Two by Land and Three by Air…We Made It!!!

We have arrived in Evansville, Indiana!!!

It was definitely a family effort to get us up here!  My parents were concerned about a long car ride for Gavin before he starts his intensive therapy, so they were nice enough to drive our car up.  They left Wednesday, traveling up to Little Rock, through the back roads of Arkansas to Kennett, Missouri, and finally to St. Louis.  Sounds like they had a great time along the way, visiting the Clinton Library, little off the beaten path BBQ restaurants, and visiting Kennett, where my dad lived as a child.  The weather unfortunately made their trip a little more challenging as they had snow from Little Rock to St. Louis.  Thank you guys!!!!

What was a three day trip for my parents took us two hours this morning!  We flew into St. Louis and met them with our car at the arrivals area at the airport.  Gavin is a very experienced traveler now, so he did great.  (It helped to have his new fire truck and coloring book from Ms. Nash! J) He was thrilled to see the snow!  Packing the car was a little challenging when we got there.  I tend to over pack for a weekend trip…needless to say I have probably managed to over pack for our two month trip. J  The car was already loaded down with Gavin’s toys and my important scrapbooking materials, leaving little room for the three giant suitcases of clothes we brought on the plane! 

From St. Louis, my parents flew the two hours home, and we continued on in the car to Evansville, only a three hour drive.  I have to say, I am pleasantly surprised…it’s a nice little town!  They have a cute little downtown right on the Ohio River.  We went over to check out our new home…The Ronald McDonald House.  I was a little unsure about staying here.  While Gavin has health issues, thankfully they are so much less severe and manageable than others and I was a little reluctant to accept the offer to stay here.  After learning more about the program, it was clear that this house is set up for patients of these day programs.  I cannot even explain how impressed I am with the house!!!  I know the Ronald McDonald House Charities did great things, but this is above and beyond what I had imagined.  The accommodations are incredible…beautiful large homey rooms, two play rooms stocked with TONS of books, toys, games, puzzles…, a playground, three full kitchens for the families to use, a fully stocked pantry!  Volunteers and local restaurants provide dinner for the families most nights.  I know this will be a comfortable home for us for the next two months, and we will do everything we can to repay them for the hospitality in the future.

Eric flies back tomorrow evening.  Gavin and I move into our new home on Monday, and then our journey officially kicks off on Tuesday!!!  FINALLY!!!! J 

Thank you all for your emails, comments, phone calls, Facebook posts, presents for Gavin etc.  I cannot tell you how much your love and support means to Eric and I.  We definitely have the best cheering squad out there!!!  From the bottom of my heart, thank you.