We are still displaced from our home due to the ice storm in Pennsylvania! Tonight will be our third night in a hotel. We've been told that our power could be back on by 11pm tonight - but I'll believe it when I see it!
Let me be clear: Being alone (while Ed is at work all day) with an infant and a five year old in a hotel room is NOT for sissies.
But - I feel like we have successfully turned this into an epic adventure. Brian has been having the time of his life!!
The first morning, he thought I was teasing him when I said yes to his request to try the "Rainbow Cheerios" at the breakfast buffet. He actually looked at me sideways and said... "Wait a minute... are you surprising me with a love bomb day??" I had to break the bad news to him that "Rainbow Cheerios" are not the healthiest and I only wanted him to eat them when we were in a hotel. "Wait a minute..." he said, "we'll be in a hotel again tonight, right?"
Smart kid.
Hope has been a dream. She's been sleeping well - actually better than at home! The first night she quietly woke for feedings - ate well - and quietly went back to sleep. This was super-considerate given we were all sleeping in one room! Last night we were in a new hotel with two rooms - and it was the best night ever. Brian slept in the living room on the pull out couch (which he thought was the coolest thing ever) - and Hope slept in our bedroom with us... for five hours straight! I gratefully slept nearby in the most comfortable, warm bed. Not too shabby for being run out of our house by an ice storm. Thank you, Hope!
This morning, Ed invited us to have lunch with him at work! That was a big treat for Brian. And it was nice for me to meet people in person who were so supportive of our family when Gavin died.
Brian and I get a little stir crazy in the hotel room at times. You can only play Pirates or Star Wars or Angry Birds vs Pigs for so long in this little space. So today, I got a little creative. We took off into the hotel on a scavenger hunt!
We hunted for 5s... because Brian is 5. Gs... for Gavin. Bs... for Brian. And 2... for two months - Hope's age.
Brian found a 5!
Actually, he found about a hundred 5s. We were on the fifth floor. That didn't get old - really. (Yes it did)
He found a G!
When he found two of something he got bonus points which made him VERY excited. When he got tired of that, we played "hide and go seek" in the hotel lobby.
I had such a hard time finding him, let me tell you.
It looks like we'll be out of here first thing in the morning. I just got word that our neighborhood has POWER again!! As much fun as this has been (at times) - it will be GREAT to be home.
There's only one little problem.
On the second day of this, I stopped at home to feed "Peppy" - our remaining fish. If you recall, "Fishie" died before the storm and devastated Brian. I went to the tank the other day to find that poor "Peppy" had frozen to death. As if I needed this now. So I will soon be off to the store to buy a "Peppy stunt double." Brian does not need to know that he lost another fish.
There's always something.
Kate, I remember the first time our daughter experienced spending the night on a sleeper sofa -- she christened it the "slofa", and that word is now part of our family's lexicon!
ReplyDeleteGlad you've been able to put an adventurous spin on this; we lost power for several days a few years ago during a heinous ice storm, but we were all able to pile in at my mom's house, since she had a gas stove, etc. (and the rest of us were all-electric). It was, in an odd way, really fun, to be all together back under Mom's roof, snuggled up, telling stories and playing games (and she cooked three and four meals a day, because otherwise things would spoil ...). :-)
We live in Montgomery County. We are also in a hotel. A tree fell into our daughters bedroom. My hubby works nights. Last night was my first night here slone with our 6 and 3 year old. It was interesting for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you stayed at an Embassy Suites. They are literally the best hotel out there for families. Free breakfast, manager's reception (with non-alcoholic drinks) as well as snacks (how good depends on where you are), on-site restaurant, and two rooms! We have been staying at Embassy Suites since my dd was young and we still stay there if possible and she is 17.
ReplyDeleteHello Kate,
ReplyDeleteI've been spending a little over two months, reading your journals from the very beginning. I mean... from the VERY beginning on Carebridge! As a seventeen years old college student with profound deafness, it was rather refreshing to see things from a parent's perspective. Thank you so much for spreading self-advocacy and I look forward to reading your blogs in the future.
Love,
Maggie