Our Weekend Away

     Brad and I got away for two nights! We left on a Friday afternoon and came back that Sunday afternoon. We have left Leo before for just about 24 hours twice. But one of those was while he was in the hospital so it doesn't really feel like it counts. This was such a special little trip.

    I have to brag on my husband a little bit. He picked our location, found our lodging, and planned what little of it we did plan. He was very intentional and attentive in communicating the value of the two of us having time together and getting away. 

    We are both so grateful for my mom and my sister, Phoebe. Mom watched Leo for the first 24 hours about and then Phoebe and her family took over. Leo spent Friday night at our house with Nana and D (the nurse) and then spent Saturday at my sister's house! It was so sweet to leave him in very capable hands. We wrote up about 3 pages of "instructions" and helpful things. Leo got meds and fed well and didn't puke very much. His cousins entertained him a lot. And apparently he got lots of Uncle Robby time, too. By Sunday he very much seemed to be missing us. We was not his happy-go-lucky self but was all smiles one we returned. 

    It was seriously such a sweet feeling and reminder that we can leave him in the care of other people and he's ok. I don't know if that's weird to say, but it's true. It's easy to get stuck in a bit of the mindset that we have to carry all of it ourselves. But, yes, even with all that Leo's got going on, he can be adaptable and have his needs met without us.

    We were fairly intentional at not planning a lot of our trip. We were at the beach--Rehoboth, Delaware--and it was a bit chilly and out of season. We walked the beach, walked the boardwalk, did some shopping, ate pizza, and played games. Probably our favorite time was going to a local coffee shop and talking through our family goals. 

    And, let me tell you, the feeling of not needing to do anything was amazing. I think to truly rest you have to get bored. I'm very much a people and party person, but there's something real healthy about letting yourself be bored. I took different times during our time to simply take deep breaths and be happy and grateful to not have any responsibility hanging over me. It was also sweet to miss Leo, anticipate going back to him, and reflect on the frustrations one can have and realize that being with Leo is so much better than the minor frustrations that can come from being with him, too. 

    All in all, such a sweet time. We are very grateful to God, to my family, and our community that really made the trip a possibility. Just saying we couldn't have been in a place to do something like this without support.