On Wednesday evening at about 8:00 pm CDT, Rebecca, Spencer, Braelyn, Brody and I set out on a top-secret trip to Casper, Wyoming to pay a surprise visit to my 92 year old grandma, who was just recently put into a nursing home, and to my mother, who had it not been for my grandma’s situation would have been travelling through Overland Park this weekened to visit us. We drove all night under the cover of darkness, leaving shortly after Braelyn and Brody visited my mom via a web cam session before “going to bed”. Well, they did go to bed, but in the car seats of our vehicle.

We drove all night, stopping three times for gas and beverages, and we arrived at my parents’ house at 6:30 am MDT on Thursday morning. Our 11.5 hour trip concluded with me placing Brody in his car set under a blanket with a sign reading “Please take care of our baby. God Bless.” I rang the doorbell numerous times and ran around the corner. My pops answered the door (he was the only one to know we were coming) and hollared at my mom to come help. After a short look of shock, she realized that the baby left on her doorstep was her grandson… and soon the rest of us came around the corner. Surprise number one: complete success.

Surprise number two came later that day, when Spencer, my dad and I went to visit my grandma. She, too, had no idea we were coming. She was very excited to see us, too, and I was impressed with how good she actually looked. She is in the nursing home after suffering a fall a few weeks ago, and they found her heart rate to be down around 42 beats per minute. Better news came that same day when doctors confirmed her heart rate was back to normal, and they say if they can get her kneww rehabilitated, she can get out of the nursing home and into assisted living. That would be a great outcome.

Braelyn and Brody got to spend some time with Grandma as well, as we visited with her several times over the last few days. Today’s visit was the best — her spirits seemed better and she looked really good. We sat outside and visited, snapped some pictures of her and the kids, and had a great time. I am so thankful that we had the ability to get back and see her, and I know she was thrilled to see Braelyn and Brody again.

Now, after spending a few hours back at the baseball park watching the Casper Oilers come up short (quite a bit short, I might say) against the Gillette Roughriders, we are back in the car heading home. If all goes well, we’ll be in Overland Park at about 9 in the morning. A day of recovery on Sunday, then back to the normal grind on Monday.

Always nice to be able to spend time with the folks and my oldest sister and her family. And seeing my grandma, especially as good as she looked today, made the 24 hours we are spending in the car well worth it. Now, hopefully my parents will get to come out our way in a couple of weeks for their makeup trip, and Brae and Brody can get a little more attention from the grandparents.

Now I am going to put this technology to use and watch a movie. Or maybe take a nap, since I’ll be in the driver seat soon.

Would like to start by saying thanks to all of those on facebook and who have sent me texts already a big thank you for the birthday wishes. It actually makes me feel bad, because despite what some people may think, I am not on facebook that much. Most of my status updates come from me sending a tweet, and my facebook ap on my iPhone is where I respond to most facebook things… and thus, I do not see when everyone else’s birthdays are and thus don’t go post nice messages on their birthdays. I guess I really need to start checking that facebook birthday announcement section and doing it, because it is nice to receive the birthday wishes.

Only one political paragraph today, but I just have to do it. Sadly, my mom shares her birthday with the worst act of terrorism against the US in its history: 9/11. I fear that after today, I will share my birthday with the anniversary of the Obama health care plan passing (no thanks to a bunch of special favors) — something that we will all pay for over and over again. Oh well, March has sucked thus far (work issues and weather), might as well add that to the mix. End of birthday political rant.

It was so cute waking up this morning and lying in bed. I could hear Braelyn out in the kitchen practicing saying “Happy Birthday, daddy!” Too, cute. Of course, I heard her practice it yesterday, too, but it is awesome to hear over and over. Probably the best birthday present I could ever get (second place would be the HC plan failing today). So when I came out of the room, there she was, watching Chicken Little and she said “Happy Birthday, Daddy”. Awesome….

