We were fortunate this year to have an extended period of time to visit back East. DreamWorks closed the office between Christmas and New Years again this year and with paid family leave I transformed 3 vacation days into 16 paid days off. A very hectic fall semester came to a close and left a few weeks before winter term starts back up in January. We were cleared for travel.
We've had some crazy trips in the past, including 8 airplanes in 11 days while traveling in Australia/New Zealand, but this was probably one of the most difficult trips we've had. The trip down to Hollywood wasn't bad and deceived us into thinking travel with baby was easy, but a weekend getaway doesn't scale well when applied to a two week trip for the holidays. Fortunately, we had those 16 days, and an extra 3 days prior to departure to get things settled at home while packing.
The cruel joke that is teething was an issue from the very first day. While we were flying RJ started feeling a little warm to the touch. He was very lethargic and just slept the whole trip. We flew into Pittsburgh and after getting lost due to construction, yes, we got lost in Pittsburgh -- and it would happen a few more times -- we made it to Uncle Jim and Aunt Helen's sometime after midnight. RJ was running a little fever - 102.1, and while we still had some Christmas shopping to do, we spent the first day and a half never leaving the house doped up on Tylenol. RJ who had been a pretty good cereal eater was refusing it, and was fussy and unhappy. The drool and other signs indicated that whether a coincidence or perhaps cabin pressure kick-started it, some teething was happening and his schedule was all out of whack. 
We credit the breast milk and good genes to avoiding illness in RJ's first 6 months of life. Other than the surgery, he has been considered the healthiest one in his class. The teething soon turned into stuffiness as a cold settled in. The cold was a nuisance, but he did manage to avoid catching the pneumonia and ear infections of those around us.
Franklin Regional, Lance's high school, never had 5 or 10 year reunions but a grassroots effort resulted in a get together at a local restaraunt/bar in Murrysville. Uncle Jim, Aunt Helen, and Grandma D arrived and provided babysitting services. RJ may have given them some trouble with a bit of separation anxiety, but it allowed Mommy and Daddy to slip away for a little while to go to the party. It was very well attended but had two unfortunate issues: Pennsylvania still allows smoking indoors (heathens) and Cheryl started coming down with a cold; aches, chills, sore throat, and a cough. This cold persisted for both Cheryl and RJ throughout the remainder of our holiday. There was a 3 and a half day stretch where we didn't leave the house in Buffalo trying to get everyone healthy again.
Despite the cold, RJ started adjusting to the new environments and resumed his normal social and charming self. We celebrated Christmas early in Pittsburgh, drove up to Buffalo Christmas Eve for Wigilia. Then there was Christmas morning at Grammie Carola's, and a late Christmas when Luke and Amy got to Buffalo, and yet another Christmas with Cheryl's father. Like all babies at this age, the paper ripping and eating was seemingly more exciting than the presents inside. He certainly had a lot of opportunities spread out over the week to open, and tried to help mommy and daddy, Grammie and cousins open theirs too.
It was nice that RJ got to interact with his many cousins and relatives. One of my favorite comments from Christmas was my cousin Sarah (who's 12) saying that she wanted one of RJ's toys for herself because baby toys were so much fun. So RJ wasn't the only one enjoying his toys!
For New Years we stayed in with Uncle Luke, Aunt Amy and RJ even got to kiss Grammie Carola at midnight.Heading home was no easier. We had to drive through an Erie blizzard to get back to Pittsburgh on New Years day. We decided to upgrade a suitcase while in Buffalo, buying the 27" Swiss brand bag so our car was pretty full and uncomfortable for the drive. We made it though and when we checked our 3 bags in weighing 49 pounds a piece we were anxious to get home and out of the cold. Our return flight was supposed to have one stop, but they changed the flights on us without warning. We were awarded with an extra stopover in Phoenix. When you are carrying on two backpacks, two laptops, a baby, a baby seat and stroller -- the last thing you want to do is get on and off the plane 3 times. This is likely what led to our car seat handle being broken and losing a wallet. This was not a good start to 2008, but after a week of adjusting back home life was getting back to normal.
Check out more Christmas Pictures here.
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