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KC Getaway

 We loaded up the car and headed south for a couple days away in Kansas City.  As summer is coming to an end, we wanted to do something special with the kids, and decided to head back to our old stomping grounds.  The best part about this trip to KC was that we didn't sleep in hospital recliners, drink any industrial grade coffee, OR have to be up to hear the 'plan' during 7am rounds.  It was great!  Instead, we stayed on the plaza, ate delicious food, did some shopping, and visited Sea Life Aquarium and Lego Land! Our friends, the Rodriguez's (Arrena and I taught first grade together in Wichita) drove up from Wichita to join with us in the fun, and we had a blast!  On our way out of town today, we did stop at Children's Mercy to tour the newly remodeled PICU, and visit with our old nurses.  We even got to see some on the intensivists who took care of Lia. It's been a great 3 days.



Loving the fountains at Crown Center

Outside our hotel--look. they really do love each other!

Lia at Lego Land

Jack is stepping on the scale to see how much he weighs in Lego bricks.

Gates BBQ!  One of our favorites!
Jack, Lia and Avi with their engineer hats after lunch at Fritz's!

Choooo Chooo!
After lunch, we headed to the aquarium.  Other than Ryan and I both getting motion sickness, it was great!  The kids LOVED it!  They got to pet a sting ray and a starfish, and see a whole lot of beautiful creatures!



Uncovering some fossils!
The kids thought they were so cool ordering Shirley Temples :)

How cute are these kids meals?  Served in little Radio Flyer Wagons!

Lia thought eating out of wagon was CRAZY!

He's seriously adorable. And very observant.

Pool Time!  Lia, Ryan, Avi and Adam enjoying an evening swim.
 And then, came the part of the trip that I was most nervous about.  Going back to CMH.  I'm not really sure WHY I was so nervous, because we had such a happy ending at that place. But, as  most of you already know, it's no secret that I'm emotional, and I knew that place was going to stir up A LOT of emotions.  Three open heart surgeries, with lots of complications, lots of unknowns.  Also, I don't know how many of you have spent time in a childrens hospital, but every patient there is a CHILD, and everyone there is sick, and it's very sad.  And the quilt.  Oh! The QUILT.  As you are walking down the hallway to the elevators, there is this quilt with pictures of former CMH patients who are now walking with Jesus, and it gets to me every.single.time. I see it.  I know it's so nice that they are being remembered, but its terribly heart breaking.  Their sweet faces with their oxygen cannulas.  Those babies have parents and siblings and grandparents somewhere who are missing a piece of their hearts! (Again, with the emotions)  When we were staying there, Ryan would have to walk on that side of the hall so I wouldn't look at it.

We rode up the elevator and checked into the PICU.  The nurse called for Nicole (our wonderful amazing former nurse) to come out and meet us, and then as if it was an act of God, she came through the doors and this happened:



I'm telling you people, Lia does NOT just run up to strangers and hug them.  I couldn't help but tear up.  It was as if they were old friends.  Lia ran to her and wrapped her arms around Nicole's neck and held on tight.  It was as if she knew what they had been through together! That picture speaks a thousand words to me.

Nicole gave us a tour of the PICU, and showed us a new section where they house all the heart patients.  We saw Lia's old room (Room 11) and stood outside of it for a while.  There was a patient in there, so we couldn't go in.  However, the smell, the purple curtain that hangs inside the glass doors, the beeping, the rush of doctors and nurses around the nurses station, parents walking around looking like zombies, it was all so familiar.

Man, I have a lot to be thankful for. Praise God.
Lia and Nicole: 2012 and 2015.
Just hanging out with some kids...
PICU
 I had such a wonderful time away with my sweet little family.  Even though our summer together is basically over, I know this fall will bring great things too!



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