Home Away from Home

Kierstyn and I made it to Philly this morning around 9am.  We had an early departure out of Grand Rapids and had two very quiet flights.  KJ is a rockstar on the airplane see pic below.  Delta was amazing and rearranged seating so I had a row to myself on each flight!  I'm hoping to have a repeat performance when we head home.

I tried to travel light this time & didn't haul the carseat with me which means I had to figure out public transportation.  I didn't have great luck figuring out the public transportation in Europe and followed Jeff around like a lost puppy.  And there was one time my high school girlfriends Ashley & Alison and I tried to figure out the New York Subway system and ended up just taking a cab.  But low and behold Philadelphia's SEPTA is awesome!   It was a 10 minute ride that cost me $8.  The conductor even loaded my stroller and luggage on and off the train for me too!  I rolled down off the train stop with the stroller and suitcase and to see our favorite place.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

We had some time to kill since KJ's appointment wasn't til 2pm and we didn't have a place to stay yet.  The Ronald McDonald House doesn't call until the day your requested stay begins to let you know if they have availability.  I was really hoping we weren't going to be homeless but at least its hot outside if we were going to be camping out on a park bench.  We grabbed coffee and found a shaded spot in a park on Penn's campus and finally got a call that the Ronald McDonald House had a room for us, hallelujah!  We hoofed it the mile to the house and got all checked in before the appointment.

Kierstyn is pumped we didn't have to sleep on a park bench

CHOP was having their version of American Idol this afternoon

Home Sweet Home

Our Dinner tonight was "summer picnic"

KJ had sweet potatoes

Homemade peach cobbler

Jeff always likes to know what meals he's missing so I always send him pics.  Each night we have a guest chef and on the weekends we also get brunch.  I love this place, its like coming home.  The workers ask about my boys, Jeff and my mom.  Its been nine months since we were here and they still remember my name and Kierstyns.  I got to meet another Fetal Surgery mom who is from Louisana and just passed the 34 week mark.  Its so great to meet other moms, compare notes and cheer each other on. God Bless the Ronald McDonald House!

We've had a busy day and walked back and forth to CHOP twice.  I blew the tire out on my stroller and found a bike shop that fixed it for me in 20 minutes. Kierstyn and I are going to do some site-seeing this weekend and then head over for surgery bright and early Monday morning.  The surgery takes about one hour but with pre/post surgery she will be back in the operating room for closer to 2-3 hours.  Its scary to hand your baby over to surgeons but I am so thankful for the wonderful people of Philadelphia who continue to show us love.

The boys are staying busy at home.  Peyton had his first week of Spanish Immersion kindergarten and is loving it.  Myles is big man on campis (home) these days and has had a great time calling the shots.  It was tough to leave them behind this time, Myles has told me three times now that he really wanted to come with us.  Next time, bud!  Peyton has his first soccer game tomorrow that I am bummed to miss but looking forward to hearing about it on Facetime.  

Choosing Joy from PRMH,

Shawna & Kierstyn