Eric's 60th Birthday

 Post later.  Just making sure to get it posted on the right day.

Stealing my own Jeep

 

Squirrel had an appointment for Thursday to install a new connection to the passenger air bag.  It would be a quick fix except the wrong piece came.  They told me it would be there in the afternoon.  It wasn't and they didn't call.  I fell asleep and missed the window to call.  I was annoyed that she stayed overnight.  Likely outside.

I called yesterday morning.  Part expected in 1st shipment.  Then called at 3.  He was chasing answers would call me back.  I called at 4, he would call me right back.  I called at 5.  Service department closed for the weekend.  Arg. Communication not Derrik's strong suit.

I had Eric drive me down.  Yup, she was parked outside at the back.  Not cool.  The salesman were in over their head with me.

I told them not cool.  They told me I couldn't have it.  They made calls.  I asked what was to stop me from just taking it.  They all looked stunned but supposed nothing would stop me.  Lol.

Then the big boss came out.  Told me it was illegal to take it mid service.  I asked Eric to go home and get the spare key.

Then he told me it was illegal to drive with the passenger air bag dismantled.  Who knows if that is true.  

I repeated that she was a fully functional 4x4 rv.  That anyone could literally live in her full time and she would be going home for the weekend.  I repeated that there was no need to be at the dealership for days on end in an unsafe area. He did offer to move her in at that point but I was intent on stealing her.

He finally got curious and went to see her.  He was impressed with her set up.  Hadn't seen anything like her and he handed over the keys. Agreeing that you could actually live in her.

So for a hot minute I was indeed stealing my own Jeep.

Lol.

Don't mess with Squirrel's Mama.

This crazy Jeep lady wasn't having it.

She's home.  Eric passed me and followed me home.  I checked the 360 app and knew which road to take home so he would see me.

Lili texted me when we were at the dealership and asked what I was doing.  I said "stealing Squirrel".  She responded with "oh nice".  Hahaha.

Oh, oh, oh, we did hear from Royal, our bid worked.  For $250 each we were moved to a balcony room with an inside sitting area on deck 12.  That's fun.  I don't particularly care about balconies.  I find them sticky from sea air and the chairs are uncomfortable so the odds of me relaxing out there are really low but Eric loves them.  He packs his ocular and lounges with coffee.  It will make him happy.  I'll enjoy having the couch inside.  

Wykyk

 

With Herculeon effort we finalized the Hawaii trip details today.

I trapped Eric in bed this morning until he looked at dates, times, logistics and hotels with me.  Good or bad we made decisions.  I didn't want to be overthinking things for weeks.

The Hopper bunny ran across our screen and I was cautiously excited to have a plan.

We are staying on Oahu for two extra nights at a boutique hotel flying home late on the 3rd day.  Arriving in Vancouver the next morning.

Leaving and parking from Hullo in Nanaimo.  

Fei will be home every night that we're away.  Luk will do general care of Kai.  Fei and Luk are going to muddle through cooking.  Gramma is going to do morning and afternoon school driving.  We will cancel Kai's extra appointments.  Jia is almost never around and she isn't particularly helpful with Kai.  Lili is working full time in Nanaimo at a new job so she won't be home much going forward.

It was insanely complicated to pull it all together.  We looked at respite.  We still hate that idea.  Paying for care for Kai is pricey.  It was going to be cheaper to take him with us.  

So, a big thank you to the family for taking over so we can escape.

We didn't pay the upcharge for a hotel with ocean view.  12 days on the ship should cover that.  Flights were reasonable.  We didn't pay extra for seats together.  Saving everywhere we can.

Eric is still committed to the idea of a family day at home for his Birthday.  He's making chilli the day before and has requested Angle food cake with dimes inside.  We will skip the dimes though ;)

Eric's back is still hurting.  He didn't tinker with cars yesterday.  We ran errands all day.  Including getting Kai's passport renewed just in case we are stuck taking him.  

Bid Ups

 

I was scrolling Facebook and someone I don't know posted this picture.  Squirrel got some appreciation on the Tuk Lake run.  Jeep peeps are so weird.  Lol.

