Preparing and Packing
The trip to Assateague is always the one that fills the camper and the truck, along with all the nooks and crannies in between. I'm amazed at how much stuff the girls pack. Plus, on my end, I have to pack the extra gear that we don't take on normal trips like the generator, fuel can, washline, and things. I test run the generator a few weeks before and check the oil to make sure all is well with that and top it off with gas and some ethanol treatment. What is nice when down at the beach is a lot of places have non-ethanol gas at many places.
Becky Not Feeling well
The week or so leading up to the trip Becky didn't seem to be all together. Indigestion off and on for a few days and just not quite right. Non-the-less, she continued to pack things and plan for the trip. The day of the trip she wasn't all that well, so we took our time getting the final things ready and into the camper. Eventually, we made the start of our trip and she nodded off for a bit.
Along the way in Delaware, our AC decided to act up which made things pretty uncomfortable for her and the girls. Seemed that the control blasted the heat on my side while she still had some AC, but before to long it was windows open to stay comfortable while my foot felt like it was going to melt, with only 30 minutes to lunch stop we decided to press onward.
We stopped for lunch at our usual place which is easy to access for pulling the camper and I researched the situation on the truck while Becky picked at her lunch. She actually got up and went back outside to rest in the truck while the kids and I finished lunch.
Luckily for us, the electronic switch/baffle that controls the zone for driver and passenger resets with the computer/power reset after about 4 minutes from power on. So, I checked things over, and we drove down the road before turning on the AC. Everything worked for the remainder of the trip and we were all in comfort again,... well, except Becky was still not right. She couldn't describe it to well just that it was crampy and uncomfortable up high in her stomach area.
Arrival and Setup
When we arrived, Becky got out and made her way to the table while Bella helped me line up and back in to the furthest corner of the parking pad. Wheels aren't allowed off the pavement, so we go right to the edge of the chock to maximize space and get to park the truck in front after we open the bunk. Becky just wanted to lay down and must have asked me 5 or six times if I minded if she did and if I could get a bunk down. Bella and I made sure we were level, opened the front bunk and i started the generator to get power for the fan we have so she could be resting with some air over her.
Two hours later,.. yes, 2,... Becky awoke after the kids and I had everything setup and ready for the week. Seemed to be better, so we decided to go and see the beach since the kids were very excited to see the waves again. Off we went to the dune, only about 75 yards, and Becky said she had to turn around and go back to lay down. The kids and I went onto the beach for a little and then back to think about dinner.
Kids and I had dinner while Becky rested again. Later in the evening we had to make a decision, she wasn't feeling well and the pain seemed to be increasing, and moving to the right of her abdomen. Calls to some family with prior Appendix issues, seemed similar but not quite on the same track. So, we had to decide to either stay the night and see how it was in the morning or head out to the main land and go to an Urgent Care. Well,... 9pm,... we loaded up and headed to Berlin MD to Atlantic General Hospital....... oh joy.
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| Becky's new accomodations |
H is for Hospital, not for Hotel, but it did have Air Conditioning. The kids were doing great as they did some lab work on Becky, including an Ultrasound which revealed that she had a gall-bladder blockage and a bunch of gall stones. After some consultation with the doctors, it was decided to have surgery the next day,... July 4th. Becky was nervous, scared, and so were the kids. But at 12:30 am we departed leaving her there and headed back to camp so the kids could rest.
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| Those late arrival check-ins .... (1am) |
July 4th
July 4th was supposed to be a day at the beach doing activities and having a good time before finding some place to find fireworks,..... and so it was! (Except for Becky). To keep the kinds mind from worrying to much about Becky we tried to keep the pace going and things in check with activities. The kids decorated their bikes and participated in the ranger led bike parade down to the nature center and there was some other fun activities that they could do there too. We couldn't stay for the whole event, but it was a gook start.
As we were prepping lunch, we got a call that Becky's time was moved up,... well that threw a wrench in the works. I contacted our good friends Gary and Mary to see what we could do with their schedule and made the best of it. We were so lucky to have them in the area and available to watch the kids for a bit while I was at the hospital with Becky. I didn't make it for when she went in, but I hung out in her room for a while before the nurse came to get me and take me down to the operating waiting room. about 5pm, the doctor came in and explained the situation, what he found, and that she did well and was in recovery. Still would be a little till I saw her, so they sent me back up to her room to wait.
Becky came up and was still pretty out of it from the medicine but was doing well. Tired, and wanting to doze off, she kept telling me to leave, but I hung out and kept her company for a while until she couldn't keep her eyes open any more. I then left and went back to Gary and Mary with the kids for some quick food and to watch the fire works with them. Such good friends, everyone should hope to have a friendship like that. After the fireworks, we departed and went back to the camp as it had been such a long day for everyone. It didn't take long for the kids to fall asleep, and I prepared for the next day. This was a vacation for the record books.
Back at Camp and Recovery
Thursday we talked with Becky and her nurses, and it was all going well. We had some things we could do at the campground first and the kids wanted to go for a walk on the beach for seashells and to see if there were any horses out there. Sure enough, they were there and we could get some nice photos of them to show Becky.
We went to visit Becky at the hospital later that morning and they told us that it was likely she could be discharged and they showed us the restrictions as well as a list of good things to have. Well,.... that list just about wiped out our camping supplies so some shopping was in order. I told the nurses to hold onto her and we would be back later I had some preparing to do. Worked out fine anyway, as they wanted to give her the last IV medicine which would take some time too.
So,... another $100 or more at Walmart for groceries, wedge pillow, and stuff and back to the campground to get the recovery room situated! haha. Why is it that you go to Walmart and almost always spend $100 or so.
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| Outta HERE! |
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| Dolled her up to get her out and feeling more like herself again |
We ended up going back to break Becky out of the hospital later and bring her back to camp. That pretty much meant,... pick her up, drive slow, help her in the camper, get her into bed and she was out.
Time as a Family again
Friday was better. Still taking it very slow at the camper and really not going anywhere, but we had the generator cranking and the fan on keeping her comfortable for a good part of the morning. She thought about venturing out for some AC, so we loaded up and went for a short drive, followed by a stop at the Assateague Welcome Center where there was AC, as well as the things for the kids to do.
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| Finally a night together |
To the Beach
Well, before we head home, we were going to make sure we had 1 good day as a family at the BEACH! Yes, all of us, together, on the beach.
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| 3 Junior Rangers! |
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| Ghost Crabbing at night |
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| Among the marshes |
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| Girls and I went for a ride while Becky rested |
Heading Home
Unfortunately, our typically relaxing family vacation had come to and end way to fast, and without much relaxation during it. We began our trek home, taking our time and stopping frequently. Some roads just had the right rythym to cause discomfort for Becky, while if I adjusted the speed sometimes that would help as well. We made it home, Becky went inside, and the girls and I took the evening and the next to unpack things as needed.
Till next time,... which will hopefully be a little more R&R.
Special Thanks to Gary and Mary for helping out while on Surgery day and helping with my Birthday, even though it didn't go as planned. We were so fortunate to have you nearby to be able to help us out. Thank you!
