We did an overnight trip this time because the doctors had a morning teaching commitment and couldn't see us until the afternoon. Technically we could have flown back same day, but it would have made for a REALLY late night drive back from Chicago. So, we took the opportunity to spend the night and sight see. We also took the opportunity to fly through Newark since we had more schedule flexibility.
As usual, we drove up to Chicago Wed morning, leaving at a whopping 4:30am instead of 3:30. Once we arrived to Newark, we caught the train to Penn Station NY (not to be confused with Penn Station Newark). It was about a half hour train ride and very comfortable. The scenery outside though was quite ugly and depressing. So, no pics of that. Just this pic of Elijah who is much cuter anyway.
We walked from Penn Station to the clinic and got a quick lunch on the way. We got to clinic a little early. Elijah's newest accomplishment is that he now smiles while awake. We can't get enough of it. It has been hard to capture on camera but here are a few attempts.
At the clinic, they made the usual adjustments but then added a new piece to connect the two nasal stints. This will help lengthen Elijah's columella (the stretch of skin that runs along the bottom of the nose that you see separates the nostrils). Elijah basically had a 1mm columella and they want to stretch it over time to at least 4mm pre surgery. Here's an older picture demonstrating his lack of a columella. I will at some point do a post to show the transformation of his device and his cleft. Not now though.
After the appointment, we headed to the Ronald McDonald House via the subway, fed Elijah, and passed out for an early evening nap. When we woke up, we decided to get dinner at an Indian restaurant around the corner. Dinner was good. The entrees were decent but the garlic naan was so delicious. After filling up, we headed out for a night on the town.
Our attempts to get Elijah to smile often involves throwing him in the air. I know. Bad parents. All for the smile.
Originally, we thought we might catch the lighting of the tree at Rockefeller but common sense and the locals helped us realize it would be much more trouble than it was worth since you could see it more easily after all the shenanigans. We thought we would catch it about a half hour after the lighting but they hadn't opened up all the roads at that point. With Elijah in the ergobaby, we squeezed in as much sightseeing as you can do in a few hours.
So Elijah slept most of the time but he and I both started breaking down around Times Square. Once we finally got to the tree, Elijah and I were over it (especially since the streets were still closed and still crowded). I was trying hard to be a cool, adventurous wife for Nate, but he could tell I was losing steam so he got us back to the room for the night. It was a rough night with Elijah and I feel bad for the people in the adjoining rooms because I know they heard him screaming. Nate was great and got Elijah to finally go back to sleep while I passed out myself.
The next day we hit up a tiny, local coffee shop to split a delicious almond croissant. I love places that do this to my cappuccinos:
We checked out of the RMH, walked through Central Park, and got pizza for lunch. Nate loves pizza in case you didn't know. I really like it too but I am pretty sure he could eat it every day and not get tired of it. Lunch was fun. And by fun I mean that Nate and I took turns eating while the other walked Elijah around outside since he wanted to scream when we were inside. Taking him out is a bit harder now that he is awake more often. It's hard to find the balance between not completely giving up on social outings yet adjusting for a baby. At lunch a stranger told Nate that Elijah looked just like him. I love it. Nate didn't have the heart to tell him that Elijah is adopted, and I really think he probably enjoyed what I consider a compliment :)
We headed back by subway, then train, then plane, then car all the way back to Indy. Elijah did ok on the plane for a while but lost it the last hour or so. That seems to be a trend now.
The last 30 miles of the car ride were not fun with the winter storm. Nate is a great driver but I tend to freak out in the snow. Thankfully he was driving and was able to shut out my frantic "backseat" driving. We made it home. Home, sweet home. I love that feeling. I think it's a meager taste of what it will be like when we make it to our final home.
Revelation 21:4 - He will wipe away every year from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Philippians 3:20 - But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ.
This season of advent is such a sweet and longing time of waiting. Waiting for something more. Something completely right. Something to rescue us from our complete and utter failure. Waiting for the One who will bring us home.
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