Had Brody been born three days later, he and I would be exactly 6 months apart. Yep, my “little” boy turned 1/2 last Thursday. He is growing fast… likes to make noises (he’s grunting/talking right now) and he always has a smile on his face. I have been extremely fortunate to have two awesome babies… only cry when there is good reason to. I hear Braelyn over coloring me a picture right now… in fact, here she comes to show me. She just brought over a little spiral notebook with the most awesome one color crayon scribble ever! Other parents should be jealous… Her artwork is multiplying. At daycare she painted three pictures for the first time, and they will sell for millions!

While I referred to March as having been a crappy month thus far, some good has happened. I reconnected for an hour plus on the phone with Robert Conley, who I grew up playing baseball with and who I roomed one year in college with. He also helped me coach baseball. The next night (and well into the morning after), Casey Peterson and I met up for dinner, drinks, and who knows what else. I hadn’t seen Casey in almost 20 years, since we graduated high school. I also just got back from Oklahoma where Spencer and I had a guys trip (sorry, Brody, maybe in a few years you can join) to watch some NCAA basketball and some Oklahoma State baseball, where Dusty Harvard is the starting center fielder. Dusty (@dharvard24 on twitter) played center field for the Casper Oilers the last year I coached, and he’s the last player I coached still playing college ball today (as far as I know, anyway). He is off to a solid start, and hopefully he’ll get drafted again this year. The Cowboys were supposed to play 1 on Friday, 2 yesterday, and 1 more game today. With the weather, they ended up playing a double header on Friday and cancelling yesterday. I bet they cancel today, as well. Anyway, Spencer and I headed home a day early, in the snow, just one day after wearing shorts and a t-shirt to a 70+ degree double header.

The weather this winter has sucked. Global warming my ………

Well, I am going to go help Braelyn color a bit and get Hoover outside. Thanks again for all of the birthday wishes. I will try and do better checking out whos birthday is when on facebook and sending messages back.

Thirty-eight down, hopefully many more than that remain…

–RElledge

I took a Cadillac Escalade out for a test drive today. The salesman sat in the back seat describing the car and all its wonderful options.

The seats were of particular interest. He explained that the seats directed warm air to your butt in the winter and directed cool air to your butt in the summer heat.

I stated the car must be a Republican car. Looking a bit perplexed, he asked why I thought it was a Republican car? I explained that if it were a Democratic car, the seats would blow smoke up your ass year round.

]]> http://theelledges.com/the-son/a-salesman-i-would-buy-from%e2%80%a6/feed 0 http://theelledges.com/braelyn-grace/i-turned-two-and-elmo-was-there%e2%80%a6 http://theelledges.com/braelyn-grace/i-turned-two-and-elmo-was-there%e2%80%a6#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:39:23 +0000 Braelyn http://www.theelledges.com/braelyn-grace/i-turned-two-and-elmo-was-there%e2%80%a6 Watch as my family and friends sing happy birthday to me, and see my Elmo birthday cake!

]]> http://theelledges.com/braelyn-grace/i-turned-two-and-elmo-was-there%e2%80%a6/feed 0 http://theelledges.com/rebecca/brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr http://theelledges.com/rebecca/brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:40:58 +0000 RebeccaElledge.com http://www.theelledges.com/rebecca/brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr A few things have been happening in the OP. First of all, it is freaking frigid. I feel like we live in the Artic versus the middle of the country. It’s been a long, cold, wet, snowy winter and I am sooo tired of it. Wish we were going somewhere warm for Spring Break. It’s to the point where people are depressed (okay maybe just me) that it is just gross outside.
I started a new job the 2nd week of January. I spent a week in NY, where it is equally just as cold and snows to some extent everyday. They joke that it is Ground Hog Day there Nov – March. The office is located in Albany, along the banks of the Hudson River. Beautiful country, I am sure it is really pretty in the Spring, Summer and Fall with all the foliage. I’m told the train ride to NYC is gorgeous, may have to do that some time, when I’m up there.

Braelyn, Brody and Spencer are doing well. Brody is growing up so big. I just love the little man so much. Braelyn is such a treat. Her smile is infectious. What a wonderful personality. Spencer is doing well too. He started 2nd Semester of his Sophmore year. He’s growing up way too fast. I remember when he was Brae’s age, full of energy and never slowed down.