It's 3:30 am and I'm wide awake.  Arg.  I could lay in the dark and hope for sleep but letting my brain have free reign doesn't usually elicit sleep.  So, the phone narrows the thoughts and let's me get bored and sleepy.

Usually I scroll tik tok and watch cute animals and cooking videos.  Tonight however we received an email from Royal offering us bid up upgrades a month earlier than the bid up program for our Hawaii cruise.  So, I woke Eric up.  He just loves it when I do that.  Anyways....I bid on an obstructed view balcony and a regular balcony.  We are booked on a guaranteed inside room.  I could have put bids in for window rooms or Jr Suites too.  I think I can put more bids in later.  So that was fun.  

Yesterday Eric had a mole excise redone for better margins.  It was a big hole, chunk cut out.  Ow.  He was hurting yesterday and uncomfortable.  The Dr said no hulking and to take it easy for two weeks.  We came home after and I found him outside under Oscar.  Arg.  Then later in the evening Lili drove Squirrel to town to practice, lest she were to borrow Squirrel for camping.  She did it but it was a lot of car for her and she wasn't fabulous at knowing where Squirrel was on the road.  No Squirrel's were harmed in the practice drive.  I wouldn't be comfortable sending Lili off to navigate trees on a tight trail ;)  Then when we got home we found Eric under Oscar again!  Arg.

No hulking means literally not using his back muscles.  So hard wheeling is out.  Setting up the trailer is out.  He requested I cancel the Birthday weekend at Elk Falls with the advanced wheeling day.  I did. Then let everyone know.

So, his 60th Birthday is Saturday and we don't have a plan.  At all. He says we can just stay home.  I can not fathom that.  He does always ask for more time at home.  Maybe it really is possible he would actually prefer that?!  

That was WAY too much fun.

 

Squirrel's 1st camp trip.

We had too much fun.

The pictures are in no particular order.

This funny cup holder thingy, for about $3 from Temu holds my water cup and phone since I don't have a side table.  

Kissinger Lake today to hang out after lunch and let the boys catch and release critters off the dock.

We finally made it to Tuk Lake.

Goals to go back.  We need to get the canoe in there.

We joined up with a 4wdabc group today.  30 of them.  The parking was mayhem.  We held back and let them go on their way before doing the Tuk Lake Loop just the three of us later.

Oddly, 30 others vehicles and we knew the two leads but no one else.

We were driving through Fern Gully.  It smelled so fresh and was so gorgeous.

I liked the wheeling part perhaps a bit too much.  I was grinning.  Squirrel and I did great out there.

At one point the trail was twisty, tight, up and down.  I could see Eric ahead jump out to come and spot/guide me but I was already through.  Oh man if only that look on his face was captured.  Pure shock.  He defends himself later and says it was pride.  Lol.

They're so cute together.

Breakfast after a fabulous sleep.  I slept 6 whole hours.  In a row.  Almost unheard of for me.  My heating pad went all night.  The power plant is amazing.

The new potty room worked out great.  I'm not speedy at set up and take down yet.  It wouldn't be convenient on a day trip.  Perfect for camping though.

Eric made dinner in Squirrel's kitchen.  Then he did dishes too.  He wanted to play in his creation.

It was really weird to say good night and then go to our own Jeeps.  I went to bed quite a bit earlier.  Then was up earlier and listened to my audio book for over an hour before I started making noise outside.  So it worked out well.  

The men folk got to go rescue a dumb kid.

Soooo not prepared.  Idiots abound. Zero recovery gear.  Not a winch in the group.

Gold specks.

Eric and his eternal rock hound hunting.

I didn't have nail clippers.  Broken nail, no problem.

Such a great shot.

Getting final touches on Squirrel for her inaugural camp trip.

In this moment, I am literally squealing and laughing.  

Oh, Squirrel and I are going to have so much fun together.

It was a great weekend.  We celebrated Ryan's 40th Birthday.

Jay brought cookie dough to cook on the fire.  We did NOT figure out 'how' to do that efficiently but fire roasted chocolate chip cookies are definitely elevated and a way to get it done must be found.

