Long drive....almost

Kelsey and her family moved to Texas for a job for Ben. He drove the moving van down with his sister Friday-Saturday, they drove for just about 24 hours straight.
Kelsey and I planned to drive their van on the 22 hour drive with the kids. We left Saturday morning at about 9:30. We had plenty of snacks and stuff to keep us entertained. We got about 4 hours into the drive and needed gas so we were exiting into Grand Juction, CO when Kelsey said that something was wrong. She was pushing the gas and nothing was happening. There was a gas staion right around the corner so we sort of coasted and drove to it. We filled up the tank and Kelsey went inside to get something, she had me move the van over to a parking spot. I turned it on and pushed the gas and nothing happened, I pushed the gas few times and it moved so I got to a parking spot. She called Ben and her Dad to try to figure out what to do. Luckily, her parents just moved from Grand Junction and her Dad had a friend who owns a transmission shop there. He came over and said that the transmission was basically toast. Unfortunately transmissions take a while to fix so they said the car wouldn't be ready till at least Wednesday. Luckily again, we were right across the street from a Super 8 motel. They guy hardly let her drive the van across the street to get to the motel but with 4 tired, hot and grumpy kids and lots of stuff there was really no other way to get it there. We got to the motel and got everyone out of the van and to the front desk. At this time I was thinking it's amazing Kelsey and I aren't crying, I'm proud of us. Then the lady at the desk asked how long we'd be staying. Kelsey immediately started crying and that's all it took, we were both bawling while she explained what happened. The lady was really nice and we got checked into a room. Motel rooms aren't that big and the kids were already tired and confused and grumpy so they were bouncing off the walls fighting and pushing and crying and getting into everything. They kept playing with the phone and calling the front desk. We got all the kids in the tub to cool them down. I took some cute pictures of it on Kelsey's camara, if she posts it on her blog I'll steal it and post it for you, it's way cute.
At first we thought we could stick it out and drive out when the car was done but then realized that was not gonna happen. I love those kids like they were my own but I was ready to rip all my hair out and it just breaks your heart to not be able to comfort a crying child. Then we went between renting a van to continue the drive and flying out. Everything was crazy and stressful when my phone rang and it was Kelsey's sister Deon saying not to worry about dinner, it was on it's way and paid for. Of course we both started crying again. Thanks Deon! I hadn't even worried about that yet but I'm sure Kelsey had.
There was no vans available to rent and by that time we realized we couldn't handle two more days of crazyness so we had to fly out. After a lot of searching (and even more tears) Kelsey and her Dad and Ben found flights for Sunday morning.
After a few hours of not good sleep we got up and took what was absolutely necessary and we headed to the airport. We got on the plane after hanging out in the airport for a bit. There was alot of turbulance which usually makes me sick but I've realized if I'm worried about kids then it doesn't affect me as much. Aurora and a twin were sitting with me and I conviced Aurora that it was like we were on a roller coaster, Charlie however just wanted "Off two plane!". We got to Denver where we had a layover, it started off with nice people offering to help with bags (it's amazing how much stuff you have to have with 4 kids) then we got to ride one of those cool airport golf cart things because we had to go down about 20 gates and we obvioulsy looked like we couldn't do it because we didn't even have to ask for it, they just said wait here the cart is coming. The kids were actually pretty good on the plane. On the second leg of the flight Aurora actually slept for about half of it. The lady sitting next to me was really nice. As soon as she sat down and saw the kids she said, "dont' worry, I have a 4 and 5 year old, nothing they can do will bother me" She was very helpful when Aurora randomly decided she didn't want to sit in her seat or be belted in anymore. The woman told her she had a special prize to show her but only people in seat belts could see it. It shows hot tired she was that she actually bough tit. We finally got to Dallas and were so relived to se Ben and Terry (Kelseys Dad) there to pick us up.
It was an incredibly stressful trip and while we were going thru it it was awful. It was so nice to get to her parents house with nice people and be able to relax and hav help with the kids.
I felt better after sleeping for almost 8 hours that night then I heard the Kelsey and Aurora were throwing up that night, I wondered what else would happen. Luckily it was short lived and she's doing much better. I think it might have been a reaction to all the stress of packing/moving/the trip from H E double hocky sticks, and all that.
We did see bright sides of the situation and evidence we were being taken care of throughout the trip, we could have broken down in the middle of no where but we broke down as we got off the exit right by a gas station and a hotel and in the town where her parents had just moved from, where they happened to know a guy that owns a transmission shop. The airport was only about a mile away so the cab fair was really cheap.
I flew back to Salt Lake the next day (Monday) on probably the longest flight I've been on. For some reason whoever plans Southwest's schedule decided that I should go from Dallas to San Antonio, then Denver, then Salt Lake. I didn't have to change planes but I was on the same one for 6 hours with 3 take-offs and landings. The funniest part was when I was rushing down to meet my friend Delia who was picking me up. We were about 20 minutes late so I was walking fast and decided to trip over my own feet just past the baggage claim. I now have a large bruise on my knee to remember my amazing performance in front of a hundred strangers.
Now that it's over it doesn't seem as hard as it was in the middle of it but belive me it was not something I would recommend going thru. Kelsey kept saying that I wouldn't miss them as much because of all the drama but I'd go thru it again to move them back here. I miss them all already.
I love her like a sister, and am grateful for friends that become family and that her family is so wonderful and they love me too.


PS. Lee called, we're going out again tomorrow....what? I didn't tell you about him....will write more after our date tomorrow.