Ryan is leaving for FL in a week or so for work. Some conference that he "has" to go to…whatever. I think it is an excuse to get out of the freaking cold…take me with you honey! I’m sure it will be a week of meetings, shows, dinners at Captial Grille…oh they have the best coconut cream pie! In fact he will be there tomorrow night for a board dinner…hmmm. Maybe I need to be on the board of something. Anyone have any ideas? Anyway, he has been busy with work. He started working out a couple of weeks ago and I think he enjoys it. I think he enjoys sitting in the hot tub and sauna after his workouts even more.

I’m working out in the mornings, at the gym at 5:00 am. I ran this morning, think my legs are going to give out on me at anytime. I’m bound and determined to be swim suit ready and in the best shape of my life by the time we head South in July. I was at my skiniest and most active when I hit 30 – I can get there again, right? So, it’s back to eating right, and working out 5 days a week. My motivation, looking at myself in the mirror – gross!

Ryan’s parents are in or are headed to sunny LA…so jealous! Steve has a conference (what’s the deal with these conferences in warm locals???) and Vickie is spending some time with Lynda and Fred, and haning out with her dad. Should be a good trip for both of them. My parents are doing great. My mom is planning a trip with her sisters this summer. Not sure where they are going, but I know they will enjoy being together. Mom and Dad are watching the little ones on Saturday night so Ryan and I can do something for Valentine’s Day (yes I know that V-Day is on Sunday). I am looking forward to a night off.

Try to stay warm and be safe!

]]> http://theelledges.com/rebecca/brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr/feed 0 http://theelledges.com/the-dad/nobody-dont-come-here-no-more http://theelledges.com/the-dad/nobody-dont-come-here-no-more#comments Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:33:21 +0000 Steve Elledge http://www.theelledges.com/?p=1104 WOW! I haven’t checked this page in quite awhile and apparently I am not alone! Very very inactive.
I don’t have anything significant to blog about but that never stopped me before did it?

The Dad

]]> http://theelledges.com/the-dad/nobody-dont-come-here-no-more/feed 0 http://theelledges.com/the-son/the-great-open-debate http://theelledges.com/the-son/the-great-open-debate#comments Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:23:24 +0000 Ryan Elledge http://www.theelledges.com/the-son/the-great-open-debate Thankfully we have that open and transparent government of change we heard so much about.

]]> http://theelledges.com/the-son/the-great-open-debate/feed 0 http://theelledges.com/braelyn-grace/my-2nd-christmas http://theelledges.com/braelyn-grace/my-2nd-christmas#comments Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:14:17 +0000 Braelyn http://www.theelledges.com/braelyn-grace/my-2nd-christmas

Braelyn Scores Big on Christmas

My second Christmas has now come and gone, and what a blast it was.  This was the first Christmas I got to spend with my new baby brother, Brody.  Thanks to Grandma Elledge, Brody and I had the cutest Christmas outfits!  On Christmas Eve, we went to First Family Church and sang lots of Christmas songs.  After that, we went home and ate some lasagna that mommy made.  Then, it was presents time!  I scored big time!  I got a baby doll with a changing table just like Brody’s and a stroller, too.  I also got an Elmo Live!  He is so funny and fun to play with.  I even got two Elmo videos.  One of them is teaching me it’s okay to potty in the big girl potty so I can get out of these diapers.  I got lots of pretty clothes, too.  One of my favorite toys is a vacuum cleaner, so I can help my mommy clean!  Oh, and Bubba got me some huge legos which I love having mommy and daddy set up so I can knock them down.  I got so many presents it’s hard for me to remember all of them.

Before I went to night night, I left some cookies and milk on the counter for Santa.  When I woke up on Christmas Day, the cookies and milk were gone, and under the tree was more presents for me!  I got a really cool Elmo table and chairs and a huge doll house!  I love all my presents and thank everyone for giving them to me.  Daddy says he is mad at Santa, though, because now I don’t like to go to sleep… I always want to play with my toys!

Anyway, this was the best Christmas yet!  I can’t wait until Santa comes back next year.  Merry Christmas to everyone!

Love,

Brae Brae

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