were on every wall and dolls were perfectly dressed and placed throughout on separate center stands. Needless to say, our girls were in Heaven.

The time at AG was a blast. However, being 6 months pregnant (we hit the 24 week mark on Sunday!), I was beat tired and a little hesitant of the reverse trip back home. Still, there were no other options so off we went. Fortunately, we did have strollers for the three block walk but, unfortunately, Roxy fell asleep before we arrived at the water taxi. We had to break down the stroller to get it onto the boat so I picked her up. She was so out of it she felt like a ton of bricks. I carried her throughout the boat ride, up two very long set of stairs and onto the train - all while hoping she wouldn't pee since she wasn't wearing a diaper. While waiting on the train for departure, an announcement was made (gotta love these announcements) that there was a fire somewhere along the tracks and that, though the train would depart on time, there was no guarantee how long we would have to wait for the fire department to allow the train to pass and the wait could be indefinite. Hmm. The executive decision was made to exit the train and to investigate the L. When we got off, Amy (Sean's cousin's wife) busily checked her phone for updates. It looked like the trains were going to be in the clear after all so we decided to get on the next one - another 30 minute wait. Let me remind you that I am still holding Roxy and 6 months pregnant, and (for the fun of it) there was not ONE chair or bench to sit on in the station. ?!?!? But I downed some water and kept a smile on my face - holding one of the most precious little girls in all the world. I just kept reminding myself it could all be so much worse. Dillen was a trooper but did melt down just before we got on the train. It seemed we were waiting forever to get on the train but, once we got on, all was well again. Roxy woke up and Aunt Joanne had pretzels for the girls who perked up pretty quickly.

The rest of the trip included swimming in Aunt Joanne's indoor pool, meeting up with an old friend and playing with his wonderful 7 year old twin daughters, several birthday celebrations (I think we all had more then a pound of sweets by the end of the trip), and lots of catching up with family members. That being said, this was not your Hawaiian type vacation and we all were completely exhausted by the time we arrived home on Monday. I am still trying to catch up... you know that saying 'I need a vacation from this vacation'? Yeah. Kind of like that.

Pictures to come soon.