Keeping up with the Kuehnholds: Trip To South Dakota - Ace first trip to Grandma's house

Since i have 12 weeks of maternity leave I decided that one week was going to be spent in South Dakota with my family. Easton loves the farm and visiting Papa and Grandma's house. I wasn't too sure about traveling with both boys. I hadn't even been out in Des Moines by myself with both boys...let alone travel 6 hours with both of them. I was somewhat nervous. I decided to leave Friday since Saturday they were expecting some rather snowy and sleety weather. I picked up Easton from daycare around noon. I figured if we left after lunch he'd sleep for a good portion of the trip. I got everything packed and video's ready for Easton. A special treat was I bought Easton the movie Car's.

Easton slept for only an hour on the trip. Ace was a gem and slept until Sioux Falls for the most part. We stopped at Missouri Valley and ate lunch at Arby's and I nursed Ace. After Easton woke up after only an hour he was a bear cat. Nothing satisfied him and he basically cried till Missouri Valley. After lunch Ace fell asleep again and once again Easton wasn't satisfied with anything and he cried till Sioux Falls. It was a long and tiring trip since Easton fussed the whole way. He not only cried a normal cry but screamed most of the way. Never again I told myself. Since I needed a break we stopped at Michael's house in Sioux Falls. Seemed to help a little but then again Easton cried the whole way home to Grandma's house. I was so thankful to get to Mom's house. I was exhausted. It's not like I could stop every 5 minutes to let Easton calm down...I had to keep trucking on.

Grandma's house was a lot of fun. It was nice that I had some help with both boys. The girls loved Ace and even fought over him basically the whole time. He was barely put down since there were 4 girls to hold him. I was able to sleep in a couple of mornings while mom watched Ace. He did rather well in the bouncer while mom cooked and cleaned. Easton had a blast with Papa in the tractor and feeding the cows. He even was able to pet a baby calf since Papa had some newborns the week we were home.

One day we went and visited Lee and Great Grandpa Glen. Overall the week was rather a relaxing one. Didn't do a whole lot but spend a lot of time with the nieces and Aunt Michelle. Mom helped me make Ace's bedding and she also showed me how to make a baby blanket. That was a lot of fun and I hope to make another one when I get back home so I don't forget how to do it.

At the end of the week Easton was starting to miss daddy. We skyped with him a couple of times. Thankfully Michelle, Mom and the girls were all coming up to Iowa to visit so we all traveled together. Bridget was a godsend sitting in the back with Easton and Ace. She was able to help Easton when he needed something and entertain him. It helped out a ton and we had a great trip back to DSM. We were all ready to see daddy.

The unfortunate events of the trip was that Easton and I both got sick. Easton when we got to Grandma's house had swollen eyes. I figured it was from crying the whole way. He woke up the next day with them crusted shut. Mom called Jeff and we were able to get him in to see Joe since Jeff was out of town. Jo opened the office just for us and thankfully Easton only had a little infection and not pink eye. Apparently Jo doesn't believe in pink eye. He put him on drops and antibiotics and they cleared up right away. Easton wasn't fond of the eye drops. I on the other hand got a bad cold and congestion. I was sick most of the week. Thankfully mom was there to help out with both boys since I was under the weather.