Back from Christmas and I'm happy I don't get back to the rat race until Sunday. Means I can sleep in a bit tomorrow and relax a little. We left for Amy's folks on Monday. The trip was uneventful. Tylan actually travelled pretty well. There was one rough patch, but the other kids all seemed to have some travel that was nothing but a rough patch.

We didn't do a whole lot in Mankato. Saw some friends in addition to family. Accalia did great in the children's service on Christmas Eve. Ella freaked out a bit - I think it was all the people in the church. After the service, the kids got to open some presents. Accalia got a Littlest Pet Shop planner that has been with her most of the time since. That and her new pajamas (our family tradition) were probably her favorites. Cole got some action figures (Green Lantern and some Ben 10 figures). Ella got her very own ballerina bag with a new dance outfit and a tricycle from her aunt and uncle (made for some packing issues, but I got through it). Tylan got a couple little toys and an outfit or three. I think the nieces and nephews liked what we gave them.

On Christmas day, we traveled to my Dad's house. His girlfriend, Joan, was there, as was my brother and his family. Oh, did I mention that Dad and Joan had dated last spring and summer, ending with her taking out a restraining order against him and emailing me the day before Tylan was born, asking me to get Dad to leave her alone? Yeah, a little awkward. She didn't talk with me a whole bunch. I tend to be a bit quiet with people I don't know or trust, but I've also been around people with bad experiences with mental health providers. Didn't get that vibe from Joan, but still am on alert with her. Didn't get a lot of time to visit. it is tough when there is someone "new" in the house. It continues to be tough in that house on Christmas. Mom was on my mind almost constantly. I continue to notice that Dad hasn't gotten rid of Mom's house coats, which remain on the door of the bathroom all the master bedroom. I don't think he uses that room except for laundry. Speaking of Mom, I started to break down during the Christmas service during one of the carols. I love what the season means because it reinforces for me where Mom is and why she went there (feel the same at Easter). In any case, I pulled it together.

We discovered that Cole and I have something in common - an allergy to dogs. I am essentially desensitized (thanks to my folks and the 10 + years of shots and treatments). Cole does not have that luxury. Dad's dog has free run of the house when we are not there (when we are there, he is in a kennel, b/c he has gone after the kids in the past). Anyway, after dinner, Cole lay down on one of the beds upstairs, using a folded comforter as a pillow. The comforter was full of dog hair. Cole got the itchy eyes, started sniffling and sneezing, and his breathing got labored. We got him in a room where the dog rarely goes and washed all the bedding in that room. Unfortunately, there were no stores open in the bustling metropolis of 270 people. We contemplated a trip home, but decided to stay there. Cole ended up sleeping pretty well. We got some Benadryl meltaways today and will be taking them everywhere with us. That frickin' dog is so potent with the dander that MY long dormant allergies were triggered a bit. Cole improved throughout the day and was brave in trying one of the meltaways before bed. He hates taking any medicine, but did okay with it (which is great because it will mean no fighting him on it later).

The day before we leave on a trip always feels so frantic with packing and laundry and so on. So I've spent most of the day doing laundry and packing and catching up on dishes, etc. Trips at Christmas are even more "fun" with getting all of those presents packed up and any other extras. Sigh. Based on the preparations and the thought of how much fun it will be traveling four plus hours with a four-month-old, I'm already looking forward to being back home on Friday.

No, I know we'll have a good time visiting with everyone and doing all of the other things we'll end up doing. At times like this, though, I always wish we only lived an hour or two from our destination so it wouldn't feel like as much of an ordeal just to get there and back.

Anyway, there are still four baths to take tonight (or fewer depending on if anyone shares), new sheets to put on our bed, diapers to wash, laundry to finish doing, dishes to finish doing, packing to finish, etc. Cory's been working since 10 a.m. save for a two hour break this afternoon and isn't scheduled to be home until 8 p.m. Hoping the weather will be decent for traveling and that the roads will be clear and not slippery tomorrow.

Okay, once again have a LOT of catching up to do. First and foremost, Tylan Addison joined us on August 19. Amy woke me up in the wee hours of the morning. I asked about calling the doula and doctor (who lives 30 minutes plus away) and was told to wait. I went out to move my car so the woman coming over to watch the kids would have a place to park (our street was torn up in front from July until Oct.). I ended up backing into a truck the neighbor across the alley had parked partially in the alley. Didn't do any damage to his truck. Took out some paint and my taillight. Okay, we got to the hospital and Amy was having trouble talking through the contractions. We had preregistered but STILL were stopped by a nurse at the ER desk. In different circumstances, I would have taken the b*tch to task, but had a wife in labor and knew where the priorities were. We got up to delivery. Amy went to change into the gown. She came out, had another contraction and her water broke. Then we were off to the races. I had flashbacks to Cole's birth because everything went fast. The nurses ended up delivering Tylan, who was beautiful and so calm after being born. She was just taking in everything. She is still a pretty easy going baby. Ella had a bit of an adjustment, but is doing pretty well now. Being 3 seems to be a tough age anyway, especially the first couple months of the age. Adding in a new sibling does complicate things.

On the work front, I now have a new clinical director. Yeah, the one I'd blogged about in the summer? He sort of ended up in jail in CO. Turns out he left his job there after an accident in which he hit an MD at the prison. The doctor ended up losing a leg. The former clinical director reportedly was showing off his hot new car. About a week after the news that he had been jailed and would not be returning (it was a misdemeanor, but the warden wouldn't allow him back), my boss decided she was pulling the plug. About the time Tylan was born, I had a new boss. She has been great to work with and has been a breath of fresh air for the dept. She concentrates on building us up as a team, encouraging us to grow. Makes me realize how pathological the old situation was.

Cancer has been making an unwelcome comeback. Amy's grandparents were both diagnosed within the past few month. Her grandfather first. He decided to forgo any treatment. Everyone was worried about Amy's grandmother being alone. Well, a spot was seen on an x-ray or scan, which lead to further testing, which lead to the knowledge that she has cancer in numerous areas of her body. It is sad, but they are both ready to go. My aunt found out this week that she has lymphoma. She is apparently going to be in Sioux Falls after the new year. We're now planning to go up. I want her to be able to meet Tylan. Everyone of her girls has been pretty quiet about where things stand.

We are heading to Amy's folks for most of next week, then to Dad's for Christmas night. I work tomorrow, then am done until next Sunday. The kids already got the big "family" gift this year - a Wii.