Next weekend is Eric's 60th.  We are camping Elk Falls and Eric is going out with the group to do an advanced run on his actual birthday.  

Tomorrow we start off the week with a Dr. appointment for Eric he needs the last mole removal redone for better margins.  Yeesh.  This is the slowest process ever.  Kai and Squirrel have appointments this week.  Shockingly, I personally don't have an appointment this week :)

Camping win.

Eric packed up our outside gear last night.  We were up and sorted inside within a few minutes this morning.  The rain started on the highway home.  Yay.  No wet gear to deal with.

We had Jeeping friends come out yesterday for Canada Day.  They have two boys.  I naively thought the boys might hang out.  Nope.  Luk completely ignored them to the point of complete rudeness.  Kai tried but they are both busy kids and he only lasted a half hour before he needed to sit and zone.  We're supposed to be group camping with them this weekend.  I don't think dragging Luk to car camp is a good idea for any of us.  He hates the idea of sleeping in the Jeeps.  He's never done it so I'm not sure where the adamant ideas come from.

Trucks in the dirt.  Kai wouldn't sit down or squat.  Too dirty.  Lol.  We've come a LONG way.

So, Eric took Luk home the first night to hit the walk in the next day.  They were 1st.  Saw the Dr at opening.  Did his test at the lab.  Got results.  Yes, infection.  Medication prescription to the pharmacy.  They went for breakfast, picked up the meds and Eric brought him back to me.

I was supposed to lay low.  Luk was tired.  Kai didn't want to go outside while it was so cold.  So, we actually had a pajama day inside the trailer!  We had great food, awesome snacks, naps, movies and Luk even agreed to play Nertz with me.  Overall we had a pretty great low key day.

Eric came out at lunch time yesterday.  We enjoyed visiting with friends.  Then Eric watched a movie while I crashed.  Finally.  I had super, super serious insomnia the two nights before.  Perhaps from the Tremfya.  ?  I did develop a rash.  I had no cream so put deodorant on it, to keep it dry.  It seems to have worked and it's cleared up today.

Also some digestive upset, but that could have been from chili that was beyond my spice level of tolerance.  Who knows.  So many issues.

Also...I forgot my insulin one night.  I remembered in the wee hours and checked my numbers before taking it.  16!!!  Yikes.  I went online to Dr. Google.  Who told me to go to the emergency room.  Then I went to a.i. chat and put in the part about being new to the Tremfya infusion.  Then it said to drink water and don't exercise.  Scary night.  Then I woke up to a 4.8.  Go figure.

I told my Mommy I need a decoder ring.  Diabetes is insidious.

Eric got a lot done at home.  Lawn mowed.  Oscar's rear locker fixed.  It was a broken wire.  Squirrel's bed completed.  Along with assorted little chores.  He needs more time at home.  

Eric and I hit the hot tub this morning after we sorted the camping mess.  We had a lovely soak and right after we came inside the farmer behind us started spreading manure on the field.  Score.  Lucky day so far.

 

Tremfya Day

 

It all went well.  No issues.  My nurse also has Chrones.  We had some fun discussing our theories.  

So, now I'm immune compromised.

The goal is to slow down my over active immune system.  Targeting a particular protein.  So precise.  

So far there have been zero reactions.  I did pick up the right Benedryl on the way to the camp site though.  Breathing issues are common and I'm to get to emerg asap if I notice anything.  Scary stuff.

I ordered the fidget squirrel thinking it was attached to a lanyard.  Things on Temu are not always clear.  But, it turns out it's actually a phone handle.  Fei set me up.  It's fun.  I have definitely used it to fidget.  We'll see how long it lasts on my phone ;)

We're at the campsite.  However we suspect Luk might have another uti. Super common with cathing.  The pharmacist can only prescribe antibiotics to women.  Seriously.  That was the stupidest thing to hear. I then called his pediatrician and she is away until July 21.  Then I called the family doctor and his office closed at 3.  So, Eric took Luk home tonight so they can hit the walk in clinic tomorrow morning.  

Our medical system is soooo broken.

It'll be a quiet night for Kai and I.

Which is perfect since I'm supposed to sit still.